Chapter 98

[Shepherd Village]In the village chief’s house, the “firewood” burning in the fireplace emitted thick black smoke. It was less like wood and more like dried biological limbs. The village chief, standing at an imposing height of 2.5 meters, sat at the dining table. Even the heavy coat he wore could not conceal his massive, almost inhuman physique. The oversized waterproof leather shoes on the floor appeared to be custom-made by the village cobbler. A standard-sized wooden table looked like a mere toy before him. His black skin and jet-black eyes, paired with his calloused, rune-marked hands resting flat on the table, gave him a menacing aura. Despite his imposing appearance, the village chief appeared restrained, for across from him sat a “guest” draped in a black clerical robe. Before the guest was a drink specially prepared by the chief—a pale pink liquid, bubbling faintly, exuding a subtle, fishy aroma. “Lord Assistant, what brings you here today?” the chief asked. “Two humans are approaching the village,” replied the guest. “Just like last time? Sacrificial offerings coming to die?” “Not quite the same. The two of them easily breached the ‘human-tree wall’ we cultivated and passed the first test I designed without a scratch. Their performance is exceptional. The Lord holds them in high regard and believes they may become pivotal [offerings]. You and your village will serve as their second test. If necessary, you may let them destroy the entire village. After all, the Lord’s ritual has reached its final stage, and everything here is no longer of any significance to ‘His descent.’ Additionally—this is the reward for your efforts thus far, personally bestowed by the Lord.” A hexagonal ebony box was placed on the table. Its lid was engraved with the symbol of the church—a newborn wrapped in an umbilical cord. Even with the box sealed tight, the scent of “new life” wafted from within. Upon seeing this, the village chief’s entire body trembled with excitement. Everything he had done was for this moment—for this gift of “new life.” Opening the lid, he found an umbilical cord stained with traces of blood, coiled neatly inside. As the chief reached out, the cord began to wriggle. The moment their skin touched, the chief was flooded with memories of his youth. He could vividly feel the vigor and vitality of his younger days. Just as the chief was about to further connect with the cord, the assistant in black suddenly pressed down on his wrist, halting the process. “Remember! Once you receive the cord, you establish a ‘bloodline connection’ with the Lord. If you commit any act against the church or the Lord’s will, this connection will be forcibly severed. ℞ἁɴǑ????Ε???? You will be expelled from the ranks of the ‘New Humans.’” “I will complete the mission,” the chief replied resolutely. ... Yi Chen and Jin, The two were on their way to the village. Strangely, nothing happened—not even a single villager appeared. “This is odd. Even if the villagers they’ve cultivated can’t hinder us much, it’s strange that there’s no one here at all—not even a watcher,” Yi Chen said. Searᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “It’s as if they’re deliberately waiting for us to enter the village, to step into this critical location,” he continued. “The village is likely riddled with traps or perhaps the church occupying it is brewing some special plan we’re unaware of.” Jin didn’t seem concerned. “There’s nothing to worry about… Only the weak stall for time. I’ve encountered many similar situations before, and no matter what tactics they used, I crushed them with ease,” she said nonchalantly, skipping ahead with her usual lighthearted steps. Soon, the village buildings came into view. Even Jin slowed her pace and eventually stopped. Little Grape emerged from Jin’s collar, and together with Yi Chen, they stared at the spectacle before them. “No wonder we didn’t see any animals besides chickens after entering the tree wall… Were they all gathered here in the village? What on earth happened here?” Yi Chen murmured. He moved to a higher vantage point to observe a corner of the fully diseased village. Based on the map provided by Granny Chicken, Shepherd Village was once the largest village in this forested valley, surpassing [Green Lake Town] in size. The village now appeared veiled in a surreal mist, dominated by hues of purple and red, a stark contrast to the ashen atmosphere they had encountered before. Like a thin veil shrouding the village, any creature that steps into its bounds inevitably succumbs to the influence and erosion of this hallucinatory mist. Mammals that once lived within the tree walls have, for some reason, all gathered in the village. The roads and buildings are packed with the 'bodies' of animals, to the point where it feels as though they are an integral part of the village environment. The term 'bodies' is used because their state—alive or dead—cannot be determined. Their flesh is fused together, stuck to the ground, adhered to, or hanging from the surfaces of residential buildings, and in some cases, entirely embedded in the soil and roads. For example: 1. A bison, its body covered in rabbits, lies sprawled in the middle of a road, with white fur resembling rabbit tails wriggling from its abdominal cavity. 2. A goat, drenched in bats, hangs from the edge of a rooftop, with embryonic structures resembling bat wings sprouting from its back. 3. A grotesquely swollen entity, bearing mixed characteristics of rats, pigs, horses, and black bears, crawls and writhes slowly along the streets. 4. On some large rooftops lie—or even float—the corpses of elephants, grotesquely swollen due to bizarre gases accumulating within their bodies. These corpses emit a pinkish glow, resembling oversized synthetic balloons. The trunks of these elephants are raised high, releasing bursts of iridescent material with every breath. ... However, these animals share one common trait: Their bodies are covered in large, colorful, and oddly shaped fungi (in elephants, these fungi primarily grow internally). The fungi connect to their flesh, with the surfaces of their caps bearing numerous pores, from which spores are exhaled alongside the animals’ breaths. This spore dust is precisely what forms the hallucinatory mist that blankets the village. Additionally, as far as the visible parts of the village are concerned, no 'humans' are present. ‘Is this an intentional lure to draw us into the village, or is this an empty fort strategy to deter us, urging us to head quickly to the church in the mountains? The current intelligence is far from sufficient. Since this is an investigation, it’s better to gather all possible information. Rushing straight to the church might cause us to miss critical details, even key clues.’ At this moment, Little Grape suddenly transmitted a message: "William, the village before you can already be classified as a [Gray Zone]... Even with the protection of plants, clothing, and myself, you must still be cautious. Those capable of creating an [Artificial Gray Zone] are not easy to deal with. Make sure to maintain your condition until you find this individual." "An Artificial Gray Zone? Got it." Yi Chen spread his five fingers, pressing his hands to his face to weave a fully protective mask. "Jin, do you need me to make you a filtration mask?" Jin lightly tapped the multicolored mask on her face with her fingers, signaling she didn’t need one. At the same time, her body began to tremble. "A Gray Zone! Though small in scale, it’s definitely a Gray Zone... The [environment] has been completely infected and distorted. My body is actually resisting entering the village—how fascinating! Come quickly, I can’t wait to go in and see!" As Yi Chen jumped down from the high ground and walked along the village’s stone path, Jin unexpectedly took his hand, interlocking their fingers. This act carried no other meaning— "Contact-Explore" is a common method used by novices in Gray Zone investigations. It refers to maintaining direct physical contact during a team’s initial exploration of a Gray Zone. Such contact effectively prevents the dynamic environment of the Gray Zone from separating team members. It also allows for mutual monitoring of mental states, reducing the likelihood of spiritual intrusion. Though Jin seemed impulsive, eager to gain the body of a strong individual, this was her first time exploring a Gray Zone. If she were to die, the fun would end as well. When the two stepped into the village together, the village seemed to sense the arrival of outsiders. The spore dust in the air began converging toward them with purpose. Even with their clothing acting as a barrier, their body temperatures gradually rose, and a primal biological desire began to stir within them.