Unexpectedly, Xiao Cheng, a player with impeccable credentials, was forced to become the leader of the dungeon NPCs, and even received the honorific title of "Insect Queen".
She was completely bewildered, and even as she was surrounded by the zombie horde and led towards the building, she still couldn't understand why things had turned out this way.
Their bracelets kept vibrating, and the electronic voice, which had been happy for only a short while, had to announce again: "Correction! Correction! The identity of the unknown source has been confirmed. The important plot character, the Insect Queen, has been replaced. Information must not be changed."
It sounded like someone who had lost all will to live.
The number of surviving players on the electronic screen returned to thirty-seven, but then jumped to thirty-six again because Qiao Liao was taken away by Xiao Cheng and the others at the same time.
The other players finally managed to break free from the battle and bandaged each other up in twos and threes. No one noticed the disappearance of the three, as if they had never been there at all.
"Was this also within your expectations?" Xiao Cheng lowered her voice and quietly asked Fang He's ear.
He seemed very confident, and then, under Xiao Cheng's expectant gaze, he shook his head calmly: "That was just improvisation, so following the principle of consistency, it's better to continue improvising from now on."
Xiao Cheng: "..." So this is way too improvisational!
Undeterred, she continued, "Is it possible for players to actually become characters in the story?"
Fang He pondered for a moment: "You know, dungeons are always full of bugs."
Xiao Cheng realized: "So that was just pure gambler behavior?"
Fang He nodded: "That kind of death is unacceptable even to those with trypophobia."
"Don't you have any other plans?" Xiao Cheng tried to argue further. "Like, is there any room for maneuver with our identities? Like, what about players sending undercover agents to infiltrate the NPCs?"
“The Insect Queen, the Insect Queen’s captives, the Insect Queen’s captives on human stretchers.” Fang He pointed to the three people one by one with a serious expression. “So what other room for maneuver do you want?”
The actual building wasn't as far as they had imagined, and even though Xiao Cheng was reluctant, they arrived there in no time.
The one-eyed level-three zombie, being the highest-ranking and most qualified person present to greet Xiao Cheng, approached her again and gently invited her inside.
This man must have been an elegant gentleman in his lifetime, Xiao Cheng couldn't help but think.
"By the way, are there any other prisoners here?" She suddenly thought of Su Xin and Xu Chu and asked casually without much expectation.
Surprisingly, the zombie actually seemed to be thinking, and after a while, it replied, "Yes, we need more prisoners for experiments."
He seemed to feel that he had taken too long to think and was wasting Xiao Cheng's time. He tapped the fleshy bump on the back of his head apologetically, then used two fingers to prop up the corners of his mouth and stretched them upwards: "Sorry, the first batch of experiments is not very mature. It seems to have some side effects. I can't think very fluently."
Xiao Cheng: "..." So this is more than just a side effect!
“While you were asleep, our research institute experienced a riot, resulting in the loss of many higher-level elites,” the zombie continued. “But it doesn’t matter. The prisoners have accelerated our research progress. They are so engrossed in the hunting grounds that they can’t extricate themselves. Soon, very soon we will be able to use you as our target and achieve the final evolution.”
Xiao Cheng: "!!!" They were all tricked by the dungeon, so it turns out the players were the ones being hunted?!
"The seed has been planted in their bodies. The more they rely on the seed, the more it will catalyze its growth. It's alright, we have enough low-level zombies to feed them." The zombie manually removed the corner of its mouth, forcefully smoothing out the torn rotten flesh, and then turned to look at Fang He.
“However, there is one more very important matter. I will not hold it against you for damaging my right eye, but before the perfect creation appears, please return the identity card that you took without my permission.” He extended his right hand and said in a cold, stiff tone, “For the sake of the Queen, prisoner, I can let you off the hook.”
The ID card was his; the two doors they pried open on the first floor were his; they even gouged out his eye.
So it seems that even if he had become a zombie, he would still be a magnanimous and elegant gentleman.
He took his ID card, carefully stroking the slight scratches on it, and then meticulously put it on his chest, even straightening his blood-stained clothes.
"Mother Insect, please allow me to give you a brief introduction. I am the only existing senior researcher, your collaborator, number A009."
Xiao Cheng and his group were assigned to the sixth floor, which was already the best room available. Originally, A009 insisted on sending Fang He and Qiao Liao to the place where prisoners were supposed to be, but Xiao Cheng firmly refused.
"No!" She grabbed one in each hand, feeling like a mother hen protecting her chicks. "My captives and I can never be separated!"
A009 hesitated, "But they..."
"They contain high-quality seeds, and being near them is beneficial to me. After all, I was also injured in that riot, which is why I have been dormant until now, and even had to use the bodies of prisoners!"
With A009's current intelligence, it seemed unable to understand her explanation. She scratched her head in distress. Tentacles growing from the fleshy ball on the back of her head extended outwards, like a bunch of serpentine worms with bared teeth and claws, which looked a bit disgusting.
“Since you insist, then so be it.” A009 finally gave up thinking. “But if the prisoners disrespect you, I will execute them at any time. I need to continue with the final stage of my research. I will soon present you with the final results, and I assure you that you will be satisfied.”
"So what about the other prisoners?" Xiao Cheng asked casually. "I want to see for myself how far your experiments have progressed."
“In the basement,” A009 said mysteriously. “Believe me, it’s an absolutely safe and sacred place.”
Xiao Cheng ultimately failed to find out where Su Xin and the others might be being held. However, there was good news: their superpowers had been restored here, and even strengthened.
Qiao Liao's condition is gradually improving, and Xiao Cheng guesses that this is related to the seeds that A009 mentioned.
The superpower originated from the seed, and this place can be considered the origin of the seed. Moreover, with the insect mother herself nearby, it doesn't seem like a difficult thing to understand to be able to recover.
"Do you think A009 is credible?" Xiao Cheng rarely gets to relax for a while in this instance, so he slumps onto the sofa, wanting nothing more than to give up and not wanting to move at all.
"It's hard to say, but it's not important." Fang He walked to the window, opened it, and peered down at the group of zombies gathered below. "They look like they're about to attack again."
"Then I can only wish number 66 and the others good luck." Xiao Cheng sighed softly.
“Now is the time to be adaptable.” Fang He closed the window again. “Get ready, we’re going to raid their base.”
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