Chapter Seventy-Two: Equivalent to Murder

"Have you ever played games?"
"Of course. Before joining the army, I was a gaming enthusiast. I dabbled in all sorts of genres."
"Haha, I knew it."
"You knew it? What's wrong with your head? If you knew, why did you even ask?" I glared at the man in the trench coat, realizing he was just toying with me.
He ignored my scolding, turning away to gaze at the blood-red moon, his voice soft. "The world, society, every profession, reality, dreams—when you boil it down, they're all games. And every game has its own rules. Violate them, and you face punishment."
I frowned at his back. There was something oddly familiar about him. "So you're saying there are things you can't tell me, and I can't even see your face? Otherwise, you'll break some rule and face being banned or even erased?"
"Hmm... You're quite the genius. Your comprehension is remarkable." The trench coat man suddenly smiled, and I could tell it was genuine—not mocking.
"I think anyone with normal intelligence could figure out what you mean. Is that really something to brag about? I don't go in for mutual praise. You can talk yourself up, I'll listen, but I have nothing to praise you for." The cold made my teeth chatter, but I forced myself to speak clearly.
He turned to face me, so quickly I didn't see it happen; suddenly he was standing right before me.
I was sitting on the ground, looking up at him as if he towered above me.
Unconsciously, I glanced through his silhouette at the blood moon—the sliver of white light was about to be swallowed completely. I wondered how much longer it could hold out.
Suddenly, he placed a gloved hand on my shoulder—his whole body wrapped tightly in protective gear.
"Fu Sheng Cao!"
I jolted, staring at him. His shout, so close, snapped me to attention.
"I want you to make yourself a promise."
His voice was cold and serious. Instinctively, I nodded.
"Repeat after me: if you ever encounter something truly important, make the opposite decision. Don't follow your instincts."
I gazed at his mask; through the eye holes, nothing but darkness.
"Say it!"
"Why?"
"You only need to know it won't harm you. You won't regret it, nor will you ever hate yourself for it."

"I've never believed in ghosts or such mystical things, but today I'll say it—because you make me feel... I can't describe it."
After a while, I sighed. "Fu Sheng Cao will remember this: if I ever face something truly important, I will make a decision contrary to my nature!"
It wasn't forced; I knew it was pointless to speak it aloud.
The trench coat man's purpose was for me to remember the words, and I did, of my own accord.
After a moment, he released my collar and moved several steps away as if teleporting. His voice was tinged with bitterness. "I was confident things would change, but now everything's exactly the same. I'm barely holding on..."
His logic was disjointed, but I sensed the importance of his words to him.
When he turned again, I saw clearly brown, decayed flesh slipping from his mask, exposed at his neck.
A corpse species...
More disturbing, the rotten meat was moving—as if it had come alive, writhing!
With a smack, he stomped on the flesh, halting its movement.
My body was stiff from the cold, black snow covering me almost entirely, but I forced myself to stand.
I looked solemnly at the blood moon, then at him. "Tell me, is this a dream?"
He didn't answer, simply stared blankly at the white moonlight about to be devoured.
Gradually, his figure faded until it vanished completely.
Suddenly, my body was dragged somewhere—as if into a black hole, sinking fast.
I plummeted at lightning speed.
In a flash, soul reunited with body, I jolted awake, gasping for air.
"Brother Cao! Thank goodness you're awake! You scared me so much... Your face and lips were blue, your body icy cold." As I opened my eyes, Bing Huo threw herself into my arms.
Fourth Master was beside us, happily licking my fingers.
As I regained my senses, the strange dream lingered—its eerie, inexplicable presence.

Science couldn't explain it.
Too many things in the post-Epoch era defied scientific explanation.
Just like the Nightmare Monster—no scientist had figured out what kind of creature it was or how it reproduced.
"Are you both alright? How long was I out?" I gently put my arm around Bing Huo.
"From the explosion to now, it's been seven or eight hours. It's nearly noon. We've been out here a day and a half." She clung tightly to me.
It seemed my condition had truly terrified her.
Was it really not a dream? Perhaps not.
Can the state of your body in a dream carry over into reality? I froze in the dream, and my body was stiff here—I've never heard of such a bizarre phenomenon.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. First, I needed to assess the situation.
I looked around the control room—it was exactly as in my dream, with that same suspended design.
Fortunately, the long sleep had restored my energy and some strength.
"No matter. We're alive, that's what matters. Let's get ready, put on our protective gear, and get out of here. We can't stay trapped." I struggled to stand, turning to fetch the gear Bing Huo had arranged.
Suddenly, I remembered the voice in my mind earlier—dimensional space?
I grabbed a piece of clothing, imagined it in my mind, and it vanished instantly.
"Brother Cao... what did you just do?" Bing Huo stared at my hand in shock, touching it repeatedly, as if I'd performed magic.
"Woof woof...!" Fourth Master jumped up, licking my hand frantically.
Hey! Is this guy thinking it was his licking that did it...?
He wagged his tail at me and Bing Huo, as if seeking praise.
In this oppressive environment, I couldn't help but laugh—this dog really knew how to lighten the mood.