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墨書 Inktalez
The once magnificent Starry Sky Mall cinema, which had been lavishly renovated with the latest technology, now lay in ruins. No matter how much had been invested, it was all rendered useless, reduced to mere scraps like the most broken of trash. War could obliterate all illusions and beauty; bullets were the ultimate harbingers of destruction, a testament to humanity's most insane endeavor to bring about the world's end.
The raging fire could consume everything in its path. Yet, wildfires could not be extinguished completely; spring would always bring new life. However, the scars inflicted by humanity could last for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, lingering long after the flames had died down.
This was humanity's own sin. Even now, no matter how splendid a cinema might be within an upscale mall, or how exquisite its decorations, it would be reduced to fragments in the face of gunfire.
Zheng Yifan slowly walked to the back, while Leader and Dazed watched everything unfold behind him. He found himself at a loss for words. It was clear that both sides were exchanging fire, yet the young man on his side remained unscathed while those on the opposing side were torn apart.
It made no sense.
Such was often the case; ordinary people could never uncover the secrets hidden from them. In Deep City, they had no idea that there existed individuals known as Superpowered Individuals. These beings possessed formidable combat abilities and extraordinary superpowers; they were the favored ones in this world.
Entering the side room, which served as the VIP area of the cinema, one could truly feel the luxury within. After all, this was Old Tortoise's lair; they wouldn't destroy everything completely. They still needed to indulge in life's pleasures; they were human too and required their share of luxury.
Even without culinary delights, other amenities were still in demand.
Before Zheng Yifan lay what could only be described as a slaughterhouse. The floor was soaked with blood—dried blood that had long since congealed—its deep red hue seemed to reflect Old Tortoise's personal preference for never cleaning up. However, fresh blood still flowed before Zheng Yifan: a naked woman bound to a metal scaffold. Her body was fixed in place, allowing for any position.
Blood streamed from her body.
Specifically, it flowed from her lower back. The blood had nearly coagulated; after less than ten minutes of fighting, she was already on the brink of collapse, reduced to gasps for breath.
Zheng Yifan's arrival did not stir the girl from her stupor. She had lost too much blood; though she wasn't dead—Old Tortoise had applied a coagulant before leaving—her current state was heart-wrenching.
A beautiful girl who could have been a campus queen in a post-apocalyptic world, adored by thousands, now lay like a dish on a rustic table—one that could be reused. Zheng Yifan truly didn't know what to think.
Perhaps it was just a piece of meat, but Zheng Yifan could tell that this was not the first time she had been placed on the dining table.
“Girls, take a good rest. I hope that time can wash away the depression in your hearts,” Zheng Yifan whispered gently in the ear of the girl, then set her down.
It was simple for Zheng Yifan; she carefully placed her on the nearby sofa and tenderly draped a relatively clean garment over her.
In the background, others were certainly behind her. Zheng Yifan could hear rough breathing and the sound of teeth chattering in fear. These were the sounds of terrified people who had no idea what was happening outside and could only imagine. Sometimes, reality was not as terrifying as one might think.
At least when Zheng Yifan entered this room, it made them aware of this fact.
The door opened softly, without any obstruction. The lock on the door was an ordinary one; in fact, an average person with tools could easily unlock it. Yet they had never thought to rush out. Old Tortoise and his companions were outside, ready to impose the harshest punishments on anyone daring enough to attempt an escape.
Over time, people forgot how to resist and only curled up to lick their wounds.
“Ladies, come out. Old Tortoise is dead. What else can keep you imprisoned here?” Zheng Yifan opened her arms, seemingly inviting them.
What greeted Zheng Yifan was not gasps of surprise, nor excitement, nor tears of joy, but rather a few bare embraces, warm bodies pressing against her.
Then Zheng Yifan realized she was wrong; these girls' wills had been almost completely stripped away. They were like puppets—though they were conscious while locked inside the room and could chat with each other, when the main door opened, they instinctively obeyed past commands.
Just like now, they offered their embraces to the one with open arms; this had all been trained into them.
“Girls, don’t do this. Let go; you are free now!” Zheng Yifan said slowly, her Power of Faith radiating to soothe their souls, gradually helping them regain their sanity.
This was all Zheng Yifan could do. The people inside included those who had been captured since the beginning of the apocalypse.
Some of them had been captured in recent months, and their mental states were completely different from one another. Just like now, influenced by Zheng Yifan's Power of Faith, they had begun to regain their senses entirely, looking at Zheng Yifan with a sense of inexplicable emotion in their eyes.
They hadn't experienced such treatment since the Post-Apocalypse, and they hadn't encountered any of the legendary superheroes for such a long time. They only knew that they had been living in constant pain and struggle, seemingly without hope.
All they could do was continue to fight.
Now, they saw a glimmer of hope. The man before them was so handsome and imposing, like the dawn breaking through the night, bringing them light and warmth, allowing them to truly exist beneath this blue sky.
They believed firmly.
"Thank you for your rescue, handsome!" A delicate girl shyly spoke from behind. The others began to awaken as well; they knew they could finally break free from the demon's control and truly live once more.
"Thank you!" They cried tears of joy; perhaps it was like this for everyone—excited tears streaming down their faces.
"Have any girls been captured or deceived here recently? I want to see if she is my companion!" After calming the women, Zheng Yifan asked his question.
"Are you An Xiaolu? She's inside, but... it seems she has been injected with a large amount of neurotoxin..." The girl hesitated to finish her sentence, but Zheng Yifan understood that she feared An Xiaolu might find it difficult to recover. Because if an ordinary person ingested such a quantity of mental toxin, the outcome would either be death or madness.
Clearly, they were unaware of the existence of Superpowered Individuals. (To be continued.)
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