I remember in the movie, the reason for destroying all the experimental subjects was that the higher-ups felt these children were too dangerous and violent, fearing they would lose control. So, showing appropriate friendliness and stable emotions... could be a life-saving factor. This was also Lin Ze's usual demeanor; perhaps his danger rating would be assessed as lower when facing pursuit. Even if it meant fewer bullets aimed at him, that would be good.
“It seems the final test of the Novice Village is coming!” Lin Ze secretly warned himself.
Sure enough, not long after, Lin Ze keenly noticed that the surrounding atmosphere had become unusually heavy, as if an invisible pressure was gradually enveloping him. This tense atmosphere was like an undercurrent, subtly surging in the air. Although there were no obvious signs yet, Lin Ze could already clearly feel its presence.
“Oppa, do you feel like something’s not right?” Xiao Monü suddenly asked while they were eating in the cafeteria that day.
“Hmm, don’t train at night these next few days. Keep yourself in good condition.”
Indeed, this loli was not as harmless as she appeared; her keen insight was not something an ordinary person could possess.
Presumably, that inspection team is coming to check the research results, right? Lin Ze remembered that in the movie, a high-ranking official came to inspect and ultimately decided to shut down the experimental base, claiming fear of the gene warriors' violent tendencies and difficulty in control.
What puzzled Lin Ze was why only this one experimental base was closed. And Dr. Bai later set up another base to continue human experiments. Perhaps there was some political struggle involved. Or it's possible Dr. Bai and her team found new patrons among other powerful figures.
Of course, Lin Ze wasn't concerned about these movie background details. All he had to consider was escaping the base by following Xiao Monü.
“Will something happen?” Xiao Monü asked again.
“I don’t know! Xiao Zi Yun, no matter what happens, we both have to try our best To Live,” Lin Ze comforted her.
“Mm, I’ll protect Oppa, and Oppa will protect Zi Yun, right?” The loli asked seriously.
“Of course, aren’t we the best partners?” Lin Ze said with a smile.
“Mm-hm!”
...That day, a dozen children stood on the training ground. The older ones were eleven or twelve, the younger ones around six or seven. They all wore the same patient uniforms; these were Lin Ze's “contemporaries.” Of course, Lin Ze and Xiao Monü were among them.
“Just a few days ago, there were twenty people! It seems two more have died.” Lin Ze counted, and eighteen children remained.
Lin Ze felt this place was more like a gladiator arena than a training ground. He had fought hungry wolves here before, and he had fought death row inmates here. That time, Lin Ze was stabbed, and it was his first time killing someone... Thinking of this, Lin Ze shook his head. Fortunately, it was abroad, and a death row inmate from the Stick Country. Killing him was just killing him.
On the observation deck, besides Dr. Bai and a group of researchers, there were several unfamiliar men. From their demeanor, they were all people of high status. The security here today was also exceptionally strict, with fully armed security personnel surrounding the stands.
“There wasn’t a scene like this in the movie! What are they going to do? They’re not just going to shoot us down, are they?” Lin Ze glanced at Xiao Monü beside him. As if sensing his gaze, Xiao Monü also turned her head to look at Lin Ze.
“Children! Your final test is coming. After today, you will gain your freedom... However, the spots are limited. Only the most outstanding children among you will To Live and walk out of here...” Dr. Bai adjusted her glasses, her face full of excitement.
“Freedom? What a load of crap! This is making us kill each other,” Lin Ze cursed inwardly.
Sure enough, these children whose brains had been developed were not fools. Hearing this, each of them showed fierce eyes. They began to size up their compatriots, wary of each other.
“That’s not right! In the movie, there seemed to be quite a few children during the purge. If there was such mutual slaughter, probably only Xiao Monü would be left.” Perhaps this was a complete world, and it seemed he couldn't rely entirely on the movie plot.
What Lin Ze didn't know was that because of his addition, two S-class guinea pigs appeared among this batch of experimental subjects. Dr. Bai was prepared to go all out; it didn't matter if this batch all died, as long as it was the most spectacular performance.
“Clang! Clang!” The large iron gate to the exit was locked.
Behind several Fence Gate around the training ground, the low growls of wild beasts were heard simultaneously, accompanied by the clanking sound of dragging chains.
Dr. Bai gestured to Scarface beside her. A cruel sneer appeared at the corner of Scarface's mouth. He casually threw two daggers down to the stands.
“Be careful!” At this point, Lin Ze could only accept reality.
Deep within this base, shrouded in blood and despair, eighteen children, like puppets manipulated by fate, engaged in a brutal and inhumane mutual slaughter amidst chaos and madness, all for two daggers symbolizing survival and hope—or rather, temporary survival and hope.
These children, who should have had innocent smiles and beautiful dreams for the future, at this moment, had only fear, greed, and desperation in their eyes. Every pair of eyes stared intently at the two daggers, gleaming coldly under the lights, as if they were their last salvation in this world.
As the melee began, screams and cries shattered the night's tranquility. The children's bodies, which should have been delicate, exploded with extraordinary strength at this moment and place. They bit with their teeth, tore with their hands and feet, attacking the “lucky ones” holding the daggers with reckless abandon. Blood gushed onto the ground, staining this already sinful land.
At this time, eight wild wolves hidden in the darkness were also attracted by the scent of blood. Their green eyes flickered with cruel light in the darkness, like eight moving ghost fires. The wolves howled low, joining the brutal battle. Their figures were agile, their movements swift, and their sharp claws and fangs easily left deep wounds on the children's fragile bodies.
Lin Ze and Xiao Monü were in the midst of this chaos. They were originally members of these eighteen children, but at this moment, the pity in their hearts had long been replaced by an endless desire for survival. Lin Ze's eyes were firm; he knew that in such a situation, only by being ruthless enough could he To Live. He moved like a leopard, weaving between the crowd and the wolves, searching for opportunities.
Xiao Monü's movements were no less impressive. Although she was small, her agility was extremely high. She used her petite body to dart through gaps between enemies, skillfully avoiding one fatal attack after another.
Although both of them struck without mercy, they did not truly kill, mostly injuring or crippling.
In a fierce clash, a tall child rushed towards Lin Ze with a dagger, his eyes filled with insane killing intent. Lin Ze calmly dodged to the side, simultaneously extending his leg and kicking the opponent's knee hard. With a “crack,” the child's knee instantly twisted and deformed, and he screamed as he fell forward. Lin Ze quickly snatched the dagger from his hand, then unhesitatingly plunged it into his back. Blood gushed out, and the child collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Monü also showed astonishing courage and wisdom in her struggle with a wild wolf. The wolf lunged at her, claws and fangs bared. She cleverly grabbed a heavily wounded wild wolf from the ground and forcefully slammed it into the attacking wolf. The wolf, hit, howled in pain and retreated a few steps. The thrown wolf, whose thigh had been deeply slashed by a dagger earlier, finally breathed its last after such a powerful throw.
Xiao Monü seized the opportunity to rush forward, tearing off half of a wolf's hind leg, and savagely clubbed the head of another lunging wolf until it no longer had the strength to resist.
Lin Ze, who was about to go to her rescue, was also shocked by the loli's brutal fighting style.
As time passed, the battle became increasingly cruel. Children fell one by one. Lin Ze did not kill, but that didn't mean other children would show mercy; at least ten vibrant lives gradually faded away in this bloody melee.
“Pfft...”
“Ow, ow...”
The last remaining wild wolf also had its heart pierced by Lin Ze.
Finally, on this bloody battlefield, only Lin Ze and Xiao Monü remained standing. They were covered in blood, with multiple injuries, but their eyes revealed the unwavering resolve of victors. They tightly clutched the two blood-stained daggers, looking at the fallen bodies and still flowing blood around them, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
Several heavily injured children who had crawled to the corners breathed a sigh of relief when the killing ended. The previous fight was for survival, and they hadn't delivered fatal blows then; now, they hoped these children could To Live. Even if they might be enemies in the future, they were still minors.
Lin Ze took a deep breath and said to Xiao Monü, “We To Live, but this is just the beginning. We have to leave this hellish place.”
Xiao Monü nodded, a determined light flashing in her eyes. They knew that the road ahead would still be full of hardships and dangers, but they were ready. They would face the unknown challenges together, seeking their chance at survival and hope.
“Clap, clap, clap! Excellent, amazing,” Dr. Bai applauded excitedly.
Meanwhile, the important figures on the platform were expressionless, seemingly unable to bear the bloody smell of the scene, some even covering their noses.
The important figures left without making any comments. Dr. Bai only focused on repeatedly watching the recording of the previous events, displaying the concentration and fanaticism of a researcher.
Scarface escorted the important figures out of the base. Watching the motorcade drive away, a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth: “Fortunately, I found a new boss!”
...Fully armed security personnel wearing masks opened the iron gate and rushed into the training ground. Four of them vigilantly aimed their guns at Lin Ze and Xiao Monü.
“Drop your weapons!”
A threatening voice came from behind the masks, but Lin Ze could feel a slight tremor in his tone.
“Bang, bang, bang...”
The heavily injured children received no treatment; the gunshots were only meant to end their suffering.
Lin Ze’s eye twitched uncontrollably, as if it wanted to pop out of its socket. His eyes were fixed on the scene before him, and the killing intent in his heart erupted like a volcano, instantly reaching its peak.
And Xiao Monü, standing beside him, was like an iceberg, expressionless, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts. However, Lin Ze’s keen observation caught a detail—Xiao Monü’s body was subtly trembling.
This trembling was not due to fear or pity, nor was it out of hatred, but an anger originating from the depths of her soul. This anger was like a burning flame, raging fiercely, engulfing her entire being.
Lin Ze could clearly feel the overwhelming killing intent emanating from Xiao Monü; this intent was so intense that the surrounding air seemed to be frozen by it.
The dagger that had just been dropped to the ground moved.