radicalducati Chapter 21 Death Has Arrived
Chapter 21 Death Has Arrived
The biting cold instantly enveloped you, not the physical cold of polar snow, but a strange, chilling cold that seemed to originate from space and even slow down the flow of time.
When the dizziness subsided, Wang Lin opened his eyes and found himself and his teammates sitting in the carriage of a speeding, old bus. The carriage swayed, and outside the window, the desolate highway scenery rushed past. The sky was gloomy, and the leaden clouds hung low, making it hard to breathe. The air was filled with the smell of gasoline, dust, and... some indescribable, unsettling scent of decay.
The carriage was packed. Besides the eleven existing members of the Central Continent Team (Zheng Zha, Zhan Lan, Zhang Jie, Ling Dian, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Chu Xuan, Wang Lin, as well as the surviving newcomers Zhao Yingkong and Ming Yanwei, and the young man named Lu Renjia who miraculously survived the Ju-on incident), there were five or six other men and women who looked bewildered and terrified, clearly newcomers to this horror film.
"Final Destination..." Zhan Lan whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Clearly, she recognized this classic horror movie scene.
"Part One, the opening highway." Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, his gaze quickly sweeping over the interior of the carriage, the road signs outside the window, and the status of the other passengers. "Timeframe... before the car accident. The main mission should be related to preventing the accident or escaping the Grim Reaper's pursuit."
[Escape the vehicle from the impending accident within 30 seconds; failure results in elimination.]
Main Quest: Survive for fifteen days while being hunted by Death. Quest Rewards: 3000 reward points per survivor, one C-rank side quest.
[Note: The order of deaths has been shuffled; Death has no fixed pattern.]
A cold notification sound rang in everyone's minds, confirming Chu Xuan's judgment.
"Thirty seconds! Quick! Smash the window! Get out of the car!" Zheng Zha roared, without hesitation, channeling his vampire energy into his arm and punching the car window next to him! The enhanced power combined with the energy shattered the tempered glass!
"Let's go!" Zhang Jie kicked open the safety window next to him.
The other veterans reacted quickly; Wang Lin, Lingdian, Bawang, and Li Shuaixi each found a weak point to break the window. Chu Xuan, however, calmly picked up the car's safety hammer (which he had noticed beforehand) and smashed the glass in front of him.
"Jump out of the car! Quick!" Wang Lin yelled at the still-dazed newcomers and the few characters in the story.
The sudden turn of events threw the carriage into chaos, filled with screams. But the Zhongzhou team members, well-trained, covered for each other and quickly jumped out of the broken windows! Although Zhao Yingkong and Ming Yanwei were still newcomers, having experienced the Ju-on curse, they reacted quickly and jumped out as well. Lu Renjia followed, scrambling and stumbling.
The main characters and the remaining newcomers were either terrified or tried to run out of the car doors, but the driver seemed to have a premonition of something and frantically slammed on the brakes and turned the steering wheel. The vehicle swayed violently, throwing those who tried to escape through the doors back into the car!
Bang! Boom—!
Just as the Zhongzhou team members jumped off the bus and landed, tumbling to dissipate the force, a deafening roar came from behind them!
To avoid a huge, gleaming, broken steel bar (which looked like it had fallen from a truck) that had appeared out of nowhere on the road ahead, the bus driver swerved sharply, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash into the roadside guardrail. It was then rear-ended by a tanker truck that was unable to brake in time!
Boom! A blinding flash of light shot into the sky, and the massive explosion engulfed both the bus and the tanker truck! A blast of scorching heat, carrying debris, swept across the area!
"Get down!" Zheng Zha propped himself up, shielding Zhan Lan and Ming Yanwei beneath him. Lingdian rolled away and hid behind a roadside ditch. Wang Lin was pulled behind a boulder by Zhang Jie. Chu Xuan had already calculated a safe spot and avoided danger in advance.
The roar and intense heat of the explosion lasted for several seconds before gradually subsiding. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning gasoline. On the highway, the wreckage of two vehicles burned fiercely, billowing black smoke. A few characters and newcomers (only two or three) who had managed to jump out of the cars before the explosion lay on the roadside, bleeding from head wounds and still in shock. As for those left inside the cars… there was no trace of them.
"Thirty seconds...just right." Wang Lin gasped for breath, looking at the sea of fire, still shaken. Death had brushed past him.
"Main quest: Survive for fifteen days, hunted by Death..." Chu Xuan stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and sharply scanned his surroundings—the road, the wilderness, the distant forest, and the city skyline further away. "The order of death has been disrupted, with no fixed pattern... This means that the traditional strategy of 'predicting the order of death' may fail. Death will randomly design death traps based on our actions, location, and even enhanced abilities. The difficulty has increased."
Zheng Zha's face darkened: "Indiscriminate and random pursuit? How can we defend against that?"
"It's not indiscriminate," Wang Lin interjected, trying to recall the vague original work and movie settings. "The Grim Reaper needs a 'trigger,' or rather, a 'logic chain,' to kill. It uses coincidences in the environment, malfunctions of objects, and human negligence to create seemingly accidental incidents. In theory, we can avoid it if we are careful enough and always vigilant. But the difficulty lies in the fact that the Grim Reaper will constantly adjust its strategy, and... it's impossible to guard against."
"Logic chain... opportunity..." Chu Xuan mused. "In other words, we need to establish a dynamic risk assessment and early warning system to monitor all anomalies in the surrounding area, predict possible 'coincidences,' and interrupt the logic chain before danger occurs. This requires extremely high information processing capabilities and teamwork."
"My mental scan can cover a radius of several hundred meters, allowing me to detect unusual energy gatherings or structural changes in objects in advance," Zhan Lan said, but her tone was uncertain. "But the Grim Reaper's attacks might be more stealthy..."
"My sense of danger has a vague feeling for malice and deadly threats," Wang Lin added, "but the 'malice' of death may be deeply hidden, or manifest as a pure 'accident'."
Zero silently examined his sniper rifle, clearly contemplating how to utilize its long-range capabilities against Death's design. Overlord, carrying a heavy machine gun, scratched his head in frustration; this unseen and intangible enemy left him feeling powerless. Li Shuaixi gripped his knife tightly, his eyes wary.
Zhang Jie, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, stared intently at the burning wreckage in the distance and the lights of the police cars and ambulances beginning to converge, his gaze deep and unreadable.
Zhao Yingkong and Ming Yanwei stood silently to the side, adjusting their breathing and observing the veterans. Lu Renjia, on the other hand, slumped to the ground, his face deathly pale.
"The most urgent task is to leave the accident site, avoid excessive contact with the authorities, and find a relatively safe, easily monitored, and defensible temporary base," Chu Xuan decided. "The urban environment is complex, with many variables, and the 'coincidences' that Death can exploit are endless. The wilderness may seem open, but it lacks resources and shelter, and we may encounter other unexpected events (wild animals, weather, geological disasters). We need a compromise—a detached building near the city, with a wide view, a sturdy structure, a water source, and a backup exit."
"Agreed." Wang Lin nodded. "In addition, we need to gather information. There are several Final Destination movies, and the 'rules' and 'solutions' of each one are subtly different. We need to confirm which one this is as soon as possible, or whether the main god has made any modifications. We can try looking in newspapers, on television news, or..." He looked at the few surviving characters from the story.
The group of people were surrounded and questioned by the arriving police and paramedics. They were crying, breaking down, and speaking incoherently.
"The characters in the plot are key." Chu Xuan also looked over. "They are usually priority targets on the Grim Reaper's list, and they are also 'samples' for us to observe the Grim Reaper's attack patterns and logic chains. But contacting them will also draw us into the Grim Reaper's field of vision. Risk and opportunity coexist."
"I'll make contact," Zheng Zha volunteered. "I'm capable of protecting myself. Wang Lin, Chu Xuan, you need to gather more background information about this world. The rest of you, before meeting at the temporary base chosen by Chu Xuan, try to disperse as much as possible, but keep in touch via communicators, don't get separated, and be alert for any unusual activity."
"Be careful not to use superhuman strength lightly, lest you attract the 'special attention' of Death or the attention of the authorities," Wang Lin warned.
The group quickly dispersed. Zheng Zha headed towards the accident scene, attempting to approach the characters in the story as a "survivor" and a "helpful person." Chu Xuan went to an old-fashioned phone booth by the roadside, trying to use hacking techniques (he had exchanged for relevant knowledge and micro-devices) to access the network or communication system. Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, Ling Dian, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Zhang Jie, and the three newcomers moved towards several alternative locations in the eastern suburbs of the city that Chu Xuan had initially selected using his laptop.
As Wang Lin walked, he subtly spread his mental energy, his enhanced spiritual vision allowing him to "see" even more subtle energy flows. In the air, besides the scorching heat and chaotic life magnetic field left by the explosion, he faintly sensed an extremely obscure, cold, and "ending" gray energy thread, like a spider web, lingering around the accident site, especially on the survivors. Even… one or two extremely fine threads seemed to have also touched a few members of the Central Continent Team, including himself!
"This is... the mark of death? Or rather, the 'Death Causal Line'?" Wang Lin's heart skipped a beat. He tried to use his newly acquired knowledge of contract theory and rule perception to "touch" the gray line connecting him. The gray line was cold and lifeless, devoid of any emotion, containing only the pure rule of "termination." The moment his mental energy touched it, the gray line rippled slightly, as if it had been activated, and an indescribable chill ran through him.
He immediately stopped the probe, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "I can't actively provoke it... otherwise it might trigger an attack prematurely."
"Wang Lin, what's wrong?" Zhan Lan noticed his unusual behavior and asked through their mental connection.
"It's nothing, I just made a discovery. I'll discuss it with Chu Xuan after we meet up," Wang Lin said in a low voice. He needed Chu Xuan's analytical skills.
The group quickly arrived at an abandoned small freight station in the eastern suburbs. There were several warehouses and a two-story building. The location was relatively remote, but close to the road, with a decent view, and the building structure was fairly sturdy. Chu Xuan confirmed the location via communicator and remotely guided them to check the water and electricity (which were cut off, but a backup generator could be connected), ventilation, structural safety, and planned preliminary defense arrangements and escape routes.
As evening fell, Zheng Zha and Chu Xuan arrived one after the other. Zheng Zha's expression was grave: "We've made contact. It's Alex, the protagonist of the first book, and several of his classmates. They all firmly believe that Alex's 'prophecy' saved them, but this has also plunged them into greater panic. The police seem to be investigating Alex. I sense... there's something ominous about them."
Chu Xuan then brought more detailed information: "Through online research and news snippets, it was confirmed that the background is 'Final Destination 1,' but the timeline has changed. The news also mentioned several similar, inexplicable 'chain of accidental deaths' that have occurred in various places over the past few years, suggesting that the Grim Reaper system may have already existed and been active. In addition, I analyzed the data and satellite images from the accident site (briefly accessed) and found that the explosion's epicenter, the trajectory of the vehicle debris, and even the survivors' landing locations all exhibit subtle, illogical 'coincidental overlaps,' which aligns with the characteristics of Grim Reaper manipulating 'logic chains.'"
He projected the data onto the temporarily cleared wall: "Based on the existing information, the core logic of the Grim Reaper attack is 'cause and effect' and 'probability.' It cannot directly violate the laws of physics to kill people out of thin air, but it can infinitely amplify the originally extremely low probability of fatal coincidences in the environment, making them inevitable. The priority of attack targets may be related to factors such as the 'original death list,' 'the degree of resistance to death,' and 'the degree of unexpected intervention.' As a 'variable,' we have likely already been placed in a high priority category."
"In other words, we could encounter all sorts of 'accidents' at any time over the next fifteen days," Ba Wang spat.
"Then what do we do? We can't just stay here forever, can we? We need to get food, water, and intelligence," Li Shuaixi asked.
"We need to be proactive, but we need to be strategic," Wang Lin said, taking out the contract paper. "The Grim Reaper's attack is based on a 'logic chain.' We can try to use rules to interfere with, disrupt, or even... temporarily 'block' the logic chain from affecting specific targets."
"Oh?" Chu Xuan's gaze sharpened as he looked at the contract. "Your contract can affect the Grim Reaper's 'Rules of Death'?"
"It can't directly influence them, but it can influence 'people'," Wang Lin explained, simultaneously channeling his mental energy. The pale gold patterns on the contract paper glowed slightly. "The essence of a contract is 'agreement' and 'exchange.' It can temporarily alter the signatory's 'state,' 'behavioral patterns,' and even the 'probability of interaction' with the environment. For example, we can sign a temporary contract: 'For the next twenty-four hours, the signatory must actively avoid all known high-risk behaviors (such as approaching windows, using sharp tools, being under unstable structures, etc.) and maintain extraordinary vigilance towards the environment. In exchange, the signatory will receive a temporary boost from the 'contract,' slightly enhancing their alertness and instinct to avoid 'accidents.'"
"This kind of contract, in essence, uses the power of rules to forcibly increase the signatory's 'survival focus' and 'danger avoidance efficiency,' thereby reducing the probability of being caught by the Grim Reaper's logic chain," Chu Xuan immediately understood. "However, it requires the signatory to be 'willing' and highly cooperative, and the power of the contract is limited, unable to completely offset high-probability death traps. Moreover, it is ineffective against the Grim Reaper itself."
"Yes, this is just a supplementary measure to buy time and reduce basic mistakes." Wang Lin nodded. "More importantly, we need Chu Xuan's computing power, combined with Zhan Lan's scanning, my danger perception and spiritual vision, and the observations of others, to establish a dynamic 'death probability monitoring network.' We need to analyze all potential danger factors in the environment in real time, calculate the probability of them triggering a chain of accidents, and proactively intervene and disrupt that 'coincidence point' before the probability exceeds a certain threshold."
Chu Xuan's eyes flashed with data: "Okay. I need everyone's real-time sensory data, location information, and environmental scan data. Zhan Lan, your mental scan needs to be more refined, focusing on microscopic anomalies such as abnormal energy accumulation, structural stress changes, and the aging rate of objects. Wang Lin, your danger perception and spiritual vision data are key inputs. Zero, Overlord, and Li Shuaixi, you are responsible for vigilance and physical intervention. Zheng Zha and Zhang Jie, you serve as the mobile force and last line of defense. Newcomers, you will be responsible for monitoring and internal affairs within the base, while also receiving basic training."
He quickly assigned tasks and began setting up a temporary information processing center using the simple equipment he had brought.
Wang Lin then began drafting the "Survival Focus" contract. The terms were clear, the consequences explicit (violators would suffer minor misfortunes, such as slipping on flat ground or tool damage, which could be fatal in the world of death), but the effects were also real (increased vigilance and evasive instincts). Under the threat of death, everyone signed without hesitation.
The contract was established, and a pale golden light flashed across everyone. Wang Lin could feel that the connection between the contract and each person was becoming stronger, and a faint, rule-based power that enhanced their "survival instincts" began to take effect.
The next few days were spent in this highly tense, tightrope-walking state.
Death has indeed begun its "design".
The next day, Li Shuaixi and Ba Wang, who were out searching for supplies, encountered the GG sign that "accidentally" fell in the supermarket parking lot. If it weren't for Ba Wang's vigilance, amplified by the contract, pulling Li Shuaixi out of the way, and Ling Dian's long-range shot missing the key support point of the falling GG sign, the two would have been seriously injured, if not killed.
On the third day, the electrical circuits in the base "mysteriously" short-circuited due to aging, causing a small fire. At the same time, a discarded chemical canister "coincidentally" leaked from the ventilation duct. It was Zhao Yingkong (who seemed to have an instinctive sense of danger) who noticed the odor in advance, and Ming Yanwei decisively cut off the main power switch and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher, preventing an explosion and toxic gas.
On the fourth day, while scanning with her mental energy, Zhan Lan suddenly "saw" an abnormal accumulation of structural stress in a distant water tower, its target pointing directly at their base! Chu Xuan calculated and immediately notified everyone to evacuate. A few minutes later, the water tower collapsed with a roar, the water and debris almost submerging half of the freight station. Because they had evacuated to a safe area in advance, no one was injured.
Each "accident" seems like a coincidence, yet they are all interconnected, malicious and precise. Each resolution relies on the team's early warning, calculation, and decisive action, as well as a touch of "luck" or "alertness" brought about by the contract.
Death seems to have been enraged, and the frequency and complexity of its attacks are increasing.
On the seventh day, Zhang Jie, who had been keeping a relatively low profile, encountered a "carefully designed" chain-reaction car accident trap while on a reconnaissance mission. Five cars crashed into the street corner where he was from different directions at impossible angles! Zhang Jie displayed a skill far beyond his usual performance, weaving through the gaps between the vehicles like a ghost, and even using the flying debris in mid-air for leverage to escape. However, his left arm was also cut with a deep gash that exposed the bone.
Back at the base, Zhang Jie silently tended to his wounds, the atmosphere somewhat tense. Zheng Zha and the others looked at him with even deeper scrutiny. That kind of skill was far beyond the reach of ordinary veterans.
Wang Lin and Chu Xuan exchanged a glance, understanding dawning on them. Zhang Jie's identity was about to be exposed. And Chu Xuan's survival had clearly changed Zhang Jie's "script."
That night, Wang Lin was using his knowledge of contract theory to try to decipher the "death gray lines" wrapped around everyone, attempting to find a way to temporarily shield or mislead them, when he suddenly felt an extremely strong sense of danger, not from the outside world, but... from the sleeping team members beside him!
He suddenly opened his eyes, activating his spiritual vision to its fullest extent! He saw that the deathly gray line on Lu Renjia's body, who was sleeping in the corner, had become incredibly thick and was growing wildly like a vine, actually wrapping around Zhao Yingkong and Ming Yanwei in the adjacent bunks! Even more terrifying, Lu Renjia's body was undergoing a strange change. Countless tiny things seemed to be wriggling under his skin, his eyes were rolling violently under his eyelids, his mouth was wide open, revealing his gleaming white teeth, and strange "clucking" sounds were coming from his throat.
"He's possessed!? No, it's Death using something inside him... to his advantage!" Wang Lin instantly realized that Death, seeing its external attacks repeatedly thwarted, was trying to break through from within! Although Lu Renjia survived the Curse of the Dead, he was likely corrupted by the resentment, leaving him with hidden dangers. Now, Death was detonating these dangers, intending to turn him into a "human bomb" or a mutated monster!
"Wake up, everyone! Stay away from Lu Renjia!" Wang Lin shouted sternly, shaking the [Soul-Suppressing Bell] at the same time!
A crisp, soul-shaking bell rang throughout the warehouse! Lu Renjia's body stiffened abruptly, and the gray lines spreading across his body and the writhing beneath his skin stopped for a moment.
But that one moment is enough!
Zheng Zha pounced like a cheetah, his vampire energy transforming into sharp claws, viciously grabbing at Lu Renjia's neck! Zhang Jie also attacked at the same time, his short blade thrusting straight at Lu Renjia's heart! Zero-point bullets were loaded and aimed at the head.
"Wait! Don't kill him!" Chu Xuan suddenly shouted. "Death is using him! Killing him might trigger even more uncontrollable mutations or explosions! Zhan Lan, use Mental Shock at maximum power to disperse the abnormal energy gathering within him! Wang Lin, use Contract Interference to sever Death's control over him!"
Zhan Lan gritted her teeth, the silver markings on her forehead gleaming brightly, and invisible mental spikes pierced into Lu Renjia's chaotic sea of consciousness! Wang Lin concentrated his mental power, using the extremely weak connection between the contract paper and Lu Renjia (which included him when the team contract was signed), and reversed the flow of a rule-based intention of "forced awakening" and "resistance to control"!
"Ah—!!!" Lu Renjia let out a non-human scream, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his body convulsing violently, the writhing under his skin becoming even more frantic, but the spreading gray lines began to fluctuate violently and become unstable.
Just then, Zhang Jie suddenly groaned, clutching his chest and showing pain on his face. The aura that had been hidden so deeply that even Wang Lin's spiritual vision could not see clearly fluctuated violently. A "shackle" or "mark" that was far more subtle than that on Lu Renjia, but whose essence seemed to be somewhat similar, faintly emerged.
"Zhang Jie! You..." Zheng Zha looked at him in shock.
Zhang Jie raised his head, his face pale, and glanced at everyone with a complicated expression, especially Zheng Zha and Wang Lin. Finally, he gave a bitter laugh: "Damn it... I couldn't hide it anymore..."
Before the words were even finished, the gray threads on Lu Renjia's body suddenly exploded! They didn't disappear, but transformed into countless finer threads. Some retracted back into Lu Renjia's body (he collapsed, his fate unknown), while others, like venomous snakes, suddenly coiled around Zhang Jie, whose breathing was unsteady! And Death's next attack seemed to have found a new opening. A sickening metallic twisting sound came from the warehouse ceiling, several load-bearing beams cracked simultaneously, and huge concrete blocks began to loosen and fall! The target was precisely the area where Zhang Jie was!
Death seems to have realized that Zhang Jie, this "special existence," is unstable and wants to take the opportunity to eliminate this "variable" and "hidden danger" at the same time!
Beset by internal and external troubles, a truly deadly crisis erupts at this moment!