radicalducati Chapter 17 Death Match
Chapter 17 Death Match
It was 1 a.m. at the Municipal Children's Hospital.
The glass doors of the emergency room shone with a stark white light, and occasionally, hurried medical staff and anxious family members went in and out. The air was thick with the unique smell of disinfectant mixed with a sense of oppressive fear. This was a place where life was most vulnerable and emotions were most intense.
When Cheng Song arrived, his heart was still pounding from his frantic run. He leaned against the shadow of the hospital's outer wall, quickly adjusting his breathing, and pushed up his glasses, activating the special extraction lens for deep scanning.
The data stream on the lens refreshed rapidly, filtering out most normal life and energy signals, and focusing on capturing features such as corruption, anomalies, and runes.
Soon, outside the side door of the emergency department, deep in the shadow of the bushes used for landscaping, Cheng Song locked onto three clustered, bright red targets, as well as an energy source emitting ominous fluctuations.
Cheng Song approached silently, like a ghost blending into the night, avoiding the angles of surveillance cameras and using the shadows of green plants and buildings as cover as he advanced.
When he was twenty meters away, he could clearly see the movements of the three people.
Dressed in uniform black overalls, they moved with practiced speed and precision, embedding black stone slabs, inscribed with intricate and twisted patterns, into the ground at specific angles to form a circular rune array approximately three meters in diameter. At the center of the array sat a sealed metal jar, about the size of a basketball, its surface covered with dark green runes.
Warning messages kept popping up on the glasses:
[Warning: "Pain Resonance Amplification Rune Array" detected (not fully activated) - Intermediate Ritual Magic]
[Effect: Extracts, gathers, and amplifies the negative emotional energy of pain, fear, despair, etc., from all intelligent life forms within the range, transforming it into a high-concentration corrupting pollution. Radius of influence: 50 meters (may expand upon full activation).]
[WARNING: High concentration of active corrosive contaminant detected (sealed)]
[Status: Can serve as the core of a rune array, significantly enhancing the efficiency and intensity of corruption conversion. Once activated, in conjunction with the rune array, it can transform all unprotected ordinary people within the affected radius into "mildly corrupted" or "mentally broken" individuals within ten minutes.]
[Threat Level: High! It is recommended to immediately abort the ritual!]
Cheng Song's pupils constricted sharply. These beasts! Not only were they conducting tests, but they were also creating a small-scale pollution outbreak! Their target was the already vulnerable children and their families in the emergency department!
Can't wait any longer!
He gripped the ever-changing short stick tightly, his body slightly lowered, preparing to launch a surprise attack.
However, just as his muscles tensed, the tallest and most ferocious man at the edge of the rune array, who was checking the connection of the rune plates, suddenly raised his head!
It was a face covered in scars, with eyes as fierce as a hungry wolf. As if sensing something, his cloudy eyes darted through the darkness, precisely locking onto the direction of the bushes where Cheng Song was hiding!
"Who's there?!" the scarred man growled, his voice hoarse and grating. He flipped his right hand, and a dagger with a blade that gleamed with an eerie green light and was twisted like a beast's tooth was already in his grasp.
The other two reacted instantly, dropping the stone slabs they were holding and quickly standing up, forming a triangular formation to protect the talisman array and the metal can in the middle. One of them pulled out a short stick wrapped with black cloth strips and studded with spikes at the top; the other held it loosely with both hands, a dark green light flowing from his fingertips, as if preparing to cast a spell.
The aura emanating from these three was far more intense than that of the "young bird" from the bar street! The stench of decay practically seeped from their bodies, and their eyes held little fear, only cruelty and a morbid excitement. Their hands were definitely stained with blood, and they might even... have eaten people.
Quick Lens Analysis:
[Target A: Human (moderately corrupted, physical enhancement focus). Threat level: Medium to high.]
[Target B: Human (Moderately Corrupted, Melee Specialist). Threat Level: Medium.]
[Target C: Humans (Moderate corruption infection, energy manipulation direction - superficial). Threat level: Medium (threat increases over time/with readiness).]
Three experienced, highly trained, and well-coordinated cult members!
Cheng Song knew he had missed his best opportunity to launch a surprise attack. He stopped hiding, slowly stood up from behind the bushes, a short stick in his hand, and stepped out of the shadows, reaching the edge of the halo where the streetlights met the darkness.
The scarred man sized up Cheng Song, noticing his ordinary clothes, the short stick in his hand, and his young but overly calm face. A cruel smile crept across his lips.
"Where did this pretty boy come from?" the scarred man sneered. "Dressed like a respectable person, pretending to be a good Samaritan?" His tone was full of malicious pleasure.
"Why waste your breath on him!" the man with the short stick growled impatiently. "Kill him! Don't delay the instructor's important business!"
The caster had already begun chanting indistinct incantations in a low voice, and the green light between his hands grew brighter and brighter.
Cheng Song didn't wait for them to make a move.
Just as the spellcaster was about to utter the last syllable of his incantation, Cheng Song moved! He hurled the short stick in his hand at the spellcaster! At the same time, he propelled himself forward like an arrow, charging straight at the scarred man in front of him!
The short stick whistled through the air and flew away! The caster was forced to stop chanting and rolled to the side in a sorry state to avoid it.
Cheng Song had already rushed in front of the scarred man! The scarred man grinned maliciously, his green dagger, carrying a foul stench, aimed straight for Cheng Song's throat! The movement was swift, ruthless, and vicious!
But Cheng Song was faster! His Lv5 level nerve reflexes and muscle explosiveness allowed him to dodge the dagger by the slightest margin just as it was about to strike him! At the same time, his free right hand, with its five fingers together, stabbed fiercely at the Neiguan acupoint on the scarred man's wrist holding the dagger, like an iron chisel!
"Hmph!" The scarred man's wrist went numb, and he almost dropped the dagger. He roared, clenched his left fist, and slammed it towards Cheng Song's face with a brute force!
Cheng Song neither dodged nor evaded, and threw a punch in return! The two fists collided!
"Bang!"
A dull thud of flesh colliding. Cheng Song felt a tremendous force, his entire arm went numb, and he took a half step back. The scarred man groaned, staggering back two steps, his eyes filled with shock and anger as he looked at Cheng Song—this kid's strength was almost equal to his own body, which had been enhanced by corruption!
"This is a tough one! Attack together!" the scarred man shouted.
At that moment, the man with the short stick attacked from the flank, the short stick wrapped in black cloth whistling through the air as it swept towards Cheng Song's knee! The angle was tricky!
Cheng Songgang had just exchanged a punch with the scarred man and was still off balance. He could only manage to raise his knee to block!
"Crack!" The short stick slammed into his shinbone, sending a sharp pain through him! Cheng Song gritted his teeth and used the force to roll to the side. At the same time, he braced himself with his left hand on the ground while his right hand reached for his waist—where the last homemade "chili powder smoke bomb" was tucked.
But the spellcaster had already completed his magic! A dark green, serpentine energy arrow hissed as it shot toward Cheng Song's tumbling path!
Too fast! Cheng Song only had time to hold the smoke grenade in front of him!
"puff!"
The energy arrow struck the smoke grenade, detonating it in mid-air! A large amount of pungent powder instantly spread out, enveloping Cheng Song and the surrounding area.
"Cough cough! Damn it!" The man with the short stick choked and staggered backward.
The scarred man also covered his mouth and nose, but his eyes were fixed fiercely on the blurry figure in the smoke. "He can't escape! Surround him!"
Through the smoke, Cheng Song coughed violently, his eyes burning. But he endured it, and based on the blurry outline of the heat source provided by the lens, he charged towards the spellcaster! He had to deal with this remote threat first!
"He's coming towards me!" the spellcaster cried out in alarm upon hearing the approaching footsteps, frantically trying to cast the spell again.
But Cheng Song had already broken out of the smoke. Although his eyes were red and tearful, his movements did not falter! He abandoned his defense and charged headlong into the spellcaster!
"Bang!" The two collided and tumbled to the ground. The spellcaster was thin and had virtually no close-combat ability, and was firmly pinned down by Cheng Song. Cheng Song's fists were like iron hammers, raining down on the opponent's face and chest!
"Ugh! Help...!" The spellcaster's scream was abruptly cut short as Cheng Song knocked him unconscious with a punch.
But Cheng Song's back was exposed! The scarred man's dagger and the short stick man's stick attacked from behind at the same time!
Cheng Song sensed an ominous wind behind him and could only forcefully turn around, using his left arm to block the short stick man's blows, while at the same time he stretched out his right hand to try to grab the scarred man's wrist holding the dagger!
"Crack!" A clear sound of bone breaking came from his left arm! The excruciating pain made Cheng Song's vision go black.
But he also managed to grab the scarred man's wrist! The immense force brought the dagger to a stop just centimeters from his throat!
"Die!" The scarred man's face was contorted with rage as he pressed down on the dagger with all his might.
Cheng Song held on tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. His left arm was throbbing with pain and powerless, and he struggled with the scarred man's right hand. The short stick man's second blow was already coming, aimed straight at the back of his head!
A matter of life and death!
At this critical moment, a fierce glint flashed in Cheng Song's eyes. He stopped wrestling with the scarred man, suddenly released his grip, and leaned backward with the force of the man's downward pressure. At the same time, his right leg lashed out upward like a scorpion's tail!
"puff!"
This kick landed squarely between the scarred man's legs!
"Agh—!!!" The scarred man let out a shrill, inhuman howl, his eyes bulging out, all his strength instantly dissipating. The dagger clattered to the ground, and he clutched his lower body, curling up like a shrimp and gasping for breath.
The short stick man's stick grazed the back of Cheng Song's head, then struck the ground, sending up pebbles.
After falling to the ground, Cheng Song immediately rolled away, dodging the man with the short stick's pursuit. He knelt on one knee, panting heavily, his left arm hanging limply at his side, his forehead covered in a mixture of cold sweat and blood. His eyes were so irritated by the chili powder that he could barely open them, only managing to squint.
The man with the short stick looked at the scarred man and the spellcaster lying on the ground, then at Cheng Song, who, though disheveled, still had a cold and fierce look in his eyes, and fear appeared on his face for the first time.
"Damn it!" The man with the short stick's voice trembled. He glanced at the metal can in the center of the rune array, then at the direction of the hospital, seemingly having a fierce internal struggle.
Ultimately, the fear of punishment from his instructor overwhelmed everything. A flash of madness crossed his face as he charged towards the rune array, pulling a black wooden nail inscribed with detonation runes from his pocket, ready to plunge it into the metal can—he wanted to forcibly activate the source of contamination and perish together with it!
"Don't even think about it!" Cheng Song gritted his teeth, used his still-functioning right hand to support himself on the ground, and suddenly leaped up, pouncing on the man with the short stick!
But his left arm was injured, slowing his movements slightly! The wooden nail in the man with the short stick had already pierced the seal on the metal can!
The jar began to shake violently, and the runes on its surface flickered wildly! A nauseating, sweet, rotten stench, accompanied by a low, buzzing sound that sounded like the agonizing cries of countless people, began to seep out from the cracks!
"Hahaha! Let's die together!" The man with the short stick laughed maniacally.
Cheng Song's eyes widened in fury! He was already in mid-air and it was too late to stop it!
At this very last moment—
"Buzz!"
A clear, moonlit, and lightning-fast silver-white streak suddenly shot from the direction of the hospital rooftop! It struck the wooden nail that was about to be fully embedded, and the wrist of the man holding the nail with perfect accuracy!
"laugh!"
The wooden nail was knocked away, and a small, charred hole appeared through the man's wrist! He screamed and clutched his wrist.
The silvery-white streak of light then made a light swirl in the air, like a living fish, before flying back towards the rooftop.
Cheng Song landed and looked up in shock.
On the edge of the rooftop of the hospital's main building, a tall, slender figure stood. The moonlight outlined his silhouette, and his wide white hooded cloak fluttered slightly in the night breeze. His face seemed to be covered by a plain white mask, and in his hand he held an ancient-looking longbow that gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
Mysterious companions!
There's no time to think! The seal on the metal can has been breached, and contamination is leaking! It must be dealt with immediately!
Despite the excruciating pain, Cheng Song lunged towards the jar and used his still-functioning right hand to press down hard on the crack pierced by the wooden nail! At the same time, he concentrated all his mental energy and frantically activated the Thousand Forms!
The watch on his wrist instantly softened and flowed, spreading along his arm, covering his entire right hand and forearm, finally condensing and shaping at his forearm into a lightweight arm shield with sharp edges, a thick center, and a surface shimmering with dark blue runes! The center of the shield pressed precisely against the crack!
The material of the thousand-shaped container seemed to have a natural isolating and suppressing effect on corruption and pollution. The leaking odor was temporarily sealed off, and the vibration of the jar decreased, but the polluting energy inside was still surging wildly.
"Use this!" A cool, slightly androgynous voice, indistinguishable in gender, suddenly rang in Cheng Song's ears, as if it had entered his mind directly.
Immediately afterwards, a small jade bottle, exuding the scent of sandalwood and fresh herbs, was precisely thrown down from the rooftop and landed at Cheng Song's feet.
Without thinking twice, Cheng Song used his foot to pry open the bottle, revealing a vibrant green liquid inside, radiating a powerful sense of life.
Instant Lens Analysis: [Advanced Purifying Agent. Effects: Powerful purification of low- to medium-level pollutants; oral administration can replenish vitality.]
Without hesitation, Cheng Song poured the contents directly into the crack in the metal can! Then he used his arm shield to press it down firmly once more!
"laugh--!!!"
An even more violent reaction erupted from inside the jar! The emerald green light of purification clashed and annihilated the dark green corruption! The jar trembled violently, and the runes on its surface shattered one after another!
Cheng Song used all his strength to press down on the arm shield, and his whole body was shaken so badly that his blood and qi surged, and a tearing pain came from the wound on his left arm.
Three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds...
Finally, the shaking of the jar stopped. All the abnormal fluctuations disappeared completely. Through the crack, only some grayish-white residue could be seen inside.
Purification successful.
Cheng Song, utterly exhausted, released his arm shield and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. A piercing pain shot through his left arm, and his vision blurred in waves.
He looked up at the rooftop.
The white figure nodded slightly to him. Then, taking a step back, it disappeared at the edge of the rooftop, as if merging into the moonlight.
Cheng Song leaned against the cold metal can, watching the first rays of dawn break on the eastern horizon. The faint cries of a baby and the soothing voices of nurses could be heard from inside the hospital.
At 3:40 a.m., Cheng Song returned to his building.
He didn't go upstairs immediately, but instead sat on the cement edge of the flower bed in front of the building, checking his injuries by the dim light of the street lamp.
My left forearm has a fractured ulna, which is swollen and bruised. I have multiple bruises and abrasions on my back and legs. My forehead has a cut from a piece of gravel, and the blood has already clotted. My muscles are aching all over, especially my left arm; every breath is excruciating.
Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave, affecting not only his body but also his mind. The continuous high-intensity battles, the life-or-death struggles, and the immense drain on him from purifying the source of pollution left him wanting nothing more than to collapse and sleep.
But he can't rest yet.
He first rummaged through the player's backpack for a makeshift first-aid kit, cleaned the wound on his forehead with disinfectant wipes, and applied a large bandage. He couldn't treat the fracture in his left arm, so he made a temporary fixation with bandages and cardboard, slinging it across his chest.
Then, he took out an old-fashioned mobile phone and sent an anonymous text message to Lao Wang at the local police station. The message was extremely brief: "Three suspects carrying dangerous goods have been subdued in the green belt outside the children's hospital. There is residual pollution, which needs to be handled professionally."
After sending the message, he immediately turned off his phone, removed the SIM card, broke it in half, and stuffed it into his backpack along with the phone. Only after doing this did he struggle to stand up, dragging his exhausted and injured body step by step into the apartment building.
The motion-activated lights in the hallway came on with his heavy footsteps, illuminating his pale, blood-stained face and his left arm in a sling. He tried to walk close to the wall to avoid leaving obvious bloodstains on the walls and handrails.
He finally arrived at his doorstep. He took out his keys, his hands trembling slightly from exhaustion and pain, and it took him two tries to insert them into the lock.
"Click."
The door opened. The room was pitch black, and the sound of the father's heavy snoring came from the parents' bedroom.
Cheng Song gently closed the door, went back inside and locked it. Leaning against the door, he slowly slid down to sit on the floor. Only at this moment did his tense nerves relax slightly, and exhaustion and pain completely overwhelmed him. He sat there on the floor, breathing quietly.
I don't know how much time had passed, maybe a few minutes, maybe a dozen minutes. The sky outside the window had changed from inky black to deep blue, and then gradually turned grayish-white.
"Buzz...buzz..." His phone rang.
Cheng Song's body stiffened slightly. He moved with difficulty and used his still-functioning right hand to pull the phone out of his backpack. The screen glowed dimly, displaying a name: Li Wan.
Time: 4:00 AM.
Cheng Song stared at the name, the light from the screen illuminating his tired yet calm face, stained with blood and dust.
Why her? And at this time?
The phone kept vibrating, its sound particularly clear in the quiet entryway, as if carrying an undeniable air of insistence.
Cheng Song remained silent for a full ten seconds.
Finally, he raised his finger and, with his fingertip stained with blood and dirt, gently swiped to answer the call, then put the phone to his ear.
He didn't speak.
It was quiet on the other end of the phone. Only the other person's steady breathing could be heard.
A few seconds later, Li Wan's voice rang out. Gone was the gentle softness of her voice during the day; it was steady, even carrying a peculiar calmness and penetrating power:
"Cheng Song, I'm at the Municipal Children's Hospital, on the third floor of the emergency department, in the on-call doctor's lounge. You have a linear fracture of the midshaft of your left ulna, accompanied by soft tissue contusion. The wound on your forehead requires debridement and suturing. Your current condition is not suitable for you to treat yourself."
"If you trust me," she paused, "come here now. I'll take care of it for you."
"If you don't believe me," she said calmly, "just pretend I never made this call. But given the injury to your left arm and the amount of blood loss, it will be difficult to hide it from your parents after daybreak. Besides, there may be trace amounts of residual radiation on your body, which could cause adverse reactions in ordinary people with prolonged exposure."
"Come, or don't come."
"I'll wait for you until 4:30."
After saying that, the call ended. Only a busy tone remained.
Cheng Song slowly put down his phone, the light from the screen illuminating the shock, wariness, doubt, and a hint of... absurdity surging in his eyes.
Li Wan not only knew he was injured and where he was injured, but also knew that the cause of his injury might involve "contamination radiation".
Was she already in the hospital before she anonymously reported the incident and the police arrived? How much did she see?
An ordinary elementary school Chinese teacher whom I met through a blind date?
Cheng Song leaned against the cold door, watching the sky outside the window grow brighter. Waves of pain shot through his left arm, reminding him of the reality and urgency of his injury.
To go or not to go?
Cheng Song slowly struggled to his feet. He walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Municipal Children's Hospital. The lights were still on there, like a white, unsinkable island.
He looked down at his disheveled left arm, which was slinged to his chest, and then at the number on his phone that had just been dialed—the number belonging to Li Wan.
Then, he turned and went back to the bedroom. He quickly changed into a clean set of dark sportswear, stuffing his blood-stained and torn clothes into his backpack. He re-secured the temporary splint on his left arm and hastily wiped his face with a wet towel.
Finally, he glanced at his parents' closed bedroom door, took a deep breath, and opened the front door.
The motion-activated lights in the hallway lit up one by one again, following his footsteps.
He walked down the stairs, pushed open the unit door, and stepped into the cool, thin fog of the early morning.
His steps were a little unsteady, and his shadow stretched long in the empty street.
Go and meet that extraordinary elementary school teacher.