Chapter 8, On the Edge of Crisis

Moreover, it is often said that art originates from life, and there is indeed some truth to this statement

At this sight, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he felt a tingling sensation on his scalp

They are like wax figures, vividly lifelike, yet devoid of any vitality or spirit, merely inanimate objects

This is purely nonsense

Just as they had done not long ago, they had the audacity to repeat it once more, not merely out of courage, but driven by the cruel pleasure that resided within their hearts

Even the so-called twelve-level pain scale is merely a fabricated concept, but it is sufficient to understand its meaning

The two guards opposite likely did not expect that just as they turned around, they would see a young man sprinting towards them

... ...

However, what he did not expect was that after coming here, he had not encountered any danger until he let his guard down, and now such an unexpected incident has suddenly occurred.

Along the way, he saw countless anxious and fearful people seeking refuge, and he also saw corpses in every street and alley, each one with eyes wide open in death.

He was thus frozen, unable to move at all, wanting to scream but daring not to make a sound, wanting to tremble yet his body remained rigid and motionless

This is indeed a very frightening emergency, and he was not at all mentally prepared to face such harsh circumstances

Mo Chen is currently in such a situation. Many people have seen news reports on television about shootings, massacres, and terrorist attacks, and have at least thought about how they would respond if they encountered such events themselves

However, this time was slightly different; they realized that the half a second they had delayed was so crucial that as soon as they raised their arms, the young man opposite had already leaped with remarkable speed, accelerating into a narrow path beside them

Moreover, he also noticed that the number of patrolling guards on the streets was increasing, and his situation was becoming increasingly perilous

This is a nightmare, but it is not something that can be awakened from at any moment. Fear tightly grips Mo Chen's heart and soul, leaving his mind in chaos. He can only think of strategies in this frenzied manner, almost violently forcing himself to calm down.

However, to say that one can smoothly navigate from beginning to end, everyone else is blind, and only he himself has clear vision and extraordinary luck

Indeed, it is essential to clarify the current situation before proceeding

This is completely unreasonable

He no longer knows how many times he has cautiously lightened his footsteps, carefully peering out to check, until he confirms that there is no one in the alley around the corner, and only then does he crouch down stealthily, preparing to rush to the end in one breath

Mo Chen discovered that his situation had become more serious

The desolate city, with empty streets, is eerily silent, interrupted only by the sporadic sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from various directions

Suddenly, they disappeared from sight, leaving only the sound of the other person quickly running away.

However, he responded promptly

Is it only you who is a keyboard master, while those who suffer are relatively weak? As ordinary people, there are things that everyone struggles with; just because you pick up the keyboard and start typing, does that mean you can do it well?

It is impossible to have only one path; one can find a way around from other places

Therefore, those elegantly dressed elite individuals, ladies and gentlemen, do not know how many there are

The argument ahead seems to be growing increasingly intense, while the response from others is the indifferent voices of a few individuals

An uncontrollable fear has become the sole thought occupying his entire mind at this moment, as a chill originating from the base of his spine rapidly spreads throughout his body, stimulating all his nerves

One must not expose oneself, first hide away, and wait for the right opportunity... then, then...

Mo Chen could not stop the car at all, and at this moment, even if he could stop it, it would be of no use. He raised his head and almost immediately saw.

Mo Chen's mind was blank; he only knew to stand still. It was not until a full five or six seconds later that he came to his senses, and then, almost without thinking, he directly moved to the side and pressed tightly against the wall.

Although it is said that the pain threshold of the human body and the value of labor pain are likely a case of misinformation circulating on the internet, there is no conclusive medical evidence or research to support this.

Everything happened too quickly. They exchanged a glance, both momentarily bewildered, and after a brief exchange of words, they began to run swiftly, filled with murderous intent, and pursued the target.

Every key intersection is blocked, every block has guards patrolling, and there are even some outlaws taking advantage of the chaos, roaming around, looking for opportunities to commit crimes, killing and setting fires, committing all sorts of atrocities

This is still due to the fact that he heard the voices of those people from a relatively far distance

There is no way out!

That is the sound of footsteps and curses

Although various potential dangers were somewhat considered in advance, the possibilities imagined and the actual facts faced are completely different matters. It is similar to the so-called pain of childbirth; many people are aware of what is referred to as a "level 10 pain".

... ...

Just a moment ago, they were merely ordering people not to go out, blocking roads, and there was still some degree of communication or a semblance of safety. Now, however, they essentially kill anyone they see, as long as it is in a slightly remote area

... ...

Because the imagined and the real are always different

In such circumstances, it is not surprising to be able to safely cross a single line of defense; crossing three to five lines of defense consecutively can also be considered a stroke of good luck

After all, from Mo Chen's perspective, it was difficult to see clearly; all he could see was that they were sprawled haphazardly on the ground, with blood flowing profusely, staining the street red

Withdrawing his gaze, Mo Chen concealed his body back into the street, gradually retreating behind him, while firmly reaching this conclusion in his mind.

If I continue like this, I will never return to the other side of the "door". Even if I am not caught by those behind me, I will only become lost in this city, encountering other enemies... continuing to draw their attention...

It seems that both parties are repeatedly arguing about something, and ultimately ... ...

However, this is ultimately just an imagination; when they truly confront that terrifying reality in person, it becomes entirely different

Similarly, although he could not understand, Mo Chen could discern the serious, authoritative tone of the official command within it

He held his breath, fearing that he might disturb some ancient behemoth, slowly turned around, and then glanced around, quickly searching for a narrow and dark alley, swiftly darting into it

Moving cautiously at a turtle's pace to the corner of the street, Mo Chen tried to lower his body and looked outside from a lower angle

However, those who have never truly experienced it cannot comprehend what the concept of "labor pain equivalent to level ten suffering" really entails

Amidst a flurry of curses, two strong men dressed as guards emerged from the corner at the end, one hand gripping a gun and the other holding a bloodied saber, their faces filled with fierce menace

... ...

... ...

Moreover, Mo Chen himself did not possess the awareness of a keyboard master; he was well aware that he could not perform exceptionally well in such situations. What he had previously considered was merely the thought of "if I encounter danger after it has passed, I will return immediately"

Damn it! How could this happen!

Mo Chen navigated as much as possible through the remote and dimly lit alleys, occasionally climbing cautiously along the massive iron pipes to reach the rooftops of the buildings, searching for the surrounding "signposts" to confirm the original route direction and adjust his travel plans.

The types of firearms in this world are uncertain as to which stage of gunpowder weapons they have developed to, but the level of advancement is likely not too remarkable. However, within a range of ten to twenty meters, as long as it is a firearm, the lethality and accuracy are still guaranteed

He made a decision in an instant, abruptly turned around, then suddenly stopped, shifting into a crouching position, moving with care and caution

This is also quite natural; the general impoverished and lower classes are most aware of how to protect themselves to the greatest extent. Their existence is already quite difficult, and they do not seek out trouble.

The preparation was indeed carried out in this manner, and he truly did so. However, this time, just as he was making a strong sprint and had reached the halfway point, he heard commotion coming from ahead once again

Under the threat of bullets potentially flying in from behind, he ran out in a panic without thinking, covering quite a distance. It was only then that he realized if he continued like this, he would completely lose his sense of direction

... ...

Otherwise, how could it be said that "between life and death, there is great terror"

The soul has silently slipped away from their open mouths and bleeding orifices

A sudden burst of short but intense gunfire rang out, accompanied by horrific screams, causing Mo Chen, who had instinctively stopped in his tracks and ceased to advance, to feel as if his heart had suddenly skipped a beat.

It is completely a case of being blinded by rage, the kind that leads to reckless aggression. The soldiers, who were originally tasked with maintaining public order, have, at this moment, become no different from the bandits.

One must absolutely not expose oneself, and one must absolutely not go past here

That is to say, women experience immense pain during childbirth, to the extent that it can be described as unbearable. However, regardless of how this pain is exaggerated or fabricated into various levels of intensity, and regardless of its credibility, those who have not personally experienced it will never truly understand.

Mo Chen is currently making a tremendous effort to control himself; he desperately wants to turn around and run, to leave this place far behind, and to rush back to the location where those people are hiding.

For safety reasons, he abandoned the direct route back, resulting in the necessity to spend more time and effort taking a detour

He is not a seasoned warrior, but rather a "fighter" who has gained awareness

Therefore, no matter how terrifying or how panicked he felt, he could only keep his eyes open, forcing himself to remain standing here.

They were somewhat astonished, and it indeed took a full half a second for them to react. Both of them immediately raised the handguns in their hands, their fingers resting on the triggers, displaying fierce expressions and bloodthirsty gazes

There is a piercing roar generated by the electric train as it speeds past on the electrified track above

Bang

It is only normal to rush forward in a hurry, especially considering that the most important factor is that he is unfamiliar with the area and has no way of knowing which route he is taking.

The entire city has undoubtedly fallen into the turmoil of war, and those who remain outside at this time must bear immense risks, yet Mo Chen finds himself utterly helpless

No matter how cautious Mo Chen is, he is still not a master thief or a legendary assassin with exceptional stealth skills, and he cannot safely navigate through the perilous city.

Mo Chen had never realized that his eyesight was so good, as he was able to see their terrified and distorted faces, their gaping mouths bleeding, and their frozen, lifeless pupils

Perhaps it was the riotous guards who killed him, or perhaps he was looted by some ill-intentioned individuals taking advantage of the chaos

In the distance are those soldiers, who may have received some orders, setting up checkpoints and blocking the roads. The group of people who had previously argued with them should be from certain upper-class circles, elite individuals, dressed in splendid attire

Bang bang bang

Undoubtedly, the recent shooting ruthlessly claimed their lives

Although this would divert him from his original path, it is crucial for his survival at this moment. If he does not run now, or if he suddenly stops and turns back, he fears he would be shot dead on the spot.

However, he knows that such an approach is incorrect—there is still a chance if he makes a final effort now; although it cannot be said that there will be no opportunities afterwards, they will certainly be very slim.

To dominate the lives of others, this feeling is so good

By the way, how far is it from here to the location of the "door"? Is it possible to take a detour?

As time goes by, the probability of survival becomes increasingly slim

This kind of movement and stillness, regardless of how one looks at it, is certainly not a joke.

He suddenly widened his eyes, and then almost without a moment's thought, he accelerated and burst into a side alley.

Under such circumstances, where one could be pursued and killed by enemies from behind at any moment, who would have the presence of mind to discern directions and formulate a plan

This is not a joke

Therefore, it is just like this now