Chapter 003: The Eve
Colin felt it was truly incredible to hear two people talking nonsense in a single day, and this girl, who was tougher than a tough guy, was both talented in literature and martial arts
Colin, in a frenzy, had blood splattered on his neck, and the bones of one hand cracked and deformed, transforming into a scythe that glimmered with a cold light
The waiter was not surprised by this rather tough response; he had never encountered a woman with such an oppressive presence. If he were to upset her, the outcome would undoubtedly be unfavorable, as she indeed exuded such an aura.
She no longer cared about exposure, pulling out the handgun and firing three shots at Colin's head. The caliber of this handgun was comparable to that of a rifle, and an ordinary person would be unable to withstand such tremendous recoil
Gretel moved faster, a specially designed round was loaded into the sniper rifle, and then the trigger was pulled
It burned for nearly half a minute, leaving Colin with not a trace, dead beyond recovery
Gretel looked at Colin with indifference, causing him to feel somewhat uneasy under her gaze
Gretel's expression was solemn, and the document in her hand was Colin's investigation report
Whether it is Grey's drinking capacity or the so-called abyssal syndrome, it leaves Colin quite bewildered
How do you know
I will conduct some tests on you next, asking some questions to determine your controllability. You must answer seriously, as I can blow your mind at any time
When the waiter inquires
Colin had already consumed alcohol before going to the police station, and now he is feeling a bit tipsy, having only ordered a large glass of draft beer
Greta's cold and stern face remains as calm as an ancient well
We discovered something quite interesting while investigating the identity background of your neighbor and the source of the infection
The chest cavity of the Colin monster emitted an incredibly piercing scream, mingled with the hoarse and desperate wails of a beast.
Gretel remained unfazed, swiftly assembling a large firearm from the suitcase, an astonishing speed that allowed her to complete the assembly in almost two seconds
The condition known as "Deep Abyss Syndrome" is a mental disorder that causes individuals to descend into the realm of reality, gaining insight and access to an ineffable true world, akin to a gradual fall into an abyss, hence the name. Due to variations in individual mental resilience, the majority of those afflicted with Deep Abyss Syndrome will ultimately perish
"She was infected when she came into contact with you; it was you who infected her, leading to her sudden death. You are the dangerous element."
The symbolic realm, which can initially be understood as Jung's collective unconscious, is the universal human spirit that has accumulated countless similar experiences preserved through heredity at the deepest levels of the psyche. However, it also differs in that it incorporates the universal values, common sense, and authority of the current era. From infancy, every individual transitions from the realm of imagination to the symbolic realm, and the varying transitional environments result in a diverse array of individuals. Some individuals merge into the symbolic realm, becoming part of symbols or rules, while others perceive too many flaws within the symbolic realm or express dissatisfaction with it, seeking to instigate change, thereby leading the era or becoming marginalized individuals isolated by society.
Gray remained expressionless, took out her phone, and typed rapidly with her fingers, sending text messages
At this moment, Colin had already lunged forward, frenzied, smashing all the tables and chairs along the way into pieces. That sharp scythe could split a person in half in an instant
Colin originally thought that women would choose fruit wine or non-alcoholic cold drinks in such places
Gretel opened the suitcase, which contained several document folders and disassembled large firearm components. However, Colin did not recognize them; these metal parts bore no apparent relation to firearms.
Suddenly, life was threatened, and the neural network was as if thrown into a bomb, triggering a certain potential within him
The flickering flames reflected on Grey's emotionless face, this kind of commotion was as routine for her as daily life, merely a few shots fired to prevent Colin from resurrecting.
This flame is extraordinarily peculiar; after burning, it does not turn into charcoal, but instead reduces Colin to a dust that disintegrates at a touch
Have you read Jacques Lacan
If personal thoughts become disconnected from the symbolic realm, immunity to the abyssal syndrome will decline
She closed the briefcase after taking out a document
Greta downed the bourbon, which was no less than 100 milliliters, without batting an eye, as if she had merely consumed a glass of plain water
What, then, is the realm of the real
He only felt a strong current rapidly spreading throughout his body, his body uncontrollable, being manipulated by another consciousness, a subconscious that erupted from the depths of his own heart
Grelle pulled back the bolt, chambered a round, showing no sign of jest
What are you telling me these for
However, this situation is different; it can be entirely interpreted as the detective leading to the capture of a perverse child-murderer, who was killed in self-defense. All customers and staff in the tavern serve as witnesses, and because he possesses credentials, he holds the ultimate right of interpretation
The pitch-black muzzle unleashed a deadly tongue of fire, with all three bullets striking precisely. The terrifying power obliterated Colin's head, shattering it into several pieces of flesh, with red and yellow matter splattering everywhere
Have you recently experienced headaches, confusion, and an increased appetite
Please listen carefully, as this is somewhat complex and has a certain degree of subversiveness
Gretchen expressed that she was somewhat thirsty and ordered another glass of bourbon, which she drank in one gulp
Due to the rain, there are only a few scattered patrons in the tavern. The industrial-style decor, with exposed exhaust pipes and vintage brickwork, gives this tavern a somewhat rugged appearance
In these arguments, a person simultaneously exists in three realms: the imaginary realm, the symbolic realm, and the realm of reality
Bang
He is a relatively influential scholar, and his views will be involved in the pathology of the abyssal syndrome.
Colin indeed has these feelings, and they are becoming increasingly severe
Bang
A deafening roar erupted, shattering all the glass in the tavern with the sheer force of the sound wave
Colin did not want to beat around the bush any longer and got straight to the point
Colin's entire skeleton emitted a sound akin to frying beans, his limbs began to contort in an extremely bizarre manner, and the framework of his body rapidly expanded, as if some monstrous entity were about to break free from within him. His skin was stretched taut, revealing terrifying white bones exposed to the outside, with exaggerated plasma oozing out.
In fact, people are unable to perceive the real world; all sensory experiences are merely feedback from the nerves, independent supplements from the brain, rather than the things themselves. One cannot ascertain whether an object corresponds to one's observations, nor can one even perceive its authenticity. One can never witness the entirety of things, or may exaggerate them excessively. This world, filtered through individual consciousness and unknown to outsiders, is referred to as the realm of imagination
Colin finished one cigarette and lit another, beginning to suspect the true purpose of Grey's visit; her actions did not seem to indicate an investigation into the case, but rather a focus on himself
Unexpectedly, I chose a tavern nearby
Strangely
The realm of reality is... the true world, which Kant referred to as the thing-in-itself. Language is powerless in the face of this world; it is something that transcends both matter and spirit. Even if I attempt to explain it to you, it would merely be a form of self-importance, a naming and definition derived from my experiences in the realm of imagination. Each name has its own rules of nomenclature, and the infinite layering of rules upon rules is utterly meaningless. You can understand it in a colloquial sense as the indescribable nature reminiscent of Cthulhu. When our capacity for understanding confronts this nature, which is completely devoid of scarcity, we can only descend into endless chaos.
pound
Kakakak ... ...
Gret's hand rested on her waist, ready to draw her pistol at any moment to deliver a fatal blow to Colin. The police station is considered a sacred place, and in accordance with the spirit of Montesquieu's theory of law, killing indiscriminately would tarnish its essence, hence the decision was made not to converse there
Of course, no one can remain calm after experiencing such an event, as if they were in a B-movie
The location was chosen in a place that was unexpected for Colin; it was assumed that it would be in the police station or in another more formal office space
Colin had never been threatened with a gun before, and a drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. A strong sense of crisis and the intense tension of life and death hanging by a thread caused his blood to surge.
Everyone leave quickly if you do not want to die
Psychological suggestion is crazily transmitted deep into the subconscious
Colin tried using search engines to look up all the keywords, but still could not find any news; it must be that the information is being suppressed, and there is some secret behind this.
Generally speaking, individuals infected with the Abyssal Infection will die within a short period; however, those with strong mental fortitude who manage to endure may acquire supernatural abilities
After these individuals acquire abilities, they often undergo significant personality changes, being manipulated by their own subconscious and the invisible obsessions of the imaginary realm, leading them to choose a path of crime, as they go against mainstream society
Perhaps due to the economic downturn, there are too many down-and-out individuals in Los Angeles, and such establishments that feature sports channels on television, where patrons can simply drink and play poker at low costs, are becoming increasingly popular
The cold gleam flickering in Grey's single eye indicated that things would not progress so smoothly. It is a challenging task to have the infected deal with the infected and serve the authorities. If it were not for the lack of overall strength and the urgent need for personnel, such a desperate measure would not have been taken.
You must find it very strange, I suspect you have searched for reports related to that female corpse, but found nothing, correct
Those who integrate with the realm of symbols, these individual entities are deeply rooted in civilization and cannot be easily invaded
At the same time, Colin also saw her unzip her parka, discreetly retrieve an exaggeratedly large-caliber handgun from her waist, conceal the gun within her clothing, and aim the muzzle at Colin's head
Colin took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, igniting it with a cheap disposable plastic lighter
However, the defenses of those who are out of sync with the mainstream world are weak and susceptible to infection
Colin, without a head, is still able to move; his body and consciousness transcend both the material and spiritual worlds, defying conventional imagination. It is exceedingly difficult to kill those suffering from abyssal syndrome, precisely because they lack vital points. They must be utterly obliterated to the last particle in order to be eradicated
This made Colin somewhat apprehensive, unsure of what she wanted to obtain from him
I have mentioned that this will exceed your cognitive capacity. The condition known as "潜渊症" is a type of mysterious force, the source and treatment of which remain unknown to us
The crisp sound pierced Colin's entire being like a clap of thunder
Containment failure, Subject S-2 has been terminated
"Just like your female neighbor, she could not withstand the impact of the unknown, leading to mental chaos and a sudden death after the mutation."
Such a scene could frighten any mentally mature adult to tears, and now Colin's image is entirely that of a terrifying monster from a splatter film
She peered into your daily routine through that hole, intending to take action, but little did she expect to encounter someone like you, Colin.
I will be killed myself
Colin was directly blasted away by this terrifying force, half of his body shattered into a mist of blood, while the remaining half flew backward, crashing violently into the wall and embedding itself within, engulfed in blazing blue flames
The matter I am about to discuss may sound like a tale from the Arabian Nights, but it will be very helpful for your situation
This is not something that can be explained in just a few words, but we have learned about its susceptible population and certain principles.
You must be mistaken
She is a fugitive serial killer who targets individuals with simple interpersonal relationships. Those who live in single apartments and have no friends make excellent targets, such as yourself
No, I have never even heard of that name
Bang
Greer remained expressionless, her demeanor growing increasingly cold
Bourbon, bourbon whiskey
Controllability? Will a wrong answer lead to death?
But is there a correct answer to the question? Is there such a thing as a correct answer?
Gretel placed the suitcase on the table, sitting only halfway on the bench, her posture extremely standard, resembling a soldier who has undergone rigorous training
The cause of death of that female corpse was determined to be abyssal syndrome, which is a type of mental illness, or one might say, a... supernatural curse
I roughly understand; it is quite an interesting perspective. However, I do not comprehend the connection between this and the female corpse, as well as the abyssal syndrome she was infected with
I will die here myself
Choosing a remote location would certainly raise Colin's alertness and suspicion
I will be killed myself
However, under such a terrifying spectacle, without Grey's reminder, the people in the tavern fled, leaving through the fire exit or the entrance of the tavern