When I am bound in this market lacking mainstream vocalists..."
An unfamiliar yet rhythmic melody suddenly played in Seraphine's mind. This was an unknown song, assembled from fragmented data scattered within Walton's shattered brain. Its meaning was unclear, containing only that one line.
As this snippet appeared, Walton's hazy, broken life map slowly began to reassemble.
Due to the super-brain chip, his information was like scrambled code, making a perfect recovery difficult. Furthermore, this data contained a complex locking mechanism to prevent external decryption. But for Seraphine, who had cracked countless informational locks, this was a minor task.
Decryption was instantaneous.
Because the amount of information was limited, she only reconstructed a simplified Walton's life map. It consisted of his most deeply imprinted memories, summarized by key phrases:
First, tapping the sap... precipitation, thank you coach, we'll meet at the peak... I'm not a fuckboy, just soft-hearted... That heavy rain ruined my college dream... Conscripted soldier is still a soldier... Old soldier BBQ... Large store transfer... Old soldier giving a ride... Just two beers, is it really necessary... Regret, now it's regret... Driver's license revoked... I'm a security guard, protecting peace... Male landlord doesn't know what's good for him, cursed him... Female landlord beautiful as a flower, seduced her... Delivery driver rushed in, beat him... Why does this grandson have so many brothers... Got jumped... I surrender, please stop hitting... Help... ICU... Sentenced... Three views shattered, so there really is a soul... Next life, still a jock... A giant light person appeared... Opened my eyes, reincarnated... In this life, I am a noble... Have to learn foreign languages again, can't stand it... I want to invent a steam engine... In this life, I will definitely ignite the industrial revolution... Damn, my science is bad... Maidens are so beautiful... Living on a living being is truly wonderful... Noble rules are good, why change them... Super-brain Chip, Chip shows its might... Teen genius... Manifested before others... This exhilarating life is truly captivating... Too many fans are also a bother... When will I grow up? So many maidens, I have the tools but can't use them... It's a witch world after all... Goodbye, normal life... Witch world, welcome your monarch... What is all this? Can't understand... Turns out I'm not a genius... Slaughtering pigs and butchering sheep, tired and bitter, and stinky... Forced precipitation... precipitation... precipitation... Quickly precipitating into murkiness... I want to commit suicide... Chip upgrade, Chip shows its might... Turns out I'm still a genius... Teen genius... Manifested before others... So many maidens... My tools can be used, exhilarating... Embracing left and right... Ants, become my stepping stones... Decisive slaughter... Continued decisive slaughter... Clone Secret Art, taking flight... I'm so strong, I'm so handsome, oh yeah... What rotten fish and shrimp... At the peak, only I stand... Battle of Sacred Blood, I'm coming... Every step I take influences the world's destiny... I will definitely slay the Creator God's steed in the future...
After reviewing Walton's entire past and present, Seraphine slowly opened her eyes and chuckled:
"A typical Old Earth transmigrator, who immediately succumbed to low-level desires upon arriving in a new world. His drive is strong, but his efficiency is low, and he's rather foolish. Nearly thirty, yet barely at the Transcendent level—truly a waste.
Tsk, his Old Earth world seemingly lacked the movie 《Darkness Monday》, otherwise, how would he not recognize Mox? And that super-brain chip and the gigantic Light person... Haha, interesting, another high-dimensional Observer?"
Analyzing the situation, Seraphine concluded that Walton's entire journey bore clear signs of being orchestrated. The person responsible was likely the unknown, gigantic Light person he saw in his soul-state after being beaten to death by delivery workers in his past life.
As for who that Light person truly was, their ultimate purpose might only be found by capturing the complete Walton.
Acting on the thought, Seraphine used this life information as an anchor point, activating a composite enemy-seeking Witchcraft operating on the causal plane.
BUZZ!
The void trembled faintly, becoming blurred.
Invisible strands of information related to Walton's life appeared. These strands self-replicated, multiplying from a hundred threads to countless threads before Seraphine's eyes.
Next, this information in her palm turned from void into reality, condensing into shimmering golden threads.
As these flowing golden threads appeared, they gathered like living organisms. In an instant, they wove into a finger-thick, brilliant Golden Rope stretching for thousands of meters.
Seeing the rope formed, Seraphine grasped it and swung it toward the sky.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
As she swung, the Golden Rope automatically formed several sturdy, head-sized rope loops in mid-air.
Exactly ten of them.
At this moment, Seraphine lightly flicked the Golden Rope.
WHOOSH!
The rope's tip, cast from pure gold, flew into the hazy void, speeding toward the distance along the ethereal lines of causality.
Not long after, the various Walton (Clones), who were hunting monsters across the islands of the Sea of Blood, suddenly felt a tug at their necks. Looking down, they saw a golden rope loop encircling their throats.
"What the hell is this?!"
No sooner had the astonished words left their lips than the golden rope loop suddenly tightened, quickly strangling them.
"Damn it! This—this..."
Just as the Waltons frantically tried to unleash Witchcraft to sever the rope, the golden rope tied around their necks suddenly yanked backward.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
All ten Walton (Clones) on the various islands were hurled screaming into the void, vanishing from sight.
...
Outskirts of the Glorious Kingdom.
Seraphine gazed coldly at the ten identical blonde young men, bound by the Golden Rope and struggling relentlessly before her. After instantly plundering their memories, she suddenly smiled and said:
"Good evening, Zhoao."
The Waltons (Zhoao) stiffened instantly, their eyes filled with extreme terror as they looked at Seraphine: "You... You... How do you know?!"
"Wondering how I know your past life's name? Hmm, that's not important."
Seraphine lightly shook her head and spoke naturally in Hanzi: "Which brain contains your chip? It can't split a super-brain chip, can it?"
Upon hearing the term super-brain chip, Walton—no, Zhoao—instantly widened his eyes, trembling all over. His greatest secret, his ultimate trump card, had been so casually revealed by this "person" whose aura was like a demon's.
In a flash, Zhoao's heart was gripped by extreme terror. He stammered, his teeth chattering:
"Who—who are you? This... This is impossible! Where did you learn this?! My memories are completely locked by the chip; no one can possibly break it..."
"Wait!"
Zhoao suddenly seemed to realize something.
He looked at the smiling Seraphine with incomparable shock, his voice hoarse: "You, you just spoke Earth language?! You are... You are an Old Earth person! You're a transmigrator too!"
In an instant, Zhoao felt dizzy and disoriented.
For thirty years since transmigrating to this world, he had believed himself to be the sole transmigrator. Never had he imagined that today he would encounter a fellow countryman, another transmigrator from the same land.
This was not good!
This was a monumental disaster!
Countrymen meeting countrymen never brought tears to their eyes; it only led to two shots in the back!
"Relax, relax. I won't give you 'two shots in the back.'"
Seraphine smiled serenely. "I will simply... tear open your head from the front and study that chip."
With that, giving the other party no chance to reply, a vast and boundless mental force suddenly surged into the heads of the ten Waltons before her.
"No, no, no... Argh... It hurts, ahhh!!"
This sudden torment immediately caused Walton to wail incessantly.
"Found it. You're quite careless, not even knowing which of your clones is the main body. I had to personally intervene to find it."
Seraphine slowly turned, looking toward the fourth Walton from the left, and chuckled, "So, this is your main body."
"No, no, no!"
Walton (Main Body) cried out in fear, frantically clasping his hands together, "Spare me, please spare me. We have no animosity. Please let me go, I beg you..."
CRACK!
"Ah!!" A sudden, sharp pain cut off Walton's words.
Suspended in mid-air, his entire body trembled. He raised both hands, clutching his temples tightly, weeping, "I shouldn't die! I beg you! I beg you!"
CRACK CRACK CRACK!
Amidst Walton's violent screams, his forehead suddenly swelled, opening several bleeding fissures.
From within, a rattling, eye-shaped orb continuously expanded.
The next moment, the man's head, eyes bulging with bloody tears, exploded with a loud bang.
BANG!!
The headless corpse fell to the ground, and the other nine screaming Waltons instantly vanished.
The orb of light also dissipated, revealing a pink, eye-shaped object that was half-mechanical, half-biological.
"This thing..."
Seraphine carefully examined this so-called super-brain chip, a slight frown creasing her brow.
Truthfully, the technological content and level of this chip, in her eyes, were not high.
Its technical level was roughly on par with that of low-tier interstellar civilizations following a biotechnology path. Perhaps it offered minor advantages in size reduction and energy utilization, but overall, it wasn't overly advanced and remained within a comprehensible range.
That is, it lacked any "logic-bending" elements.
Furthermore, based on Zhoao’s recent memories, his past life's Old Earth differed slightly from this Earth's space-time in terms of terrain, countries, and culture. It also differed from Seraphine's own past life on Old Earth.
Thus, Zhoao clearly originated from an unknown parallel space-time.
"No valuable information."
Seraphine lightly shook her head with a sigh. "Another mystery without an answer."
However, Zhoao's existence sparked a question within her. A question that was unsettling, but one she had to ponder for her own safety.
Was the 【Infinite Attributes】 system... another super-brain chip?
"The second Solar System Nova Vance, and now Zhoao, who transmigrated to this witch world—all are transmigrators born from artificial intervention."
Seraphine contemplated calmly, "How similar this is to me."
She slowly looked up at the sky.
Above, grayish-white heavy clouds seemed to be bolted to the firmament, unmoving.
She spoke coldly: "It seems both these individuals have an Observer behind them. So what about me? Is there also a pair of eyes watching me through some gateway?"
"Haha."
Seraphine suddenly chuckled. "Logically speaking, this is almost an inevitability. Otherwise, why would I transmigrate? Why would I possess the 【Infinite Attributes】 system? Behind such things, there must be an unknown instigator."
She wasn't worried about whether her own destiny contained elements of artificial intervention. Generally, when the path ahead is unpredictable, or when difficult situations arise, people feel anxiety, nervousness, panic, uneasiness... various worried emotions. In short, anxiety is a troubled state of mind born from excessive worry about one's future and destiny.
But Seraphine was different. With her divine mental state, such anxiety simply wouldn't arise.
However, Seraphine, who appeared arrogant and unconstrained but was in fact extremely cautious, had considered this issue long ago, at least when she was still on Earth. That is, whether she, who was bound to the 【Infinite Attributes】 system, would eventually be controlled by the potentially existing creator behind the system.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Or perhaps, more cruelly, was the 【Infinite Attributes】 system a kind of Gu worm tool meticulously crafted by a powerful entity? And was she, Seraphine, a Gu worm waiting to be harvested and devoured?
Regarding this question, an answer had already faintly formed in Seraphine's mind.
The answer was: behind the 【Infinite Attributes】 system, there definitely existed an extremely powerful, unknown Creator.
Therefore, targeting this potential Creator of the system, Seraphine had long ago planned a reliable Escape Route, along with a subtle Blinding Technique.
That Escape Route was the 《Full-Dimensional Skyroot Codex》.
That Blinding Technique was the powerful and terrifying Third Layer Material Facade, with its body temperature of hundreds of trillions of degrees Celsius.
【Facade】 inherently meant 【Concealment】.
In a sense, Seraphine had already escaped the evolutionary system dominated by the super-logical entity of the 【Infinite Attributes】 system. Her true essence had long ceased to be the "hard-working" Material Facade that bore the system's daily attribute expansion, or the Four-Dimensional Immortal Primordial Soul.
Instead, it was the First Layer 【True Form】 composed of sixteen four-dimensional unit cells, the Second Layer 【Three-Dimensional Exterior】 composed of 128 three-dimensional unit cells, and a trace of Spirituality that completely transcended the Primordial Soul.
To put it simply, the paths of Spirituality and dimensional ascension, whether increasing 【Quantity】 or 【Quality】, were already far beyond what 【Infinite Attributes】 could compare to.
Even if the 【Infinite Attributes】 system malfunctioned in the future, Seraphine could instantly discard that Material Facade and Immortal Primordial Soul. She could reconstruct both in mere minutes.
Because their essence was nothing more than matter and information.
Even utilizing the Light of Infinity, Seraphine could perfectly manifest these two with any desired Attributes.
However, the Light of Infinity, after all, could not achieve true omnipotence; it still had limits.
For example, Seraphine had once tried to use the Light of Infinity to modify the Infinite Attributes system, like a hacker modifying a computer program. She wanted to gain the system's true GM Privileges.
After all, with attributes only doubling once a day, Seraphine was getting quite bored; she really wanted a change of pace. If she could succeed in gaining control, if she could succeed in modifying it, if the system could accept greater changes...
Then why not change it to doubling ten times a day? A tenfold increase each time.
Hmm, 'multiple' feels a bit small. 'Magnitude' might be better.
So, if it could be changed to doubling a hundred magnitudes every day, how wonderful that would be. Or to be bolder, how about a Googol magnitude every hour? Or even bolder still, how about a Googolplex magnitude every second? Or even bolder still, how about an infinite number of magnitudes every single Planck Time?
Unfortunately, the Light of Infinity could not influence the 【Infinite Attributes】 system. No matter how Seraphine tried to modify it, no matter how she twisted logic and reality, the system remained utterly unmoving, without the slightest change.
Thus, from her current perspective, the 【Infinite Attributes】 system's logical distortion was even 'higher' than that of the Light of Infinity. Its growth seemingly had no limit.
Therefore, Seraphine would still not abandon the system for now, even though she could discard it anytime, anywhere, without harming herself in the slightest.
However, out of cautious consideration and her curiosity to explore the system, Seraphine temporarily had no plans to discard it. She was now mostly observing this system, and the powerful Physical Strength (Facade) and soul (Primordial Soul) that existed because of it, with an investigative gaze.
She was meticulously preparing to respond to any 'Changes' that the system might present in the future.
Based on Seraphine's summary, she believed there were currently four possible Observers:
-
The operator behind the second Solar System.
-
The creator of the Super-Brain Chip.
-
The creator of the 【Infinite Attributes】.
-
The Divine entity behind that reincarnation squad called the Wild Wolves, or rather, the creator of the Divine Space.
These Observers, whose identities and motives were unknown, all shared a distinct characteristic.
That is, an excessive 'Partiality' towards the carbon-based human civilizations of various space-time 'Old Earths'. They seemed intensely interested in Old Earth transmigrators arriving in other worlds, their subsequent experiences, and the series of influences they generated as a result.
They were interested enough to tirelessly traverse various parallel space-times, transporting vast amounts of matter and orchestrating transmigration events. Honestly, they had too much time on their hands.
So, what did they gain from all this?
Was it 'Food' for a further step on their evolutionary path? Or simply for the amusement of toying with weaker beings, thereby gaining pleasure? Or were they researching some 'Thing' that even Seraphine couldn't deduce?
Unknown, all unknown.
Furthermore, these Observers all chose individuals from Old Earth.
So what unique qualities did Old Earth people possess that were so rare among the countless galactic civilizations and endless intelligent lifeforms across the vast universe? What made them worth such elaborate manipulation?
Unknown, still unknown.
In fact, Seraphine, harboring immense doubts about this, had long studied the bodies, souls, and even the deeper Spirituality of Earth or Old Earth people on multiple occasions.
But ultimately, she found nothing conclusive. Because, from every angle, Old Earth people were fundamentally not significantly different from intelligent lifeforms of other planetary civilizations; everyone was merely an ordinary three-dimensional material lifeform.
No, it couldn't be entirely without difference. In terms of evolutionary level, there were still some disparities.
Leaving aside the innate strength of Old Earth human bodies and souls, and how vastly they differed from powerful alien lifeforms like the Mercury Race, Agate Clan, Sea-Eyed People, Didrogutian, and Yonruk People.
There was no need for specific comparisons.
Old Earth humans themselves possessed many very clear 'Design' flaws, or imperfect evolutionary aspects. From the crown of the head to the tailbone, from the eyes to the teeth, from the spine to the knees, there were areas throughout the body that could be improved.
For example, for humans to stand upright, the lower half of the body suffered many unnecessary miseries. The rectal veins, because humans maintain an upright posture, make blood flow back with difficulty. Lacking venous valves, this leads to venous blood stasis, resulting in a unique human ailment: Hemorrhoids.
Not to mention the blind spot in the human eye's structure, the various inconveniences caused by the connection between the trachea and pharynx, the recurrent laryngeal nerve looping back and forth within the body, and the chaotic design flaws in the brain's structure.
One can only say that many evolutionary solutions for the human body are merely compromises. Enduring is key; just getting by is enough.
So, why did Old Earth humans, a species with ordinary intelligence whose bodies and souls are riddled with various problems and deficiencies, receive the favor of those unknown super-space-time entities?
Seraphine was utterly perplexed.
At the same time, regarding the 【Infinite Attributes】 system, she also considered a deeper possibility.
That is, perhaps the system's true root is not her physical body or her informational Primordial Soul, but rather...
Her Root Spirituality.
This wasn't a baseless assumption. After all, powerful beings like the Phoenix of Profound Darkness and Seraphine herself could manipulate and modify the Spirituality of other beings. Therefore, for the 【Infinite Attributes】 system, which was clearly superior in its ability to distort logic, it was certainly capable of doing so, and perhaps even more profoundly.
So profoundly that Seraphine had subjected her own Spirituality to countless self-inspections yet found no trace.
However, at least for now, the system's operational point of leverage was still confined to the body and soul. It did not affect the deeper Root Spirituality, which possessed only 【Quality】 and no 【Quantity】.
Therefore, Seraphine, whose subjective initiative was always strong, only made relevant arrangements for her body and Primordial Soul. Regardless of future success or failure, usefulness or not, act first. This was her working style.
After all, realizing danger is one thing; daring to face danger is another. Daring to face danger and calmly formulating a series of countermeasures is yet another.
"Even if I am just a captive, a specimen being observed..."
Seraphine gave a chilling laugh, "Then I will be the most troublesome one."
However, despite her definite suspicions about the 【Infinite Attributes】 system, she harbored no resentment.
Because suspicion is suspicion; blind fury and hatred are the most meaningless of emotions. In her heart, Seraphine never shied away from the fact that her journey began with the system.
One who wears the crown, bears its weight. Since she possessed and enjoyed the power and benefits the system brought, she would not whine like a defeated dog about "if only I had known..."
To resist once her wings are strong is a natural thing. If she wanted to do it, she would. As long as she had the magnanimity and courage to bear the consequences. For in this world, there is no right or wrong; all meaning is defined by people. To desperately seek a moral high ground to placate and convince oneself is the purest form of clownery.
Concluding these thoughts, Seraphine looked up at the gradually rising hazy sun, then stepped into the space-time distortion before her, entering the Hell of Pain.
Meanwhile, after half a night, Sachiko's Malice Demonic Curse had spread over a vast area. Not only across the sprawling Glorious Kingdom, but also carried by passing ships to even more distant regions. In just a few hours, countless people had been infected by the demonic curse, their minds slowly and irrevocably descending into darkness.
The storm was drawing closer.
Only temporarily, no one noticed this crucial point. Only those with relatively sensitive souls couldn't help but feel that the people around them were becoming inexplicably indifferent and irritable, and they themselves grew increasingly annoyed with others.
At the same time, such widespread infection and mutation also caused Sachiko to undergo her first silent evolution. Her new evolutionary trait was the rampant proliferation of supernatural phenomena.
That is, in any area where the demonic curse infected individuals existed, supernatural phenomena would follow.
Windows opening and closing without cause;
Children crouching in dark corners with their backs to people;
Faint footsteps outside the door at midnight;
After turning off the living room light, suddenly feeling something crawl out of the darkness and rapidly pursue;
At night, feeling a sudden tap under the bed while sleeping, but finding nothing upon looking;
Encountering a pale-faced, emotionless stranger at a long hallway corner, only for them to vanish upon turning back;
At dusk in graveyards, faintly seeing figures bowing, crouching, or standing by tombstones, only for them to disappear in a blink.
The more infected individuals there were, the stronger the fluctuations of these unsettling supernatural phenomena became.
Once the fluctuations reached a certain peak, the supernatural phenomena would even directly transform into dangerous supernatural events. If one was caught in them, they would often find that surviving... could be far more terrifying than dying.
...
In the middle of the day, after a massive catastrophe devastated a large area on the outskirts of the Glorious Kingdom, killing hundreds of millions of beings, its numerous high-ranking officials immediately launched a large-scale, combined divination Witchcraft.
After sacrificing several seers who died from backlash, the high-ranking officials quickly pinpointed Seraphine's approximate location as the mastermind behind these disasters. They then dispatched wave after wave of elite Morningstar-level combat witches to apprehend her.
Regrettably, these Morningstar-level witches, capable of dominating any situation, were completely annihilated. Not even a shred of intelligence could be brought back. It was well known that cultivating each Morningstar-level witch was no easy feat, requiring not only talent but also immense organizational resources, time, and effort.
Therefore, the Glorious Kingdom, vast as its empire was, could not endure such massive losses and temporarily dared not send more elite personnel to besiege Seraphine.
BOOM!
CRACK CRACK CRACK!
In the grayish sky, dark clouds thickened. Each peal of thunder shattered the layers of clouds, and a torrential rain, laden with accumulated water, poured down.
PITTER-PATTER-PATTER!
In an instant, rain lines dense as weaving threads intertwined heaven and earth. This sudden downpour affected nearly half of the Glorious Kingdom's territory. Thousands of cities and an even greater number of towns and villages were suddenly enveloped by the boundless curtain of rain.
Amidst this heavy rain, a series of bizarre and terrifying supernatural events... suddenly descended.
...
Glorious Kingdom, Mainland Region, a certain city.
PIT-PAT-PIT-PAT
"Lord Holy Sword Sun, how long will this rain last?"
At the entrance of a library, the manager, an older man with a precariously receding hairline, frowned at the continuous downpour. He sighed in frustration: "With rain this heavy, the next shift can't get here, and I can't leave. This is pure torture. Ugh!"
Standing at the entrance, watching the ceaseless curtain of water, the manager hesitated for a moment. Finally, with his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly retreated into the library.
Entering the main hall and passing rows of neatly arranged bookshelves, the manager tidied his thinning hair. He sat at his desk and began to doze off. Having worked an entire night shift, he was exhausted and fell asleep the moment his eyes closed.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
BANG BANG!
"Hmm?"
The man suddenly snapped his eyes open.
He heard movement at the far end of the opposite corridor. It sounded like...
"The old book storage room. Did something fall?"
Perplexed, the manager left his desk and slowly walked down the brightly lit corridor. He muttered as he went: "I remember the last inventory; everything was organized, wasn't it?"
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
In the empty corridor, his footsteps echoed with clinical clarity.
Before long, the manager arrived outside the old book storage room. He didn't enter immediately. Instead, he pushed open the small window on the iron door, squinted, and peered inside.
The storage room, dating back forty or fifty years, was brightly lit. But a metal cabinet on the left had inexplicably fallen to the floor.
"What the hell? How did this fall?"
The man cursed under his breath, quickly inserted the key, unlocked the door, and entered.
THUD THUD THUD
Jogging a few steps to the fallen cabinet, he gripped the heavy metal, lifted it, and shoved it back into place. Wiping rust from his hands, he turned to leave in a hurry.
CLICK
The light suddenly went out.
Startled, he trembled all over. He scrambled out of the storage room, flipped the switch, and forced the light back on.
"Oh, for heaven's sake." The man touched his chest and cursed softly.
In just a few seconds, cold sweat had beaded on his forehead. For some unknown reason, in that brief patch of darkness, he felt as if something had been crouching there, watching him. That sensation sent shivers down his spine.
"Tomorrow I need to report this. The light needs replacing; it just dies for no reason."
Muttering, the manager walked away, his pace bordering on a run.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP
After darting out of the corridor, he was clearly terrified, yet he felt an inexplicable urge to turn and look. He felt as if something behind him was constantly watching.
Suppressing the urge, the manager ran to his desk and gathered his belongings, preparing to lock up and go home. As for the next shift, the night duty officer had the main key; he would just open it when he arrived.
At that moment, footsteps approached from outside the door.
The manager didn't look up, simply saying:
"We're closed. Come back in two hours."
The footsteps continued.
The visitor kept coming, neither responding nor stopping.
"Hey, didn't I say we're closed? Why are you still..."
The man frowned, annoyed, and turned to look at the newcomer. The moment he saw the visitor, he froze.
The newcomer was wearing the same library uniform. And... he looked exactly like him.
The same slender build. The same thinning hair. It was like seeing another "himself."
"You... you..."
The manager's eyes widened. He pointed at the newcomer, unable to speak.
Just as he was about to shout, the "himself" opposite him smiled. It suddenly raised both hands and began to claw at its own face.
The double clawed with immense force, fingernails digging deep into the meat. Then it began to scratch furiously.
The manager's eyes were glued as if by rubber, staring intently at the other's movements. He felt his own face begin to itch and swell. Instinctively, he reached up and began to scratch his own skin with violent force.
SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH!
A minute later, the man was still frantically clawing at his face. His skin was already covered in streaks of blood, the flesh torn into ribbons.
"Ah... Ah..."
The manager screamed in terror, yet his hands clawed even harder. His double across from him increased its speed. Even though its face was already flayed and covered in bloody gashes, it showed no mercy.
SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH!
Accompanied by the horrifying sound of skin and flesh being shredded, dead black blood overflowed from the manager's arms and stained his uniform.
"Help me! Help me!!"
"Someone, please save me! AAAAAHHH!!"
Tears mixed with blood dripped onto his clothes. The man, crying in fear and agony, frantically clawed at the bloody threads of flesh clinging to his skull. The force was so immense it looked like he wanted to rip off his entire face.
Three more minutes passed. The man's violently trembling body suddenly went still. His arms dropped limply, his fingertips covered in blood and minced flesh.
The "manager" opposite him also stopped moving.
His face...
No.
It had truly become a "hole." His facial features had completely vanished. The center of his face was sunken in, revealing a palm-sized, bloody cavity. One could even clearly see the still-wriggling, snow-white brain matter.
The manager had scratched himself to death.