Global Collapse

"I was born a Lower Class Person, given drastically different treatment from Upper Class People right at birth.

"During my childhood, I obediently stayed in my poor neighborhood, receiving an inferior education and studying in a shabby classroom with other lower-class children.

"Back then, although I envied the children of the Upper Class People, I was still happy. Being poor and miserable was all I knew. If a person like me were to remain mired in that despair all his life, things would have been much simpler.

"Ironically, the dignified Upper Class People, in order to maintain their reputation, claimed to offer opportunities to the children of Lower Class People. I, being naturally intelligent, defeated countless competitors and passed numerous tests to enter an institution of higher learning…"

It seemed like Jin Hu hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time. Once he started talking, he couldn't stop. His tone was full of memories, tinged with a degree of sentimentality. It was like a thoroughly wicked person reminiscing about his life just before death—though, of course, Jin Hu did not think he was about to die. He continued to speak, his words filled with reminiscence.

Gu Mian, however, felt no sympathy for Jin Hu's tragic life. He was still tugging at Jin Hu's arm. After Jin Hu transformed into a skinless blood corpse, Gu Mian's interface panel popped up.

It appeared he had discovered a unique item.

[Blood Clothes Wrapped in Resentment]

[Category: Armor (Upgradeable)]

[Description: A white coat worn by a doctor full of dreams. His hands are stained with copious amounts of blood, and he is surrounded by a dense aura of resentment. This coat is also imbued with a considerable amount of that resentment.]

[Function: Withstands a certain level of physical attacks. The degree of protection increases as the Blood Clothes absorb more resentment.]

[Level: Level one (0/100). Level one Blood Clothes can approximately withstand an attack from a rusty, almost broken fruit knife.]

A rusty, almost broken fruit knife… Gu Mian thought. A slightly thick down jacket could probably block an attack like that, right?

Still, it was an upgradeable piece of armor. If it could be upgraded to level 100 in the future, maybe it could even withstand a nuclear bomb attack or something similar.

At this thought, Gu Mian's eyes lit up. He stared intently at the white coat on Jin Hu, wondering how he could strip it off him.

Oblivious to Gu Mian's eager gaze, Jin Hu continued speaking.

"After passing numerous exams, I finally entered a school that Upper Class People could attend, which broadened my horizons.

"Of course, even upon entering an Upper Class school, we Lower Class students were still discriminated against. We were forced to study separately in a small campus area and weren't allowed to share dormitories with the Upper Class students.

"However, despite the restrictions, I was introduced to this flourishing world, a complete contrast to the slums I grew up in.

"So, I vowed to break down the barriers between Upper and Lower Class People. I was a person full of dreams. At that time, in my early twenties, I fantasized every day about becoming an extraordinary person who could influence the world. You seem young; have you ever fantasized about such things?"

Jin Hu suddenly turned his words to Gu Mian.

Gu Mian paused slightly. He didn't seem to have any such fantasies. In fact, he spent most days figuring out how to evade life's assassination attempts.

"I wanted to save this ignorant world, so I strove to become stronger. I studied hard and pushed myself to rise. When I finally entered society, there was no doubt I was talented, but society seemed to prefer the Upper Class People with their sheltered faces.

"It's unfair—so unfair! Despite all my hard work to improve myself, I ended up as less than an Upper Class Person whose only credit was a noble birth.

"It wasn't until I entered society that I realized some things couldn't be achieved by mere daydreaming.

"Reality is always cruel. Upon graduation, I realized life wouldn't be as smooth as I had imagined. I was assigned to the lowest tier of the hospital, with no formal employment status or high salary. Even then, those Upper Class People wore expressions that said, 'You got a great deal.'

"I once loathed this world, so full of capitalism and exploitation. But then I discovered that without capitalism and exploitation, I couldn't take a single step forward.

"I still remember my dream—to save this ignorant world. But first, I had to adapt to this world's rules and climb my way up."

Gu Mian could guess what happened next. The once-passionate youth was consumed by desire. He drifted in the turbulent currents, yet still clung to his dreams.

"I tried hard to climb up, using all means necessary. Of course, I encountered countless disdainful and contemptuous gazes, but I didn't care. As long as there was a glimmer of opportunity, I would seize it."

"Eventually, I gained some status."

"I had long since figured out all the games the Upper Class People played," Jin Hu laughed. "Maybe because I was always part of an exploited class, I found exploiting others came quite naturally to me."

"Because I was a Lower Class Person, my fellow Lower Class People trusted me wholeheartedly. They never thought I would deceive them. On the surface, I appeared warm and helpful, but secretly, I was a cunning and deceitful villain."

"Using this strategy, my opportunities increased, and so did my status."

"I am convinced that many years from now, I will be the most famous Lower Class Person in the world. Oh, no, by then I will no longer be referred to as a Lower Class Person—

"People will forget the evil things I have done and only remember how I saved this incredibly ignorant world."

Gu Mian looked at Jin Hu. Overall, the man before him could be considered an ambitious young man striving for his dreams. It was just unfortunate that his methods were so twisted; otherwise, his story might have made good material for an essay.

Jin Hu must have exploited Lower Class People extensively once he gained status. The medical malpractice incident involving the miners was just one of them. Regrettably, fortune did not favor him, and this particular incident was inadvertently exposed, destroying Jin Hu's dream along with it.

However, Jin Hu did not seem to think his dreams had been destroyed. He continued, "Sadly, the good times didn't last. Then I died—

"But this was also a wonderful opportunity. This statue can prevent the monsters here from spreading to the outside world, but it requires sacrifices.

"So I made an agreement with the Upper Class People outside the restricted area. They transported Lower Class People to the restricted area under the guise of a variety show, while I was responsible for bringing those Lower Class People here as sacrifices."

The Doctors wandering around various parts of the restricted area must have been hunting under Jin Hu's instructions. Somehow, Jin Hu had managed to control these Doctors.

"In this way, even though I am dead, I remain a person whose status cannot be shaken…" As he reached this point in his story, Jin Hu couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably.

"If one day the restricted area can be cleared and I can get out, I will be a hero to the whole world, and I will climb to even greater heights.

"One day, I will realize my dream. Capitalism and exploitation will completely disappear, and I will save this foolish world."

Jin Hu's smile grew even brighter, as if a perfect new world had already appeared before him.

While still laughing, he pushed Gu Mian forward. "This statue will absorb everything. You can't get out now; you're doomed. You can only be obediently sacrificed and become one of those on the wall.

"You can consider yourself to have contributed to saving the world. I won't forget any of you." Jin Hu laughed maniacally.

The statue in front of him began to glow brighter. Gu Mian had long felt this thing was somewhat familiar; he seemed to have seen it somewhere before.

This doesn't seem good… he mumbled to himself.

Just then, Jin Hu, from behind, gave him another hard push, trying to shove him towards the statue. Jin Hu seemed stronger after his transformation.

Gu Mian turned his head slightly. "For safety's sake, you'd better stop pushing me."

He had already recognized where he had seen this thing before.

Jin Hu, however, paid no heed to Gu Mian's words and gave him another forceful shove.

Gu Mian actually didn't want to touch this thing, because the last time he had, the outcome hadn't been very good.

An Evil God's statue. Gu Mian remembered that the thing he'd shattered last time was called something like that.

The statue before him was simply an enlarged, color-swapped version of the previous one, with an almost identical property—it would shatter the moment Gu Mian touched it.

When Gu Mian was pushed again and accidentally bumped his head into the statue, Jin Hu saw a tiny crack appear on the supposedly indestructible sculpture.