Investigation Report of the Gods

Chapter 67: Shadow Outside Reality

Upon seeing those two people enter through the door one after another, Han Su also felt a flash of resolve surge within him, leaving no room to waste time on hesitation.

Since he had already accepted Song Chu‑shi’s invitation to come here, how could he not go in and take a look?

Moreover, Mr. Strange Bird had also gone inside.

That guy had still been thinking of him even while at the base—how could he not think of him in return?

In a split second of thought, Han Su had already swung out the baton in his hand and said in a low voice, “I’m going inside to help Mr. Strange Bird. You all stay outside, or retreat as soon as possible.”

“Remember what I said—don’t come in! This is a task between me and Mr. Strange Bird!”

“……”

He had brought them here to write the report, but now that things had taken an interesting turn, that was no longer necessary. What needed to be said must be made clear.

As he spoke, he strode forward in large steps.

The people standing stiffly at the entrance, their faces featureless, simultaneously grew alert, turned stiffly, and reached straight for him with their arms.

Han Su directly jabbed the baton against one of them.

With a “日” sound, electric sparks flashed in an instant, and that person was sent flying from the shock.

But this action seemed to trigger some kind of switch—countless blurry-faced figures on the street rushed toward Han Su, and across the entire street, as far as the eye could see, face after indistinct face piled together into a bizarre tide.

“Bang!”

Han Su had already gripped the baton tightly, limbering up as he prepared to force a path through.

Yet unexpectedly, a figure beside him suddenly lunged forward, swinging an elbow—one shadow was struck and flew out, crashing into several others.

Han Su turned his head and saw that it was Hei Hu who had made the move. With one swift charge, he had gone from behind Han Su to the very front.

Somewhat surprised, he asked, “You’re not afraid?”

“Nothing to be afraid of.”

Hei Hu answered seriously, “Although I was shot in the head, I still understand basic math.”

“If the contamination takes about three to five seconds to affect a person, then as long as we defeat them in under three seconds each time, there’s no risk of infection, right?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t go inside—just helping to clear a path!”

Han Su was surprised and gave him a deep look, sighing, “Brother Hu, you really are a genius…”

Hei Hu froze for a second and replied, “Thanks.”

“You be careful too—go to Miss Crow, and don’t charge too recklessly!”

Han Su told him this seriously, gritting his teeth slightly as he slipped past two or three figures blocking his way.

But all along the street, who knew how many people were swarming toward the doorway where Han Su stood. Judging by their movements, they first gathered at the entrance, then pressed outward, like worker bees trying to guard this “door.”

The scene was like someone catching their cheating partner.

Every face was unrecognizably blurred.

That eerie, oppressive sensation in the air—intangible but overwhelming—was far stronger than anything they’d faced on Line 2.

It was as if they had fallen from a bustling, mundane street into some kind of bizarre illusion.

The world was starting to twist.

Even Hei Hu among the crowd felt slightly dizzy, as though he were back on the battlefield, facing those incomprehensible zealots.

Han Su had not yet learned the invisibility spell like Mr. Strange Bird, and now faced layers upon layers of infected individuals. He had to transfer the suitcase to his right hand, psyching himself up, while focusing all his attention on his left hand.

Gradually, the back of his left hand began to heat up, especially the cross-shaped bronze scar, as if something was about to seep out.

“Shua!”

When the pain in his left hand peaked, Han Su suddenly thrust forward, grabbing an infected person by the neck.

Just like a cold, rigid iron clamp, he lifted the man into the air.

Then, taking large strides, he used the body as a shield, forcibly crashing through the crowd in front of him, heading straight forward.

“He…”

Miss Crow watched Han Su’s figure sink into the chaotic horde of infected, frowning and preparing to help. But at that moment, the Doctor suddenly reached out, as if predicting her move, stopping her from stepping forward.

“Let him go!”

Miss Crow looked over in confusion.

"Not going is what's truly helping."

The Doctor cast a deep glance at that door, watching Miss Crow's expression from the corner of his eye, and said, "We're all adults. The decisions we make must have our own reasons."

"As teammates, we cannot let emotional factors affect others' plans."

As he spoke, he pushed up his glasses with his index finger. His voice was calm, but his words came out rapidly: "Interfering with others' plans in the name of concern is a foolish act. It's something every one of us should avoid."

"Besides, we’ve known each other for about the same amount of time, Miss Crow. There’s no reason for you to be overly invested in the Butcher’s affairs, right?"

"……"

Upon hearing this, Miss Crow's gaze suddenly turned sharp, causing the Doctor to feel a chill deep down.

"The most advantageous strategy right now is to construct a defense line in front of this door—nothing from inside must come out, and nothing outside must be allowed back in."

He turned slightly and pushed up his glasses again with his thumb, saying calmly, "According to the Butcher’s recounting of the Line 2 incident, once these anomalies on the street return inside the door, it will shut. At that point, we likely won’t be able to find the Butcher’s location ever again."

"Instead, if we follow the Operational Code to construct a temporary defense line, not only can we assist the Butcher, but it’ll also make the post-mission report easier to write…"

"……"

His composed analysis left Hei Hu staring blankly: "Did he explain it that clearly just now? How come I didn’t notice?"

The Doctor, however, thought inwardly: 'The Butcher, being someone with connections, clearly has many secrets he doesn't want us to know. Just like how he entered that door—he must have his own reasons. If we follow, it won’t end well…'

'With this type of person, it’s enough to lend a hand and ride the momentum.'

'Too bad it’s easy to see through, but persuading others is the hard part…'

'……'

"……"

As he spoke, those blurry-faced people had already surged in front of them.

But because of the Doctor's analysis, Hei Hu calmed slightly. Even Miss Crow beside him fell silent in acceptance. She looked up and saw that Han Su had already dashed across half the street, his figure engulfed by the frenzy of the infected. Thinking of the Doctor's words, she made her decision.

Her eyes swept coldly over the figures pressing forward. She lowered her head and murmured:

"Anchor to me, descend into reality."

"……"

"……"

These eight words were uttered quickly and indistinctly, almost as if compressed into two brief syllables.

And in that instant, the anomaly occurred. She slightly lowered her head to chant the two words. When she looked up again, her eyes had turned completely white. An invisible psychic field instantly enveloped everyone present.

Their skin prickled with numbness. At their ears, it seemed like an eerie and wicked laugh echoed. Their vision blurred with severe double images.

They could clearly see a phantom shadow extending out from beneath Miss Crow’s feet.

A person only casts a shadow when illuminated.

Yet where Miss Crow stood now, there was no such distinct or strong light source. But her shadow appeared suddenly and sharply, as if some strange lamp had lit up in a place beyond sight—beyond reality.

This single lamp illuminated only her body, casting a shadow that did not belong in reality.

But to those standing beside Miss Crow at that moment, it wasn’t so much a lamp as it was—

An eye.

An eye that existed outside reality.

It opened abruptly due to the spell Miss Crow chanted, gazing from a distant future into the present reality. It was this eye that brought Miss Crow a shadow from beyond reality.

The shadow twisted rapidly, elongating like a black python stretching its body.

It extended outward, instantly engulfing the rushing crowd, like an endless sea of bones cracking all at once.

Those infected, their faces twisted in madness, were instantly covered by the massive shadow the moment they got close. Their knees gave out, and a swath of them collapsed.

As they fell, their calves and ankles contorted into grotesque shapes.

Han Su was now charging straight toward the doorway, using a person as a shield. The infected in front of him swayed madly, their faces unrecognizable.

Some writhing shadows even tried to crawl up his body via his left hand.

The scar on his left hand could effectively resist the invasion of this "plague," but the densely packed crowd caused him great trouble.

This time, the number of infected on the street far surpassed that of Line 2—by at least tenfold.

But just then, a black shadow spread from behind, sweeping away all the infected and opening a wide path ahead of him. It was like two invisible fences expanding on either side of his body.

"Miss Crow?"

Han Su didn’t turn his head. He merely felt slightly relieved and, without hesitation, gathered spiritual power into his left hand. Once again, he erupted with terrifying force, pushing the infected in front who had yet to fall and stepped through that "door" in one stride.