Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

[Alert—Task "Not to be Remembered" is now active]

[First Phase]: Pale Fang Mark

[Introduction]:

"Life in the lab has gradually become peaceful, and you seem to have grown accustomed to living like a guinea pig, subject to any whim. At this moment, a group of bandits has attacked the Mingji Humanity's shelter, causing a breach in the defense line—not only that, but you also feel a stirring within yourself."

"Will you choose to embrace freedom, even if it means aiding the wicked, to escape from being manipulated?"

"Or will you protect the weak, stepping forward to do something for this rare 'new home'?"

"Now, the initiative lies in your hands."

[Task Requirements]:

A. "Civilization Retreats" (High Danger)—Follow the White Fang Guild to invade Mingji Humanity, completely annihilate Head Nurse Nodley Krau, Assistant Doctor Anna, and Mingji Professor, obliterate the Mingji Organization.

Special Note: Choosing this option will result in the "Not to be Remembered" task being settled at the lowest standard. Previously accumulated exploration points will be converted into experience at a ratio of 1:10.

B. "Humanity Moves Forward" (Moderate Danger)—Assist Mingji Humanity in eliminating/repelling the invaders. Favorability of all survivors in the Mingji Humanity faction, including Nodley Krau and Assistant Doctor Anna, will increase.

C. "Tough Decision" (No Danger)—This place is too dangerous, not a fight you should participate in. Escape the shelter, stay away from this perilous area.

Special Note: Choosing this option will lower the 'Professor's' personal favorability to 'hostile.'

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"Finally, the fight has started."

At the moment the head nurse ran out to confront the attackers, Li Aozi received the system prompt. He shook his head; everyone was now busy resisting the invasion or seeking refuge, and no one had time to pay attention to him.

"Not to be Remembered" was a long-term main task; this was just the first phase, and Li Aozi had no intention of giving up right as it started.

But he also knew that if he acted strictly according to the task's requirements, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

The White Fang Guild and Mingji Humanity were not comparable to the lower-level agents of the Fourth Rule. Li Aozi's level was low and his power weak, but with cunning and schemes, he could still take down a few female agents of the Fourth Rule.

Levels in "Starry Abyss" were often misleading. Some people had up to 100 secondary professions, which allowed them to stack up an impressive high-level title to intimidate newcomers. Others specialized in lifestyle professions like [Politician], [Engineer], and [Merchant] and had high levels, but their personal combat abilities were mediocre.

True combat effectiveness was evaluated using the 'Challenge Level', also known as the [Hierarchy] attribute.

From Alpha (α) to Omega (Ω), 24 hierarchies categorized the transcendent individuals.

Alpha was the entry-level hierarchy, but even so, an Alpha could effortlessly slaughter mortals.

According to Li Aozi's calculations, it would take 200,000 experience points to level up to lv20 [Mutant], but advancing to Alpha Level would require at least a million points.

"No need, nor should I engage in frontal combat."

Li Aozi remained calm. The patients around hadn't had time to be moved or settled. Faced with the sudden incident, some looked bewildered, some showed fear, while others clenched their fists, gritted their teeth, and dashed out of the safe zone to confront the bandits head-on.

"Now... I can push forward the main task."

Li Aozi headed towards Room ZX-102. He raised his palm, placing it above the door latch; the next moment, a golden ring of light appeared in his gray pupils.

Gravitational Arcane Energy activated.

An invisible gravitational field enveloped the door lock. He had studied this a few days ago: the ZX series of rooms used gravity-based automatic locking, relying on the weight of counterweights to hook the lock automatically, without needing a spring to apply external force. The reliability and safety were quite high.

This design prevented isolated patients from escaping during moments when medical staff were checking treatments or delivering food and water. Banks or armories would use complex mechanical password locks; both had their merits. But for Li Aozi, who controlled gravity, the structure of gravity-based automatic locking was as good as unlocked.

He adjusted the direction of the gravitational field in his palm, causing the heavy counterweight to float in the opposite direction with a clanking sound, disengaging the hook.

Li Aozi pushed open the door to ZX-102. Just as he was about to enter, a clear female voice suddenly echoed beside him:

"Are you... here to let us out?"

Li Aozi's eyes flickered, his face naturally showing an expression of stunned surprise. He pretended to be puzzled as he looked towards the source of the voice—Room ZX-101, adjacent to ZX-102.

Unlike the isolation chamber Li Aozi was in, the ZX series rooms did not have iron bars for peeking inside. The viewing port was a sealed, bulletproof glass window, about 120 centimeters high.

If one were to look inside, they would have to kneel on one knee and lean forward.

Li Aozi hesitated for a moment before kneeling on one knee and peering through the bulletproof glass.

He saw a thin, sixteen-year-old girl. Her face was tightly wrapped in bandages, and she wore a mask, revealing only her right, pale purple eye.

White, protein-colored hair cascaded to the ground. In the dim light, Li Aozi vaguely saw dried brown bloodstains and fragmented human bones nearby.

The girl, whose visage was obscured, noticed his gaze, and a look of expectation and surprise appeared in her pale purple eye.

The man reflected in her eye was more handsome and attractive than she had imagined, with black, tousled hair down to his shoulders.

For a man, Li Aozi had delicate and well-defined features. The two factors harmoniously coexisted, his gray eyes filled with an air of world-weariness and detachment from mundane life.

Even the previous orange-red restraint suit couldn't conceal his sturdy physique.

"Did you just call me?"

Li Aozi asked. He noticed the system prompt that ZX-101 had increased its favorability towards him by +10, reaching the level of liking.

It was no surprise; his attractive appearance was a fact, and the main benefit was from [Charm] and [Perpetual Knowledge Love Hunt].

The isolated girl raised her hand, trying to touch his face. Her finger extended towards the glass, only to stop painfully mid-reach. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, retracting her hand, propping herself up on her arms. One eye stared intently at Li Aozi.

"You opened the room... Can you save me?"

The girl softly asked, looking weak and fragile, her solitary eye expressing a pitiable, imploring look.

But the thin white hospital gown with mottled bloodstains, and the "Ersha Infection Level: Four" sticker on the door of Room ZX-101, gave anyone chills.

"Who are you?"

Even though Li Aozi had made up his mind, he still asked, adding one question after another endlessly:

"Why are you being held here? How do you eat? Why is the adjacent room empty? Why doesn't Head Nurse Nodley let me talk about ZX-102? Would mixing spaghetti with 42-grade concrete lead to Pinocchio participating in the World Cup, helping KPl win the gamma ray bombardment on the Trisolarans—"

Bam!

With rage and distortion burning in her pale purple eye, the girl impatiently slammed her fist against the bulletproof glass, shedding her previous fragile and pitiful persona, roaring like an out-of-control beast:

"Damn it! Are you (Civilization Frost Plating) (Suzhi Mingji) done talking? You've rambled on forever! Can you speak like a normal person?! When I, Jane Neriya, get out, I'll smash your head in!"

"So, your name is Jane Neriya?"

"Eh—who said that name?! Yuck yuck yuck, it's awful, that's not my name!"

Fuming after being baited by Li Aozi, the girl yanked off her mask, revealing a mouth full of shark-like sharp teeth, roaring in anger:

"Listen up, you handsome face, I am your master Nomi Anderson Gue Seth! Call me that name again, and I'll crush your vertebrae!"

"Nomi, is it? Alright, Neriya."

Li Aozi calmly stated:

"Then there is no mistake."

"Say it again!"

"The entire old world will be consumed by the newborn flames."

Li Aozi spoke unhurriedly.

The girl was momentarily stunned.

Then, with a solemn gaze, she replied:

"And the rose will bloom on the ruins of the Four Nations."

Li Aozi nodded, placing his hand on the glass. His handsome face naturally displayed a sunshine-filled smile that exuded a sense of security:

"Comrade, the organization sent me to get you."