Volume One: The Spiral Engraving Chapter Twelve: The Abyssal Maw I

Chen Fan found a cave and entered it, then gathered a pile of stones to block the entrance. After taking out the spoils of his journey, he sighed and sat down, leaning against the rough stone wall.

He pulled out the notebook.

The cover was ivory-colored and very smooth to the touch, giving off a cool sensation. Opening it and flipping quickly through its pages, his brow furrowed—of the fifty pages, forty-nine were blank.

Only one page was filled from top to bottom with experimental data: formulas, numbers, letters—without a single word of explanation.

“What does all this mean?” Chen Fan asked into the darkness.

Catherine emerged from the golden-red glow, glanced down, and pursed her lips. “How should I know? I’m not an encyclopedia! You ask me, but who else can I ask?”

With a scoff, she chose to sit beside Chen Fan, resting her chin on her right hand, lost in thought.

Chen Fan said nothing, glanced once more at the data, then closed the notebook and put it away.

He then took out a photo album and opened it, revealing only one picture.

A half-length portrait of a woman!

She was a blonde beauty with deep eyes, fair skin, and full curves that strained against a white cropped top.

“This woman must be a member of the Black Rock Organization. Otherwise, why would her photo be found in their base? Judging by this, her status must be high! Could she have been the one who recorded these experiments?”

Having reached this conclusion, Chen Fan took out all the demon stones and, after five minutes, refined them all.

Though he felt a slight improvement, he couldn’t quite pinpoint where it was.

“How long would it take for those without a system to refine these demon stones?” Chen Fan asked Catherine.

“Not long, maybe a year or two,” she replied truthfully, then furrowed her brows. “No, today you must kowtow to me. Have you thought about how much I’ve helped you? You owe me some gratitude.”

Chen Fan ignored her and reached for the pistol on the ground.

The pistol was imposing and rugged, like a wild beast, weighing four to five pounds. It seemed like a weapon made for men; women lacking physical strength would find it impossible to shoot accurately.

He looked at two boxes filled with bullets, opened them, and counted—there were four hundred rounds.

So far, he had two hundred ninety-nine bullets for his sniper rifle and four hundred for his pistol. With this level of ammunition, he felt a great sense of relief.

He no longer had to be so cautious.

After putting everything away, Chen Fan looked at Catherine and asked, “Is there any way I can quickly master the ‘Shock’ technique?”

“There is, as long as you have Thunder Source Stones. But do you have any on you?”

“Thunder Source Stones…” Chen Fan nodded silently. Over the next five days, he practiced the Shock technique tirelessly, determined to master it as soon as possible.

At dawn, dense fog filled the valley, blanketing the black mountains.

Chen Fan pushed aside the stones and crawled out of the cave.

Following the golden-red light points’ guidance, he hurried forward.

Two days later, he arrived near a vast swamp. Looking out, he could not see its end!

It was immense, like a yellow sea!

It stretched to the horizon, endless and boundless!

From the swamp bubbled forth black smoke as bubbles burst.

“This is troublesome!” Chen Fan frowned. The golden-red light point shone from deep within the swamp sea.

How could he possibly get through?

After much thought, he gave up.

Better to find another way.

He wasn’t foolish enough to seek death.

While he pondered, a “Divine Being” appeared in the distance.

Indeed, a Divine Being, for he radiated a faint golden light all over.

He was a middle-aged man, not very tall—about 1.69 meters—but under the golden radiance, he exuded immense authority and a tremendous sense of oppression.

Chen Fan’s eyes narrowed as he looked down and noticed his own body was also shimmering with golden light!

This had never happened before!

“What’s going on?” Chen Fan frowned deeply. But that wasn’t all—the man’s name, “Mu Luo,” floated above his head, slowly spinning like molten iron.

Chen Fan looked up at his own head and was shocked to see the name “Chen Fan” floating above him as well!

“Chen Fan… you will be the fifth visitor I kill!”

Mu Luo approached, staring fixedly at Chen Fan, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

“This bizarre world is divided into nine major zones! You all came here from Earth—meaning you’re all players. Between players, there is eternal hostility: either you kill him, or he kills you. That’s the game’s rule, and you must abide by it!” Catherine’s voice sounded in his ear, tinged with worry.

“Like a canyon battle?” Chen Fan felt a chill.

He exhaled deeply and took small steps backward, beginning to size up the man.

“Does he have a system?” Chen Fan whispered.

“No, there’s only one system in this world… but don’t underestimate him. He might have firearms, so you must be cautious! In short, you can only win, never lose. Understand?”

Chen Fan nodded and looked at Mu Luo. Though short, he dared not take him lightly.

“Can we not fight for now?”

“Seems like you still don’t know!” Mu Luo smiled with a complex gaze—mocking, scornful, disdainful.

“What do you mean?” Chen Fan stepped back and drew his long knife.

Without hesitation, Mu Luo patiently explained, “To obtain the Primordial Stone Inscription, there’s one indispensable material!”

“What?” Chen Fan stepped back again.

“The head of a visitor!” Mu Luo roared and lunged at Chen Fan with astonishing speed.

“An elite-level mutant!”

Chen Fan was stunned, pulled out his pistol, and fired rapidly.

Bang!

Sparks flew from the barrel!

But shockingly, at such close range—he missed!

Mu Luo was too fast!

“I must think of a way, or I’m dead!” Chen Fan’s brow tightened as he quickly thought while shooting to keep the attacker at bay, retreating step by step.

Soon he reached the edge of the swamp.

No way to retreat!

“Keep shooting! I want to see how many bullets you have left!” Mu Luo mocked, his forehead sweating. Under Chen Fan’s gunfire, he had no chance to activate mutant abilities—if he tried, he’d be a sitting target.

He backed off about thirty meters, eyes locked on Chen Fan, wary of the gun.

This firearm was truly a great equalizer; even as an elite mutant, he had to be cautious. One hit could be fatal.

He licked his lips in anticipation—he loved this weapon.

Back on Earth, he’d been a company CEO, working tirelessly to keep the business running.

He’d turned his hair white from stress and abandoned his hobbies.

His greatest hobby was hunting games.

He loved the feeling of a one-shot headshot.

It was exhilarating.

He had even killed people—five in total.

But as a nobleman, he cared little for the lives of lower-class people.

His eldest son had followed suit, running over a dozen pedestrians with a luxury car, and all were bought off.

To him, anything money could solve was trivial.

Human life was worthless.

That was how he treated innocent people—and now, how he viewed Chen Fan.

He didn’t care about Chen Fan’s life’s value. All he cared about was killing him and taking his pistol.

Chen Fan glanced around, then kicked off toward the left, trying to break through.

After several minutes, thinking he had lost Mu Luo, he turned and saw him standing just thirty meters ahead.

Watching him like prey!

A sick excitement filled Mu Luo’s eyes. Chen Fan’s flight resembled that of hunted game, igniting his desire to kill.

Chen Fan’s face darkened. He dashed right, stopping five minutes later—Mu Luo was waiting ahead, arms crossed, smiling.

“The bullets can’t hit him, and I can’t run…” Chen Fan raised his gun, chest heaving, desperately seeking an escape.

“What now?” He panted heavily, scanning all around, grateful for the gun in hand—without it, he’d be a headless corpse.

“Stop running and surrender! I’ll make it quick for you,” Mu Luo said calmly, not taking him seriously. From start to finish, it was like a cat toying with a mouse—neither dangerous nor boring.

He loved the power over life and death.

It was addictive.

Unable to quit.

“No choice!” Chen Fan sighed, ceasing fire—he couldn’t kill Mu Luo, and the valuable bullets he’d used were over twenty.

He moved cautiously toward the swamp.

Mu Luo saw his intent and laughed. “You want to jump in? How long can you last—five minutes, eight? I’ve got patience. I’ll wait here for you to show your head! Jump!”

“You were just as aggressive on Earth? I’ve got you noted!” Chen Fan muttered.

Chen Fan inhaled deeply and looked at the swamp.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward. His toe broke the solidified surface with a splash, and he plunged in.

Diving quickly to two hundred meters deep, he stopped.

He planned to swim left or right to find safe ground, but Catherine warned, “Don’t move around. This swamp sea is dangerous. Moving might attract big terrors.”

Chen Fan nodded and stood still.

After three minutes, he felt suffocated. He turned inward and looked at the golden-red panel inside his skull.

Catherine, like a desktop sprite, lay on the panel, staring fixedly. After a long pause, she sighed, unable to remain indifferent.

With a wave of her finger, a golden-red shield projected, enveloping his head.

With this shield, he could breathe underwater in the swamp!

“How will you thank me?” Her voice was full of resentment.

“I’ll thank you however you want!” Chen Fan replied without hesitation.

“You’re full of sweet talk! We’ll see how you perform. If you don’t behave, I won’t go easy on you!” Her voice was coquettish, like a newlywed bride, making his heart itch uncontrollably.

Thousands of insects smelled the scent and crawled onto him, continuously biting.

He didn’t move—nothing would help. He let them gnaw.

As time passed, his hatred for Mu Luo grew.

Two hours later, the pain was excruciating. Though Catherine helped occasionally, his skin bore four holes where insects fed.

Crimson blood seeped into the mud, while the foul swamp water permeated his flesh.

Many insects nestled in the wounds, feasting on his flesh.

The pain was unbearable.

He tensed his body and endured, then mentally asked Catherine, “Has he left?”

“No, he’s on the shore… eating barbecue! Hang in there!” Catherine furrowed her brows, wanting to help but limited as an AI without strong powers.

Maybe someday, but not now.

“Damn it!” Chen Fan cursed inwardly. Before joining the military on Earth, he had been bullied repeatedly by high-ups, treated worse than dogs, with no dignity. Now here, he still couldn’t escape his fate.

Fine.

Very fine!

He had thought of a hundred cruel ways to torture Mu Luo to death, but first, he needed to endure Mu Luo’s torment.

Fifteen hours later, the number of holes on Chen Fan’s body had grown to twelve. Many black insects gathered there, writhing violently, enjoying the rare feast.

The pain was indescribable.

Better to be torn apart!

That would be more merciful!

“Has he left yet?” Chen Fan’s eyes were bloodshot, glowing red with overwhelming hatred.

Catherine sighed helplessly, “No.”

Chen Fan clenched his jaw so hard it almost shattered his teeth. Blood seeped from his gums, staining all his teeth red.

He continued to endure.

Survival of the fittest was an eternal natural law.

No matter how the world or times changed, it remained unaltered.

Since ancient times, always the same.

It stood firm, never fading.

He knew this but was powerless, so he endured.

Endured to death.

On shore, it was deep night. Mu Luo stood, staring fixedly at the swamp’s surface, his gaze shifting.

“He should be dead by now, right? He’s just a normal man, not yet evolved to elite mutant level. There’s no way he could survive this long.”

Yet he was uneasy. His intuition told him Chen Fan was different from other visitors.

He trusted his instincts.

Because of that trust, he had survived until now.

He clenched his teeth, eyes unwavering, suppressing impatience and anxiety.

Time passed.

“Big brother, it’s time to leave! The mission is urgent!”

A bald, burly man carrying a greatsword approached, bearing the number five on his chest, marking him as a survivor of Base Five.

After much thought, Mu Luo sighed, “Let’s go.”

He didn’t believe Chen Fan was alive. No one could survive so long in the swamp.

Even if he were alive, he wasn’t afraid; he was confident he could easily kill him.