Chapter 48: The Final Boss

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Sensing the danger, Zhang Xingmin quickly pulled Zhao Nana back with the Longevity Lock. His focus had been entirely on her, and in that moment, a bug sank its mandibles into his shoulder, leaving the bitten spot immediately red and swollen. The pain drove a scream from his lips.

“Are you alright?” Zhao Nana, still unsteady from landing, saw Zhang Xingmin’s injury and asked with concern.

“I… I’ll live!” Zhang Xingmin gritted his teeth, then continued, “Did you get the box?”

Zhao Nana nodded.

“Then let’s retreat! We’re no match for this swarm.” Seeing the box in her hands, Zhang Xingmin shouted urgently.

“No, you’re hurt—you go first!” Zhao Nana refused to leave before him.

Just then, Brother Long and Lin Xiaofeng fought their way over, retreating as they battled.

Seeing the pair arguing about who should leave first, Lin Xiaofeng grew anxious. “This place is about to collapse! Move—let’s go together, no more arguments!”

“No, you go first! I’ll cover!” Brother Long swung the Thunder Shield with all his might, knocking the regrouped insect army back several meters. He turned and barked at the three, “Go! Unless you want to die here together!”

Not wanting to betray Brother Long’s resolve, the three hurried toward the exit. Brother Long retreated, fighting all the while. When Damin, Xiaofeng, and Nana reached the doorway, they rushed to assist Brother Long.

Long-range attacks were Lin Xiaofeng’s specialty. Though his Yuri Gun wasn’t much use against this particular monster, it could scatter the bugs and relieve some of the pressure on Brother Long.

The floor of the second basement was about to collapse beside Brother Long. Damin quickly extended the Longevity Lock to its full length, managing to catch Brother Long as he fell. Lin Xiaofeng’s injured shoulder sapped his strength, making it impossible for him to pull Brother Long up. Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng and Zhao Nana rushed to help, and together, the three managed to drag Brother Long up.

Once rescued, Brother Long slipped into unconsciousness—not only from fear but also from pain. Only after pulling him up did the others realize that, moments before, he had faced not only the risk of plunging to his death but also the relentless attacks of the bugs, unable to fight back, left to be gnawed.

Brother Long’s suffering was beyond words—his legs below the thigh had been entirely devoured. Though they knew this was a game and injuries would heal once they logged out, Damin, Xiaofeng, and Zhao Nana were still deeply moved.

Zhao Nana hurried to clean and dress Brother Long and Damin’s wounds. Lin Xiaofeng, unable to help, opened the box they had risked their lives to seize from the insect swarm, hoping for clues.

Lin Xiaofeng pried the box open; inside was a complete male head, chiseled and even handsome, preserved in formalin. There was also a card, indicating this man could help them find a way out.

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Zhao Nana had finished bandaging Brother Long and Damin. Zhang Xingmin’s injury was not severe, but Brother Long was still unconscious, unlikely to wake soon.

Time was running out; they couldn’t afford to wait. After a brief discussion, the three decided to carry Brother Long and continue searching for clues by trying to assemble the corpse.

Zhang Xingmin volunteered to carry Brother Long, taking the rear, while Lin Xiaofeng carried the box up front. Their first stop was the room where the body was stored. Zhao Nana headed to another room to fetch protective suits, as formalin was toxic and would be needed to piece the body together.

...

They fished the body out and examined the severed neck—it was indeed the same person. Zhao Nana skillfully assembled the corpse, all the while praying that no horror-movie-style undead would arise.

No such thing happened; in fact, there was no reaction at all. After all their effort, had they made a mistake?

Brother Long had woken, though weak. The four of them stared at the body on the floor, pondering the cause. According to the game’s instructions, they shouldn’t be wrong.

Suddenly, Brother Long had an epiphany and said, “How foolish! He’s a man—this is a complete corpse! What did the NPC say? Help this gentleman recover what belongs to him, and he’ll lead us out.”

Zhang Xingmin and the others immediately understood. But where would they find his ‘brother’? In the specimen room, there were samples of every human and animal organ except that one. Did they need to carve a fake?

Brother Long leaned close to Zhang Xingmin’s ear and whispered.

“No way! You’ve already suffered enough to save us!” Zhang Xingmin refused firmly.

“There’s no time! Do it! I’ve already lost my legs, what’s the difference if I lose a third? Besides, I can’t fight if danger strikes again—I’d only drag you down. Let me do it! It’s just a game—we’ll recover when we log out! What are you afraid of? If we don’t clear this stage, we’ll be forcibly logged out and have to endure a 98% realistic death experience!” Brother Long’s tone brooked no argument.

“This really isn’t right!” Lin Xiaofeng protested.

“Enough! No more talk! You, help me with my pants!” Brother Long ordered.

Zhao Nana was troubled, her hands trembling, unable to respond to Brother Long’s joking promise for responsibility after the game.

Without anesthetic, the knife fell; Brother Long’s tears flowed from the pain, but luckily, in-game pain didn’t last long. Otherwise, he might not have made it.

Watching his manhood stitched onto the body, Brother Long felt a mix of emotions. Thankfully, it was just a game—otherwise, he could never have made such a choice.

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Just as Zhao Nana finished stitching, the gentleman on the floor finally stirred. Brother Long cursed the designer of this map for making escape depend on such a method.

The battered man slowly stood, towering at one meter eighty-five, with a pregnant woman’s body, a man’s head, and Brother Long’s ‘contribution’ stitched hastily and crookedly. One had to wonder which designer had the genius to make such a boss.

Indeed, the revived man was the boss, apparently the young master of the villa. His long pent-up resentment had driven him mad—he felt no gratitude toward the players who restored his corpse, but instead bore hatred for all.

Luckily, the four were prepared, or they would have been caught off guard. The villa owner, newly restored, attacked the Falcon Squad immediately at full strength.

Seeing the situation, Zhang Xingmin hoisted the wounded Brother Long and fled, while Zhao Nana and Lin Xiaofeng, panicked, scattered in different directions. Their destination was the same—the first-floor hall, which was spacious and not as cramped as the basement, giving room to maneuver.

“Slow down! The boss isn’t following! You’re jostling my wounds!” Brother Long groaned in pain.

Zhang Xingmin ignored his complaints, rushing upstairs at top speed.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaofeng fled while firing at the pursuing boss, muttering, “Damn, why is this thing so hard to deal with? It’s riddled with holes but doesn’t react at all.”

Exerting himself to the limit, Lin Xiaofeng finally reached the hall. Zhao Nana and Zhang Xingmin had already brought Brother Long out, placing him to rest while Zhang Xingmin hurried to support Lin Xiaofeng.

Zhang Xingmin took up a strong position on the second floor. As Lin Xiaofeng emerged, he used the Longevity Lock to block the basement door. Lin Xiaofeng, exhausted, breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the boss temporarily halted.

“Xiaofeng, hurry up! The Longevity Lock won’t hold for long!” Damin shouted, seeing Lin Xiaofeng pause.

Lin Xiaofeng, his strength nearly spent, struggled up to the second floor. Zhao Nana quickly sealed all entrances to the floor, fearing the boss would follow.

Sensing people upstairs but unable to attack, the furious monster rampaged through the hall, smashing the floor in anger. The Falcon Squad could hear the sound of the basement collapsing below.