[Unknown Cave]

Luo Di, covered with blood fibers, hung like a blood cocoon here, with all sensory systems sealed.

Any movement, even a slightly stronger mental fluctuation, would stimulate these fibers to grow.

Like when he just woke up and opened his eyes, it directly resulted in his entire face being covered by fibers, with the eye area completely invaded, depriving him of sight.

These fibers are not merely means of restraint; they are a form of "occupation."

Even the Hell Shell was occupied, with these blood fibers capable of seizing control of the body, prioritizing neural control.

The only remaining independent functions in Luo Di's body were his brain and the Old Spine.

However,

these blood fibers seem to lack subjective initiative, and as long as Luo Di doesn't move, they won't spread further. A large amount of fibers stayed on the periphery of the brain, with no indication of further expansion.

Luo Di maintained absolute calm, analyzing the current situation.

"Our disguise was supposedly perfect, yet we were still 'made to disappear'. Plus, according to Joke, the dense fog shouldn't have come so quickly.

We were all set to leave, yet in the last moment they actively attacked us, disrupting even the vortex transmission.

Only one possibility remains…

The monster behind all this was watching us throughout, knowing our every move, knowing what we obtained and what we sought.

Knowing that once we left, information about it would be leaked, causing unrest in the Fishing Village, it chose to attack directly.

Joke remained unscathed because he was sufficiently timid and cautious, doing his utmost to conceal himself before stepping into the Fishing Village, perfectly blending in using the Mist System."

Luo Di couldn't help but recall his initial arrival at the Fishing Village,

neither Joke's eyes nor those of the dead fish seemed to belong to themselves, but rather served as the "eyes" of some existence.

"However, the vortex was indeed activated, albeit disrupted, Teachers Guo must be aware of the anomaly.

It won't be long before the teachers come, we only need to secure our safety for a while to be rescued.

It's not that we don't have a plan, but we must consider the worst-case scenario, at least carve an escape route for ourselves.

My brain remains unaffected, and the Old Spine isn't completely occupied; as long as I undertake a perfect Open Spine, aided by Divinity, I should forcibly break free.

However… now is not the time to break free.

Any deviation could lead to being directly targeted; observation should take precedence, awaiting crisis moments to find a means of escape."

Although Luo Di's basic senses were blocked, his mouth stitched shut, his tongue remained largely unaffected.

He could taste the outside through his mouth, forming a clear three-dimensional cave image directly in his brain.

Within ten meters of him lay the mission target [High-Neck Sweater-Pan Yang].

Indeed, according to documented descriptions, Pan Yang adhered in sweater form to a monster, but his entire body was similarly intertwined with fibers, rendering the sweater itself motionless.

Also hanging in this cave were five monsters, all exuding a smell labeled as malice, collectively serving as Luo Di's prey targets.

Two of these monsters appeared hanging for several days without any sign of nutritional deficiency or fluid leakage.

These fibers seem to participate in body circulation, supplementing nutrients while disposing of waste, capable of keeping prey fresh regardless of hanging duration.

"Squad Leader and the others aren't here, indicating more than one cave storing the missing.

According to Joke's research data, the ultimate fate of the missing is to become breeding nutrients, in some way sent into the mother body submerged in the ocean to transform into new fish shoals.

Since I was just hung here, I should be last in the selection order."

As Luo Di pondered this, his tongue suddenly curled, tasting a certain flavor, an exceedingly dangerous one.

Unlike the teachers of Vortex Town,

unlike the Outer God.

This was pure danger, devoid of infection, devoid of play, devoid of licking… mere touch meant death.

Although vision was stripped,

Luo Di imagined a graphic scene of a monstrously horrific blood creature approaching.

The bonfire inside the cave scattered its shadow across the wall, yet the entire wall couldn't contain its flesh, even the rock seemed to fear its arrival.

It came!

Luo Di's vigilance reached its peak, ready to Open Spine at a moment's notice.

Snap!

The other's foot stepped into the current cave, Luo Di's tongue swiftly transferred clear taste feedback.

The "monster of legend" emerged in his mind, starkly contrasting with imagined appearances.

That which stepped in was merely an ordinary human leg, draped with torn, seawater-drenched linen pants.

Barefoot, five toes identical to humans.

Upper body similarly donned a tattered linen shirt; unknown individuals might assume a mere fisherman.

Yet upon looking upward, anomaly was revealed.

A chaotic black-haired head topped the neck, beneath which lay no features.

Faceless.

Luo Di could affirm the current visage presented no features.

The Faceless Man stepped closer, seemingly inclined to prioritize handling this distinct human youth.

As the opposing direction was observed, Luo Di's heart tightened.

While preparing for a forceful Open Spine,

The halfway advance abruptly halted,

head turned,

facing the monster donned with a high-neck sweater.

Target selected, grasping hand extended.

When about to touch, the sweater vanished from the monster, replaced the linen shirt of the Faceless Man within seconds.

Neckline aligned perfectly, circular incisions appeared, blood seeped from the neck.

According to Pan Yang's documentation, a symbiotic relationship was established, severing the neck soul, Pan Yang wielding absolute control henceforth.

But in the next moment,

The Faceless Man remained unaffected in body control, his hand reaching for the sweater, pulling forcefully… tearing it off!

Flesh tore, sweater ripped.

The torn sweater simultaneously detached the Faceless Man's skin and flesh remnants, wildly swinging mid-air.

Even a twisted, sickly face protruded from within the sweater,

revealing Pan Yang's true form.

Designated a human enemy by the Exploration Bureau, multiple capture attempts met failure, classified as a highly dangerous monster.

Displayed expression wasn't disgust, nor anger, but… fear.

The reason was simple,

He was faced with an incomprehensible, unviewable, unspeakable scene.

Due to the tearing sweater, the Faceless Man's embedded essence exposed.

Not physical at all,

Flesh-engineered ruins, beyond monstrous terminology's chaos, manifested as flesh's ultimate spectacle.

Huge meat strips span ocean-like expanses,

Individually pulsing meat specks resemble mountain ranges.

Massive meat chunks presented like ancient ruin constructions,

Radiating vivid innards akin to celestial bodies.

"I beg you, spare me! I am also a Red Door Monster, adept in numerous flesh utilizations, perhaps able to fulfill your aims, willingly doing anything for you, I…"

Pan Yang continued pleading, yet promptly began disintegrating, his boasting high-neck sweater forcibly dismantled, flesh reorganized.

Despite comic book support, it proved futile.

Transformed into a living large umbilical cord, grasped by the Faceless Man.

Apparently satisfied with the cord's quality, he departed the cave, set on undertaking the next task.

Hanging within the cave, Luo Di preemptively shut his consciousness down, lest the previous scene drive his consciousness into turmoil, alerting the adversary.

"What kind of existence is this… is it the Double Door Monster?"

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