Whoosh...
The moment the white protective barrier vanished, a frigid wind howled through the cracks of the drafty house, causing it to creak and groan ominously.
Yet, strangely, despite the thick layer of dust covering the floor and furniture, the wind didn't stir a single speck. It was as if the icy blast existed outside the physical realm, blowing directly into the depths of their hearts.
Shi Jun, his voice trembling, urged, "We need to get out of here now! Based on my experience, the trial map, 'Redwood Ghost City,' is vast. If this is a survival mission, we could easily hide in some remote corner for seven days. But the Trial Arena likely anticipated that. They'll probably drop us into a highly dangerous location right at the start."
"There could be a terrifying ghost lurking in this very room. We've trespassed on its territory, and it's almost certainly already watching us!"
This scenario was a staple of horror stories: entering a haunted house, watching a cursed videotape, or playing a cursed game, only to find oneself targeted by a vengeful spirit and trapped in a deadly countdown.
In other words, if Shi Jun was right, the ghost in this room would be the group's main threat for the next seven days.
The instant Shi Jun finished speaking, a piercing scream shattered the silence. It came from the newcomer who had introduced herself as a streamer. Her eyes wide with terror, she pointed a trembling finger at the master bedroom door. Her ear-splitting soprano threatened to shatter everyone's eardrums.
"Ahhhhhhhh—!!!"
Elysia followed the streamer's gaze. Inside the bedroom, a woman's figure lay sprawled on the floor. Her tangled, seaweed-like hair obscured most of her face, leaving only one vivid green eye visible. She tilted her head slightly, staring at the group with unnerving curiosity.
Ordinarily, this scene would be terrifying. Even the streamer beside Elysia, the other two newcomers, and several of the six veteran trial-takers trembled visibly, their faces pale with fear.
But Elysia felt no fear whatsoever. When one possesses overwhelming power, the antics of ghosts and ghouls become utterly irrelevant.
Take the classic horror game Outlast, for example. In that game, ordinary players are armed with nothing but a camera, desperately trying to evade the relentless pursuit of deranged mental patients. But Elysia? She wielded a shotgun.
Outlast?
Who was hunting whom?
Elysia stared at the female ghost before her, her fingers twitching slightly. A pink longbow materialized in her hand. Just as she was about to nock an arrow, the Scholar moved faster.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed through the room as a pitch-black bullet hole appeared squarely between the ghost's eyes. Oily black blood oozed slowly from the wound.
"Useless! Normal weapons don't work on these ghosts!" Shi Jun's Stone Army Squad had already fled the house. The two newcomers—the Physical Education Student and the soldier—scrambled out in panic. Shi Jun, carrying the female streamer whose legs had gone weak with terror, shouted at Elysia and the Scholar, "You might be strong, but without the right methods, even overwhelming power can't kill these ghosts!"
As if to prove his point, the female ghost merely tilted her head back from the bullet wound, widened her eyes to fix on the Scholar, and unleashed a piercing, ear-splitting shriek.
"Yaaaaaa!!!"
The voice was icy and ear-piercing. Elysia could almost see the sound waves, solidifying into tangible rings emanating from the female ghost's mouth. Her delicate brows furrowed; it felt as if someone were holding a megaphone directly to her ear, blasting the sound of nails scraping a chalkboard at full volume.
However, it was merely a mild discomfort for her. Shi Jun, who had just picked up the streamer, violently threw her back onto the ground, clutched his ears, and knelt down, throbbing blue veins bulging at his temples.
The streamer girl had completely lost consciousness, white foam frothing at her lips.
The Scholar, on the other hand, remained unscathed, shielded by an oval barrier resembling a giant eggshell.
Elysia swiftly drew her bow. A pink arrow shot forth, ignoring the disruptive sound waves, and pierced the female ghost's throat, pinning her to the ground. Then, employing the same method she had used against those earlier, difficult-to-kill enemies, she finished the job.
The pink crystal, centered around the arrow, began to expand outward, gradually enveloping the female ghost.
Suddenly, something seemed to roll across the floor, accompanied by a gurgling sound. The distinct sound of rushing water echoed from the bathroom.
The entire house seemed to come alive in that moment. Elysia felt countless pairs of eyes watching her from every direction.
Either the female ghost in the bedroom was merely a clone of some greater entity, or this place was swarming with an unusually large number of ghosts.
"Let's retreat for now," the Scholar said, frowning. Elysia had already come to the same conclusion. She turned abruptly, grabbed Miss Streamer with one hand and Shi Jun with the other, and sprinted towards the door.
At least get the team out first!
Just then, with a loud thud, the dilapidated wooden door slammed shut. Wisps of dark Qi seeped through the cracks between the door and the wall—a classic trope from horror movies.
Elysia kicked the door with a swift, powerful blow, shattering it into splinters. The others, who had already evacuated, watched the ruined doorway with mounting anxiety.
"What do we do? The Captain's still inside!"
"Damn it, let me try to force the door open..."
Before he could finish, the door literally exploded into a cloud of wood shards, leaving everyone stunned.
Elysia and the Scholar quickly emerged, carrying the injured Captain and Streamer between them. After gently setting them down, they turned back to find the doorway swallowed by a dense void of darkness, like the gaping maw of a ravenous beast, silently roaring its fury.
The Scholar glanced down at her weapon—a miniature "pistol" that resembled a toy lighter more than a firearm. "Why didn't my anti-ghost ammunition work on that thing?"