Dream.
Perhaps it was a dream?
Gao Hai felt as if he were trapped in darkness, wedged tightly between icy rock walls.
As if he had never left that cavern, never truly escaped that cramped, narrow world—as if everything that happened afterward was merely his dream.
Drip—
The sound of a water drop falling echoed ahead of him.
He couldn't move.
He could barely breathe.
Dizziness surged more intensely.
His body remained motionless, jammed in the dark abyss.
Drip—
A water drop fell on his cheek.
Icy.
Viscous.
Carrying a faint fishy stench.
Was it... a water drop?
Gao Hai suddenly realized something.
Drip—
A second drop fell.
He had already lifted his head, looking toward the top of the narrow cavern.
Drip—
Dark red liquid dripped onto his face.
Amid the fishy stench, suppressed sobs echoed from above.
Only now did Gao Hai realize he was stuck in a vertical fissure, unable to advance or retreat.
And above him was...
...
"Urgh..."
Gao Hai opened his eyes.
He could feel faint pain lingering on his body.
He had only meant to rest briefly, yet he had actually fallen asleep?
He must have been too exhausted.
Even after waking, Gao Hai still felt dizzy, as if mildly oxygen-deprived; everything around him seemed slightly blurred.
He reached up, covering his head, gently massaging his temple.
After a minute or two, the dizziness eased somewhat. Only then could Gao Hai clearly see the surging water outside and Chika Fujiwara, still lying on him, her arms wrapped around him in deep sleep.
"Hehe... Pes..."
She even nuzzled his chest a few times, looking like a little fool.
He pulled out his waterproof phone from his pocket, checked the time, and confirmed he had slept for 7 hours. His plan for a short rest was thoroughly scrapped. However, his Blessing detected no anomalies; Susan and Lixer hadn't returned to the sentry box.
"Time to get up, no more sleeping."
Gao Hai patted Chika's face several times. The girl's cheeks had a slight plumpness; the feel was quite nice, somewhat reminding him of Maki's... uh, Maki's breasts?
That comparison felt a bit harsh.
"Wuu... Is it morning already? Eh, eh eh, Gao-kun?"
Chika Fujiwara booted up quickly—from opening her eyes, to dazed expression, to fully awake in just five or six seconds. Soon after, her body stiffened, and she slowly lowered her head, realizing she had somehow collapsed fully onto Gao Hai, even wrapping her arms around his neck, using him as a bed for a full night's sleep.
"Honestly, if my physique weren't so strong, I'd probably be numb from you sleeping on me by now."
Gao Hai looked at Chika Fujiwara, his expression utterly serious.
"S-Sorry!"
Apologizing hurriedly, Chika Fujiwara scrambled off Gao Hai, only to collapse on the ground due to weakness from just waking.
Gao Hai sat up too, moving his numb body after hours compressed, then stood, bending to pull Chika up from the floor.
"Stop jumping like that all the time. Tsk, sleeping on the ground too long does leave the back sore. Let's go; time to move."
As he spoke, Gao Hai sent a message through his link with Maki.
{Hey, you there?}
A blunt opener; Gao Hai had no energy to think of pleasantries.
{I'm here, Hai-kun. Where are you now? What's the situation? Auntie and I are in the Command Room. After Auntie left the explorer role today, C1 was replaced by another anomaly-possessed explorer. Still three people. I guess explorer slots total three, all anomaly-possessed originally. When a player dons explorer clothes, they replace one. Not sure what happens with a fourth. }
Maki's response came instantly, a flood of info. Clearly, she had been waiting for him, stirring some guilt in Gao Hai—especially thinking of sleeping with another beautiful girl yesterday (though nothing happened).
{I'm in the [Plains] area for rescue personnel now, rested overnight in this world's sentry box. Seems sentry boxes work as safe zones unless in the [security guard] world, but probably temporary. I'm fine, Chika and I are fine. How are you and Kaguya? Don't push yourselves; I've figured a way out. Hold on. }
Quickly briefing his side, Gao Hai checked his explorer suit—no issues—had Chika confirm hers too, then opened the sentry box door, stepping into the water outside.
Clothes floated and sank in the water.
To meet Red Nut Gray Hole escape conditions, they needed at least 5 security uniforms: four for Gao Hai, Maki, Kaguya, Chika to safely navigate the security timeline cavern, plus one explorer uniform for Chika to enter the research base world and deliver three security uniforms, transferring Maki and Kaguya there.
Then, he'd don a security uniform and head to that timeline's cavern.
After rethinking, Gao Hai realized no sacrifices needed; full-team escape possible without loss.
Simple method.
He pinned on the Rescue Team Badge.
A blurry-faced rescue team member appeared beside Gao Hai.
Via the badge's power, Gao Hai commanded the summoned member.
[Later, don a security uniform with me. Say to me, Maki, Kaguya, and Chika, "I'll take over your shift," stay in the sentry box as guard. When we reach the cavern entrance to leave, shout from the sentry box three times, "I'm human, I'm human, come get me!" Then we're saved; as rescue team, you've completed your mission.]
Gao Hai sensed strong resolve from the member—ready for the heroic task, even eager.
This made Gao Hai hesitate; though as obsession derivative, it wouldn't truly die while he held the badge, using it this way felt unkind.
Speaking of, with Shirakawa Apartments liberated, Xusheng and rescue team at rest, who was this member?
Considering this overlooked detail, Gao Hai examined the member closely.
Standard soaked rescue uniform, face blurred like self-erased. But height, build... Lao Guo?
Gao Hai paused, scrutinizing.
Definitely Lao Guo—the one he badged, fully anomalized.
Ah, so with rescue team rested, the badge's lingering obsession came from this guy he killed? No— this member was no longer Lao Guo; human memories gone, only rescue duty and discipline remained. Its obsession: obey "captain" Gao Hai's orders.
This revelation made Gao Hai marvel at Xusheng's foresight even in death, boosting respect. And—
No qualms using this member as bait now.
"Don't split up. Find needed clothes quick, return to sentry box."
Gao Hai said seriously to Chika beside him; she nodded vigorously, grabbing his hand. They advanced hand-in-hand through surging water.
The rescue member was ordered to scout and collect clothes fast; encountering threats irrelevant—as obsession derivative, rarely attacked, and regenerable if destroyed.
The vast cavern held many floating clothes, but finding specifics took Gao Hai and Chika time.
After confirming with Maki explorers still inside, they headed back. The member had already deposited collected clothes in the sentry box, even drying them before return.
Good; progress smooth so far.
While gathering, Gao Hai stayed vigilant for attacks. Long caution yielded nothing.
Splash—splash—
Turbid water with mud and pebbles surged.
Chika, arms full of two uniforms, entered sentry box first.
Gao Hai behind released her hand, wiped forehead sweat, stepped forward.
Plan quarter-complete.
Next, Chika deliver clothes to Maki and Kaguya.
One foot in sentry box, other lifting to enter fully.
Then, a swollen hand silently grabbed his ankle from behind.
What?!
Turning, Gao Hai saw a bloated figure in firefighter uniform.
[Explorer... I've... come to save you...]
Mouth opening, pus flowing, it spoke slowly, dragging Gao Hai from sentry box.
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