Although the climbing process wasn't very graceful, the outcome was decent enough. No accidents occurred midway, and the two of them successfully climbed onto the rooftop of the opposite building. "Shh~ keep it down~" Mono extended his hand.
Without time to calm the thrilling tension from crossing the high-rise, he turned his gaze towards the motionless figures standing near the edge of the rooftop not far away.
He could now confirm that Six indeed hadn't been mistaken.
These dark shadows were indeed people.
However, Mono didn't sense even a trace of life from them.
Clearly still standing, yet seemingly dead—wasn't that strange? Treading cautiously, Mono silently pulled Six closer.
Although he had roughly guessed the role these people played in the game, Mono wouldn't let his guard down because of it.
He had already suffered enough from carelessness.
"Zero Nine Three" As the distance closed, Mono could see more clearly. These people wore clothes thoroughly soaked by the icy rain, no
breathing, no movement, feet planted straight on the low parapet at the building's edge
, hands hanging limp like hemp ropes, backs hunched, heads tilted upwards.
All of them were facing in the direction of...
Mono followed their gaze...
What met his eyes was precisely that Signal Tower standing in the city center.
The light emanating from the Signal Tower remained just as bright, under the vast sky
, shining into people's eyes,
piercing straight to the heart...
Mono withdrew his gaze...
Had these people all been controlled by the signals emitted from the Signal Tower?
He silently thought.
Once a person's soul is controlled, it's no different from being a walking corpse.
So, not sensing any warmth, not sensing any presence, became perfectly normal. Their faces were already unrecognizable; perhaps they had long been dead.
Just as he was thinking.
"Whoosh?"
One of the previously silent, motionless "dead" suddenly seemed to have its strength drained, swaying unsteadily, then toppled headfirst downwards.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished from sight.
Then, after a long while, a dull thud of impact echoed from below the high-rise. Mono shook his head o
He had personally witnessed how those people had plummeted down.
Tragic? Pitiable? Perhaps!
Mono didn't care.
He just wanted to figure out why that dark shadow, or rather the Signal Tower, wanted to con
trol these people.
"Hey, wait here for me, I'm going over to take a look..."
Mono turned and instructed Six.
Although these people didn't move, Mono couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be an accident if he got close O
Six still wanted to say something, but under Mono's meaningful look, she ultimately obediently closed her mouth.
Mono slowly approached the remaining figures standing at the edge, waiting to "jump" and embrace death.
The situation he feared didn't occur. Even as he approached the nearest figure, they remained motionless, still gazing towards the Signal Tower in the city center.
Mono silently extended his hand.
"Ding!"
"Composition: ch3-s-ch2-ch2-ch(nh2)cooh, c11hi2n2o2...(omitted)"
"Analysis: [Alchemy Vessel Producing Fear] The flesh is already dead. The fear and darkness festering within are consuming the last remnants of his soul... Recommendation: The fear born from desire can provide energy for Alchemy artifacts, can..."
After reading the system prompt, Mono silently withdrew his hand.
And the moment after he withdrew his hand, the still-standing figure, just like the previous one, also toppled headfirst, plummeting towards the ground below the building.
"Another one dead..."
Mono sighed.
Sympathy?
Indeed, a little.
Having desires itself isn't wrong, but the mistake lies in failing to control them, and moreover, being exploited by others.
This is the root of the tragedy.
Mono had already obtained the facts he wanted to understand from these people.
Glancing at the last few remaining standing figures, Mono silently began to walk away.
Then.
Raised his hand, pushed.
"Thump?"
"Thud~"
"Thump?"
The next moment, several more falling figures appeared in the air.
Mono clapped his hands, silently turned around, and returned to Six's side.
Little Six, however, looked at Mono with confusion.
"Mono... why did you push those people down..."
Hearing this, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Mono's mouth as he replied:
"Don't you think they were pitiable..."
Rather than living in such sorrow, it's better to die swiftly; at least that way they could find release.
In a way, Mono felt what he did was actually a good deed.
Well, if killing can be considered a good deed o...
Hearing this, Little Six silently turned her head, looked at the now empty parapet at the building's edge, remained silent for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
Those people were indeed somewhat... o pitiable...
"Stop looking, let's get out of this damned place first~"
Mono interrupted Six's attention, turning his head towards the rooftop stairwell entrance. For him, this was just the beginning.
Six silently withdrew her gaze, quickened her steps, caught up, and took Mono's hand.
Following the stairwell entrance, the two descended the decaying, dimly lit corridor to the floor below.
Mono looked around.
The empty corridor and rooms still appeared just as dilapidated.
Water dripped incessantly from the ceiling, everything was utterly desolate. Nevertheless, Mono began walking towards the surrounding rooms.
"Little Six, search around, see if there's anything to eat..."
One can survive seven days drinking only water without food, but Mono felt struggling through another day now would be difficult.
Hunger is more torturous than one imagines.
After all the traveling and fighting, he felt it was incredible he had lasted this long
To
Therefore,
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go look!" Looking back at the still-dazed Six, Mono shouted.
So eager when eating, how infuriating.
Six snapped back to reality, silently began walking, also starting to rummage through the building. Two small figures churned up the already utterly ruined floor into even greater chaos, 5.3 ten-thousand-fold.
But after all that rummaging through drawers and cabinets, no food was found.
Most rooms contained moldy clothes, sofas, and furniture.
Mono felt somewhat discouraged.
What kind of city is this?
Such a big place, and not a single bit of food?
Just as Mono thought he'd have to survive on water again, Six's figure returned carrying something...
"Mono... I found food
As she spoke, Six threw the thing she had dug up onto the ground...
Mono stared blankly at the large rat lying stiffly on the floor, clearly killed by a single blow from a club...
...but was left speechless as he looked at Six's delighted face...
"Can this be eaten?"
"What are you thinking?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"How could he possibly eat something like this?"
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