【Qijie】The Kingdom of Eternal Life

BGM: Callyourname- Hiroyuki Sawano

People are busy.

Wearing uniform white coats and red silk scarves on their right hands, they shuttled back and forth in the ant nest-like underground labyrinth, walking and running busily like industrious worker ants in the ant nest extending in all directions, occasionally conveying messages with shouted.

The narrow room in front of and behind them is filled with numerous nutrition cabins, naked human bodies floating in the light green solution, and hair floating in the solution like a succulent scorpion.Rows of dark green complex numbers on the computer screen were quickly swiped upwards, and people in white coats walked around blindly, recording various research values.The dead experimental subjects were pulled out of the cabin and stuffed into black raincloth bags for unified disposal. No one took a second look at these bulging black bags. Life is not their kind, but just a series of research data.

This scene is fun no matter how many times you watch it.

People, people, people.These forests of nutrition warehouses are like isolated pale tropical rainforests, in which miniature jungle hunting is staged without gaps, and the weak eat the strong.The weak become the cornerstone, the bones that no one remembers, and the nourishment of the strong.

Strange looked away from the scenes and asked the man standing next to him, "What do you think?"

At their feet is a huge circular one-way glass, revealing the busy scene downstairs.The white coats didn't know that the BOSS was watching their work from above their heads, so they kept busy.There are desks and fabric sofas in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass. Fruits and scattered materials are placed on the coffee table. Not far away is a wine cabinet with carved crosses and entwined ivy. This place is very large, and the decoration style reflects the combination of modernity and religion. Ambivalence.

This is a secret floor of the tower branch that is hardly open to the public.

Behind them, the Virgin Mary embraces the Holy Child engraved on the stained glass. The newborn little angel carries the golden wings and holds the holy water pot around her side. The eternal lamp is blocked from the skirt corner of the Virgin Mary. The smile on her lips is almost merciful. , and almost indifferent.

The silver-haired man stood there, his shoulders were steep, his lines were as sharp as a knife and an axe, and his back was thin, but tall and straight like a snow-capped mountain.He looked at the ground indifferently, neither responded nor wavered.

When he's not fighting, he looks almost like a statue that has been sleeping for a thousand years.

Strange smiled: "If you were awake, I would probably die an ugly death."

When Kate was given the medicine, due to an omission that could not be found in the study of the medicine, the spiritual domain of the former chief with strong mental power was severely damaged, almost to the point where it could not be extracted.The only fragment of spirit that was extracted through so much pains could not be used due to inappropriate potion. It can be said that the result fell short. Very stupid thing:

Originally, what was buried in the tower was the cremated ashes of his unnamed body that had dropped his package. It had been buried for several months. He asked his men to dig up Kate’s tomb, and then put the anesthetized Kate herself in In the coffin of Ling Ling: It is indeed a bit of a sin to do so, but it doesn't matter that he hasn't done a good thing since dabbling in this immortal medicine.

Now that you are useless, lie down in your coffin and rest.Anyway, this coffin was originally for you.

But on the second day after Kate was buried alive, the group of waste in the expert group used that bit of extracted Kate's mental fragments to make another thing:

Although it cannot make people live forever, it can control the owner of the mental fragments himself.

So he urgently dispatched someone to dig the grave for a second time.

Surprisingly, although the time spent underground has far exceeded the limit of human beings, it stands to reason that Kate should have died of lack of oxygen, but because the latter is an S-rank sentinel whose body has been strengthened by that drug, she still Alive, even quite healthy - the S-level rating is completely inappropriate for him.

But this time there was a slight accident: when the people in the tower branch were digging the tomb, they happened to be seen by Urata Shuta and Agum who came to express their condolences—these two sentries were the ones who caught Xiaojie for his design. In the mission, the incidental victim.They were injected with the same improved medicine as Xiaojie early in the morning, and the attack was chronic, but after all, they did not have S-level mental strength and physical fitness. When they saw such a shocking thing in front of Kate's grave, they immediately became furious and were stimulated to neurotoxins. On the spot, the rampage became two uncontrollable monsters.

At that time, in order not to cause too much commotion, it took a little manpower to subdue them.

He and Cendric were at odds. Although they continued to cooperate for the finished product of "Phoenix", after thinking about it, Strange deliberately drained the two of them for revenge and to kill people. The sentinel, who was mentally strong but not yet completely dead, was put into Kate's coffin and filled with soil.

Strange didn't mean to lure the tower to find out about it. After all, it wouldn't be a good thing to force Sendrick to bite him out. He was just trying his luck: if the two corpses were not found by the tower, Then everything will be fine.But if he is discovered by accident, he can completely splash dirty water on Sendrick by operating properly-anyway, there are enough dirty things on the hands of drug lords, and there are not many such ones.

Of course, there is no need to mention what happened later.

Thinking about it now, although he lost a lot for the former chief, it is not bad to be able to control such a double-edged sword.

The medicine used now has been completely improved. Although the attack is slow, it can destroy the spiritual field and increase the ability explosively without other side effects.The expert group has repeatedly tested, and the spirit fragments extracted from ordinary sentries are still somewhat effective, and the effect of S-level Xiaojie will only be better.

The spiritual domain of sentries and guides is a very special thing that only appears in these two.The formation of the mental picture is not premised on the subjective will of the sentinel guide.They are built in the deepest part of their subconscious mind, reflecting the most vivid parts of their personality.

At the beginning of the establishment of the tower, scholars in related fields put forward theories. Do ordinary people also have spiritual realms?Can the spiritual realm be concretized, or even materialized, and be actually extracted and studied?Although many people agree with this theory for a long time, there is no definite conclusion after all.

Of course, now he has proved that this theory is correct ahead of time.

Who would have thought that the spiritual fragments extracted and refined from the blood of the sentinel whose mental image has been shattered can prolong life.

After refining and extracting, this spiritual fragment becomes a very beautiful substance with a very beautiful name:

Phoenix.

The so-called "new type of drug" in Xitenita's hands was that small bottle of red-gold powder, which was actually this kind of thing that was covered in blood both in the manufacturing process and the refining process.

And the reason why users can watch various real scenes, such as tall buildings, fields, and rainy towns—this is what Daisy revealed to Xiaojie and Qiya before killing Bonaye and revealing her identity. It is precisely because of its essence: after all, it is a mental fragment extracted from the sentinel's body, and it is normal for people to see a corner of the sentinel's original mental image.

If you want to describe it, the sentinel is probably the giant dragon in ancient Norse mythology: it is super powerful and has few weaknesses, but it is full of treasures, so it is also coveted by a large number of people with evil intentions. They were all dug out and used cleanly.

And only Sentinels.Although the guide is more famous for being good at spiritual attacks, he has tested the guide's mental power, and it doesn't have that kind of magical effect.The principle is currently unknown.

Ordinary people do have spiritual powers too.Just judging from the tens of thousands of experimental analysis reports made by the expert group using ordinary people, the mental images of ordinary people are far inferior to the cohesion of the sentinel guides. Compared with the images, they are more like some scattered sand.

Ordinary people who have a blood relationship with the Sentinels have more concentrated mental power, and have some basic lines, which are more similar to two-dimensional drawings. In order to draw this conclusion, he asked Sendrick to kidnap and rob many people who are more or less related to the Sentinel guides. The relatives, but because they went too far, caught the attention of Ta, and sent Xiaojie to investigate this case of missing persons.He had no choice but to take advantage of the current and go into battle himself. He used the opportunity of this mission to assassinate Xiaojie, and injected him with the first potion, triggering his mental violence.

At that time, Strange and his men thought they were almost going to succeed, but the little girl who suddenly awakened as a sentinel and ran away became a variable for Xiaojie to escape, and the people who returned to the back tower mistakenly thought Xiaojie His mental power riots fell into a fugue, and he non-stop found Qi Ya, who is also an S-level and has not yet been bound to a sentinel, to establish a preliminary spiritual link: and the rumored S-level guide who walks alone like a lone wolf is actually true. Ken Yu condescendingly took the initiative to establish a spiritual bond with Xiaojie, a sentinel who only had a 62% bond rate with him.

Then Xiaojie's mental violence stabilized.

There's just one obvious price to pay: his spiritual guide is gone.

When Qiya and Xiaojie looked for the reason everywhere, Strange certainly knew what was going on.He did not expect this series of developments, but it doesn't mean that Xiaojie escaped completely: as mentioned before, this medicine is chronic.

It flows in the sentinel's blood, like floating, untimely bombs, which may flow into the heart at any moment, and blow that area to pieces.

Facts have proved that Xiaojie is indeed being affected: his emotional ups and downs have become more and more volatile, more sensitive and irritable, and his methods have become more and more extreme.Compared with the Chief Sentinel of the First Tower who eternally symbolized the light and led the tower in the right direction, he became more and more like the Dark Sentinel who only appeared in rumors.

Compared with the original Xiaojie, Strange prefers the current one.

Sometimes after being stained with darkness, some things that are almost dazzling can become a little more pleasing.

Strange smiled.

He took a look at the silver-haired man who was still standing by the disc and looked at the busy people below, walked to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of spirits, and dialed the inside line of the expert group: "Take Mr. Go back and treat him."

A secret door was opened on one side of the wall, and a white coat came out, put a restraint strap on Kate, and led him to the elevator.Strange shook the crystal-clear amber liquid, the translucent ice cube the size of a fist hit the glass wall and made a light clang, the knife-like mellow liquid cut his lips and teeth, pierced his esophagus, and fell into the cup coldly. The stomach pouch burned in the next second, as if swallowing a big mouthful of magma.Steam makes people lazy.

Round water droplets condensed on the body of the cup, rolling down like beads of sweat.Through the stained glass, the night is distorted and divided into colorful phantom colors, which are still scattered on the ground piece by piece.The night wind stopped before I knew it, and most of the city fell asleep. In this boring world, only a few people were still awake, waiting for the approaching dawn.

very soon.

Don't need to wait any longer.

Strange peered into his own eyes through the amber glass of wine.It was a pair of familiar blue eyes.

What he wants, what he longs for, will soon be available.

and so……

Kate, who was silently and mechanically following the white coat to the elevator, suddenly stopped in a rare way.

He turned around and faced out the window, his eyes so black as if they had been dyed every night in the world fixedly stared at the gorgeous stained glass.

Ever since the former chief was transformed into a weapon of war, all his mind has been destroyed by the medicine that has not been fully improved. Compared with a human being, he is more like a handsome and ruthless battle doll...or it is more appropriate to change it. Cruel statement: He often looks like a walking dead with a youthful face and a powerful fighting spirit.Therefore, he never showed any interest in the outside world other than fighting.

It should be said that it was the first time for Strange to see his behavior like that just now.

He raised his eyebrows curiously, and asked, "Mr. Kate? Why—"

At this moment, he heard a voice.

Da da da, da da da.

Cut off the air, disturb the airflow, short and swift.

It was the sound of propellers.

Sendrick is here?This was Strange's first reaction.

But how could Kate have any reaction to Sendrick's arrival?This is his second reaction.

But he didn't have time for a third reaction.At the very second when the black-skinned sentinel realized that the situation was wrong, a huge black shadow appeared outside the stained-glass window, and at the same time, a clear and sharp sound shattered the silent midnight, and the merciful smile of the Holy Mother instantly shattered into hard foam , shards of stained glass clattered all over the place.A smoke bomb rolled in, and a thick white mist enveloped the entire space almost instantly.

It's not the big drug lord who came for the appointment, but the enemy.

Strange's first counterattack was not a counterattack. He touched a button under the wine cabinet with his backhand and pressed his index finger on it.

A barrier was quickly spun out of the huge one-way glass disc, completely covering the scene below, and the surface was covered with carpet, completely integrated with the room.

At this moment, Strange saw Kate bent over, like a hunting beast showing its fangs, and made an attacking posture.

But he failed to attack, the restraint strap on his wrist took effect quickly, and he had to be led stiffly by the white coat into the secret door of the elevator—although releasing this ultimate weapon can end within 1 minute The current situation of being attacked, but you must know that if this person who should have died appears here, there will be many troubles that can be avoided.

In the next second, several figures in black rushed out from the hidden door of the elevator, and their figures were quickly engulfed by the white smoke that swept in.

Although his vision was obstructed, Strange wasn't worried about this inexplicable enemy attack, and even took a sip of the cold wine in his glass leisurely.The strength, speed, and control of this team of reformers are all excellent, enough to catch these little thieves who dare to trouble him while driving a helicopter.

He leisurely drank the wine in his glass, while thinking about how long it would take to subdue these people. 1 minute?That's too much, half a minute is enough, right?

The clock with colorful patterns hanging on the wall was ticking, the white mist swallowed everything, and the sporadic lights shone faintly from the row upon row of buildings.

When the wine in the glass was finished, Strange finally realized something was wrong.

Let alone half a minute, a full three minutes have passed now.With their abilities, how could it be possible for them to fail to deal with their opponents for such a long time?

not to mention-

During these 3 minutes, it was too quiet.

In this huge space, only the quiet sound of the clock was left for a while.What about the helicopter?Where did the sound of the propeller go?If they were really in a stalemate with each other, how could there be no sound when they punched each other?

Strange put down the wine glass in his hand.The wine glass knocked on the table, making a slight clang.He took a few steps, and when he was about to take the third step, a voice sounded softly from the back of his neck:

"Don't be so impatient."

At the same time, something sharp and warm touched his carotid artery.He felt the sting of the boiling blood rushing through the arteries, thump, thump, and the skin was pierced.

Strange glanced at it out of the corner of his eye. It was a hand.

Slender and fair-skinned, with well-defined joints, rather too sharp, with protruding muscles and bones, and sharp nails as if cutting a rock.

The smoke screen dissipated a bit, and visibility gradually recovered.Strange glanced calmly, and saw a few men in black lying motionless in the distance. There was no blood, but they had obviously lost consciousness.

The stained glass was shattered, and the special substance added to it floated in the air like glittering phosphorous powder, refracting brilliantly scattered light, as if someone had smashed a stone into the Milky Way, splashing out thousands of Xiao Shuhan stars.

Strange lowered his head slightly, and saw a pair of silver eyes on the mirror-like marble bar top, looking at him without any waves.

Warm liquid flowed down from the stinging place on the side of the neck, dripping to the ground with a strong smell of rust.

"Kiya-kun?" Strange said.

The young man behind said, "Yes."

"Is something wrong?" Strange asked.

"I'm here to find someone." Qi Ya said. "Where is Xiaojie?"

"Jack? I don't know." Strange said, "He's your sentry, aren't you staying with him?"

Qi Ya said coldly, slowing down his voice, "Where is Xiaojie?"

Murderous aura began to spread from him.

Strange said: "Although I don't know what you misunderstood, but unfortunately, Xiaojie is really not here."

"I'm very impatient," Chiya said. "Don't go around in circles—"

"I hope you don't forget that I was once a killer."

Strange was acutely aware of the sudden tightening of his fingers on the side of the jugular artery. The sharp nails pierced deeper wounds as easily as cutting tofu. For a moment he could barely move.

Strange had no doubt that if Xiaojie's whereabouts were not still in his hands, the guide behind him would have cut his throat without hesitation.

And obviously the weakness in his hands is important enough to involve the most painful and deepest place, so that this unfathomable guide can hold back the tyrannical murderous intent to cut the murderer into pieces, sharp fingers Calm and angry, he remained motionless, his murderous aura overflowing but not exhausted.

It seems that not only did the bomb fail to kill him, but even the contusion caused by the forcible disconnection of the sentry's mental link was not particularly serious.

Or... Maybe it is really serious, but this former killer surnamed Beat the Enemy has enough professionalism to cover up the pain to the slightest extent.

It's terrible.

And the young man is obviously not interested in continuing to spend time with him.He finally exposed the anxiety and irritability that had been hidden so well all this time. The silver-haired guide moved the sharp finger blade forward a little, and the blood that flowed into a gurgling stream trickled down the slender and white fingers. It fell, hit the ground, and was absorbed by the plush blanket.

"three."

"This is the tower branch, how could you do something to hurt the sentinel?"

"two."

"It's Mr. Qi Ya, you still have injuries on your body right now? If the spiritual link is broken, leave it alone, but it will leave a legacy..."

Chiya stopped counting.

Only then did Strange realize that what he said just now was wrong, and his heart skipped a beat.

The guide said slowly, "How do you know that the spiritual link between me and Xiaojie is broken?"

"..."

"I'll say it for the last time." Qi Ya said slowly, with sharp edges and corners in every word: "Take me to see Xiaojie."

Strange sighed: "Let's go."

"May I ask," he said, taking a few steps forward, "how did you deal with the guards?"

"Sorry, I used some anesthetic." Qi Ya said, "There may be some side effects."

Even though he said so, how could he inject a sufficient dose of anesthetic against Kate's violent resistance?Not to mention that Kate is already a combat machine that has been transformed to have almost no physical defects.

Unless... the smoke bomb that was thrown in, in addition to playing the role of confusing the eyes and ears, also contained what he said were narcotic drugs.

Strange: "It's surprising, I thought there was nothing to bring them down."

Qi Ya: "After all, the Fat House only has that little effect." He changed his voice: "But I'm curious. According to the Fat House, this medicine is designed to kill sentries. Why have these people been down for so long... ..."

"And you didn't respond?"

Strange's hand hanging by his side tightened suddenly.

Qi Ya snorted.

"But I'm not interested in these..."

"Now," he lowered his voice, the sharpness of frost and snow and the sword were condensed in his voice, and he said every word: "Take me to see my sentinel."

TBC.