Outside Qin's Temporary Research Lab, Stedding Town.Snowy Hill.
With a flash of white light, three figures materialized out of thin air.
"We're here. As expected—this is the plane of Flesh Plague: Origin.""Of course. With a vial of Evolution Source Blood to anchor us, how could we be wrong?""This is a source plane. Opportunities to enter one are rare—we have to loot everything we can!"
The two figures in the rear were visibly excited. One of them, a graceful woman in a white mage robe, spoke in a flirtatious voice to the leader:"Boss Yuchang, what's the plan? Do we complete the main quest first, or go catch that little white rat that escaped?"
These three were clearly members of the Scorpion Squad—an awakened team sent to hunt down Gu Ning.
"Don't get careless," warned the small, wiry team leader Yuchang, his voice rasping slightly. "The target entered this plane 48 hours before us. He might've already established a base.""This time, we may not be hunting a rat. He could be a trap-spinning spider, waiting for us to step in. Let's check what the main quest is before we act."
The woman in white—Han Guang—giggled. "You're always so cautious, Boss. But in the face of absolute strength, what's a little local influence worth? Even if he cozied up to a native elite in 48 hours, so what…"
"The main quest just arrived," interrupted the third member—a tall, burly man clad in bronze armor. As he read the quest details, his expression darkened.
"We've been assigned to the Blood Ring Fortress faction—that's expected. But the main quest is to… rescue the Blood Ring Vanguard Commander?"
The armored man muttered in disbelief:"That doesn't make sense. According to intel, Flesh Plague: Origin only recently activated. The Blood Ring Fortress has already conquered Denmark and the Tsardom and is now preparing to cross the Baltic and invade Branden.The Vanguard Commander should be the final boss of this scenario—why are we rescuing him at the start?"
The three were overcome by a sense of absurdity. It could only be summed up by an ancient phrase:"We were just about to fight to the death… but His Majesty has already surrendered?"
"It's clear—the timeline of world events has been altered by another awakened one," Yuchang concluded firmly.
"But… but it's only been 48 hours! How could he possibly…" Han Guang stammered.
Only awakened ones truly understood how difficult it was to alter the course of world events.
To do that, you'd have to influence powerful native figures—leaders or legendary heroes. Such individuals wouldn't casually change their strategies based on the words of a nobody.
Awakened ones capable of this feat were typically backed by major powers, with years of groundwork and influence in that world.Gu Ning? A trial subject with no support? Impossible!
"What's done is done. Don't waste time," Yuchang said coldly. "The mission rank is A-minus. That means the guards aren't strong—the native who captured Bloodhand Gorlon has probably already left."
"There's still hope then." Han Guang let out a breath.
"Don't celebrate too soon," Yuchang warned. "When the Spirit Realm calculates mission difficulty, it only factors in native forces and behavior—not interference from awakened ones. If Gu Ning already killed Gorlon while we were materializing… the mission fails immediately."
"No way. If the native chose to capture Gorlon alive, it must mean he's important. There's no way Gu Ning could've just killed him off," Han Guang reasoned.
"I agree," added the armored man—Jue Que. "Gorlon must have crazy HP and endurance. Even without the will to fight, killing him wouldn't be easy."
"This is our last chance," Yuchang nodded. "Han Guang, Jue Que—this is critical. We sneak in, and when we strike, it must be fatal!"
Han Guang agreed, raised her hand, and cast a spell. A soft glow enveloped the trio, and their forms blurred into invisibility.
They moved in stealth and soon reached the window of Qin's laboratory. Through the iron bars, they glimpsed Bloodhand Gorlon, bound in chains.
Though one arm was severed and both knees shattered, Gorlon's chest still rose and fell faintly—he was unconscious, but alive.
The trio relaxed slightly.
Han Guang swept the area with her mental senses. "All clear. No magical alarms.""No visible traps either," Yuchang added after scanning the room like a hawk.
Jue Que pried open the iron bars. The nimble Yuchang slipped inside, while the others stayed outside on watch.
Moving quietly to Gorlon's side, Yuchang drew his dagger and slashed—the chains snapped one after another. Gorlon was free!
Suddenly, Gorlon's eyes flew open, blood-red and filled with fury.
"We did it!" Yuchang was elated. Even if the natives arrived now, he wasn't worried. Gorlon's strength—even injured—combined with Scorpion Squad's power, would make them unstoppable in this remote town.
He stepped forward. "General Gorlon! We've come to rescue you!"
"Mm." Gorlon grunted. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes widened in shock!
Black blood spilled from his lips. His body seized, then collapsed backward. He died with eyes wide open, face frozen in furious disbelief.
At the same time, all three team members received a Spirit Realm prompt:
[Warning: Bloodhand Gorlon has died. 'Main Quest I: Rescue'—Failed!][You and your squad will now be exiled into the Chaotic Time Stream. Countdown: 60 seconds…]
Yuchang felt a burning heat in his storage space. A test tube filled with crimson liquid was glowing. Another notification appeared:
[The Spirit Artifact: Evolution Source Blood you carry has a guaranteed-drop property. Upon death or main quest failure, it will drop automatically.]
"No! Impossible!" Yuchang's eyes bulged. He leapt out the window, scanning rooftops, roads, and vehicles throughout Stedding—but saw no trace of an enemy.
Han Guang and Jue Que rushed over, panic on their faces.
"Boss Yuchang, what do we do?" Han Guang asked, trembling.
"Do either of you have a return scroll?" Yuchang gritted his teeth.
Han Guang paled. "I-I don't…"
Jue Que pulled out a sealed scroll. "I do. I exchanged for one last time. But it only works for one person, and it takes ten seconds to activate."
"I have a Pardon Decree," Yuchang said hoarsely, pulling out a yellowed page. "It lets me bypass mission failure punishment and return to the real world instantly. But it's already bound to me."
Han Guang stood stunned. A few seconds later, she grabbed Jue Que's arm."Brother Shi… I don't want to die… I traded for Stealth last time—for the team—I didn't take a return scroll…"
Yuchang and Jue Que froze.
"I want to go home…" Han Guang sobbed. "Brother Shi, you're the kindest one… please save me…"
Time-space distortions were already twisting around them. The area they could safely occupy was shrinking rapidly.
"Xiao Hui, don't cry. Don't be afraid. I'll give up everything for you," Jue Que said softly, voice like gentle rain. He handed her the scroll.
Eyes wide, Han Guang tore it open immediately. A warm light wrapped around her, freezing her in place as the scroll activated its countdown.
"Thank you… thank you, Brother Shi! I'll never forget you…" she cried, vanishing into the real world.
Yuchang watched silently, not saying a word. Once she was gone, he exhaled slowly and said to Jue Que,"Don't worry, Old Shi. I'll avenge you."
"Take care of Xiao Hui," Jue Que said, gripping Yuchang's arm with trembling fingers.
"I will." Yuchang broke free and raised the Pardon Decree. In a flash of light, he vanished—leaving behind only a single crimson vial.
The countdown ended.
Jue Que screamed as the chaotic time stream devoured him. His body fragmented into countless irregular pieces—vanishing without a trace.
Where Yuchang had stood, the red vial now floated midair.
Inside, the liquid churned like molten magma, bubbling and shifting, as if it had a will of its own.
A ridiculously handsome young man approached and reached out. His grip was firm and steady—as if he held the entire world in his hand.