Famine 240: Corruption

　　Thud!

　　At the portal’s threshold, a mass of flesh and blood erupted like a fountain—countless scarlet filaments, churning upward like mud, brushing past the tip of the maid’s shoe.

　　The little maid stumbled backward, landing on the ground, still in shock.

　　The whole hall erupted in chaos.

　　The space shook violently as the fleshy growth surged out, spreading at an incomprehensible speed, rolling and surging. In the blink of an eye, it covered the entire portal.

　　The passage everyone had yearned for, the portal to a better life and the Farm, in an instant, became a gate of ominous blood.

　　By instinct, a word surfaced in everyone’s mind—[Corruption].

　　Players recoiled in terror. In the tightly packed crowd, panicked screams echoed, and some were trampled underfoot, wailing in agony.

　　There were simply too many people in the hall—most of them noncombatants, many unstructured or wounded, others civilians yet to settle in the Farm. The sudden disaster plunged the crowd into chaos.

　　Yu Yao snapped back to his senses, head snapping up, face pale: “Wounded here—don’t trample!”

　　His call was drowned in the boiling panic, without effect.

　　Snap!

　　At that crucial moment, Nie Du swept the little maid behind him. With a flick of the scythe and a pull of the pitch-black [Merciful Death Reaper] cloak, a blood moon blazed into sudden life behind him.

　　The moon was full, crimson, vivid as if it would drip blood, hanging above the trembling star-studded vault.

　　In an instant, red light flooded the entire hall.

　　That flowing radiance, like a silent, peaceful embrace, enveloped everyone inside.

　　Suddenly, the chorus of terrified shrieks had no disastrous result. The danger of trampling was isolated. Staggering legs were halted before any real disaster, fallen wounded could pant and be helped up by others.

　　It was Nie Du’s signature skill—the same ability that once won the approval of Xubei’s squad, and unique in the Hunger Game for group protection: Blood Moon.

　　“QUIET! QUIET! Stay where you are, do NOT run!”

　　Sha Tong stepped forward and fired two shots into the air. Gunshots cracked.

　　Fortunately, those nearest the blood portal were Bone Ferry Guards—the most strictly disciplined, best-trained unit of all. These exhausted soldiers quickly regained composure; instead of panicking, under Nie Du’s command, they weaved through the crowd, bringing order and calm in moments.

　　Yu Yao watched in awe, dazed: “…Such powerful organization, Captain Nie.”

　　It was an understatement; Nie Du glanced at him in surprise, but said nothing—only sighed, “Now what?”

　　Before them, every portal was covered with writhing strands of blood and black, creeping up to seal off every exit.

　　Nie Du tried leading a coordinated attack, but nothing worked—the corruption was immune to all attacks from players. Only mundane blows—sword, fire—might leave a shallow cut, but the wound repaired itself almost immediately.

　　Any player foolish enough to touch that flesh suffered various degrees of necrosis, screaming in agony.

　　The corruption had sealed the entire Hephaestus Castle. The masses of sanguine filaments were crawling, a little at a time, further and further in.

　　Within, Nie Du and the Bone Ferry Guard squad remained, along with thousands of noncombatants.

　　……

　　Outside the portal, in the Farm, Alice opened her eyes.

　　“The Main God has found us.”

　　She murmured.

　　On this side, the portal led to the Farm’s rest area. People moved about with easy smiles. Outside, rain raged; inside, the warm glow of lights filled the room, the hearth blazed, and pots of soup burbled in the dining hall.

　　…Just a few steps, and they would have come home.

　　By the shortest of margins, in that brief window, the Main God cast down an impassable [Corruption].

　　Fifteen minutes later, Si Zhiyan arrived at the scene.

　　Stepping into the hall, he saw the tangles of drifting blood strands, the portal sealed by a crimson, ill-omened mass that reached to the heavens.

　　Evacuation on the Farm’s side was swift; only armed division soldiers remained. Bian Xu was already there, rushing out to greet him.

　　Alice had not moved. She sat on the sofa by the portal, her back hunched, arms wrapped around her shoulders, gathering her shawl tighter, shivering with cold.

　　As she had for most of these past days—silent, staring into the void.

　　“It’s useless.” Bian Xu’s face was grim as he shook his head. “We tried. Whether player or chosen, attacks do nothing to it.”

　　In recent days Si Zhiyan had stayed cloistered in the Farm’s basement, making preparations for the suddenly arrived Final War, overseeing the [Homecoming Project]’s manpower. Quick, efficient orders issued constantly, but he let no one near. Dark circles shadowed his face, his thin frame even more gaunt.

　　All knew the Farm Master was readying for war; few dared disturb him. Yet, he never failed to be present when needed.

　　Alice looked up and saw Si Zhiyan approach. He sat beside her, clasped her hand, and quietly assured her, “Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

　　His coat still clung with the chill of the outdoors, his presence gentle and calm, strength radiating from slender, steady hands—more reliable even than her own.

　　Alice asked softly, “Do you have a way?”

　　“Yes,” Si Zhiyan nodded. “Since I asked for your help, I wouldn’t come empty-handed.”

　　“What way?”

　　Si Zhiyan lowered his head and took something from his pocket.

　　Tap, tap~!

　　A small, light black gem hopped onto his palm, bouncing twice. It was a little black hole.

　　“…” Alice stared at the little black hole.

　　“Hephaestus Castle is a subspace with fragmentary world traits. If you’re willing to harmonize with it, I can make the castle part of the Farm.”

　　Si Zhiyan said softly.

　　“I have some experience with the Main God’s methods for purging ‘game bugs.’”

　　Now that the truth has surfaced, looking back at the Farm’s growth in recent months, the pattern is clear.

　　In those days, the Farm’s core was shackled by red blood tendrils, stalling Satiety at 49%, immune to any [Main God]’s intervention—a property closely akin to this [Corruption].

　　It was the God’s mark, the remnants of its failed attempt to destroy the Farm.

　　Back then, these remnants were but scattered traces, easily handled with Bone Ferry dynamite. Now, true [Corruption] had descended—a wholly different matter. But at base, they were the same kind of thing.

　　Si Zhiyan said: “These past days, I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting in the Farm’s basement.”

　　“My conclusion: with my current control over the Farm, I can influence [Corruption] adhering to the Farm.”

　　“If you agree to let the castle harmonize with the black hole crystal, the castle becomes part of the Farm. Then I’ll be able to transfer this [Corruption].”

　　“When this is over, I’ll destroy the harmonized crystal and return Hephaestus Castle its freedom.”
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　　Si Zhiyan looked at Alice, his voice gentle:

　　“Do you trust me?”

　　At those words, the circle of players instantly relaxed.
　　Was a second thought really needed? This was Master Si! When had he ever led anyone astray?

　　But Alice did not answer at once.

　　She sat on the sofa, fixed her gaze on his red eyes, and after a long while, asked, “…And what do you plan to do?”

　　“Hmm?” Si Zhiyan tilted his head slightly.

　　“You said it yourself,” Alice pressed, “You can ‘influence’ [Corruption] on the Farm—but only ‘transfer’ it. This is only a delaying tactic. At such a crisis, you don’t actually have the means to destroy it, correct?”

　　Si Zhiyan smiled faintly, head lowered, and replied, “Yes.”

　　Alice continued: “Then where will you move it? You can’t keep this mass of flesh in the castle, but you can’t in the Farm either, right? In fifteen days, when the Main God descends, we have to rely on the Farm to fight. It would be too dangerous.”

　　Si Zhiyan’s gentle, aloof smile never wavered. He bowed his head slightly, thin lips barely moving as he replied:

　　“Into myself.”

　　The hall exploded in uproar.

　　“……”

　　Bian Xu stood among the crowd, head bowed, saying nothing. Only his hands tightened, slowly, into fists.

　　He and Si Zhiyan were infinitely in sync; ever since the Farm Master first approached Alice for help, Bian Xu had known what the plan would be.

　　Amid the surge of voices, Si Zhiyan’s expression remained tranquil. Just as ever, he glanced toward Bian Xu and smiled.

　　They all knew what this meant.

　　Si Zhiyan now had a form unlike any other. He was what remained after Bian Xu’s feeding—a remnant, part of the Farm’s core roots.
　　Once, the God’s corrupt flesh adhered to the Farm’s core; now, so too could it attach to Si Zhiyan himself.

　　He would retain a portion of clean flesh for Bian Xu, and the rest could serve as the vessel for [Corruption].

　　Such was the road Si Zhiyan had planned for Hephaestus Castle.

　　To draw it into danger would be to protect it. Like a mother beast shielding its young, he could not bear any harm coming to others—he would simply do more himself.

　　He shut out the clamor, Alice gazed up at his gentle red eyes and thought: What a gentle look.

　　He had not led her to gawk at Nidhogg’s wounds, nor used underhanded means to “invite” her to sacrifice her castle—yet even so, he had no wish to see her or the castle suffer.

　　So greedy.

　　Si Zhiyan had always been this way.

　　Planning everything to the utmost, hoping—even if they were in hell—to give everyone a perfect, happy ending.
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　　If she were only a follower, Alice would have been overjoyed and eager to agree. As long as she took the path he carved for her, he would never let her suffer for it.

　　……

　　But Alice did not move.

　　She said softly, “But we’re friends.”

　　Friends who brought milk and cake for tea, who laughed and played on the meadows of Wonderland, who once stood before Starlight Bay and vowed to change the world.

　　Hephaestus Castle’s mistress may be the Farm Master’s follower.

　　But Alice herself was Si Zhiyan’s friend.

　　Her bright, crystal eyes glistened, but not a single tear fell.

　　She said, “Why must I be so cruel to you…?”

　　“…Don’t underestimate me.”

　　Si Zhiyan lowered his head, about to answer, but before he could speak she seemed to come to a decision, releasing his hand.

　　Alice stood, straightened her dress, spun around with a smile, faced Si Zhiyan, and declared in a sweet, proud voice:

　　“Si Zhiyan!”

　　“Give me a piece of [Tilted Buzhou Mountain].”