"Replace the true form? Overwrite incantation?"
Hearing the prompt, Qin Nuo's expression froze for a moment, then he fell into contemplation.
Is the other side preparing to eliminate me, the only player investigating the main storyline, tonight?
The overwrite incantation has an absolute annihilation effect, making it the ultimate trump card, but it can only be used once.
Just like the holy water in the third instance, I only have one chance to act. If I make a mistake, it's all over!
Li Qianqian noticed Qin Nuo's steps had stopped and turned her head to ask in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Twisted my ankle a bit, it's nothing." Qin Nuo shook his head and followed her.
...
Inside the Black Crow Ghost School.
In a completely sealed dark room, dense light prints flickered, revealing paper cut-out figures with twisted faces, their piercing wails echoing in the dim chamber.The sound struck directly at the soul, drawing the figures together like magnets.
Numerous red veins grew out of the paper figures, intertwining with the thin sheets.
Pain, resentment, hatred, despair, violence...
Various intense negative emotions were extracted along the red veins, converging at the bottom into a massive red light sphere.
After absorbing all the negative energy, the red light sphere faded, transforming into a blood-colored paper figure!
Vein-like lights squirmed on the paper.
In the darkness, Red Shadow extended a hand, grasping the blood-colored paper figure...
...
In the pitch black, a red light appeared at the end of the path.
Qin Nuo saw it and said to Li Qianqian, "We've arrived."
In the security booth, Xiao Liu fiddled with an old radio, but no matter how he tapped it, all he got was static.
"The Old Man said there'd be a comedy show, claiming the Horror World could pick up late-night programs. Is he pulling our leg?"
Muttering, Xiao Liu noticed figures appearing outside and pushed the radio aside, stepping out.
"Master, you're here again. Huh, why a different girl today?" Xiao Liu looked at Li Qianqian with a surprised expression.
"This is my sister."
Qin Nuo introduced her briefly. Li Qianqian glanced at Xiao Liu and then focused on the teaching building behind him.
"Where's the Old Man?" Qin Nuo asked.
"He often patrols around. I'm in charge of the gate, so I rarely see him."
Xiao Liu cracked a peanut, popped it into his mouth, glanced at Li Qianqian, and leaned in to whisper, "There's less than two days left in the instance. How's your progress on the main storyline?"
Qin Nuo, hands in his pockets, looked towards the campus and said meaningfully, "Progress depends on how lively things get tonight."
Xiao Liu wanted to say more but closed his mouth. In the darkness, the Old Man, wearing a thick military coat and holding a flashlight, walked out. "Xiao Liu, where did these two kids come from?"
Xiao Liu had already prepared an excuse for Qin Nuo: "They said they left something at school and came back to get it."
"Grandpa, can I go in? I'll be quick." Qin Nuo pleaded.
"Little one, Grandpa's not a fool. You're not here to get something; you're heading to the stage room, just like those other kids from the Performing Arts Department."
"You can go in, just don't make too much noise." The Old Man said casually, then went inside to fetch an old smoking pipe.
Qin Nuo thanked him and signaled Li Qianqian to follow.
But before they could step through the school gate, several small figures ran over under the moonlight.
It was Tang Rou and the others, rushing over, visibly exhausted.
Qin Nuo was taken aback. It wasn't even two o'clock yet, and these kids were already here?
"You're finally here! We've been looking for you for ages!"
"We thought you were here, searched everywhere, and we're exhausted!" Atu said, hands on hips, clearly annoyed.
Qin Nuo remained silent, unsure which day Tang Rou and the others' memories were set to. He replied, "Got delayed by something, sorry for being late."
The Old Man stood up, hung his pipe aside, and put on his military coat again.
"The more people, the better. The cat's probably scared and hiding somewhere, it won't run far."
Qin Nuo added, though he hesitated internally, wondering what the mysterious principal planned by setting their memories to the day they searched for the tabby cat.
"I'll help too. We originally came to the school to find someone," Li Qianqian said.
Tang Rou and the others looked at her, puzzled. Agai asked, "Sister, have we met you before?"
Li Qianqian shook her head, looking confused.
"Let's not worry about that now, finding the cat is more important!"
The Old Man went into the security booth, grabbed two flashlights, and handed one to Xiao Liu. "Xiao Liu, come along."
Xiao Liu, locked in the booth, said nothing. Hearing the Old Man's words, he felt like dying, forcing a smile more painful than crying. "Old Man, I think I should stay at the gate. What if someone comes at night?"
"No one's coming at night, and there's no gold in the school. Let's help these kids find the cat first!" The Old Man insisted, shoving the flashlight into Xiao Liu's hand.
"Let's go, show me where the cat was last seen," the Old Man said.
Xiao Liu put on a jacket, sweating profusely, and followed Qin Nuo, whispering, "Bro, you're killing me! I can't avoid this main storyline mess!"
"I just figured out the second character role, and now you've made it all for nothing!"
Seeing his tearless, crying face, Qin Nuo couldn't help but laugh. "I think you should be happy!"
"When I break through the main storyline, won't you benefit too?"
Xiao Liu pouted, "I was just being polite. You really believed it? This instance is tough as hell. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you're playing with fire."
"And now, that fire's on me too. What did I do to deserve this?"
Qin Nuo remained calm, saying, "Maybe your opinion will change when you hear my game ID?"
"What's your game ID?"
"If I survive until the instance ends, I'll tell you."
Qin Nuo quickened his pace, catching up with the group ahead.
"Even if your ID is the King of Heaven, it won't help!" Xiao Liu muttered, following along.