Doomsday Wonderland c1-855

by N. Heller

  "What next round?" Lin Sanjiu struggled to reach the door of the arena. She froze when she heard what that old woman said and tossed Soulsqn to the ground.

  "That was just the first round of 'Bumper Karts'. There is a total of three rounds," the old woman looked at Soulsqn with her heavy-laden eyes. "The next round is three times harder than the first round. You don't have to pay for the entrance fee. Do you want to start the round now?"

  "No! Don't!" Soulsqn squirmed and raised her head. Shockingly, she could still speak. She screeched and suddenly attacked Lin Sanjiu with her "reality".

  Lin Sanjiu was physically and mentally exhausted after that first round of Bumper Karts so she was totally unprepared for Soulsqn's sudden attack. It struck her directly. A flash of lightning appeared near her feet, she tumbled away artlessly and dodged the attack. Next, she immediately summoned her [Nostradamus's Card]. When the battery on her card showed a charge of 5%, Lin Sanjiu looked up and realized that Soulsqn was already stumbling toward the exit.

  "Stop!" she roared. The humanoid shape made of layers of skin finally stopped. "If you stay, I will help you. If you don't, I might as well kill you!"

  Soulsqn turned her head around slowly. Somehow, despite her half-melted face, she could still show a hint of disbelief.

  "Are you going to continue to the second round?" Soulsqn asked sneeringly. "If you want to die, what you said about helping me is just bullsh*t."

  Lin Sanjiu took a deep breath. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with defeat:

  "No. I really don't want to just give up, but I'm not stupid… It is not 2 pm yet, we can still get out of the amus.e.m.e.nt park. Once we are prepared, we can try again."

  Chapter 333 - Let Me Show You The Power Of Popularity

  The wharf at Northeby Port had not been peaceful in the past few days.

  Two days ago, a group of people arrived at Northeby Port in a hurry and did not leave. They loitered all day at the wharf, throwing gloomy glances at the passengers of the airsh.i.p.s passing by.

  They had harassed the captains and owners of every single airship had that stopped at the port, from people using private Special Items to all forms of commercial airsh.i.p.s. According to the gr.a.p.evine, these people were planning to head west but did not have an exact location. The group consisted of ten plus people yet none of them could accurately describe the place they wanted to go. As a result, even the few airship captains who were willing to do business with them had to regrettably reject them.

  As time passed, the group of people grew impatient. Somehow, they managed to sneak into quite a few airsh.i.p.s. If the other passersby did not notice the few unconscious airship captains in the water, those men would have died. However, none of the people in the group could fly an airship so they had to get off the airship begrudgingly. They continued squatting around the wharf, giving people the heebie-jeebies when they stared.

  "What should we do? Our queen is no longer within my detectable range," a man with long, narrow eyes asked for the umpteen time as he pushed his fringe away from his eyes.

  AYU let out a low, guttural, extraterrestrial roar. It was obvious that she was angry because she was feeling very frustrated. "Silverdale, can you say something we don't know?!"

  The Souls as a species consisted of normal Souls who did not have any abilities and Souls with their own specialized functional skills. After returning to the Cyber District, AYU had brought the other specialized Souls with human suits back to the Free District with her. Silverdale, the Soul wearing a suit with long and narrow eyes, could sense the queen if she was within a 100km radius.

  "Well, I think waiting here pointlessly is not going to work," a woman with a thick scarf spoke. If Lin Sanjiu was around, she would be astonished and definitely identify her as Sajee, "Why don't we catch another person who can pilot an airship?"

  When they emerged from the ocean, dripping wet, two of the Souls had lost their human suits. Before they could find other suitable human suits, the two of them had to be fully wrapped with cloths. These two Souls were now like two ghosts which followed the group.

  Due to their strange appearances, almost no posthumans dared to walk within a 100-meter radius.

  "From your conversations, I think you need a little help from me… my friends," a sweet voice suddenly rang out. Sajee, who was standing in front of the group, suddenly leaped up. She looked around but couldn't find the person speaking. That was until AYU lowered her head and exclaimed angrily, "Why did it follow us!"

  A cat with ruffled fur sat quietly on the ground staring at them with his bright emerald eyes. His fur was of uneven length as if it had been gnawed by something.

  The bow on his neck had been washed and now shone brilliantly like a red ruby. His damaged backpack had already been repaired. The hole in the backpack had been patched with a picture of a majestic crown. According to the posthuman who had done this for him, she felt that the royal theme matched Dr. Hu very well, so she specifically designed it for him. His usually beautiful whiskers looked a little scraggly but they wouldn't grow out in a short time.

  Just as Meowie Hu had expected, these group of strange people was unaffected by his charm. One of them even started to open his mouth wide. The cat was not startled by this. He quickly pressed the strap on his backpack and lowered his head swiftly. When he looked up again, half his round cat face was already covered by a face mask.

  At almost the same time, that Soul's pheromones hit the air. However, unlike the previous time, the cat doctor did not pass out but blinked at them with his large eyes while he wore his mask. After all, he had learned from his mistake.

  "So, you've come here prepared," AYU held back her fellow kinsperson and questioned the cat skeptically, "Why are you following us?"

  The cat doctor shook his whiskers and stuck his head up a little, appearing to be slightly haughty.

  "I've been following your group for such a long time that I already understand… Unfortunately, we both want to head to the same destination," the cat doctor's voice was a little hard to hear as he spoke through his mask. However, his enunciation was as clear as ever. "Actually, I can just board an airship and leave you guys behind. But, I've decided to reply animosity with kindness, so I'm going to help you out a little."

  "What do you mean?" AYU stared at him cautiously.

  Ever since they left Seagal Square, this talking cat had been stalking them. As the Souls illusions only worked on humans and they weren't much stronger than humans, they were evenly matched with the cat. Without much of a choice, the Souls released their precious pheromones and escaped the cat. Yet, none of them expected that the cat would find them after less than two days.

  If it weren't for their unusual ability, Meowie Hu would want to destroy the faces of all the people in that group. Meeting Lin Sanjiu who wasn't affected by his charm was one thing. However, he couldn't stand that these ten plus people, who seemed somewhat non-human, could resist his influence and even made him unconscious. Luckily, the "charm and brilliance" of Dr. Hu worked even when he was unconscious so he was rescued by a passing posthuman.

  When a person came close to Meowie Hu, they would be charmed unless Meowie Hu attacked them directly. There was no real limitation to his particular ability. Humans who had seen him would voluntarily be his guide, his wallet, his sewing machine, and his radar. With the enthusiastic help from so many people, Meowie Hu took almost no effort to locate this group of people.

  After people heard that the cat had escaped from a dangerous situation, the cat's little backpack was now twice the size as it was before.

  "Oh well, since you people are so unpopular, you naturally don't understand what I mean," Meowie sighed, showing his pity. He looked to AYU and said, "Follow and watch me."

  He turned around and took a few steps while he took off his mask. The cat doctor had his eyes on a captain who was standing at the other end of the wharf. The captain was standing with her two crew members and was guarding his small airship as she wat
ched the group of Souls warily.

  However, when they blatantly walked toward the captain, a fight did not break out, unlike what AYU anticipated. When the cat doctor reached a certain distance from the female captain, she suddenly stepped forward to welcome him. Then, AYU watched the whole situation like she had seen a ghost when the captain knelt on the ground with a thud in front of the cat and spoke to the cat reverently, "Dear Doctor, how are you? I see that you're with that group of people. Are you in trouble, sir?"

  "Hello. Hello. I appreciate your concern, but I am currently very safe…" the cat raised his paw and waved his little pink paw pad in a very leader-like manner, "I have something I would like to ask you, captain."

  "Please go ahead, sir."

  "Well, it's like this. I... and this person want to head west out to the ocean. There is a pocket dimension there but we aren't quite sure of its location. Could you tell me where I could find an airship that is heading in that direction?

  Other than adding "pocket dimension" to his question, AYU and the others had already asked many people the same question. Perhaps, they were a little too crude when they were asking for direction, but she was sure that that captain did not know—

  "Please give us the honor to have you onboard our airship!" The airship captain replied eagerly, "I have heard of this pocket dimension before, but I only have a rough impression of where it is. If you don't mind, please let me bring you out to the ocean and we'll search for it?"

  "If only there was someone that knew the exact location..." Meowie Hu maintained his elegant demeanor even when he was being very demanding. "Oh," the cat said, looking a little troubled as if he was thinking about something. AYU couldn't wait any longer. She quickly said to the cat, "Let her fly the airship! Once we're near, we have someone that can naturally detect its location."

  "Ah, since that's the case, we would have to trouble you, captain," Meowie Hu gave the captain a graceful nod. The woman suddenly blushed with excitement.

  This conundrum which had lasted for two days was solved by the cat in just ten minutes. When AYU informed the other Souls to board the airship, every single one of them had a look of slight disbelief.

  "Maybe, we have chosen the wrong skin," Silverdale mumbled to another Soul. "If we wore cat skins, maybe, we could also do this."

  The cat doctor's hearing was much better than humans'. He was shocked when he heard what they said. He leaped up and his tail bristled. He stared at the group of people suspiciously for quite a while, just when he was wondering if he should continue on this journey with them, AYU walked toward him.

  "Why are you helping us? What do you want?"

  To the Souls, the need to quickly reproduce and create the second generation was carved into their genes. Soulsqn was the only one who could possibly help their species fulfill this. As a result, finding and protecting their queen was a mission that every Soul had. Just when they were on the edge of despair, they had received this unexpected help. Under such circ.u.mstances, AYU couldn't help feeling suspicious no matter how relieved she felt.

  "A few of my friends are in a bit of trouble there. As you can see, I am really small and I don't know how to fight... I think I will need help from all of you."

  Even though the Souls did not have the same emotions and affections like humans, AYU nodded and before she turned around she added, "If it doesn't affect us much, we'll help you out."

  When she turned around, the cat crooked his head. His large eyes were sparkingly. "What's under that human skin... what will it look like dissected? " he thought to himself.

  Chapter 334 - Meeting An Old Friend

  When Lin Sanjiu walked out of the Bumper Karts attraction, blood had stopped oozing from her pores. As many of her epidermal capillaries had been damaged, huge red patches appeared all over her honey-colored skin. She probably would never forget the feeling of being fried like an 'onion ring'.

  However, compared to Soulsqn, she looked much better.

  Lin Sanjiu held the area which was once Soulsqn's neck and dragged her forward. She felt goosebumps on her skin. She was holding something hard beneath that skin. The layers of skin and human hair had swallowed her hand. The feeling of that soft, shapeless skin wrapping around her hand was very uncomfortable.

  "You tried to attack me yet I'm bringing you out of the amus.e.m.e.nt park…" Lin Sanjiu gave a soft cold laugh. When she spotted Soulsqn looking downward, she continued, "If you Souls have even a bit of conscience, you shouldn't let me waste my worries on you."

  Soulsqn remained slumped in her hand without saying a word. Lin Sanjiu did not know what she was thinking.

  If Lin Sanjiu was alone, she felt that she could go for the next round… However, she found no point in risking her life.

  The first round was already very dangerous. If she did manage to complete the second round, she probably would be half-dead. What would she do then? Continue with the third round which was three times harder?

  She was tossed into Starry Carnival Amus.e.m.e.nt Park by Santa Claus so she could be bait for Puppeteer. The only reason why she wanted to continue down the route was so that she could find Reno and Rena. If she hurt herself badly, she wouldn't have a chance of rescuing the kids from Puppeteer. With that in mind, it was clearer to her that it was a much better choice to exit and think of a better strategy. Just like the fact that every ability had a limitation, there should be a way to survive every pocket dimension.

  Just as before, there wasn't any sound of human conversations on Frog Route. They could only hear the tinkling sound of music weaving through the air along with the balloons that bobble to their beat. Somehow that spirited atmosphere seemed to further emphasize the sense of alienation and solitude.

  Set against this strange silence, hearing a human voice from the middle of the grass field was like a thunderbolt out of nowhere.

  "I want a scoop of chocolate toffee and a scoop of rum and raisin."

  "Um? I think I've seen you before."

  While Lin Sanjiu stared speechlessly at the other person, he already raised his brow.

  Even if Lin Sanjiu was now almost 1.8m, the man in a black robe was a head taller than her. His muscles were well-defined and sharply sculpted, quietly possessing incredible strength and power. There was a depth in his eyes that seemed to be forged through countless bloodbaths. Every fiber of his being revealed a steel-like will which had been tempered by destruction and bloodshed.

  The katana on his back was nowhere to be seen but the aura that Hei Zeji exuded had never been more dangerous.

  "Thank you for your patronage. It will be 30 Stamina points," the ice cream truck owner handed Hei Zeji his order after a 'ding' sound. After he took the ice cream, Hei Zeji turned around to face Lin Sanjiu. She couldn't help feeling a sense of relief. Holding an ice cream cone in each hand did soften his image considerably.

  "It's me," Lin Sanjiu replied. She never would have imagined that she would improve so much. She felt that she was no longer that 'weak sh*t' that couldn't even stand properly in front of him previously. "Have you forgotten? When we were in Hyperthermal Hell, you and Li Zhijun saved me and my friends… I didn't expect to meet you here!"

  As she spoke, she couldn't help finding the situation a bit funny. Each time they met, they were in a pocket dimension.

  "Oh, I remembered," he only recalled what had happened after he heard Lin Sanjiu describe the pocket dimension. "So, you're Lin Sanjiu. That is the reason why your name sounds so familiar."

  From the looks of it, Hei Zeji had already forgotten what Lin Sanjiu looked like originally. He didn't seem surprised by her current appearance either. With his two large ice cream cones, he strode toward her. Once he moved, Soulsqn immediately started trembling. She started struggling as if she wanted to run away but Lin Sanjiu held her with a tight grip.

  Looking up, Lin Sanjiu realized that his words were a little odd, "What do you mean?"

  When Hei Zeji came closer, Lin Sanjiu had a vague feeling of what she had felt in t
he past. She remembered how his overbearing aura made it a little hard to breathe and her muscles quivered all over. He looked at Soulsqn and narrowed his eyes. The latter immediately shivered.

  "I heard that name from another posthuman. That person said he was from Progressor Alliance and told me to inform the Puppeteer to come here to catch her."

  "He approached me because my name felt familiar—" Lin Sanjiu gulped.

  Lin Sanjiu had a very good impression of Hei Zeji. Even though he seemed ill-tempered, he was very reliable when they were at Hyperthermal Hell. When she first saw him, she was delighted to see someone she knew but she overlooked something.

  "Is Hei Zeji from Progressor Alliance?"

  With this chilling doubt, Lin Sanjiu was just about to question him when the tall man in front of her spoke.

  "What's Progressor Alliance? Who is Puppeteer? Who are they anyway?" he suddenly said.

  "Huh?" Lin Sanjiu stared wide-eyed at Hei Zeji. Her amber irises shone under the sun. She didn't understand the context. If Hei Zeji did not belong to any faction, why was he here? "How did you enter?"

  Hei Zeji took a big bite from his chocolate toffee ice cream as he listened to Lin Sanjiu stammering as she questioned him. After a faint hint of satisfaction he got from the ice cream disappeared quickly from his face, he slowly replied, "I've been in this world for two months. I happened to land right out this pocket dimension when I was transported to this world. Red Nautilus sounds familiar... Where is this place?"

  And Lin Sanjiu thought she was unlucky before she heard about Hei Zeji's predicament!

  Lin Sanjiu looked at him, gaping. For a moment, she didn't know how she should start to explain. After she explained the general situation in Red Nautilus, Hei Zeji nodded.

  "Ah, so this is one of the Twelve Worlds. Sounds boring." Even though he was still holding his ice cream, there was still a scary vicious aura about him. "Nevermind. This pocket dimension is pretty good."