Doomsday Wonderland c1-855

by N. Heller

  A pair of stilettos on a woman's slim sculpted legs shone with a glossy sheen under the sun. She was wearing black stockings and was slowly exhaling her cigarette smoke. Her scarlet-red lips curled a little and the wrinkles on her face suddenly deepened.

  "What a foolish child," the woman suddenly remarked with a chuckle as she looked at the sky. Yet, there was no one around her. As the tranquil breeze blew by, she flicked the ashes from the end of her cigarette. "If I were you, I would bang my head against the wall."

  "Three."

  Lin Sanjiu was supposed to submerge into her mindscape herself, instead, she felt a sudden strong pull. She didn't expect that. Although her legs were firmly on the ground, the strong, abrupt force nearly scared her heart out of her throat. She let out a long scream though she wasn't sure if it was vocal or just in her mind. When the rapid downward pull finally relented, Lin Sanjiu's consciousness had already sunk into a dark, empty abyss.

  There was no school and no blackboard. She didn't even see the two loudspeakers which represented Mrs. Manas' presence. Lin Sanjiu "observed" her surroundings. She felt as if she was bobbing up and down in this sea of darkness. There was nothing. When she looked down, she realized that her body had been swallowed by the same darkness.

  After waiting for some time, she started feeling uneasy about the darkness and the silence. It was as if she had been buried alive. Lin Sanjiu suddenly suspected whether she was really in the mindscape of her [School of Higher Consciousness].

  "Mrs. Ma-Manas?" she asked hesitantly.

  She heard a voice coming from somewhere in the darkness. A tinge of coldness hid within the gentle, soothing and sympathetic voice. "Don't worry."

  Lin Sanjiu felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. For a few seconds, she couldn't even say a single word. It was almost as if her whole body froze the moment she heard that voice.

  "You shouldn't be too surprised," the owner of the voice chuckled in the darkness once again. She sounded like a considerate and understanding older sister. "You tried to avoid my explanation about the secondary school level of your ability because you already had some inkling, right?"

  Lin Sanjiu wanted to bite her lips, close her eyes or just pinch herself. However, as a mere figment of consciousness, she couldn't do anything now. The only thing she could do was to "look" at the darkness as faint colors suddenly appeared.

  Where was Mrs. Manas? What happened? What was the state of her [School of Higher Consciousness]?

  These questions flooded out of Lin Sanjiu's mind, even though technically she was already in her own mind.

  Pale and wan, she finally spat out a single question, "What do you want?"

  "I want to show you a whole new world," Nüwa answered gently. "Why do you always think the worst of me? "

  "My apologies. I'll try my best to see a person like you who wants to destroy humanity and control my mind in a better light next time."

  Nüwa laughed, seemingly amused by Lin Sanjiu's scathing remark. "You sound a little like Qing Jiuliu. However, you misunderstood my intentions. I would just like to reveal a new world to you. I never once thought of controlling your mind."

  "What new world?"

  Despite feeling doubtful, Lin Sanjiu did not say a word. In fact, her mind was racing with thoughts. Rather than blurting out the hundreds of questions in her mind, she decided that keeping quiet would be the best strategy.

  "Prepare yourself," Nüwa advised cheerfully. "I will now reveal to you another dimension of this world."

  When Nüwa's voice disappeared into the darkness, dots of silver light appeared in the distance. They gradually grew in number—as if someone had accidentally sprinkled a handful of diamond dust on to the black background. It stretched across the entire space like the Milky Way. The dots of lights filled the entire black space. They sparkled like a dazzling display of stars.

  The countless stars that were scattered across the black canvas gradually showed different colors. Some of the stars were like sapphires in a deep dark ocean. Others had a gorgeous cherry blossom pink. There were all sorts of stars—dazzling, exuberant, dancing within a spectrum of shades. Some combined to form a flowing river of silvers stars. Others seemed to be in a vortex stuck in time. However, most of the stars hung on the black background, each twinkling silently in the dark.

  This was undoubtedly the most beautiful sight Lin Sanjiu had ever seen.

  "When I first saw them, I was like you. I stared at them in a daze for a very long time."

  Nüwa's gentle voice snapped Lin Sanjiu from her intoxicating reverie. Hesitating for a moment, Lin Sanjiu looked around. It finally dawned upon her that everything she knew had changed completely. She was floating in the middle of a boundless space. Just like the other stars, she was emitting a faint light in the darkness.

  "What... are they?" Lin Sanjiu asked in a dream-like state. She couldn't shift her gaze from the field of stars.

  Nüwa continued hiding in the dark. She did not reveal herself. Once Lin Sanjiu said that, she heard Nüwa chuckling quietly in her unique voice, "Every single star here is a posthuman whose higher consciousness has reached a certain stage."

  "What?" Lin Sanjiu was shocked. Before she could ask more questions, Nüwa explained to her gently, "There are countless worlds, so isn't it obvious that we aren't the only two people who can use the higher consciousness? Do you find the number of stars here shocking?"

  "Why would there be so many stars?"

  "Many?" Nüwa laughed. "You should know this. Regardless where these posthumans are from, be it Hyperthermal Hell or Garden of Eden, they would appear in this astral plane as stars once their higher consciousness reaches a breakthrough. If you consider the infinite number of worlds, this field of stars is merely a drop in the ocean."

  "This astral plane?" Even though Lin Sanjiu was trying her best to process the information Nüwa had given her, and her attention was drawn to a few keywords. "What do you mean by this astral plane?"

  "Those days, I came here without knowing much. There was certainly no one to guide me so thoroughly," Nüwa's voice sounded lighthearted yet rueful as she continued, "I will give you an example you can grasp. Try to think of every new higher consciousness user as a computer. In the beginning, their operating system is extremely backward. As their operating system got upgraded with passing time, they would reach a stage where they can connect with other computers via the internet."

  "This space is called 'Astral Plane' and connects all higher consciousness users. It is not a true space per se and it does not exist in one particular world. Astral Plane exists beyond the physical boundaries of the apocalyptic worlds. This space is a new dimension co-created by all higher consciousness users. The only thing that can enter this dimension is a person's higher consciousness form.

  "In other words… " Lin Sanjiu thought to herself in a daze. Her body was still at the entrance of a hotel in Meat Elysium.

  "Higher consciousness users can actually create a new dimension?" she muttered. She found it very hard to believe. "From a certain perspective, isn't this already a way of breaking the unwritten rule of the non-stop world leaping?"

  "Perhaps, it is," Nüwa said calmly.

  Lin Sanjiu suddenly realized from Nüwa's emotionless voice that the woman had already thought of that a long time ago. "Starry Carnival Amus.e.m.e.nt Park probably got its name because it had the same unique characteristic as this dimension."

  Nüwa's words struck Lin Sanjiu like a lightning bolt. She was right. Starry Carnival Amus.e.m.e.nt Park connected multiple apocalyptic worlds, so, in some sense, it went against the set laws of world leaping. If that particular pocket dimension existed in its own dimension space...

  It was as if she was almost reaching the truth, an explanation, yet everything was vague, ambiguous and unclear. That feeling was unbearable. It was just like a large monster hiding below the surface of the water. One knew it was there. They could even see the outline of its body. However, ultimately, one doesn't even get to s
ee its full appearance.

  "You can think about the reasons for the existence of all the apocalyptic worlds next time," Nüwa advised with a chuckle. Even though Lin Sanjiu didn't say a word, it was as thought Nüwa could read her mind. "One day, when you figure it out, please remember to let me know. However, right now, I have a piece of bad news to tell you."

  "I'm not qualified to enter the Astral Plane, right?" Lin Sanjiu said bluntly.

  "You always surprise me with your instincts."

  "When Mrs. Manas left to stop you," Lin Sanjiu composed her trying her best not to sound lost, "she said, 'Your [School of Higher Consciousness] is only at an elementary level right now. When you hear my voice again, if I—,' and then she disappeared. At that time, I didn't understand what she meant. Now, I finally got it. She was trying to warn me. My higher consciousness is still at a very foundational level so she was trying to tell me not to trust anything that proclaims otherwise. Unfortunately, her warning didn't work."

  Although her words were met with silence, Lin Sanjiu knew that Nüwa was still around.

  "Where is the real Mrs. Manas? What did you do to her?"

  "I just got her to take a little nap," Nüwa seemed to find Lin Sanjiu's guardedness very humorous. "Different people develop their higher consciousness in different ways. Surprisingly, your developmental path is through a school system. You even have a teacher to guide you through classes… How carefree!"

  Lin Sanjiu took a deep breath. Or rather, she imagined herself doing that in her mind. "You! Give Mrs. Mana back!"

  "That depends on you," Nüwa had never gotten angry over Lin Sanjiu's attitude toward her. "I have created a pathway between your higher consciousness and the Astral Plane. I've achieved my objective so I can take back that part of my higher consciousness I left with you. Following you around for a while was entertaining, nevertheless, it's time for me to go… Regarding your [School of Higher Consciousness], though… Since I won't be around to control those rogue cells, you will have to solve that problem yourself."

  "So, Nüwa will just leave like that? Why did she even have to pull me into the Astral Plane then? Based on what she said, the invasive genes and cells would become uncontrollable without her. What will happen? Can I even control them with my higher consciousness?"

  Before Lin Sanjiu could consider the pros and cons of the situation, she heard Nüwa's laughter ringing out in the darkness again.

  "Your higher consciousness being too low for this place is just part of the bad news I want to tell you," Nüwa said mildly. "Actually, this starfield is as dangerous as it is beautiful. You are the weakest star among the multitude of stars here. You are clueless, confused and know nothing. In other words, you are like a little lamb here… Oh, you can't even begin to imagine the danger you are in. You don't even understand why it is dangerous here. You don't even know where the danger is."

  Apparently, Nüwa knew it and clearly had no intention to tell Lin Sanjiu. She laughed lightly and continued, "The only reason why you can stand here safely is because I haven't finished our conversation."

  Lin Sanjiu turned her head around, almost as if she sensed something. When she was enamored by the scenery just a few minutes ago, she was sure that a dazzling sakura-colored star wasn't as close to her as it was now…

  "Wait!" Lin Sanjiu shouted out anxiously when she realized that Nüwa had suddenly gone silent. "Did you spend so much effort bringing me here just to let me die? Tell me! What do you want?"

  "I certainly didn't bring you here to die… To be exact, I want to see how you'll survive," Nüwa's voice grew softer and more muffled. However, Lin Sanjiu heard her last sentence as clear as day.

  "Someone is coming... Good luck and goodbye."

  Chapter 466 - Don’t Let Him In

  Just as Nüwa said her last word, Lin Sanjiu turned around and ran.

  In her higher consciousness form, she did not actually know how she would move around. Without wasting a single second, she stared out into the dark space ahead and simply sped forward as quickly as she could.

  Unfortunately, it became apparent to her that a person's movement speed in the Astral Plane was determined by the strength of that person's higher consciousness. As the person with the weakest higher consciousness in the entire starfield, Lin Sanjiu felt as though she was being chased in a nightmare. Although she ran as hard as she could, she just couldn't move fast enough.

  A split second later, she felt the glow of a warm, dazzling, cherry blossom pink star.

  To make things worse, that wasn't the only star creeping close to her. With the corner of her eyes, Lin Sanjiu spotted various other stars of different colors chasing behind her. Even though her struggle seemed meaningless, she knew she had to clench her teeth and press on. Letting out a soft grunt, Lin Sanjiu rushed forward without giving much consideration to the situation behind her.

  Then, she suddenly stopped. She managed to stop herself before colliding with a star directly in front of her. She found herself surrounded by a group of stars. Lin Sanjiu didn't even know when they had appeared. Her heart sank as she watched multiple stars, glowingly coldly in front of her.

  "This one is not bad. You guys get lost first," the voice growled coldly from the white star. "You guys can come after I had my fun."

  "To be honest, I am sick of you, you lunatic," a grating voice like the sound of nails scratching blackboard came from the star glowing with a cherry blossom pink. "Do you know we've been putting up with you?"

  "Rather than a lunatic, he's more like a pervert. A pervert doesn't care."

  Another mellow voice sounded from behind her. Lin Sanjiu did not actually know how many stars were chasing behind her. Blood was rushing to her head as she turned a deaf ear to the voices around her. She stared at her feet—though there was only an empty darkness where her feet was supposed to be. She thought to herself that maybe she could escape the moment she spotted an opening.

  "She barely has any light. How are you going to play?" a husky female voice laughed. The way these people were discussing about Lin Sanjiu was as if she wasn't even there with them. With a similar attitude, the female voice continued, "This person was brought in by Nüwa, shouldn't that deter you a little?"

  "Deter?" the pale white star seemed to find the woman's comment hilarious. As he spoke, he moved to one side, facing the direction where the husky voice came from, "All of you surrounded her, so does that deter you?"

  "Now!" Lin Sanjiu clenched her teeth and plunged herself through the dark void again. Lin Sanjiu's timing was impeccable. In that split second, with everyone's guards down, she rushed out and covered quite a distance.

  Just as she felt relieved, the pale white star flashed before her eyes. The white star let out a scoffing laugh as Lin Sanjiu tried to desperately to change directions to escape. However, she had barely moved when she heard a loud bang the next second. She had collided into a wall.

  "Wall?"

  Lin Sanjiu instantly felt an aching pain around her nose and tears hovering from the corners of her eyes. When she looked up, she realized that she was already in a house. When she looked down, she could see her arms and her whole body once again.

  Her heartbeat, her blood coursing through her veins… These sensations quickly returned to her. She could even feel the cold from outside. Goosebumps quickly formed on the exposed parts of her skin. It was as if she was in her real body.

  "I guess you are hell-bent on making me angry today," the voice from the white star rang out from outside the house.

  Lin Sanjiu rushed to the window and looked out. Just then, she saw the white star landing on the wooden walkway outside. The white light from the star faded and coalesce into a single human figure facing away from her, and she realized that they were still surrounded by the starfield. From her perspective, it was as if a house had been torn from its foundations and thrown into space. Unfortunately, she was in that house.

  "I'm not only going to irritate you today. I will continue irritating you whenever I se
e an opportunity. That's because I don't like a person like you, who is sick in the mind and body," the husky voice suddenly chuckled. "I've already placed her in that house. You can try to enter if you want," the woman said in a soft-spoken voice, almost coyly.

  "I've got to stand on this pervert's side. You're such a busybody," the cherry blossom star remarked crabbily, glowing outside the house.

  "No one asked for your opinion, old man."

  Surprisingly, the cherry blossom star kept quiet after the woman retorted back. The other stars started discussing quietly between themselves. After deciding that they had reached a deadlock situation, they seemingly decided to give up. "Let's go," someone in the group suggested. With that, some of the stars left in groups, disappearing into the boundless dark horizon.

  Watching them as they left, Lin Sanjiu heaved a sigh of relief. She wondered how she even managed to escape and survive now considering the speed of their movement.

  The shadowy human figure outside the house gradually materialized into a more corporeal form. Finally, Lin Sanjiu could see the man's appearance. The man's head was completely shaven. There was a tattoo like a chapel on the back of his head. As the man did not turn around, Lin Sanjiu could only see the man's checkered shirt from the back.

  The chapel tattoo suddenly moved. As the man lifted his head, the tattoo became deformed along with the folded skin at the back of his head.

  "It's just a house. Even with your 'rules', how long can you stop me," the man's voice sounded more muffled than before, as if the walls of the house had blocked some of the sound waves. The man laughed creepily, "Look at this wooden floor. Do you sentimentalize the life of those normies? Why don't you come to me? I can help you strip you of your higher consciousness. Don't worry. After I catch her, you'll be next."

  The female voice grew silent for a moment. She did not respond to the man. Unexpectedly, she suddenly chuckled at Lin Sanjiu, "I've given you a good house. Don't let him enter and catch you, alright?"