The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 908: Madman

The plan began with a choice.

When Liao Liao spared Dr. Jia, and Gao Yang made the safer choice not to kill her, a bold thought struck him: headhunt her.

And to headhunt her, he first had to save her.

Gao Yang had replicated three Talents before tonight's mission: Gamer, Intangibility, and Sensory. He'd prepared Gamer for Dr. Jia, as insurance for their escape.

Then Clear Mirror's ambush changed everything.

A theory formed in Gao Yang's mind. Both Gamer and Judge were Miracle-type Talents—their core energy should be compatible. As Clear Mirror weakened, his control over the Judge's domain deteriorated. That opened a possibility for exploiting a bug.

If Gao Yang marked a lifeform with Gamer inside Judge's domain, would Time Reset work once the domain dissolved?

It was worth the gamble. If it failed, Liao Liao would simply stay dead. He had nothing to lose.

He kept the plan from Liao Liao. Though her sparing Dr. Jia proved her good nature, even the most virtuous soul might succumb to the temptation of survival.

So when Gao Yang rested for a second turn, surprising everyone, he was actually marking the Black Gold hairpin in his pocket with Gamer.

His energy only allowed for creating the mark, not using it.

Liao Liao and Dr. Jiag thought he had gone soft for a moment, letting her live for another turn in order to confirm her regret.

The next turn, forced to act, Gao Yang chose not to use his dagger—which would kill cleanly with less pain. Instead, he pierced Liao Liao's heart with his bare hand.

That cruel choice served a purpose: it let him plant the marked hairpin in her body, effectively tagging her with Gamer seconds before death.

Then the domain collapsed.

Sustained by Medicine C and adrenaline, Gao Yang forced Gamer to activate. Even he felt surprised at the success.

“Shit, that works?!” Dr. Jia was stunned. White light flitted across his face. “Am I the genius, or are you?”

Gao Yang didn’t say anything. He didn’t have the energy to.

Even with Medicine C and the adrenaline shot, it would still almost kill him to bring someone back when he was in such a critical state. Thirty seconds later, Liao Liao returned anew. Her chest heaved slightly. Her face was pale but no longer ashen. She was alive once more.

Gao Yang's last reserves drained away. His eyes closed as he collapsed.

"Gao Yang, Gao Yang! Don't die..." Dr. Jia's panic rose. "I need your vital energy for research...!"

...

A few minutes later.

“Agh!”

Liao Liao jolted awake in the cramped hyperloop seat. Outside, darkness pressed against the windows. Green fire hydrant lights streaked past like glowing creeks. As her memory bridged the gap, she remembered Gao Yang killing her, yet here she was.

Why am I alive? I don't care!

I'm alive! Wonderful! It's great to be alive!

She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath of fresh air, tears welling up.

"I'd suggest you stay put!" Dr. Jia's voice cut in. "Bullets are quick."

Liao Liao opened her eyes. Dr. Jia sat across from her, her Black Gold gun trembling in his hands, aimed at her forehead.

A fat gray parrot perched on his shoulder, its chest marked by a crimson stain. The gunshot wound had mostly healed, its head recovered—though now comically featherless on the top, like a bad buzz cut. Despite its weak state, it croaked with false bravado, "Don't move, don't move, don't move."

Beside Dr. Jia lay an unconscious Gao Yang, covered in injuries, his left arm missing. He looked near death.

Understanding dawned quickly on Liao Liao.

She exhaled.

—Activate level 6 God of Firearms.

Before Dr. Jia could react, the gun was already in Liao Liao’s hands. She aimed the gun at his broad forehead.

"If you're going to point a gun at me next time, Dr. Jia," she mocked, "better keep your distance. You don't know how quick my hands are with God of Firearms."

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind." Dr. Jia licked his lips nervously. "Will there be a next time?"

"Well." Liao Liao holstered her gun with a flourish. "Depends on you."

"Oh." Dr. Jia's relief was audible.

"Depends on you! Depends on you! Depends on you!" the parrot echoed gleefully.

"Shut up, you imbecile!" Dr. Jia snapped.

Liao Liao met Dr. Jia's eyes. "So, Gao Yang pretended to rest that second turn and used Gamer. When he pierced my chest, he planted the hairpin. After the domain dissolved, he reset me three minutes back. He lost consciousness from energy exhaustion. You escaped with both of us. Then I woke first."

"Good. You got most things right." Dr. Jia nodded cryptically. "Save for one thing."

"What thing?"

Cold steel pressed against her neck.

Gao Yang had teleported beside her, dagger at the ready. The unconscious Gao Yang near Dr. Jia vanished; it was merely a double.

"The fact that I woke before you and hid atop the train car." Though Gao Yang's left arm had regrown and his face was clean of blood, his complexion remained deathly pale, his voice weak.

He withdrew the dagger. "Congratulations on passing the test."

Liao Liao sat stunned for several seconds. "Thank you for saving me, Gao Yang, but why? I was the one most eager to kill you inside the domain."

"You didn't want to kill me. You wanted to live." Gao Yang paused. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to live, is there?"

Liao Liao's eyes gleamed.

"Gao Yang, you..." She searched for the right word to describe this young man.

"You're a madman!"