From the Abyss of Stars

20. Others Fighting, Me Shopping

 

【Hint - Task "Unforgotten" is active】

 

【First Ring】: Pale Tooth Mark

 

【Introduction】:

 

"Life in the lab gradually becomes calm, and you seem to have gotten used to being treated like a guinea pig. At this moment, a group of bandits attacked the refuge of the Neime humanitarian organization, and the defense line showed signs of loosening—not only that, but your heart also felt restless."

 

"Will you choose to embrace freedom, even if it means aiding and abetting evil, to escape the tight control?"

 

"Or will you protect the weak, stand up and do something for this rare 'new home'?"

 

"Now, the initiative is in your hands."

 

【Task Requirements】:

 

1. "Civilization Retreats" (High Risk) - Follow the White Tooth Gang to invade Neime humanitarian, completely annihilate Head Nurse Nordley Crowe, Assistant Physician Anna, and Professor of Neime, destroying the Neime organization.

 

Note: Choosing this option will settle the "Unforgotten" task according to the minimum standard. The previously accumulated exploration value will be converted into experience points at a ratio of 1:10.

 

1. "Humanity Continues Forward" (Moderate Risk) - Assist Neime humanitarian in eliminating/repelling the invaders. The favorability of all survivors within the Neime humanitarian organization, including Nordley Crowe and Assistant Physician Anna, will increase.

 

1. "Difficult Decision" (No Risk) - This place is too dangerous, not a battle you should participate in. Escape the refuge, and stay away from this dangerous place.

 

Note: Choosing this option will lower the 'Professor's' personal favorability to 'Hostile.'

 

-------------------------------------

 

"Finally, it's starting."

 

At the moment the head nurse ran out to meet the attack, Li Aozi received the system prompt. He shook his head; now everyone was busy resisting the invasion or seeking refuge, and no one had time to pay attention to him.

 

"Unforgotten" is a long-term main task; this is just the first ring, just the beginning, and Li Aozi has no intention of giving up.

 

But he also knows that if he acts according to the task requirements, he will be the one to suffer in the end.

 

The White Tooth Gang and Neime humanitarian are not comparable to the basic agents of Law Four. Li Aozi's level is low, his strength is poor, but with tactics and tricks, he can still deal with a few female agents of Law Four.

 

In "Star Abyss," levels are often misleading. Some people have as many as 100 secondary professions, resulting in a hundred-level title to flaunt and scare newbies. Others specialize in life professions like "Politician," "Engineer," "Merchant," and despite high levels, their personal combat ability is mediocre.

 

The true measure of actual combat strength is known as the 'Challenge Level,' which is the attribute 【Tier】.

 

From a (Alpha) to w (Omega), 24 tiers, this is the division and definition of superhumans.

 

Alpha is the lowest entry-level tier, but even so, against ordinary people, it is a crushing massacre.

 

According to Li Aozi's estimation, it would take 200,000 experience points to upgrade to level 20 as a 【Mutant】, but at least 1,000,000 points to advance to the Alpha tier.

 

"It's unnecessary and unwise to intervene in direct combat."

 

Li Aozi was unhurried; the patients around him had no time to be transferred and settled. Facing a sudden incident, they were somewhat bewildered. Some showed fear, while others clenched their fists, gritting their teeth, and decided to rush out of the comfort zone to confront the bandits.

 

"Now's the time... to push the main task forward."

 

Li Aozi then came to the door of ZX-102. He raised his palm and placed it above the latch. In the next moment, a golden ring of light flashed in his gray eyes.

 

Gravitational Power activated.

 

The invisible gravitational field enveloped the door lock. He had studied it in the past few days. The ZX series wards use a gravity-based automatic lock system, utilizing the weight of a counterweight to lock the latch automatically, without the need for a spring to apply external force, ensuring high reliability.

 

This is designed to prevent isolated patients from escaping during the gaps when medical staff check, treat, deliver meals, or water. If it were a bank or an armory, they would use complex mechanical password locks. Each has its pros and cons, but for Li Aozi, who controls gravity, the gravity-based automatic lock system is as good as unlocked.

 

He adjusted the direction of the gravitational field in his palm, causing the heavy counterweight to float upwards, making a clanking sound as it unhooked.

 

As Li Aozi reached out to push open the door to ZX-102, a clear female voice suddenly rang beside him:

 

"Are you... here to let us out?"

 

Li Aozi's eyes flickered, and his expression naturally showed a stunned look. He feigned confusion and looked toward the source of the voice—the ZX-101 ward next to ZX-102.

 

The ZX series wards, unlike Li Aozi's isolation room, had no iron bars for peeking inside. The entire peephole was a sealed bulletproof glass, only about 120 centimeters high.

 

If he wanted to peek inside, he would have to kneel on one knee and look inside.

 

Li Aozi hesitated for a moment, then knelt on one knee and peeked through the bulletproof glass.

 

He saw a girl about sixteen years old, thin to the point of emaciation. Her face was tightly wrapped in bandages, and she wore a mask, revealing only her right pale purple eye.

 

A head of protein-colored long hair was scattered on the ground. In the dim light, Li Aozi vaguely saw some dried brown blood stains and some scattered human bone fragments.

 

Noticing his gaze, the girl’s pale purple eye showed anticipation and surprise.

 

Reflected in her eye, the man was more handsome and attractive than she had imagined, with black hair falling to his shoulders.

 

For a man, Li Aozi’s features were delicate, with well-defined angles that coexisted perfectly. His gray eyes exuded a worldly, ethereal aura.

 

Even the orange-red restraining suit he previously wore could not conceal his robust physique.

 

"Did you just call me?"

 

Li Aozi asked, noticing that the system indicated ZX-101's favorability towards him had increased by 10 points, reaching a level of fondness.

 

He was not surprised. His good looks were a fact, but the main contribution was from his 【Charisma】 and the benefits from 【Perpetual•Love Hunt】.

 

The isolated girl raised her finger, trying to touch his face. Her fingertips stopped on the glass, and she winced in pain, withdrawing her hand. She propped herself up with her arms, her single eye gazing intently at Li Aozi.

 

"You unlocked the ward... Can you save me?"

 

The girl asked softly. She appeared frail and powerless, with a pitiful look in her single eye.

 

However, the mottled bloodstains on her thin white hospital gown and the special "Pale Infection Level: Four" label on the ZX-101 ward door sent chills down one's spine.

 

"Who are you?"

 

Even though he had already made up his mind, Li Aozi still asked. Not only that, but his questions were also continuous:

 

"Why are you imprisoned here? How do you eat? Why is the adjacent ward empty? Why does Nurse Nordley not let me talk about ZX-102? If you mix Italian pasta with Concrete No. 42, will it cause Pinocchio to help KPL win the World Cup, making gamma rays bombard the Trisolarians more miserable—"

 

Bang!

 

The girl’s pale purple eye burned with rage and distortion. She impatiently punched the bulletproof glass, transforming from her previous frail appearance into a monstrous beast, roaring angrily:

 

"What the hell? Can you stop babbling nonsense? If I, Jane Neilia, get out, I'll smash your head into your stomach!"

 

"So, your name is Jane Neilia?"

 

"Uh—who called that name? Pah, pah, pah, that's awful. I don't have that name!!!"

 

The girl, successfully baited by Li Aozi, was furious. She pulled down her mask, revealing a mouthful of shark-like sharp teeth, roaring angrily:

 

"Listen up, you good-looking boy, I am your grandfather, Nomi Anderson Guoaset! Call that name again, and I'll crush your spine!"

 

"Nomi, is it? Alright, Neilia."

 

Li Aozi said calmly:

 

"Then it's correct."

 

"Say it again!"

 

"The old world will be burned to ashes by the flames of rebirth."

 

Li Aozi said unhurriedly.

 

The girl was taken aback.

 

Then, her gaze turned serious, and she said in a deep voice:

 

"And the roses will bloom on the ruins of the four nations."

 

Li Aozi nodded, placing his hand on the glass. His handsome face naturally broke into a reassuring and sunny smile:

 

"Comrade, the organization sent me to get you out."