Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

Hongxia was shocked that her friend would make such a decision. Her eyes widened and she almost instinctively stood up from her seat.

"No problem. I have the power given to me by Mr. Gao, so I can protect my life in critical moments. Since the enemy is following Mr. Gao's contact, I, who have established a mental connection with him, will definitely be one of their main targets. As long as I leave the convoy, everyone will be safer. Although at this distance, even if some monsters are attracted away, there will still be some that continue to rush towards the convoy, since they are already too close."

As Liang spoke, she opened the car window completely, wide enough for her to jump out.

To be honest, the girl really didn't want to do this kind of self-sacrificing action.

However, the enemy's target is her, and that cannot be avoided. If many innocent people are implicated and die because of her, even someone as thick-skinned as Liang would find it unbearable to some extent.

Moreover, she still had two resurrection attempts left, bestowed upon her by Gao Hai—a true miracle of resurrection, a power only gods could possess. With such power at her disposal, and with the mental link signal strengthened now that the domain had expanded, she could receive even more support from Gao Hai. Yamada Ryo didn't feel that leaving alone was suicidal; she was confident she could reach that safe zone in the distance alive, even acting alone.

“I’ll go too. I’ve also established a mental link with Mr. Gao. The enemy’s target will definitely include me.”

Then, before Liang could begin his actions, Hongxia spoke firmly, without the slightest hesitation in her words.

Simply watching her friend do something dangerous wouldn't be in Hongxia's nature. Although the terrible experiences she'd gone through have left a deep scar on her heart, and she's certainly not willing to confront those things herself, in this situation, she sees no other choice but to accompany her friend.

Besides, Mr. Gao is protecting them, isn't he?

If there is a deity protecting them, the ending will surely be beautiful, and there will definitely be no problems.

With this thought in mind, Hongxia's expression became increasingly resolute.

"Alright, let's go then."

Liang nodded, and after confirming that Hongxia was serious, he didn't say anything more. He simply stood up and prepared to jump out of the window.

“Hongxia… Liang… you guys…”

The two girls went from exchanging ideas to reaching an agreement in less than a minute. Xingge, who was watching from the side, instinctively wanted to persuade Hongxia to stay, but she couldn't say the words. In the end, she could only take a deep breath and stand up with Hongxia and Liang.

"elder sister?"

Hongxia was taken aback when she saw Xingge get up with her. She was prepared for Xingge to disagree with her and Liang leaving, and for the two sides to struggle for a while. Unexpectedly, Xingge didn't say anything after she and Liang made their decision, but simply got up with them, seemingly intending to go with them.

"...In any case, now that you've determined that the enemy's target is the two of you, you definitely have to take action now, instead of just waiting to die. Besides, it would be a dereliction of duty for me to let the two of you minors go and leave you alone. Let's go together."

Xingge was silent for a moment, then spoke in a seemingly indifferent tone. Feeling slightly awkward, she turned her head away, refusing to meet Hongxia's gaze, her emotions somewhat complicated. Of course, soon after Liang jumped off the train first, she and Hongxia no longer cared about the issue of sisterly communication.

pat-

Yamada Ryo jumped directly out of the car window, splashing water everywhere as his feet hit the ground.

The bus with the flat tire had been parked on the side of the road for several minutes. The other buses and transport vehicles in the convoy didn't stop; instead, they continued carrying most of the survivors. However, a small vehicle carrying firefighters stopped. The firefighters had already gotten out and were preparing to change the tire on the bus with a spare tire and other tools. When Liang jumped out of the vehicle, the firefighters were quite startled.

"Hey, you over there, what are you doing? Get back in your car! It's dangerous!"

A firefighter with a long beard hurried over and called out to Liang, who had stood up.

pat- pat-

Before Liang could respond, Hongxia and Xingge jumped out after her, and the three women were drenched in the downpour. Of course, they had changed their clothes during their time in the shelter, wearing dry, non-clingy garments, so getting wet again wasn't a problem. However, the firefighter, seeing the three women jump out of the vehicle in succession, momentarily lost his composure; he couldn't understand what they were thinking.

"Excuse me, we need to take another route."

Xingge wiped the rain off her face and spoke to the firefighter.

"What?! Change the road?! Do you know how dangerous this city is right now?! Stop right there! Go back!"

The firefighter immediately shouted angrily, seemingly mistaking the three for mentally unstable survivors who wouldn't obey orders. His anger surged, and he called for several others to come forward and restrain them. The survivors in the vehicle were also discussing the three's unusual behavior. Some worried they might be possessed by a strange entity, while others felt they were causing trouble and complaining about their actions.

Several survivors sitting at the back of the vehicle had noticed something approaching in the distance, but because it was too far away, they couldn't tell whether it was another vehicle or something else. So at this moment, only a few people were discussing it.

But Yamada Ryo knew that time was running out. As the monsters drew closer, the two lone vehicles, along with the survivors and firefighters stranded there, had little hope of survival. Unless the three of them could lure all the monsters away, their situation would be dire. These monsters weren't acting alone; Ryo had only roughly counted them before, and she was certain there were at least five or six deformed monsters, each over three meters tall and resembling distorted humanoids, approaching. She couldn't imagine how the three of them would manage to fight so many enemies.

However, when it comes to dealing with ordinary people here, she has quite a few methods.

"We are not ordinary people. We will take care of drawing away the pursuing enemies. Please change your tires as soon as possible and continue forward. I cannot guarantee that all the enemies can be drawn away."

Facing the menacing firefighters, Yamada Ryo stepped forward and casually waved her hand, causing a streak of blood-red light to appear in front of her. Although the light lasted for less than a second, the chilling aura emanating from it caused the firefighters to stop in their tracks. The bearded leader's gaze shifted rapidly from anger to shock, then to reverence, and the murmurs in the vehicle vanished.

Indeed, demonstrating superhuman power is far more persuasive than words.

Thinking this, Yamada Ryo looked at the red light, which was actually made of blood, that was gradually being absorbed back into his body, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Such power does not belong to Yamada Ryo himself, but is the result of Takami tailoring it for him.

In essence, this crimson light was transformed from the power of fragments of Gao Hai's own crimson domain. After successfully escaping the instance space where the Sheep Array Apartment was located, although Liang, Hongxia, and Xingge did not receive the blessing enhancement because the main contributors to the decryption operation were not with Liang and Gao Hai did not follow the proper decryption methods, their talents were more or less further awakened after this close contact with extraordinary power, and their ability to withstand Gao Hai's power also increased. Of course, the main improvement was in Liang and Hongxia, while Xingge's improvement was slightly less.

As for Yamada Ryo, Takahashi took some time to check on her physical condition. He confirmed that after multiple deaths and resurrections, her body, now restored by Takahashi's power, had a higher potential and greater compatibility with his power. Therefore, he made some modifications, integrating fragments of the Crimson Domain into Ryo's blood, allowing her to control her blood flow and release barriers according to her own will. He then gave her some small gadgets that might come in handy.

As for Nijika, according to Takami's examination, the main improvements were in her perception and a certain vague senses. Although Takami no longer valued anyone's perception talent after acquiring Yotsuya Miko's extraordinary "Eye of God," he still took measures to ensure Nijika's perception could function positively and prevent her from getting injured by sensing anything abnormal. In other words, Takami stacked a lot of resistance on Nijika. Considering that her body wasn't reconstructed by Takami and was still 100% of her original fragile body, it wasn't convenient for Takami to give her too many enhancements. Therefore, compared to Ryo, Nijika's current strength was relatively limited, at most only able to play a supporting role.

As for Xingge, Gao Hai hadn't initially thought about doing anything for this woman who was approaching thirty. Her perception wasn't as sharp as Hongxia's, her talent wasn't particularly outstanding, and her actions were somewhat clumsy; even if he wanted to help, it wouldn't be easy. However, she had provided Gao Hai with some emotional support, helping him relieve his tension, so Gao Hai still tried to improve her physical fitness, making her slightly stronger without changing her physique.

Furthermore, after reviewing the three's movements and discovering Xingge's several irrational actions while acting with Hongxia, Gao Hai guided her to reflect on her previous actions, allowing Xingge to engage in some self-reflection. Although unsure of the effectiveness of this approach, Gao Hai hoped it would help Xingge be more rational in future actions, preventing her from causing any further trouble.

However, Gao Hai's initial help to these three was simply a pre-arranged plan because he was worried they would become targets of the "hospital" again. Subsequent events proved his initial fears were correct; the now completely deranged "hospital" had indeed come after them again, proving that their behavior had been consistent from beginning to end.

"You...you...this..."

The firefighters, who hadn't expected three "players" to suddenly emerge from among the survivors, were momentarily speechless.

"Stop dawdling and speed up. You have the lives of many people on your shoulders."

Liang, too lazy to waste any more words, casually tossed out a few sentences and then sped up her run, heading towards the monsters chasing after her through the rain.

slam-la-

The torrential rain that started with the night, which lasted for more than two days, shows no signs of abating.

Occasionally, Liang would wonder if, given that Tokyo's urban functions had completely ceased, two consecutive days of torrential rain should have already flooded the city's drainage system, turning the entire city into a waterlogged metropolis. However, the city streets remained largely unchanged; even though a layer of water had accumulated on the ground, there was no sign of it rising further. Not to mention that most of Tokyo's shelters were underground, yet until their evacuation, none of them showed any signs of flooding.

Perhaps, like the strange creatures that haunt the city, this rainstorm itself is a kind of ghost story, an anomaly.

However, if possible, she would prefer a different approach. Being soaked to the bone, with clothes weighing heavily on her body, is incredibly uncomfortable. Even though her physical abilities far surpass those of humans and she doesn't need to worry about such minor details, Liang still dislikes this feeling. Of course, to be fair, she mainly dislikes facing monsters in the rain and the feeling of risking her life. If the scenario were different, like holding a live performance in the rain, she might actually enjoy it.

“You guys go to the side first. I’ll catch up after I’ve drawn their attention away. I’m stronger and have more abilities, so I’m better suited to lure them out. You guys go find any complex terrain or buildings around here so we can circle around them later.”

As Ryo ran towards the direction of the monsters, he gave instructions to Nijigasaki and Hoshika beside him.

"Okay, you have to be careful."

Hongxia nodded, knowing that the most dangerous operation to lure the enemy could only be accomplished by Liang. She immediately changed direction and ran with Xingge towards the side of the street.

In the pouring rain, Hongxia couldn't see the specific situation of the streets on both sides of the road. Xingge, who was next to her, turned on his flashlight, took a crowbar and went closer. He found that all the shops on the roadside were closed, and he couldn't see a single open door.

"Ugh, buildings with complex terrain... Where are there buildings with complex terrain around here?"

Hongxia wiped the rain off her face again. She looked around carefully, but couldn't find a suitable area to choose as her target.

"Over there, that's the subway station entrance, let's go that way."

Xingge, who was standing nearby, found the right direction first and immediately pulled Hongxia toward the subway station entrance on the side of the street.

Tokyo's subway stations, due to long-term development and somewhat irrational planning, have become extremely complex, resembling a maze, even giving rise to many urban legends. Hoshika, realizing this, deliberately chose this location. With no other options, Nijika decided to follow her sister's advice, and the two quickly ran to the subway station entrance.

Under the lights, Xingge looked down and saw that the corridor beneath the now-stopped escalator was covered with a shallow layer of water, obscuring the view of what lay deeper inside. A faint chill crept up from ahead, and Hongxia and Xingge knew this meant there might be supernatural activity inside the subway station, but with no other way out, this was their only option.

Hopefully, this area hasn't been completely submerged yet. It would be terrible if we went down and there wasn't even anywhere to step on.

With these worries lingering in her heart, Xingge turned around and saw Liang approaching the pursuing monsters through the rain.

slam-la-

In the howling rain, neither Xingge nor Hongxia could make out Liang's figure, see her movements, or hear her voice.

Yamada Ryo was in the same situation, but she didn't have time to look back and check on her teammates. As she got closer to the monsters ahead, she began to feel a faint chill, which confirmed that the monsters had completely locked onto her location. They no longer cared about the survivors on the bus not far away; their target was now only Yamada Ryo.

"I still hope to gain this kind of attention through music rather than through physical appearance or anything like that."

As he watched those deformed and twisted things that resembled mummies yet possessed enormous bodies approaching, Liang casually made a sarcastic remark.

The breath of death is approaching.

Even though it wasn't the first time he had sensed the presence of these inhuman beings, the nauseating feeling was still extremely uncomfortable, making Ryo feel even more deeply his aversion to danger and his disgust for these incomprehensible monsters.

If we can at least categorize supernatural beings as remnants of humanity through their obsessions and last wishes, then this monster deliberately created by the [hospital] possesses only a cruel and bloodthirsty nature; it's merely a weapon, not even worthy of being called a living being. And it's not just any monster; it's the kind that's utterly repulsive to look at. If you were killed by one of these things, even if you were resurrected, you'd probably have nightmares for a long time.

Liang didn't want to experience that nightmare.

Even knowing that her chances of completing the game in one life are slim, she will still struggle with all her might until the very end.

"Come on, today's performance is free, and this is a one-time offer."

Finally, the blue-haired girl whispered a cringeworthy statement she hadn't uttered in a long time, a statement she hadn't made since graduating from junior high. Contemplating whether she looked cool or pathetic in her current state, she turned and ran wildly towards the subway station entrance that Hongxia and Xingge had marked.

Behind her, the twisted creatures roared and spread their corrupt and filthy power outwards.

Chapter 82: The labyrinthine passages in the floodwaters and the unknown, vague rules.

Tick-tick-tick-

In the pitch-black underground passage, illuminated only by the faint light of a flashlight, fine ripples spread outwards with each step of the pedestrians.

It's cold.

A strong chill came in waves.

With my feet in the water and my body completely soaked by the torrential rain, the feeling was absolutely awful. Even though my physical abilities have now surpassed human limits and I'm completely impervious to this level of cold, being drenched to the bone still felt terrible.

However, we cannot stop now.

Considering the pursuers still close behind, stopping at this point and being overtaken would come at a terrible cost.

Even if that doesn't mean the story will immediately come to an end, even if in hindsight it might just seem like a minor, unnecessary episode, at least for me right now, I should try to avoid the possibility of experiencing that again. After all, it's just too arduous and too painful.

Especially after one has truly experienced what death is and understood the nature of suffering, it is best to avoid such a terrible price as much as possible.

Where are we now?

Even though that's what I said, I still couldn't help but ask the question.

After all, this place is just too confusing. We've only been here for less than five minutes, and we can't find our way out anymore. We also can't remember where the entrance we came from is.

"I don't know, I've never been to this area before. Is this... really a Tokyo subway station?"

The friend following beside him also said in a slightly nervous whisper, it was clear that the other person was also confused by the winding road.

"Whether it's now or not, we have to keep moving forward; the presence behind us is getting closer again."

The only adult among the three glanced back again, and after confirming some unsettling signs, she turned back and quickly spoke to the other two. The three, who had initially moved slowly, then quickened their pace, venturing deeper into the labyrinthine darkness.

Thump—thump—

My heart rate inevitably increased.