Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

Zhang Heng left the church without permission.

Without prior notice or notification to anyone.

His complexion was normal, and his eyes were focused and unwavering—at such close range, Zhan Lan's mental scan could easily capture this kind of detail. This indicated that his actions at this moment were of his own volition.

Zhang Heng has exchanged for the bloodline of a Wind Elf, a bloodline that emphasizes agility and perception. I'm not sure if he can sense the traces left by my mental scan. Furthermore, he knows I scan my surroundings periodically. Is this what they mean by being fearless?

No, he had intended to leave the church before. However, in our recent meeting, we unanimously decided to remain in the church and wait for Alice to return. His act of leaving like this would be tantamount to cutting himself off from the group. Such a move would be extremely unwise.

This is extremely unwise.

There might be other hidden reasons... We can't jump to conclusions. But in any case, his unauthorized actions undoubtedly indicate his unusual behavior. Perhaps this can lessen suspicion on others...

Zhan Lan gently closed her eyes, sighing softly in her heart.

When did the team become so fragmented and suspicious of each other? In the past, I would have instinctively screamed, and everyone else would have rushed out to find out what happened to Zhang Heng—no, that would never have happened before. No one would have acted on their own initiative, no one would have acted without permission, everyone would have united and fought together to find that glimmer of hope in this terrifying world.

Everything should never have turned out this way!

Each of us has become stronger, much stronger than before. But as a team, we have become weaker.

[Using the number nine signifies a group of dragons without a leader, which is very auspicious—while that saying is true, we really do need a leader right now!]

She knew perfectly well why the team had become like this. Without a doubt, it was the witch's doing. And it was indeed a good thing, because everyone had become stronger, naturally increasing their chances of survival in this infinite world.

However, excessive strength led to excessive confidence. And excessive confidence...

【never mind.】

She took a deep breath and contacted Zheng Zha, who was not far away, and the others near him via telepathy. Then, she told them everything she had seen.

Minutes later...

"What exactly does Zhang Heng want to do!" Zheng Zha slammed his fist on the table, smashing the poor solid wood round table into pieces. His eyes were bloodshot, staring in all directions like an angry bull.

"Didn't we agree before that no one would act on their own and that everyone would wait here together for the others to return? Why are you suddenly doing this to me without saying a word!"

His anger was almost palpable, like a tangible flame. If it weren't for his own decision to stay behind, he probably would have been the first to rush out and confront Zhang Heng. In fact, he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer; Zhan Lan, Xiao Honglu, and Zhao Yingkong could all discern his intentions from his subtle body language. If no one stopped him, he would likely do something… rather irrational.

After receiving Zhan Lan's warning, everyone gathered in the preaching hall. The round table used for meals, after being burned by the blood flames, could not escape destruction even in its place. Zheng Zha's furious punch was fatal to this simple wooden structure. The wooden pieces shattered, then froze in mid-air, completely blocked by Saito's invisible tentacles.

The newlyweds should be grateful for this.

If he hadn't done that, some of the sharper pieces of wood would have hit him. Although it wouldn't have caused any serious injury, he would have been startled.

And that was the end of Saito's actions. He didn't say or do anything more. He simply moved the wooden blocks aside quietly, his presence diminishing to a minimum by some inexplicable force.

His gaze swept over the tablet Zhao Yingkong was fiddling with. With his eyesight, he could easily see that Zhao Yingkong was currently browsing an email. And the sender of the email... was Alice.

However, Zhao Yingkong said nothing. She simply watched quietly, glancing at the documents while observing Zheng Zha's frantic state, a mixture of anger and anxiety. Even without the little girl uttering a sound, Saito Hajime knew what she was thinking.

tolerance……

The magnanimity of a leader...

Saito Hajime remembered Zhao Yingkong's first reaction when she encountered Zheng Zha in the first Ju-on storyline. It was to fight, to go all out, but in the end, it was a brief, restrained battle. And afterwards, her words were—'I temporarily acknowledge you as the captain.'

It's only temporary.

Although after that, Zhao Yingkong followed Zheng Zha's orders without reservation, like a loyal soldier, without hesitation or reservation, like a sharp blade dancing only for the hand that wields it. But this was only temporary.

[If Miss Alice hadn't appeared, she probably would have already accepted Zheng Zha. Yes, she has a flaw in her heart; the light of another powerful personality lies dormant deep within her soul. Therefore, she shouldn't have made any progress. But as Zheng Zha becomes more assertive and displays more leadership qualities, she will gradually accept him and follow his commands.]

But Miss Alice changed all that—she became stronger, found a way to bypass the other personality, and even integrate it with herself. Therefore, her expectations of leaders have risen accordingly; the current Zheng Zha probably doesn't possess the qualities of a captain in her eyes.

[How ridiculous... I went along with it, wanting to stabilize Zhan Lan. But this move actually provoked Zhao Yingkong's dissatisfaction... In the future, she should harbor some feelings of affection for Captain Zheng Zha. But right now, she should simply... dislike him.]

[I overlooked that... Women can't possibly approve of men who can't control their lower bodies and aren't particularly skilled. This is what they mean by picking up the sesame seeds and losing the watermelon... Knowing too much is definitely not a good thing. My misconceptions about others led to my own mistakes...]

[...We need to find a way to make amends. Zhao Yingkong is more important than Zhan Lan...no, everyone is important, and none of them can be missing. And Zhan Lan...I suspect she's hiding something.]

He pondered, continuing to observe the other developments in the meeting. Just as he was about to steer the conversation towards Zhao Yingkong, bringing back the information the assassin girl had obtained from Alice to the team meeting, Xiao Honglu interrupted him with his own words.

“Brother Zhang Heng probably didn’t do it on purpose,” Xiao Honglu asserted without hesitation. “He’s not such an impulsive person; he wouldn’t act so thoughtlessly. There must be a reason behind it. Perhaps… he saw something important, but he didn’t have time to explain it to us.”

“Brother Zhang Heng has a wound in his heart, I think everyone knows that. He's like a bow, with a powerful 'arrow,' but his heart is fragile and complex. If Death suddenly creates some kind of illusion, I think there's a high possibility that he's being manipulated.” Xiao Honglu said in a deep voice, “We must contact him immediately and bring him back. Because we are a team, we must unite to survive in this perilous cycle of reincarnation.”

“…You’re right.” Zheng Zha took a deep breath. “I’ve lost my composure. I shouldn’t have blamed him. He’s our comrade, and comrades always have their reasons for doing things. If they don’t, it means he’s not in a good state. We must contact him immediately.”

He turned his head to look at Zhan Lan. "Is everything alright?"

“This level is still within my capabilities. I have confirmed his location.” Zhan Lan smiled and shook her head. “Then I will now connect with his mind through telepathy and let us talk to him directly.”

She gently closed her eyes, then a few seconds later, she suddenly opened them again.

"Zhang Heng rejected my telepathic communication."

...................................................

Zhang Heng gently tapped his forehead. Just now, he felt something trying to touch his thoughts. However, it was blocked by some unknown barrier, allowing the 'free' thoughts to continue to dominate his mind.

[Some kind of enhancement from the Wind Elf bloodline? Yes, I haven't fully mastered the enhanced power within this body yet. Even though I can now quickly charge up and unleash 'Wind Arrow,' it's possible I might be able to unlock even greater power.]

His heart was pounding, and when he thought of the 'Wind Arrow', his heart felt even more exhilarated.

I seem to have forgotten something, but it doesn't matter.

The important thing is that I have a bow in my hand... and arrows to protect myself.

[The Arrow of Wind.]

'Wind Arrow' is a skill inherent in his bloodline. It's a powerful combat technique that combines and amplifies the power of arrows before unleashing it explosively. He explored the edges of this ultimate technique in the illusory world of Ju-on, and then, after returning to the Main God Space, he secretly mastered it in his private space.

Because this was his trump card for self-preservation. He had tested it with targets provided by the Main God Space, and the destructive power he could inflict with this archery technique was more than enough to fatally injure any other member of the team. And after loading the specially enchanted arrows made by the Main God, he was confident that he could even forcefully break through the protective shields of those two witches and kill them instantly.

Moreover, as he practiced the Wind Arrow technique, he gradually felt as if a key within his body was about to open. If all went as planned, this was likely the so-called gene lock, a power level capable of exponentially increasing his combat strength. He had high hopes for it and had even prepared a potion to help him overcome the backlash after the initial unlocking. If he could successfully unlock it, this power would soon be completely under his control.

[And by then, I'll be on equal footing with the veterans... perhaps even with more influence. At that time, I'll be able to openly demand Wei's resurrection without worrying about anything else. Because by then, I'll be able to protect you.]

【Wei…】

He sighed inwardly, his sharp gaze sweeping across all directions. Leaving the church without realizing it wasn't a wise choice, but since he was out, he had to gain something.

“A control experiment,” Zhang Heng uttered softly. “That’s right. Even if the witch’s plan is effective, it must be verified by appropriate means. I can serve as a control group to ensure that Death is kept out and that it doesn’t simply refrain from attacking for one night.”

"At the same time, I can also scout out the surrounding area from the outside. Make sure that the American army doesn't suddenly appear and launch a deadly attack on us—I am an archer, an elf, a ranger, I should be mobile instead of being a stationary turret like Zero. Yes, that's what I should be doing."

Zhang Heng let out a deep breath. The reason he had found for himself had finally convinced him, dispelling the slight unease that had risen deep within him. He was currently on the top of a farm outside the town, where the view was excellent, allowing him to see almost everything happening within a radius of dozens of miles.

—It's very peaceful here.

There was no movement from the US military, the weather was fine, and the local residents didn't notice him. He was still wearing the optical cloak he had worn before entering the world of Ju-on. Without external interference or strong energy field disturbances, his form was like a transparent shadow.

No one noticed him. At least not the North American inhabitants of the farm. He easily leaped onto the roof of the farm's barn, glanced around, and then slid down from the roof, landing lightly on the ground.

The residents didn't notice him. The elderly farmers on the farm smoked their pipes, leaning against the railings chatting. A huge harvester sat quietly in the garage, a few mischievous children chasing each other under its wheels, occasionally eliciting laughter and scolding from the adults. Two or three middle-aged housewives, carrying large brooms, cleaned up the puddles in front of their doors while complaining about the weather. Occasionally, they would look up, glance at the playing children, and smile with satisfaction.

It was quiet and safe here—every person and thing he saw conveyed this concept to him.

Until a slightly cold breeze brushed past his feet.

Author's Note:

..............................

P.S.: Happy deadline-chasing every day... Is this really a good thing?

By the way, I never intentionally vilify characters. Every action everyone takes has its reasons... although sometimes I might suddenly write something a bit crazy... ORZ

Chapter 46 The Chosen Children

[Zhao Yingkong should have received my message by now. With Xiao Honglu helping with the planning, they should be able to respond appropriately based on the intelligence I provided. At the very least, they shouldn't be caught off guard due to a lack of understanding of the enemy's strength.]

[Tsk...an angel.]

Alice's figure was enveloped in an optically shielded barrier, drifting lightly over the city. She knew what she should do, and she knew how she should do it.

The existence of the Apocalypse Seekers is of no value to Death's current actions; predicting the future only leads to disrupting it. However, if the future remains unchanged, then there must be a corrective force at work. Undoubtedly, without considering other factors, adding this corrective force would be a pointless waste, and Alice doesn't believe Death would engage in such a futile effort.

They had no reason to exist, yet they lived. And the protagonists of the Final Destination series, who could also be considered Awakeners, were all killed without exception.

The Awakened Ones are useful to Death, though not indispensable. But they are undeniably useful, and what I need to do is deduce their purpose to exploit Death's weaknesses.

I must force them into the material world. To that end, capturing those Awakened Ones is the next step. For now, the focus remains on exploration and analysis.

However, time is still very tight.

Based on her previous encounter, she was quite certain that Death had officially made its move. However, she still couldn't detect Death's true form. Apart from that unusual but meaningless wisp of wind and light, she couldn't detect any other extra traces.

It wasn't a heat source, a wave, radiation, or any material structure visible to the naked eye—she knew death was close, but she didn't know how to identify it, how to touch it. Death was like a phantom, something that didn't exist; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch a trace of it.

Perhaps the Grim Reaper... and those angels, reside in some alternate dimension, and therefore lack a physical structure capable of direct contact with Earth. That's why I can't reach them, and why they... can't truly harm me.

Alice shook her head slightly.

She makes many assumptions, but she doesn't draw conclusions easily until the final results are tested. For her, caution has become instinctive. Although sometimes excessive caution can cause trouble, the losses from that trouble are usually far less than the consequences of acting rashly.

She came to a quiet stop above a primary school.

“William Dawes Elementary School, the school prophesied by Lucinda the Enlightened One. Professor Kessler’s child is a student at this school. Perhaps I should pay some attention to him.”

"...Let's mark it."

Her gaze swept down from the sky, scanning each school building for any trace of the little boy while pondering what had happened at the church. She knew that many within the Central Plains team had reservations about her previous actions. But she also knew she had already proven her authority in the field of mysticism, and unless those guys were deliberately courting death, they wouldn't easily disregard her opinion.

[The spell was only triggered once, so only one person left. Undoubtedly, this was a private act. And it wasn't necessarily voluntary—at least not in an objective sense.]

[Newcomers are unlikely to have this kind of courage, and they don't possess much value; even if they died... they wouldn't actually cause much damage to the team. Therefore, it's highly probable that it was a veteran. Considering the mental strength of these guys I assessed earlier, excluding Saito Hajime, the others decrease in strength from Zheng Zha to Zhang Heng. If they left the church under the influence of death, then the most likely candidate is...]

[…Zhang Heng.]

He has the biggest inner flaw; if something goes wrong, he's the most likely culprit.

Perhaps he still believed it was all voluntary.

Alice clicked her tongue. She knew at dawn that the rain had stopped and that orbiting satellites could directly observe the ground. So, when she shifted her attention slightly and ordered the imps in the Great Library to locate the rest of the Middle-earth team, she easily confirmed her guess.

It really was him.

[It seems my reasoning ability remains unaffected; I haven't been interfered with on a mental level. Now I can proceed to the next step.]

She lowered her gaze and immediately spotted a young boy in a classroom by the window. He had short, blond hair, still somewhat childish, but his features already showed signs of maturity. He wore a hearing aid in one ear and rested his chin on his other hand, gazing out the window in a daze.

She could see the vibrant life force pulsating within the boy's body.

Galle Kessler—the only son of that lucky astronomy professor. He should be the first person in the world to open the envelope containing the prophetic drawings. From a causal point of view, if the prophetic drawings represent a great vortex, then he is the one most tainted by cause and effect within that vortex of events.