Chapter 2020: The Figure Behind
However, within an hour after the windows were sealed, several more players successively experienced symptoms like nightmares and visual hallucinations. Some were awakened in time, but two were killed on the spot due to conflicts with other players.
In this atmosphere, anxiety began to spread.
"Is this also a Xenomorph?" the High Ponytail asked. "Wasn't it said that Xenomorphs should attack the marked ones first?"
This was something Xu Huo had brought up, so many people instinctively glanced backward, but unfortunately, the doors to cars ten and eleven were closed, so they couldn't see what was happening behind.
"Why are the last two cars so quiet? No one died?" someone questioned.
Thus, the people in the front cars turned around. The ninth car opened its door first, counted heads, and found not a single person missing, which left them somewhat disappointed.
"What kind of expression is that?" the Yellow Hair said with an unpleasant look. "You seem disappointed that we're fine."
"Nothing happened to you?" Several people in the front cars had already run into trouble, basically one per car. Wasn't car ten being too abnormal?
"No conflicts so far," the Red Headband answered truthfully. Since they were all "marked" people, no one dared to sleep, so naturally, there were no nightmares.
"What about the back?" A player walked over and pulled open the door to car eleven. The atmosphere here was much better than in the front cars. The Fortune-Telling Female Player was cooking with her own utensils and ingredients.
Although Xu Huo was leaning on the sofa with his eyes closed, the rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive.
"Are you really not affected at all?" the High Ponytail asked again, unwilling to give up. "If this keeps up, none of us can sleep, right?"
When resting, the mind isn't as tense, so it's not strange to be easily influenced. Going two or three days without rest is fine, but how long would they have to stay on the tracks?
"If you really can't stand it, just find a place to sleep alone for a bit," the Fortune-Telling Female Player said. "Just don't provoke others."
Those who were affected were all killed by fellow passengers on the same train.
Right now, every single person on this train, without exception, couldn't put on a good face. In this situation, who would dare to find a place to rest alone? Even if they weren't afraid of the Xenomorph, there were still so many players on board. Who knew if they might lose their minds?
"Based on my past experience," Xu Huo spoke up at this moment, "in situations like this, the richer your imagination, the more disadvantageous it is. For everyone's safety, I suggest you use your brains less and find something else to do."
As he spoke, he skillfully wiped away the nosebleed that had flowed out and tucked the damp handkerchief back into the luggage compartment.
"So we just sit and wait for death?" the Veterinarian couldn't hold back anymore. "The longer this goes on, the worse it gets for us."
"Why not spray some repellent to drive away the Xenomorph?" the Fortune-Telling Female Player chimed in. "Maybe it'll scare it off."
Even she found the suggestion absurd, but it was better than nothing, so some players opened the window and tossed out the repellent.
At this point, no amount of anxiety would help. To avoid being picked off one by one in the silence, everyone started finding things to do—playing cards or doing some handicrafts.
"Are you eating?" The Fortune-Telling Female Player seemed inclined to befriend Xu Huo and asked him first after the meal was ready.
Xu Huo thanked her and accepted her kindness.
After eating, he went back to resting while she guarded the door, pulling out her gambling props and continuously rolling dice.
This continued until another eight o'clock arrived.
Eight o'clock in the evening was the expected lights-out time, but since the tracks were perpetually shrouded in darkness and the train couldn't turn on its lights, there was no difference—except that players were particularly sensitive to the time of eight o'clock.
All forms of entertainment stopped, and everyone sat in silence.
In the middle of it, when the Fortune-Telling Female Player came out to use the restroom, the Tie-Wearing Man, who had been watching car eleven, suddenly stood up and stared intently at Xu Huo.
"What's wrong?" the Red Headband asked.
The Tie-Wearing Man was very hesitant. "I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I saw a figure behind him."
The people in car ten looked back. Xu Huo was still in his original position, unmoving. There was no figure.
"Are you hallucinating?" the Window-Blocking Player frowned. "Seeing an imaginary enemy?"
The Tie-Wearing Man found it hard to explain. He instinctively distanced himself from the crowd and locked himself back in his compartment.
But half a minute later, when the Fortune-Telling Female Player came out, she also saw the shadow behind Xu Huo. In shock, she threw her prop at it while warning him, "Big brother, there's someone behind you!"
The black shadow turned into a puff of smoke under the prop's attack and disappeared. Following the Fortune-Telling Female Player, the Red Headband and others also entered car eleven, surrounding Xu Huo while keeping watch on the front and back cars.
Cars eight and nine heard the commotion and came over, but the Bearded Man and a few others blocked them.
"What's going on?" the White Suit, who had become the representative of the front cars, walked over.
It wasn't just one person who saw the figure behind Xu Huo. The first time, only the Tie-Wearing Man saw it, but the second time, at least half of car ten saw it. Could they all be having collective hallucinations?
"Don't worry, this is my personal issue, not related to the Xenomorph." Xu Huo opened his eyes wearily. To avoid more trouble, he took the initiative to explain, "I've just started Mental Evolution and can't perfectly control my Spiritual Power yet."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, but the Tie-Wearing Man said, "I've never heard of a Super Evolver's Spiritual Core taking the form of a person."
Xu Huo's expression turned cold. "If you know you're ignorant, you don't have to come out and embarrass yourself."
The Tie-Wearing Man was somewhat annoyed and said sarcastically, "No wonder you're hiding alone in car eleven. Afraid of being found out, huh? Petty-minded."
Xu Huo finally lifted his eyes to look at everyone. "This only benefits you, no harm."
With just a brief glance, the players present felt an invisible pressure. At this point, no one was foolish enough to think he was truly just starting Mental Evolution. Confirming there was no danger, they withdrew from car eleven.
"Having a Mental Super Evolver is a good thing for us," the Red Headband said to his car mates after closing the door.
"He's probably at a critical stage of evolution, which is why he's showing so many symptoms," the Yellow Hair said, glancing back again. "If he loses control, it'll be trouble."
The Red Headband was silent. He looked up ahead and saw pairs of eyes peering from behind doors and windows, all fixed on this direction, stretching all the way to the third car. The first car was already empty.
The players' unconscious gathering toward the back naturally caught the attention of car eleven. The Fortune-Telling Female Player shook her head. "Who could have predicted this?"
Xu Huo also saw the crowd hidden in the darkness. With a flick of his finger, he pulled the curtain closed over the front door. (End of Chapter)