Chapter 450

South Heaven Gate!

“Although this gate looks profoundly eerie, it is still the South Heaven Gate!”

At this moment, Zhou Zhe still clung to a sliver of hope: appearance and art style didn’t define absolute essence—perhaps this gate was inherently sacred, merely stained black by some unknown cause?

This was the legendary gateway of the Heavenly Court, which governed the Three Realms, representing the supreme dignity of Heaven and Earth!

Even if such a thing bore an omen of ill fortune on its surface, carrying it might lead to a grim old age with black fur growing all over your body—but what if?

What if this thing had half the appearance but was inwardly boundless in holiness and grandeur?

Yet despite this, a lingering unease remained in Zhou Zhe’s heart.

Appearance determines fate.

Do Itachi expect me not to speculate when Itachi look like this?

Nevertheless, no matter what, this South Heaven Gate was his only remaining reliance—he could not abandon it entirely, and when the time came, he would still have to use it, such as…

Frowning with a blank expression, he pulled a phone from his pocket—the very phone he had [accidentally] forgotten at home.

The next instant.

The phone screen lit up abruptly, with no input whatsoever, flashing incessantly before his eyes.

Finally.

Text appeared on the screen—clearly unnatural, as if oozing blood from its very core.

【Rule Horror, Eternal Since Antiquity, Terror and Weirdness, Indestructible Through Eons】

【Under this era’s backdrop, the Horror Game has evolved with the times, granting Itachi lucky ones a chance to play a game with me.】

【Be grateful, lucky ones—on the Horror Game’s stage, unleash your superior gaming skills to please the Horror Game!】

【Now, Itachi must endure the inevitable first experience before becoming a formal player—obtain your ticket to entry.】

【Don’t Itachi feel it yet? He is right around Itachi, behind Itachi!】

【Stay away from Him… or… master Him!】

【I look forward to your performance~】

“Sss~”

Though he had anticipated it, seeing these words continuously appear still sent a chill down Zhou Zhe’s spine.

Rule Horror? Terror and Weirdness?

Merely seeing this made Zhou Zhe’s scalp tingle.

Perhaps the people of this world had no concept of these terms, but as a transmigrator, how could he not know?

Could it be…

That the underlying tone of this world is that indescribable art style?

If this world’s tone is indeed such…

Then the South Heaven Gate?

At this thought, Zhou Zhe’s expression flickered between doubt and dread.

“Me, transmigrator, South Heaven Gate… similar to the lamp-lit nation’s police in my past world.”

This painfully familiar plot made Zhou Zhe narrow his eyes—he was a transmigrator; what web novel, novel, or anime plot hadn’t he seen?

A suspicion surged uncontrollably into his mind—

“Am I a pseudo-Horror protagonist… or am I wielding Er Lang Shen’s script?”

Speculations flooded his mind, triggering a pang of dread: “Or perhaps… an even more miserable Cthulhu investigator route?”

Though a wave of uncontrollable panic rose within him, Zhou Zhe maintained his composure, his left hand trembling slightly before he slipped the phone back into his pocket.

Unfortunately, he was a transmigrator from old-school web novel aesthetics, while this world seemed absurdly trendy.

“Too trendy a plot is no longer the style of the old-school Dragon Ascendant protagonist…”

After roughly discerning this world’s art style, Zhou Zhe felt none of the typical Shuangwen protagonist’s confidence—his mindset nearly cracked:

“I remember, in my past world, even protagonists in such web novel plots could get a final twist ending… how much more so when I’m not even sure if I’m the protagonist!”

But if possible, I, Zhou Zhe, absolutely do not want to be the protagonist!

His counterpart, the famed Lord of the Toilet, Akatsuki Ke, even at the end of his drama, was possessed by an ancient horror and usurped his body—by the time the second act appeared, he was clearly a different person; old Zhou was almost certainly doomed.

And what about Er Lang Shen? Strong enough?

He held the entire world under his thumb, declaring not a single opponent existed, wandered the world with one dog, asked who dared challenge him, proclaimed himself invincible, declared immortality—yet in the end, he didn’t remain human; he became Er Lang Shen.

With these two predecessors as benchmarks, Zhou Zhe had no energy left to feel excited.

Yet.

After all, he was a transmigrator with astonishing imagination—he gathered himself, narrowing his eyes.

He felt the South Heaven Gate, visible only to him, whose true form lay hidden in some unknown dimension, then glanced coldly at the phone in his pocket—a thought surged uncontrollably…

No!

Now is not the time to think of this.

The timing is not right—he must not reveal any intention regarding this.

【Ancient Horror Possession?】

【Not remaining human, but becoming a Horror God?】

A thousand thoughts churned through Zhou Zhe’s mind.

Precisely because he was a transmigrator, having endured nine years of compulsory education and over a decade as a veteran web novel reader, after glimpsing this world’s underlying tone, he instantly deduced countless possibilities.

Yet now, his immediate priority is to deal with what the Horror Game mentioned—only then can he speak of the future.

That night.

Knock knock knock!

The sudden knocking startled an ongoing, highly inappropriate act inside the room.

“Gentlemen, wouldn’t Itachi like to see who’s here?”

Zhou Zhe smiled faintly, gently deflecting the fist swinging toward his face, and offered kindly:

“Perhaps some fool has come to collect protection money again?”

“I’ve already paid—now is precisely when I’m entitled to your protection…”

The place he currently resided in was famed for its harmony—the Lamp Nation.

In this country that championed free democracy and racial equality, white skin reigned supreme, black skin was prized, and yellow skin was fair game—sure enough, the moment he transmigrated, some enthusiastic socialites immediately appeared, offering him security services—

If someone dared bully this yellow-skinned man, wouldn’t that make the Big Gun Gang look incompetent?

“Motherfucker… I’d like to see who’s so stupid as to come onto Big Gun Gang’s turf!”

The muscular giant, enraged, glared venomously at the smirking yellow monkey before gesturing to his underling to open the door.

Though he wanted to beat the kid senseless, the bastard was right—he was a paying customer!

If another gang came to harass him…

The Big Gun Gang’s face would be completely lost!

Creak.

As the rusted iron door—apparently unopened for over a decade—was pushed open by someone unknown, the furious Big Gun Gang boss glared coldly outside.

Just one glance.

The eight-foot-tall, burly giant involuntarily froze stiff.