Chapter 1949

As silent as death.

Translation: "Deathly silence."

In the dim corridor, several people froze like statues, rigid in place.

Translation: "In the dim corridor, several people stood frozen like statues, stiff in place."

Chills crept over their necks like poisonous snakes, raising their hairs and scales.

Translation: "Waves of yin chill slithered like poisonous snakes around their necks, making hairs and scales stand on end."

Despite his usual arrogance, Qingjia, the Star Destroyer, blanched at the sudden turn of events.

Translation: "Faced with the Special Event, despite his extreme arrogance, Qing Kai, the Star Destroyer, turned deathly pale."

Note: 'Star Destroyer' means 'Star Destroyer'.

Their strength fueled their courage; without it, they were suddenly plunged back into the dread of the apocalypse's onset, confronted by the terror of the unknown.

Translation: "Strength was the source of their courage; without it, they suddenly realized they felt as if they'd been thrown back to the very start of the Apocalypse outbreak, that panic of facing the unknown."

Nobody knew what was coming, yet everyone felt that something had already appeared.

Translation: "No one knew what would happen next, but everyone sensed that something had already emerged."

After a few seconds, once the chill subsided, the troll snapped to attention, glaring at the archer.

Translation: "A few seconds later, as the yin chill faded, Ju Mo was the first to react, glaring angrily at Shen She."

Whether he realized he was the weakest or not, he seized the archer's equipment and couldn't help but erupt in curses:

Translation: "Whether he knew he was the weakest or not, he grabbed Shen She's hunting gear and couldn't help cursing:"

Note: couldn't help but burst out cursing:

"Fuck! You stupid-ass bitch! If I'm the first to die, I won't let you off even as a ghost!"

Translation: ""Fuck! You stupid bitch! If I die first, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!""

We need to keep the quotes and exclamation marks. The phrase is Taiwanese slang meaning "fuck"; we will translate it as "Fuck!".

"These things can be figured out! Your mom's mouth is so quick—I just thought of it and you already blurted it out!!"

Translation: ""These things can be guessed! Your mom's mouth is so fast—I just thought of it and you blurted it out!!""

But we must keep the tone: the phrase means "Your mom's mouth is quick"; we will render it as "Your mom's mouth is so fast—" and keep the exclamation.

The roar reverberated.

Translation: "The roar echoed."

Faced with the troll's fury, the archer's expression turned grim as well, though he too was stunned by the recent anomaly and momentarily didn't know how to retort.

Translation: "Faced with Ju Mo's fury, Shen She's face also looked grim, but he too was stunned by the sudden change, momentarily unable to retort."

"I...! I... where...!?"

Translation: ""I..! I where...!?""

"Enough! Stop arguing!"

Translation: ""Enough! Stop arguing!""

"Seeing the two about to fight, the nearby bull rushed forward to separate them:"

Translation: "Seeing the two about to come to blows, Jin Niu rushed forward to separate them:"

"Troll! Calm down! Nobody knows what this situation is! Now isn't the time to argue about right and wrong, but to decide what to do next!"

Translation: ""Ju Mo! Calm down! Nobody knows what'll happen now—this isn't the time to argue who's right or wrong, but to decide what to do next!""

"Maybe this is just a coincidence! And even if we can't say those two words, do you really think this mission will be that easy? If we stay silent, will nothing happen?!!"

Translation: ""Maybe this is just a coincidence! And even if we can't say those two words, do you think this mission will be that easy, and we'll be fine if we stay silent?!?""

"Bullshit! You stinking bullhead, you think I don't know your little tricks? I fuck...!"

Translation: ""Coincidence my ass! You stinky bullhead, you think I don't know your little schemes? I fuck…!""

"Enough!"

Translation: ""Enough!""

"Troll, if you still want to waste time causing trouble, then don't blame us for really leaving you behind!"

Translation: ""Ju Mo, if you still want to waste time causing trouble, don't blame us for really abandoning you!""

"And kid #77, don't bother with this lunatic either! What time is it, and you're still arguing here!"

Translation: ""And that kid #77, you also shouldn't bother with this lunatic—what time is it, still arguing here?!""

Having snapped back to attention, Qingjia stepped forward, openly threatening the troll.

Translation: "Having regained his composure, Qing Kai stepped forward, openly threatening Ju Mo."

"No matter what, the system's prompt shows we're on the right track! The new clue point isn't far from here—we must rush over immediately! I suspect the mission's danger increases over time; the longer we delay completing the clues, the greater our risk."

Translation: ""No matter what, the system's prompt shows our thinking is right! The new clue point isn't far from us—we must rush over immediately! I suspect the mission's danger increases with time; the later we complete the clues, the greater our risk!""

"You're just causing a scene to prove you're right, aren't you? Archer, worst case, just carry him on your back!"

Translation: ""You're making a fuss just to prove you're right, aren't you? Shen She, worst case, just carry him!""

Once he finished speaking, Qingjia gave the troll a cold glare and then, without hesitation, signaled everyone to follow.

Translation: "After his words fell, Qing Kai gave Ju Mo a cold stare, then without hesitation waved his hand to signal everyone to follow."

As a Star Destroyer, he still possessed basic judgment. To him, the troll was obviously scared, aware he could easily be cast aside, so the only way to prove his value was to blow up.

Translation: "As a Star Destroyer, he still had basic judgment. In his view, Ju Mo was obviously scared stiff, knowing he could easily be abandoned, so the only way to prove his worth was to blow up."

Yet he didn't consider the troll any smarter than the archer—this little problem was obvious to everyone.

Translation: "But he didn't think Ju Mo was any smarter than Shen She—anyone could figure out this small problem."

Yet, to Qingjia's surprise, the troll snorted coldly and headed straight for Lin An, clearly not needing the archer to carry him.

Translation: "Yet contrary to Qing Kai's expectation, Ju Mo let out a cold snort and walked straight toward Lin An, apparently not needing Shen She to carry him."

"#77, you saw that, right? These idiots don't even realize that a single mistake here is unforgivable! Staying with them, I'll eventually get killed!"

Translation: ""Number 77, you saw that, right? These idiots don't even realize that a single mistake here is unforgivable—sticking with them, I'll sooner or later get killed!""

Lin An's eyes twitched; hearing the troll's apparent complaint, a strange feeling stirred within him.

Translation: "Lin An's eyes flickered slightly; hearing Ju Mo's seemingly complaining words, a strange feeling arose in his heart."

Unlike Qingjia and company, he thought the troll's reaction was over the top, even childishly irrational. Since the troll was already ostracized, this outburst would only earn the archers' disapproval.

Translation: "Unlike Qing Kai and the others, he felt Ju Mo's reaction was overly intense, even childishly unreasonable. This guy was already being ostracized, and kicking up a fuss would only provoke Shen She and the others' displeasure."

Lin An quietly took note of the oddity, quickly checked the direction of the next zone, then simply helped the troll along and fell in with the team.

Translation: "Lin An silently noted the anomaly without changing expression, quickly glanced at the rough direction of the next zone, then simply supported Ju Mo and fell in with the team."

(He seems to have discovered something, but hasn't said anything...)

Translation: "(This guy seems to have discovered something, but hasn't said anything...)"

(Or maybe he's doing this to tell me he only "wants" to work with me, thereby cutting off his retreat?)

Translation: "(Or perhaps he's doing this to tell me he only 'wants' to cooperate with me, cutting off his own retreat?)"

Meaning..

Translation: "Meaning.."

Where is it?

Translation: "Where does it lie?"

Ghost Skull setting, Southwest Zone, Art Museum.

Translation: "Skull Scene, Southwest Zone, Art Museum."

"Thud... thud"

Translation: ""Thud… thud""

The dense footfalls reverberated through the dark gallery, the dusty marble floor blurrily reflecting lines of dark shapes.

Translation: "Dense footsteps echoed in the dark exhibition hall, the dust‑covered marble floor faintly reflecting rows of black silhouettes."

Leading the way, Zhang Tie glanced at a troll, hunching his head and shoulders as he looked around.

Translation: "Walking in front, Zhang Tie looked at a Ju Mo, shrinking his head and looking around nervously."

Gazing at the artwork covering the walls, he found the place genuinely unsettling.

Translation: "Seeing the walls covered with artworks, he felt the place was genuinely frightening."

He was naturally timid; without Gao Tian and company at his back, he wouldn't want to stay another second.

Translation: "He was naturally timid; if Gao Tian and the others weren't behind him, he wouldn't want to stay another second."

"What do we do, Gao Tian? This damn system took our abilities and split us apart. Lin team doesn't even know where they are—it's over, over; Old Zhang won't really end up dying here, will he?!!"

Translation: ""What do we do, Gao Tian? This damn system confiscated our abilities and split us up. Lin Dui's whereabouts are unknown—we're doomed, Old Zhang won't really bite the dust here, will he?!?""

"There's still about a hundred seconds before the mission starts, and I feel we need to run away fast—this creepy place is nothing but paintings."

Translation: ""The mission's about to start in a hundred-odd seconds, and I feel we need to bolt—this creepy place is all paintings.""

"Lin team, where exactly are you...?"

Translation: ""Lin Dui, where exactly are you…?""

His hair stood on end like a black bear's, and each cold breeze from outside gave the bear‑like fellow a sense of chilling gusts.

Translation: "His black‑bear‑like fur stood on end, and every now and then a cold wind from outside gave Xiong Hanzi a feeling of lurking yin gusts."

He shrugged, then simply draped the troll over his shoulder like a scarf, giving it a couple of shakes to shield himself from the wind.

Translation: "He shrank his neck, then simply used the Ju Mo on his shoulder as a scarf, gave it a couple of shakes to block the wind."

"Brother Zhang, we'll definitely find the Lin team. This city isn't that big; if we all head toward the exit, we're bound to run into them."

Translation: ""Brother Zhang, we'll definitely find Lin Dui. This city's not that big—if we all head toward the exit, we're bound to run into Lin Dui and the others.""

The team numbered seven: Zhang Tie, Gao Tian, three Creator War Stars, and two Troll War Stars.

Translation: "The team numbered seven: Zhang Tie, Gao Tian, three Creator War Stars, and two Ju Mo War Stars."

Gao Tian also had a troll on his arm, helplessly trying to reassure Zhang Tie.

Translation: "Gao Tian likewise supported a Ju Mo, helplessly comforting Zhang Tie."

From mission start to now, this dim‑witted bear has nearly driven him insane.

Translation: "From entering the mission to now, this silly bear has nearly driven him crazy."

Though Gao Tian told Zhang Tie not to worry, the thought that Jiang Haochen and Ander had also been split off made him feel something was amiss.

Translation: "Although Gao Tian told Zhang Tie not to worry, thinking of Jiang Haochen and Andre also being sent apart made him feel something was off."

I'm not sure whether the bear‑like fellow's constant mention of Lin An is the cause.

Translation: "Who knows if it's because Xiong Hanzi has been muttering Lin An's name too much."

An impatient voice suddenly sounded.

Translation: "A tone of impatience suddenly rang out."

"Lin An? A measly rank‑four, what good is looking for him?!!"

Translation: ""Lin An? A measly Fourth Rank—what use is looking for him?!?""

"You monkeys are quite something; in my view, you should just come with us to find Lord Qingjia—he surely already has a lead."

Translation: ""You monkeys are really something—I think you should go find Lord Qing Kai with us; he surely already has a lead!""

The two Creator War Stars at the rear couldn't help but interrupt, irritated.

Translation: "The two Creator War Stars walking at the rear couldn't help but interrupt irritably."

They don't know why they were split from Qingjia, and the system even lumped them with this group of monkeys.

Translation: "They didn't know why they'd been separated from Qing Kai, and worse, the system had lumped them with this bunch of monkeys."

Right now they just want to use the safe window to finish searching here, then rendezvous with Qingjia.

Translation: "Right now, they just wanted to make use of the safe period to finish searching here, then go meet up with Qing Kai."

You motherf***er, who are you calling a monkey!? Fuck! Say another word, I'll twist your heads off!

Qing Kai!? Qing Kai is just a damn thing! Here, Laozi, a Fourth Rank, can still kill him!

He glared angrily.

Zhang Tie suddenly turned back, shouldering a giant demon, and made a motion as if he would use the giant demon on his shoulder as a hammer to smash these two Creators to death.

Damn it, he's been unhappy with those two guys for a while.

Clearly assigned to the same team, the two giant demons in the team couldn't walk, but these two guys not only didn't help, they also kept sneering and mocking along the way.