Chapter 801: Resentful Skull

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Footsteps echoed.

The passage beneath the old house was deep and dark.

Winding and twisting, the rough walls, illuminated by torchlight, were pitted and uneven, covered in moss like the pipes of a sewer.

Behind Lin An, a total of 19 survivors held torches, following him carefully.

The tunnel was located behind the living room, covered by earth.

That was the entrance to the second round of trials.

Originally 23 people; after completing the first round task, only they remained dead.

Although Lin An had explained it in sufficient detail.

But not everyone could force themselves into a locked state.

The will of the deceased was too chaotic; they could not overcome the fear when facing the Ghost Hag.

The Apocalypse never favors the weak.

The passage was narrow, only enough for two people side by side.

Fei Ou Na gazed somewhat dazedly at Lin An's side profile; under the orange-yellow torchlight, the metal mask reflected a faint dark gold.

She had actually always been curious about what face lay beneath the mask.

Regarding her previous question, Lin An merely gave a casual, offhand reply.

(The first round trial... possibly went wrong. I'm looking for them.)

I couldn't understand.

After thinking for a long time and still unable to guess what Lin An was thinking, she had no choice but to give up, feeling somewhat worried.

Anything that could make Lin An spend a lot of time thinking must not be too difficult.

Them? Who are they..

"Lord Lin An, for the upcoming task, please be sure to take good care of me."

"I am your most loyal subordinate!"

A Jia Xi bowed his waist, squeezed out a smile, and leaned up behind Lin An.

His dark features pressed together looked like melted chocolate.

His flattery was somewhat awkward.

In the real world, his status in the Safe Zone was extremely high, enjoying the treatment of a deputy leader.

In the Apocalypse, he was indeed a big shot, countless survivors wanting to cling to his thigh.

But now.

Sorry.

He wished he could speak a bit more, so that Lin An would pay him a little attention.

The trial mission is more terrifying than those damned mutants!

At least, those ghostly things don't require him to face them.

"Hmm."

With a soft hum, Lin An slightly nodded, indicating he understood, so there was no need for A Jia Xi to say more.

These people are all my point cans.

Before he has squeezed out all the points, he naturally won't let them die pointlessly.

Another round of quiet flattery, A Jia Xi's face full of gleeful delight, he gave a couple of hehes and dared not disturb further.

Turning his head to look at the crowd behind him, his eyes were full of pride.

Watching A Jia Xi's performance, the Awakened Ones following behind couldn't help but curse quietly.

What loyal subordinate, probably just a loyal dog!

As a Second Level peak, still a Willpower-system Awakened One, how could he be so despicable.

To be honest, they also wanted to get on good terms with Lin An, but couldn't bring themselves to lower their faces, let alone completely set aside their dignity like A Jia Xi.

No need, really no need.

They also realized that Lin An likewise needed them.

"Heh.."

A snicker.

A Jia Xi sensed the crowd's mockery, he didn't conceal it, casting a somewhat contemptuous glance their way.

These guys looked down on him, and he likewise looked down on these "trash".

What's with the pretentiousness? What is there that can't be let go of?

Without Lin An, you'd all be dead already!

What's face? Can it be eaten as food?

I'm alive, you're dead.

After the trial ends, I will be a powerful Third Rank, while you will merely be dead, forgotten trash.

They had walked for about half an hour.

According to their silent reckoning of depth, they had reached roughly a kilometer underground.

Just as everyone felt oppressed and uneasy, Lin An at the front stopped his steps.

"We've arrived."

Before their eyes was an iron gate like a prison; beyond it lay a pitch-black underground space.

A cavern-like prison.

Dark, gloomy, as if something were being imprisoned.

Footsteps stopped one after another.

At the same time, the system's prompt sounded again immediately.

"Second round of trial."

"Skull of the dead."

"After entering the prison, once the task begins: each trial participant will wear a 【Resentful Skull】 on their head."

"The 【Resentful Skull】 comes in two types: one is a human skull (white), the other is a zombie skull (dark red)."

"After putting them on, all trial participants line up in a straight line; during this time, each person can only see the type of 【Resentful Skull】 directly in front of them, unable to see what they themselves are wearing."

"Whether a trial participant turns their head, twists it, or looks behind, they will be killed by the 【Resentful Skull】."

"Task requirement: accurately report what the 【Resentful Skull】 on your head is—human or zombie?"

"Those who report incorrectly die."

"Task reward: survivors gain 20 points, automatically advance to the next trial, and receive an additional 1 point of willpower reward (usable after promotion to third rank)."

The rules end.

In an instant, a large number of armed prison guards with wooden eyes rushed out from inside the prison iron door, surrounding everyone.

On the narrow, endless prison corridor.

Including Lin An, the 19 trial participants anxiously watched the prison guards guarding the cells on both sides.

They were bound together, tied into a vertical line.

Unable to resist.

The system rules directly froze them in place.

Bound hands and feet; looking at the rope's material, it seems to be some kind of leather.

Through the prison guards standing in two rows.

Inside the cells on both sides, many humans... and roaring zombies were imprisoned.

"Ho-ho..!"

On the prison bars, a highly rotting zombie frantically gnawed at the cage before it.

Bits of rotting flesh, worn away at the mouth, hung sticky on the black cage bars.

Stench, nauseating.

On the other side, several humans with lifeless eyes, writhing their bodies wildly.

They were half-naked, pus oozing from their bodies, white maggots crawling in and out of their festering wounds.

Eerie, bizarre.

Fortunately, everyone was an Awakened One, and they weren't frightened by the scene.

"What does this mean? Is this round testing teamwork?!"

"Is it about guessing the color of the 【Resentful Skull】 on our heads? Guess wrong and we die?"

"Since we can't see our own, we can only blindly guess?"

"Blind guess? Blind guessing is just gambling with our lives!"

Voices clamored, everyone hurriedly discussing.

The next second, the system's prompt sounded again.

"The trial will start in 1 minute; trial participants may choose their own positions in the team."

"From number 1 to 19."

"After positions are set, the system will randomly assign 【Resentful Skull】 types."

"During the trial, saying anything other than 【human】 or 【zombie】 is forbidden; violators die!"

"Bang!"

A faint white light flashed.

Only to see an illusory scene instantly appear before everyone's eyes.

Like a movie, the screen showed a group of trial participants.

The number in the upper right corner: 6.

Watching the scene before them, Fiona blurted out:

"This is, the trial participants' mission recording from the previous round?!"

The projection was very familiar, resembling the phantom space in the strength trial.

"Zizzle"

The image began to play.

Only to see the trial participant team numbered 6, lined up in a row like a thin long snake.

Totaling 14 people.

One after another, either white or dark red half-skulls were tightly fastened onto their heads.

Those shattered, helmet-like, ferocious grim skulls are the 【Resentful Skull】.

With the system's start prompt, the first-place Awakened One numbered 1 turned pale with fright, nervously guessing the type of 【Resentful Skull】 on his head.

Struggling, he gathered his courage.

"Human... human?"

"Ahhhhh!!"

In an instant, the white skull atop his head suddenly "came alive", rapidly gnawing at his brain.

The scalp peeled open, like husking corn.

Warning: It is forbidden to utter any words other than 【Human】 and 【Zombie】!!

The headless corpse fell to the ground, and a red‑white slurry slowly oozed out.

He just died!?

The crowd watching the projection felt a jolt in their hearts, and Fei Ou Na's eyes flickered with a hint of reluctance.

Too... regrettable.

The Awakened One in the projection had clearly guessed correctly the type of 【Resentful Skull】 on his own head.

It was indeed a human skull.

But he really shouldn't have said that extra word..