[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-324":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882469,2498,"Chapter 324: Crafted Test Subjects","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-324",324,"\u003Cp>Cassim stared coldly at the group of boys and girls imprisoned below. Not a trace of his usual warmth remained on his face. Yet the children had not yet sensed the truth, still trusting him instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Children——” Cassim suddenly called out in a voice thick with feigned grief,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no other choice. That terrible curse has already taken root among us. To destroy it, this is the only way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim, are we all cursed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are we going to die......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fear not—I will save you, I promise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, stay here and be patient. Trust me, wait for me—and I will save every last one of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We trust you, Teacher Cassim!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, we believe in you......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children gradually calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having achieved his goal, Cassim lingered no longer, turning and striding away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, cold words—utterly unlike his earlier feigned sorrow—echoed down the dark corridor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin Phase Three of the experiment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several voices replied from the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the children trapped underground had any inkling of this......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa lost track of how long he had spent in the lightless underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The endless days here dredged up painful memories he had long buried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as his consciousness grew fuzzy, as if he could no longer perceive the passage of time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar cry cut through the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His daze lifted, and Grisa looked up into the blackness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sphinger...... is that you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pool of pitch-black liquid seemed to stir at his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a black cat leaped out of the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sphinger, you really are a shadow cat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat nodded, rubbing against his leg, then looked up and gestured toward the top of the cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Up there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa lifted his head, only to see the sealed exit far above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at Sphinger, confused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you want to get me out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat puffed out its chest, as if saying “Leave it to me,” then crouched low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blur of black flashed before Grisa’s eyes, and Sphinger vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He jerked his head up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger was bounding up the smooth walls, using them as footholds, and in a few leaps, reached the exit above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of metal clashing rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron bars sealing the exit shattered and rained down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The metal hit the stone floor with a sharp ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sphinger, you’re amazing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa exclaimed—but his joy quickly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I can’t climb up there......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger’s voice came from above, and then a rope-like black tail snaked down, coiling around Grisa’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, what’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Grisa could react, a powerful pull lifted him upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next moment, he was hauled out of the underground cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back on the surface,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa stared around, still dizzy with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hugged Sphinger tightly, overjoyed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much, Sphinger~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger purred contentedly, enjoying the embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Grisa let go:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sphinger, there are so many friends locked in other cells. Can you rescue them too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger nodded, then darted toward the nearest cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That won’t do~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice suddenly echoed from the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow——!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger’s fur stood on end, and it stared warily at a shadowy corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh——!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, a figure materialized before it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>grabbing it by the neck and lifting it into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Grisa, you’ve been a bad boy—still hiding this little pest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa stared blankly at the familiar figure, who now seemed utterly alien......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bad children,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassim’s grip tightened,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“must be punished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger thrashed in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sphinger’s pain jolted Grisa into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cried out in panic:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! Please let it go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a cold gaze fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your fault?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa stared numbly into those eyes, finally confirming what he had feared: this was not the gentle teacher he knew......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His small body crashed into the cold stone floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It hurts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only exit above was sealed once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa scrambled to his feet, staring upward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassim did not respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only stood above, looking down coldly, still holding the helpless Sphinger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he brought the weakened cat close to his face:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you love causing trouble so much, then I’ll let you destroy to your heart’s content from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned and left, carrying Sphinger away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grisa panicked completely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim, I’m sorry! I was wrong! It’s all my fault! Please let Sphinger go! Let him go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His desperate cries went unanswered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guard this place closely. If anyone else escapes, you’ll join them down there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Yes......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold command echoed, and Grisa collapsed to the ground, nearly in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sphinger......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a vast, dark underground chamber,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>agonized screams rang out endlessly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaah! It hurts! Why? Why!!!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boy, his body contorting horribly, let out a final desperate cry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you doing this to us!!!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not alone—dozens of others suffered the same fate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their bodies mutating in grotesque ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many already lay motionless, twisted into unrecognizable abominations on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see them now, no one would have believed they had been human only moments before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, my dear children—suffer! Wail!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassim stood on a platform high above the chamber, his face ecstatic:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your pain will be the stepping stone to our ascension——!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Cassim......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you lying to us this whole time......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lying~?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassim looked down at the struggling figures below,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a vile grin spreading across his face:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right! I’ve been lying to you all along!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher? Hahaha! You’re all so adorably naive! You’re nothing but carefully selected and crafted test subjects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Test subjects......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely~! First, we let you endure endless suffering until your wills broke. Then we gave you warmth, let you taste hope again—and then——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At the moment when you cherished life the most!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We struck you down with the deepest despair!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only such beings can birth the perfect Demonic Transformation Potion——!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1013,"2026-06-10T06:36:37.917Z",1,"novelbin.me","b85b91988f1a915976dc91fb4eafbe9aaacd969b944d2dcce0d188698c629f47","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-367","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-366",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]