Chapter 490: The End of Social Death is Near
Chapter 490: The End of Social Death is Near
Fang Cheng’s prediction was correct; the transformed Jason couldn’t defeat Ye Yuqing.
Yet defeating him proved challenging for her too.
Originally, Jason had merely been an immortal killer with infinite stamina.
His immortality resembled Fang Cheng’s – he could die but would always revive at the director’s whim.
Empowered by the Grim Reaper, Jason’s physique and attributes grew tremendously.
He charged like a battle tank, fists striking like artillery shells, his massive machete whirling like a human-shaped windmill. Fang Cheng knew even an armored vehicle would’ve been shredded by those strikes.
Ye Yuqing avoided blocking the machete directly, instead darting around using her superior speed to wear him down.
Their battle ravaged the surrounding grass and trees, leaving the park in ruins.
Fortunately, the sparse suburban population meant no spectators witnessed the chaos.
After over ten minutes of combat, exhaustion crept into Ye Yuqing’s movements.
Jason remained tireless, shrugging off brutal attacks like minor irritations while growing more ferocious.
This fearsome power matched the Grim Reaper’s assault, far surpassing yesterday’s car bomb.
Though the Grim Reaper targeted Fang Cheng and the doll pursued Ye Yuqing, their combined proxy Jason focused solely on eliminating Ye Yuqing first.
Tiring of this endless brawl, Ye Yuqing teleported behind Jason as his machete struck empty air. She thrust her palms forward in a stance reminiscent of martial arts energy attacks, but her shouted words took an unexpected turn:
“Big sis, you rock!”
Black flames erupted beneath Jason, devouring his three-meter frame.
Silent as ever, Jason charged through the inferno.
Ye Yuqing clenched her outstretched hands. Flaming chains materialized, pinning the killer in place – an ability borrowed from Tsukimi Narumi, similar to Fang Cheng’s imitation divine bonds.
Helpless, Jason burned to ashes without leaving even a corpse.
Thus ended his cameo appearance – no lines, no dramatic exit, just swift obliteration.
(Not that death mattered for Jason. The director could always resurrect this loyal slasher.)
Fang Cheng had meanwhile transformed the doll into a nuclear-waste-drinking abomination that could shatter sanity with a glance.
The remainder of the afternoon passed uneventfully.
At nightfall, Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing returned home from their disrupted picnic.
One more Grim Reaper attack remained tonight. Fang Cheng wondered – more “accidents”? Doll collaborations?
Clearly, intricate death traps had failed against him.
The Reaper’s methods were growing blunt now – no subtlety, just brute force.
In other words, he panicked.
While walking home, the sky grew dark as if a storm was coming.
Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing noticed more patrol cars and armored vehicles around, signaling something big was happening.
Such scenes were common in North America—frequent shootings from widespread guns, monster attacks, superheroes and super criminals clashing openly.
The government forces often patrolled streets to maintain order, stretched thin by endless troubles.
Though unafraid, the pair hurried home to avoid potential issues.
As they reached their doorstep, distant sirens erupted.
A swarm of police cars chased a wobbling vehicle speeding toward them.
The fleeing car crashed into roadside shrubs near Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing, engine dying.
Screeching tires followed as cop cars surrounded the area.
Even behind them, more vehicles blocked the road completely.
Officers piled out with Long Spears, handguns, and riot shields, faces tense like facing doom.
Within seconds, a tight perimeter trapped the duo and crashed car on the road.
Fang Cheng: “…”
The Grim Reaper’s work seemed sloppy—this assassin’s job started with chaotic spectacle.
The cops weren’t targeting them, even shouting warnings to step back.
They wisely moved aside but lingered to watch, confident in their skills.
This threat might outmatch Jason slightly, but posed no real danger.
As officers advanced, a man stumbled from the car—gun in one hand, chemistry experiment’s sealed bottle in the other.
Green liquid sloshed inside.
Why’s poison always green in movies? Church teachings link the color to Death.
That forgiveness-hued liquid in his grip? Clearly lethal.
He hoisted the bottle—if shot, it’d smash and spill.
“Let me go!”
He screamed at police. “Or I’ll—”
Bang!
Some jumpy rookie’s gun misfired.
The bullet shattered the bottle instantly.
Staring at broken glass, the man croaked his last: “…break it…”
Silence gripped the scene—cops and criminal alike frozen.
Danger!
Fang Cheng’s Heart Awareness suddenly screamed warning.
This was the first time his Heart Awareness had reminded him since arriving in North America.
A deadly threat was approaching.
Without hesitation, Fang Cheng grabbed Ye Yuqing and teleported away.
As they vanished, the fugitive being chased by police suddenly flushed crimson. His eyes rolled upward as he collapsed.
The surrounding officers finally reacted, panicking as they shouted: “Fall back! Fall back!”
But it was too late. Before they could retreat, every officer dropped like flies – faces red, eyes white.
Within moments, a hundred cops lay motionless around the blocked street. Only the flashing lights of clustered police cars remained, silent witnesses to the carnage.
Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing watched from a distance, staring at the scene, their hearts chilled.
Their sharp perception confirmed it – every officer was dead.
What poison could slaughter so many instantly?
Even Fang Cheng’s enhanced senses detected danger. His War God Bloodline or Vector Control might resist it, but testing this theory held no appeal.
Worst of all, the toxin had leaked right on their doorstep. Returning home was impossible now.
Fang Cheng dialed Victor.
“You dare call me?” Victor’s icy voice crackled through the phone. The entire Department of Homeland Security now knew he’d been caught watching GV clips in his office.
Straight colleagues gave him uncomfortable looks.
Queer colleagues eyed him differently too.
Out coworkers had started inviting him to “red tea parties”, making his backside feel distinctly unsafe.
Socially ruined at the safety agency – not completely dead yet, but circling the drain.
Fang Cheng chuckled. “Calling to give my last words.”
Thinking the pest might finally croak, Victor bit. “Talk.”
“Get me a house. Need it tonight.”
“Last words? Why not order a coffin and cemetery plot? You could move in tonight!” Victor nearly hung up. “No!”
“I’ll pay.”
“Bribing a government official?”
“Thirty grand. Seven days.”
“…I’ll come get you.”
…
Area 11, Mechanical City.
Because Area 11 was 13 hours ahead of North America, night still lingered there while morning had already arrived here.
Kanzaki Rin woke up on time as usual, washed up, and went downstairs to the living room for breakfast.
Though now the supreme leader of Mechanical City, she still resided in an apartment without hiring household help.
Fang Cheng disapproved of people around him becoming privileged elites requiring service, so chores and three meals were handled through rotation.
Today’s breakfast had been prepared by Uka Kaori and her daughter. Having settled in Mechanical City, the former Iron Fortress minister had fully embraced domestic life, spending her days with her daughter.
Under her mother’s guidance, Uka Mirai gradually mastered cooking and housework.
Since Fang Cheng’s departure from Mechanical City, Uka Mirai showed no signs of dark transformation, making people wonder about the underlying reasons.
The breakfast gathering felt unusually quiet without conversation.
The absence of troublemaker Ye Yuqing contributed to this, as did Kanzaki Rin’s unchallenged authority since Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing left.
But the main reason for today’s gloom was Sato Mai learning about Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing’s North American ordeal through her hacking assignments.
Having reviewed the Grim Reaper documents, everyone grew concerned.
Kanzaki Rin finished eating first. Setting down her chopsticks, she addressed the distracted group: “If he could defeat Isis, why fear evil spirits? Do you truly doubt him?”
Her words snapped everyone back to reality, easing their worries slightly.
Indeed, Fang Cheng had defeated disaster-level monsters before. Handling the Grim Reaper should be manageable.
Kanzaki Rin left for work with the nine-tailed fox trotting behind.
The fox relished her Mechanical City life – playing games freely and clinging to Kanzaki Rin like an affectionate cat.
They worked straight through morning at the Government Building. At noon, the fox abandoned her phone to fetch lunch from the cafeteria.
Kanzaki Rin stood by the window gazing at distant scenery.
Though advising others not to worry, anxiety gnawed at her heart.
North America differed completely from Area 11. As one of three major political circles, it teemed with dangerous figures – even Isis avoided reckless actions there.
While Fang Cheng had defeated Isis, he’d relied heavily on external help and built-in cheats. His true capabilities fell far short of hers.
This made his North American mission particularly risky.
Kanzaki Rin could only hope Fang Cheng would resolve matters safely and recover his mother’s body.
She refrained from calling, knowing they might be fully occupied confronting the Grim Reaper and doll without room for distractions.
……
North America, California
Continuous rain poured from leaden skies.
In a two-story apartment, Mahjong tiles clattered louder than the downpour.
At the living room table, Ye Yuqing played with unusual companions:
Left – a Sadako-like long-haired female ghost
Right – a clown with blood-painted face
Across – a genderless, faceless entity
These reformed evil spirits had been summoned by the Evil Spirit Doll.
Through Ye Yuqing’s physical persuasion, they’d abandoned murderous ways to become model ghost citizens, even joining her Mahjong games.
Two unrepentant spirits hung in the courtyard with the doll, enduring lightning strikes.
Fang Cheng lounged on the sofa, honing his abilities while reviewing secret documents from Sato Mai.
Five days had passed since accepting the invitation. Having survived one Grim Reaper attack, only tomorrow’s final challenge remained.
The Evil Spirit Doll had reached its five-spirit limit. The Grim Reaper had apparently dismissed it as incompetent.
“Hot babe… damn hot…”
His phone rang with Victor’s customized ringtone.
The daily check-in call came unusually late.
Fang Cheng answered: “Was this morning’s collection not stimulating enough?”
“Shut it.” Victor’s gruff voice held grudging amusement. The bastard’s “collections” always surprised – the only normal one featured German cavalrywomen.
“I’m outside. Come out.”
Click.
Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow. Though calling daily, Victor had kept careful distance to avoid Grim Reaper attention. What prompted this sudden visit?