Chapter 494: The Trap of the Gates of Heaven
Chapter 494: The Trap of the Gates of Heaven
These young men were likely clones subjected to drug-induced brainwashing, turned into battle-obsessed killing machines.
Given current technological skills, this was entirely achievable.
“I’ll handle the rear.”
Ye Yuqing stepped forward, fists clashing together with eager grin.
They’d agreed beforehand – unless facing extraordinary enemies, Fang Cheng would let Ye Yuqing take charge.
This violence-loving brawler required daily exercise to vent her accumulated aura of hatred ever since becoming Tsukimi Narumi’s proxy, the Goddess of Anger.
Little Spider and Jack guarded the back passageway against approaching clones.
“Prime specimens!”
Jack’s eyes lit up as he flung Little Spider aside, charging toward the clones.
The wall-crawling youth sighed like abandoned lover: “So this is being cast aside after first bloom?”
Jack’s body swelled explosively, shredding clothes into rags as he transformed into three-meter-tall black giant.
He plowed through clone ranks like battering ram, sending bodies flying.
Little Spider ricocheted between walls, webbing down airborne targets. Up front, armor-clad Ye Yuqing rocket-punched through enemies, shattering limbs with piston-like fists.
Victor’s gaze narrowed. He’d assumed Fang Cheng was the threat, not this aloof girl.
With Ye Yuqing occupied, the first subdued clone twitched awake.
Fang Cheng knelt, palm pressing the clone’s shoulder.
Blood transformed into sharp blades under his control, piercing heart and brain simultaneously.
Victor’s bulletproof clone expired instantly, metallic skin sheen fading.
Fingers sank into cooling flesh as familiar warmth flowed into Fang Cheng:
[Energy absorption activated…]
[Life Fragment (1/3) +1]
[Steel Skin +1]
Life Fragments meant superpowered humans, not mere androids. Beyond steel skin, their enhanced strength suggested Kanzaki Rin-level body modifications.
Both clone groups were neutralized – rear targets webbed down, front-line fighters limb-crippled. Mercy played no part; iron-hard bodies simply resisted killing blows.
Fang Cheng harvested remaining clones, claiming 11 lives and 33 Steel Skin abilities. His upgrade indicator flashed: DIRECT UPGRADE TO LV2.
Turning to Victor, he asked: “Recognize their origin?”
“It must be clones.”
Victor said with a grave expression, “These all-black outfits resemble those Gates of Heaven believers wear. Never imagined they’d pull off such massive operations secretly.”
The cult’s designated attire strictly consisted of collarless black long-sleeved shirts, black trousers, and black sneakers.
No fancy stuff – just like their full name “Global Advanced Computing Religious Organization,” everything stayed brutally simple.
Judging by the cult’s name and followers’ clothing, one might mistake it for some programmer-made cult.
Truth was, Gates of Heaven’s founder taught music at university, and original members were all top experts from various fields.
“Clones?”
Little Spider bounced over grinning, “Why not same mom’s kids? That’d make her world’s greatest mother!”
Victor shot him a look, “Think we’re talking spiders? Popping out whole litters at once?”
“Hey! Spiders rock! They don’t eat your damn cheese anyway!” Little Spider protested.
Ignoring him, Victor told Fang Cheng, “We’ve walked into Gates of Heaven’s trap from the start. This cult aims to eliminate us all.”
Fang Cheng studied his face, “But the invitation letter came from your safety agency. This place was your arrangement. Now blaming the cult?”
“Exactly! Your blame-shifting skills suck, Victor.”
Little Spider leaped off the wall, landing in Jack’s princess carry.
“Jack! Weren’t you chasing other dudes?”
“Changed my mind. You’re better.”
“Why?”
“Roundest ass I’ve seen.”
“Flattered, but hands off my butt.”
Their bromance practically blinded everyone.
Victor told Fang Cheng, “Your doubts stand. The safety agency might be compromised too. Let’s focus on surviving.”
Fang Cheng detected nothing odd in his expression.
If only he had Julia’s Read Thoughts ability to detect lies. He instinctively glanced at her.
Julia noticed and winked suggestively.
Shit. Not hitting on you.
The group moved forward, encountering wandering clones and hearing distant screams in the darkness.
The atmosphere turned heavy. Those who’d gone solo searching for exits probably met bad ends. Though strangers, they felt that grim solidarity of shared peril.
“Wait…” Victor halted abruptly up front.
Others squinted at phone lights revealing a robed figure lying in bloodstained robes beside a broken crystal ball.
Victor approached and flipped the body over.
That’s right, it was the wizard from earlier.
He had multiple wounds, but the most severe was the pierced heart – identical to the bald director’s fatal injury.
Their killer was likely the same person.
Victor and Julia felt grim. Among external personnel, the wizard had been top-tier with numerous survival means.
If even he died here, others had even lower survival chances.
Fang Cheng crouched and touched the wizard’s corpse.
Though slightly undignified, the body lay before him – best to act while possible.
[Energy absorption ongoing…]
[Life +2]
[Scarecrow stand-in +1]
[Crystal ball magic +1]
The wizard’s death occurred within twenty minutes, his body still warm with remaining life essence.
Two lives and two abilities emerged.
One transformed oneself into a scarecrow to block attacks, the other used crystal balls for practical magic like communication, tracking, predictions, illumination etc.
“The killer’s hiding among those who went out alone,” Victor told the group. “They’re hunting isolated targets. Everyone’s suspect now – stay alert and trust no one.”
“I’ll lead.”
Fang Cheng stepped over the corpse, advancing purposefully.
His perception told him most were already dead – time to expose the mole.
Ye Yuqing followed immediately while others trailed reluctantly.
Fang Cheng moved swiftly without light. Wandering clones appearing in darkness fell to his blood control before being looted.
Through winding passages appeared another corpse – a tattooed Native American external member.
Fang Cheng checked it and pressed on, effortlessly eliminating encountered clones.
Another external member’s body surfaced.
The group numbed – solitary members were likely all eliminated.
Victor noted Fang Cheng wasn’t wandering randomly but navigating corpse locations precisely.
Had Fang Cheng not stayed nearby, Victor might’ve suspected him.
Within ten minutes, they found four more bodies – five total including the wizard.
Only vampire Oli, Erica, and magician remained missing.
The killer was almost certainly among these three.
The magician’s mid-journey departure made him prime suspect.
Combat noises interrupted Victor’s thoughts. Ahead, sounds emerged from a growing light speck.
Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing accelerated, others keeping pace.
The light expanded into rectangular doorway shape.
Entering revealed not an exit but a circular domed chamber with black doors lining walls.
A massive screen dominated the central wall.
There stood the missing magician, calmly battling a dozen clones.
Flying cards sliced through attackers, knocking them back.
But steel-skinned clones kept rising. The composed magician seemed to toy with them.
After brief consideration, Victor ordered: “Jack, Little Spider – assist him.”
Clone attacks proved he wasn’t with Gates of Heaven.
Little Spider and Jack helped swiftly clear clones.
Before Victor could question the magician, bats swarmed through a door followed by Erica.
With final survivors assembled, the killer stood among them.