Chapter 109: Chapter109-Lee Chong San
That's why I was certain that if he were here, things would have turned out differently...
I again sighed...
As Annihilation drew closer, stopping just a few meters away, it fixed its gaze on me...
My vision blurred, and I felt an overwhelming drowsiness wash over me.
My eyes struggled to stay open.
No...
Why am I thinking about sleeping now, of all times?
Forget about it
I looked up and locked eyes with Annihilation, who was watching me intently.
What happened? Why did they suddenly stop like that?
I couldn't figure out why he wasn't attacking; he could have taken me out easily at any moment.
The situation around me was odd, too...
All the Abominations nearby, whether just a few meters away or on another floor, had stopped moving and were staring at me.
It was like I was prey being observed, similar to how I'd look at a chicken.
I managed to stand up with the help of the wall.
And, strange thing was that...
Neither the bear nor the other Abominations made a move; they just stood still like statues.
I didn't know what was up with them, but I didn't focus on that.
I slowly took out six silver rank potions and drank them one by one.
I slowly started to make my way down the stairs, ignoring the Abominations around me.
My injured left arm began to heal, and I could feel the pain easing as the potions took effect.
When I reached the bottom floor, all the monsters including the bear finally movedbut not in the way I had anticipated.
Instead of attacking, they simply shifted their gazes to follow me.
Their faces, which had previously shown a predatory focus, were now turned in my direction, but the expression was drastically different...
"What's with that look?"
All the Abominations around me had their faces twisted in fear, as if they'd just seen a ghost.
These creatures, usually consumed by rage and bloodlust, were now paralyzed with terror.
It was bizarrethese monsters, who seemed unstoppable just moments ago, were suddenly scared out of their wits.
For a moment, I wondered if somethingor someonewas standing behind me, something so terrifying that it made these beasts cower.
The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I turned to look over my shoulder, half-expecting to find some horror lurking there.
Nothing...
But there was nothing, just the empty space behind me.
So, what were they afraid of?
I turned my gaze back to the battlefield, focusing on the mutant bearAnnihilation.
Just a minute ago, it had been staring me down with cold, predatory eyes, full of the confidence of a top predator.
But now, its face was contorted in a ugly mask of fear.
What could have changed so quickly?
I couldn't figure it out, and after a few moments of fruitless speculation, I decided to let it go.
There were more important things to worry about.
I checked my watch, narrowing my eyes as I noted the time.
---
**Name:** Michael Frostburne
**Total Rules Broken:** 1
**Current Rules Broken:** 0
**Time:** 6:50 p.m.
---
Ten more minutes
Then, I'll finally be free from this world.
Oh man, I've been waiting for this moment forever.
But no time for celebrating yetwhatever had scared the Abominations, I needed to use it to my advantage.
I moved cautiously, each step deliberate, as I made my way toward the place where I felt most secure.
It wasn't just any spot; it was a place where I knew I could turn the tables on these monsters with a well-thought-out plan.
I stopped in front of a gasoline station.
Yeah this was the perfect spot.
One spark, and the fuel could ignite, turning this place into a deadly inferno.
It was the kind of trap that could take out even the toughest of these creatures.
But to pull this off, I'd have to lure them here, and that was a risky move.
With all of them standing still like statues, I didn't want to do anything that might break their strange, frozen posture and draw their attention.
The last thing I didn't wanted to do was to provoke them and bring the whole horde down on me...
I quickly made my way to the small house within the gas station, likely once a shelter for the workers.
Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was sparse, almost desolatejust a single bed in the corner and little else.
Despite the eerie emptiness, I was too drained to pay much attention.
I walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.
Taking a deep breath, I checked my watch.
**Time:** 6:51 p.m.
When will it finish?
The seconds seemed to crawl by, each one stretching endlessly.
I can't wait much...
The anticipation was almost unbearable, gnawing at me as I waited.
A few more minutes ticked by, and when I checked the time again, it was 6:55 p.m.
The hands on the clock seemed to inch forward, teasing me with how close I was to the end.
Finally, I lay back on the bed, letting my body sink into the thin mattress.
I closed my eyes, feeling a rare sense of calm wash over me.
The monsters in the building didn't bother me anymoreI was safe here, just waiting for the time to pass.
As I lay there, my mind began to wander.
I couldn't stop thinking about the creatureswhy had they suddenly stopped attacking?
It made no sense.
One moment, I was on the brink of death, and the next, they were frozen in fear.
What could they have seen to cause such a change?
Why had they waited until the very last moment?
If they had stopped just a bit sooner, I might not have ended up with my hand broken by that bastard...
Yeah, and that bear
Did it really wipe out everyone else before coming up here?
If so, that would mean that most of the future leaders of humanity have been eliminated.
The thought was chilling.
Why?
If that's the case, humanity could be facing a serious crisis in the future.
I immediately jumped up on the bed...
"How much longer?" I glanced at my watch, which showed 6:59 p.m. "Only one more minute, and it'll be over."
As I sat on the edge of the bed waiting for the time to end, something strange started happening right before my eyes.
"Wait, is that smoke?"
Out of nowhere, a thick, white mist began to appear around me, swirling like a ghostly fog.
It came out of nowhere, getting thicker with each passing second.
What's going on?
Where is this smoke coming from?
I looked around frantically, trying to find where it was coming from, but there was nothingno fire, no fumes, just the mist, covering everything in sight.
The entire room, even the world outside, was slowly being swallowed by this fog.
It kept getting thicker, until I could barely see anything.
The heavy, tense atmosphere that had filled the room just moments ago was suddenly gone, replaced by an eerie silence.
I stood there, confused, as the room disappeared into the mist, leaving me surrounded by a blank, white void.
I couldn't see a thing beyond the thick fog all around me.
My surroundings had changed from a real space into a vast, empty nothingness.
Damn...
Everything had disappeared, leaving me feeling lost and alone in this strange place.
"What on earth is happening?" I whispered, my voice barely cutting through the heavy silence.
I couldn't see anything around meeverything was shrouded in mist.
Then I noticed something even stranger: I wasn't in the house anymore.
Yeah, I was certain of it.
But how?
I began running in a random direction, to test something...
To my surprise, when I should have reached the wall where the house ended, there was nothing there.
That confirmed itI wasn't in the room anymore.
After about a minute of running, I stopped, standing still with nothing else to do.
Even though I knew I should be trying to find a way out, something deep inside me told me to stay where I was.
I concentrated and called out to my system in my mind, hoping for a reply.
But there was nothingno familiar voice, no reassuring message.
It was like the system had disappeared.
'System, you can hear me, right? If so, stop fooling around and respond.'
I tried calling out again and again, but all I got was silence. The system stayed silent, giving no sign that it was there or that it could help.
"Damn it! Now even my system isn't answering?"
I looked around, but there was no answer. The thick, swirling mist around me didn't provide any clues.
My surroundings were just a blank, white void.
Just, where am I?
I was left alone with my thoughts, with no idea where I was or how to get out.
***
"What the hell is that?"
After standing in that spot for what felt like forever, something incredible happened.
Out of the swirling mist, a massive throne slowly began to materialize in front of me, rising as if from the depths of the void...
The throne was grand and intimidating, covered in dark, mysterious designs that seemed to move and pulse with life...
It radiated an overwhelming sense of power and dominance, commanding attention in the vast emptiness.
My heart pounded as I watched this enormous throne take shape.
Did this thing bring me here?
I was overwhelmed with emotionsshock, awe, and something I couldn't quite grasp.
My eyes were glued to it, and I could barely keep my knees from buckling beneath me.
What kind of thing is this?
Such a dominating presence...
To make someone like me, a Silver ranker, almost collapse...
This throne has to be an Ace rank artifact, at the very least, to have this effect.
But...
What is it doing here? And how is it able to move so freely?
I don't know much about artifacts, but in my world, I've never read or heard of an artifact that could move on its own like this...
This was the first time I'd ever seen an artifact that could move on its own.
"What kind of mess have I gotten myself into now?"
Then, I noticed a figure seated on the throne.
Hmm? Who is that?
Cloaked in a deep, obsidian black, the figure had no visible features beneath the hood.
Is that a monster or a human?
I couldn't quite tell.
It was like looking at a void in the shape of a personno face, no identity, just emptiness.
Before I could say anything, the figure on the throne leaned forward and spoke in a calm, almost familiar tone, "Hey, Michael!"
I froze, confused.
"What?"
I stammered, my voice revealing my surprise. "No, wait! How do you know my name? We've never even met before."
The figure chuckled softly, the sound echoing through the mist. "I know you because you've read my biography," he said, his voice laced with mystery.
Biography?
His?
When did I even read that?
And wait! How does that answer my question?
How can he know me just because I read his biography?
I don't even know his name to begin with
My mind started to race. "Wait, who are you?"
The figure sighed, sounding disappointed that I didn't recognize him. "Huh? You really don't get it who I am?"
"No, I don't," I replied, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and unease.
"Really?" he asked, as if testing me.
I nodded slowly, "Hmm."
He sighed again, this time with a hint of frustration. "Michael, I thought you'd at least recognize me." After a pause, he added, "Lee Chong San."
When I heard the name, a shiver ran down my spine.
Eh? Lee? No way...
It echoed in my mind like a distant, significant memory.
He can't actually be him, can he?
He must be joking or something...
Yeah... That must be the case...
I didn't even believe his story when I first heard itI thought it was fake.
But
What if it's actually true?
Does that mean?
My eyes widened and my heart began to race as I reached an unbelievable conclusion.
No, wait!
Why am I believing him so quickly?
What if he's lying or just pretending?
There might still be a chance, right?
As I wrestled with my thoughts, he asked, his tone sharp yet calm, "Now, do you understand who I am?"
Hufff...
I took a deep breath to steady myself. "Why should I believe you?"
He looked confused and asked, "Hmm?"
I continued, "You don't even have a face. And how could you live for another hundred years?"
The figure remained silent, allowing my words to hang in the air.
I pressed on, demanding answers. "Okay, let's say I do believe youprove it! On the radio, you mentioned you were 47 at that time. Given when the outbreak happened, no one was a ranker back then, so almost everyone was wiped out. How did you survive? And why"
He cut me off with a wave of his hand, the gesture somehow commanding silence. "You ask many questions, Michael, but you're missing the point. Survival isn't just about strength or luck. It's about adapting, evolving... And I've had plenty of time to do both."
Evolving? Time?
So, he expects me to believe that he evolved into a faceless being with strength comparable to a top-tier Ace ranker?
That's absurd.
But, considering he created the virus, it could be possible But still, how did he get enough time during the monster outbreaks when people were constantly turning into monsters?
And how did he even manage to evolve?
There's no historical record of humans evolving into something like this.
Even though humanity has its own theories about evolution, it's well-known that when any person advance to higher ranks, their strength increases within those specific rank ranges...
And, lastly, trust
I still don't entirely trust him or believe what he's saying.
I clenched my fists, trying to mask the unease creeping up on me. "But still, why should I trust you? For all I know, you could be lying."
The figure leaned back on the throne, a low chuckle escaping him. "Ah, Michael Trust is such a fragile thing, isn't it? But I'll prove it to you, in due time. For now, just remember: I know you better than you know yourself."
A heavy silence followed, his words sinking deep into my mind.
What?
He knows me better than I know myself?
What does that even mean?
This is getting really confusing.
He's just making things more and more confusing as time goes on.
The mist around us seemed to grow thicker, almost suffocating.
"Do you really want to know how I survived, Michael?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills down my spine. "It's not a story for the faint of heart. But if you're ready, I'll tell you everything including how you fit into all of this."
I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to run, but something held me backcuriosity, perhaps, or the strange pull of the figure's words. "I'm listening," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Good," he replied, the shadowy form of his face somehow conveying a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Then let's begin with the truth, Michael the truth about who I am, who you are, and the future that awaits us both."