V2: Chapter 113: Loss of Reason
A salty sea breeze swept across her face, unexpectedly bringing a touch of coolness. Miranda tidied her disheveled hair, her head involuntarily turning towards the sea, her eyes fixed on the distant fog.
She had a feeling… something was lurking beneath the fog.
What could it be?
“Is someone there?” Miranda asked. She had a feeling that something was vaguely approaching them, hidden by the thick fog.
Hearing this, a timid soldier immediately shuddered, goosebumps rising all over his body.
Miranda pointed towards the sea.
All the soldiers' eyes followed the direction Miranda was pointing.
“Nothing, Madam.”
A soldier squinted, peering into the fog, but saw nothing unusual.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A soldier comforted Miranda, "Madam, don't be so nervous, it's just the sea... well... glug, glug..."
A mouthful of blood gushed from his mouth, flowing down his chin and dripping onto the ground. The soldier looked down and saw his chest pierced by something soft. His eyes rolled back.
Thump!
The soldier's body collapsed with a thud.
"....."
A few seconds of silence followed.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Miranda covered her eyes and screamed piercingly. She stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground with a thud. Her screams grew louder and louder, even cracking, until finally, she lost her voice completely.
A wet sensation ran through her groin; she had been so terrified that she had lost control of her bladder.
“Protect me! Protect me!”
Miranda frantically pushed back, tears and snot streaming down her face. She grabbed a soldier's trouser leg, looked up, and saw the soldier trembling with fear.
Only this one soldier remained; the others took off running, shoes flying off, scrambling and stumbling, not daring to look back.
“Protect me!!!” Miranda screamed, shouting at the retreating soldiers.
But they ignored her, running faster and faster.
Miranda smelled a foul, fishy stench, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Just then, the last soldier reacted. He yelled, shook off Miranda's hand, and like the others, scrambled and stumbled away, falling several times along the way, but still getting up unsteadily and continuing to run, not daring to waste a moment, not looking back.
Miranda was utterly desperate. She could smell the stench growing stronger and stronger.
Watching the soldiers' retreating figures, Miranda shouted desperately, "I have money! I have money! You can have as many gold coins as you want! Come back! Come back now!"
But the men didn't turn back.
What's money compared to life? Having money but not being alive to spend it is the most tragic and terrifying thing. Their own life was more important; they had to save their life first, then worry about money!
Watching the men run away, Miranda gritted her teeth and tried to get up. She didn't dare look back; she was afraid of seeing something even more horrifying.
Just now, she had seen it—a huge, octopus-like tentacle. She hadn't seen it clearly because she was too terrified, and part of it was hidden in the mist.
Shouldn't she... shouldn't she be able to get out?
Clinging to a sliver of hope, Miranda struggled to her feet. Her legs were weak, but she ran.
A glimmer of hope rose in her heart, and Miranda's eyes widened.
But...
Thump!
"Aaaaaah!!"
Miranda screamed and collapsed to the ground.
She looked back and saw that her ankle was wrapped by a tentacle.
"Get away!!! Get away!!!"
Miranda completely broke down, her face streaked with snot and tears. Her composed and elegant demeanor had vanished entirely; she struggled frantically, trying to buy herself a chance to survive.
'Let me go! I have money! I have money!"
It was truly laughable that she was repeating the phrase "I have money" to a monster that couldn't understand human language. She couldn't say anything else.
Of course, because she had nothing but money.
The tentacle moved closer and closer, until it reached her head, right next to her ear, the disgusting, sticky sensation pressing against it.
Miranda's eyes rolled back, and she fainted instantly.
Suddenly, a wave of inexplicable dizziness washed over her, and her head throbbed with pain. She clutched her head, trying to steady her breathing, but the pain intensified, as if countless needles were piercing her brain.
Miranda was pale, large beads of sweat sliding down her forehead.
Suddenly, a strange voice echoed in her mind. The voice was deep and cold, as if from the abyss.
“At the edge of the abyss, endless power slumbers. Are you willing to become the master of this power?”
“In the river of time, a secret awaits your discovery. It will change your destiny, making you the master.”
“In the dark corner, a voice calls to you. It knows your desires and can satisfy your wants.”
“Your soul yearns for freedom, but you are bound only by yourself. Release it, and you will gain eternal life.”
“What do you yearn for? Miranda, and what about your son? What does your son yearn for?”
“Give me your body…”
Miranda initially retained some reason; she was terrified and awoke from her unconsciousness, trying to resist the voice.
But when she looked down, she discovered that her body was involuntarily changing.
Her skin gradually turned pale and translucent, as if she could see the blood vessels and nerves pulsating beneath. Her eyes also became deep and dark, as if capable of devouring all light.
As time passed, the tentacles in Miranda's mind became increasingly active. They spread through her nervous system like vines, constantly draining her life force. Miranda began to feel utterly exhausted; her body grew weaker and weaker.
Who… who will save me?
Miranda's willpower wasn't particularly strong; she felt as if she were being completely devoured by something.
Miranda could sense that it would completely take over her body, turning her into its puppet. Miranda felt her consciousness being consumed, and her body becoming increasingly uncontrollable.
Who will save me?
Anyone would do.
In the moment before her consciousness faded, she saw a familiar figure—Liang Di.
"Save...."
The words reached her lips, but Miranda stopped herself.
Because she saw Liang Di's smiling face.
Author's Note
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