Ning Shan's gaze was locked on the creature within the glass coffin. While he might have chosen to call it human, the veracity of that statement remained to be proven. Still, he hadn't found any other way to truly describe it.

  It was bipedal and hairless, unlike any primate he ever encountered, except for one. However, its skeletal structure was slightly different from his own, probably belonging to the same genus but to a different species. Maybe also a distant ancestor, but merely visual factors made it hard to be sure. All he could say was that humans were somehow related to this creature.

  His fingers brushed against the glass, tracing the contours of its facial features. It possessed a large nose and a broad brow bridge. Its cranium seemed almost square, allowing for much less brain capacity than a standard human. In fact, as he looked at all the empty receptacles around him, he couldn't help but wonder if these features were on purpose.

  As the glass felt the pressure of his touch, the capsule sprung to life, emitting its own light. Countless symbols flashed in sequence, which Ning Shan couldn’t understand despite the translation feature he possessed.

  He turned toward Sera, only to see the girl look away, unable to sustain the sight. Even as she turned following the emergence of light, her eyes betrayed how lost she was. She, too, had no idea what all this meant. It wasn't until they heard a mechanical voice that clarity was finally shed on this situation.

  Sample-00305 Exiting Cryostasis...

  Beginning Restoration Protocol...

  A loud noise arose from the glass capsule as its liquid content was ejected as a gas, swiftly blending into the air. Only a slight sweet scent remained, somehow arousing Ning Shan's dormant appetite.

  He frowned, feeling something was wrong. He turned toward Sera, only to see the girl reach for her mask as if trying to release it. Ning Shan’s eyes widened as he saw the trance she was now in. He quickly took a step toward her, swatting away the hands that sought to bring her demise before placing a hand on the back of her head.

  A slight spark sprung from his palm and swam into her body, jolting her brain. The current was barely enough to be perceived but was potent enough for its purpose. Her eyes rolled backwards as her consciousness faded. She limply collapsed into Ning Shan's embrace before he carefully laid her on the floor, ensuring her mask remained fixed in place. He could feel her steady breath through the mask's filters.

  What the hell is this? How strong would it have to be to overpower their own survival instincts? The enticement for sustenance is even hard for me to resist. If not for the fact that it has been centuries since the last time I craved food, I too might have succumbed to it and lost my mind. What kind of creature can have this sort of effect?

  Ning Shan knew better than to think the liquid in the tank was responsible for the shift in his state of mind. After all, it affected more than just his sense of smell. He hadn't felt the same as he looked at the creature when the liquid was still present, but now? He felt the attraction through sight alone as if it was a drug he couldn’t help but crave.

  He turned away, blocking most of his senses with the dust he now possessed. It helped to alleviate the symptoms, but was far from enough to suppress them entirely. In fact, merely the memory of its existence was needed to push him toward the unthinkable.

  The liquid acted as a suppressant. The sweet smell was but a distraction, enabling the mind to filter out the appeal by hijacking the senses. Even sight was distorted by it. How strong is the compulsion for them to go through all this hassle? All to what end?

  Ning Shan had a theory, yet the thought alone chilled him to the bone. He knew it was irrational to think this way, as the disgust he felt was based on the ethics of civilization and not on the moment's needs. After all, humans were animals to begin with. Trying to expunge that fact was an exercise in futility. In the name of survival, hardly anything could be frowned upon. Animals had long known the truth, yet accepting it took more effort than he cared to give.

  I should have known... In a world devoid of light, how could a race even survive? Although their methods are despicable, I cannot help but applaud their will to survive. Unlike the creatures of this world, they chose to remain humans against all odds, even if they would be seen as monsters...

  A few moments later, the capsule opened, exposing its occupant to the outside air. Ning Shan felt the urge to consume grow ever stronger. With every moment spent in its company, he felt his will to resist slowly crumble away. He would sooner or later lose his will to resist and succumb to temptation.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  They knew people would be resistant to the idea, so they put countermeasures in place. In the face of temptation and survival, how could morals ever prevail? The one to think of this was a hero, but also the worst of villains... I wonder if his name has been preserved until now or if these measures are still used today. There are even more things waiting for me to uncover once I reach that famed city she talked about.

  Ning Shan's gaze landed on Sera, wondering what reaction she would have if she had learned the truth. Judging by her earlier reaction to this corpse's discovery, he knew she was oblivious to all this. He couldn't help but praise himself for having spared her of this suffering, yet he couldn't help but wonder if she would have let herself starve or chosen survival.

  Let's not think too much into it. After all, preconceived notions may alter my views of reality. Judging by the state of this place, this all happened a long time ago. The government she talked about may have found a new way to sustain its population. This may be a dark part of their history they desperately tried to bury. It would explain why they would make this city off-limits.

  Then, another thought hit him. There were too many inconsistencies in his theory. In the first place, there existed countless organisms that didn't require light to thrive. There was also no need to rely on natural light. After all, judging by the level of technology in the room he was currently in, producing artificial light seemed almost as easy as breathing. How could they not try it first before resorting to such extremes? There should have been something preventing them from doing so...

  It's not worth thinking about. I lack too much information to make an informed judgment.

  Pushing past his meandering thoughts, Ning Shan bent down, wrapping his arms around Sera's limp body before picking her off the ground. She was light—much lighter than he anticipated, judging by her baggy clothes. Her arms were thin, barely half his size, seemingly due to a scarcity of sustenance.

  Yet she did produce an astonishing amount of force as she sped away from me. Is there something different about them?

  Unfortunately, no part of her skin or hair was visible. All were hidden beneath layers of clothes, no doubt protecting her from the red dust permeating the world. It was a wonder they could survive in such a hostile environment. Still, Ning Shan showed no indication of wishing to uncover those secrets—at least not for now. He still needed her cooperation to truly blend into this foreign society.

  With one last look at the horrors behind him—the numerous empty pods visible and the countless others within the darkness—Ning Shan chose to go forth, seeking a way out of this underground vault of nightmares.

  He couldn't help but let out an eerie chuckle that would have undoubtedly brought cold sweat to Sera were she awake. It stemmed from an absurd memory that Ning Shan couldn't help but recall as he looked back at the scene.

  While their methods might seem the same, their intentions couldn't be more different. The heretics that practised the Dark Arts had no sanctity for life, while this was merely done out of desperation. After all, there is no floor to human depravity. Had the situation been different, the people here might have sunk to their level, trying to play god by toying with life itself. Unfortunately, there is no Heavenly Dao to steer them to the right path... The Irony... he sighed. Even a despised existence can be a blessing.

  He walked in silence, returning to the familiar darkness as he entered a familiar corridor at the other end of the room. He had noticed a door separating the two, yet it opened automatically before closing behind him. He doubled back, seeking to reenter, only to be denied. The large metal door remained closed, blocking his only way back.

  With no choice but to go forth, Ning Shan walked for what seemed like days, shouldering the weight of another human being, yet he knew this was but an illusion born of his own swirling thoughts. After all, ever since he had been thrown into this world, he barely had any time to gain his bearing as he had been bombarded with continuous new information.

  It was only now, in the all-encompassing darkness and deafening silence, that he could finally be alone with his thoughts, trying to make sense of it all and seeking a goal to strive for.

  Seeking to rise above the world is good and all, but I need something more concrete—a short-term goal.

  His first thought had been to slaughter all the creatures that came his way if only to further his cultivation, but that was merely the thought of an animal seeking power. To begin with, he was human and needed something more—an ideal in a world devoid of it.

  He couldn't help but scoff at how naive it was, yet couldn't discard the thought. Surely, he had been transferred here for a reason, no? While he despised the idea of doing as the damned Heavenly Dao wished of him, he couldn't help but find the prospect of a challenge somewhat enticing. But first, he would have to evaluate the world's state before seeking to leave his mark upon it.

  “You’re awake,” Ning Shan said, his voice cold and calm as he felt the body in his arms move slightly.

  She raised her head, seeking to find her bearings, only to be met by Ning Shan's gaze watching over her, but much too closely for her taste. While separated by the mask she wore, their heads were nonetheless too close for comfort. She couldn't help but let her nervousness show.

  “Don't overthink this," he added, letting go of his hold on her.

  She abruptly fell, her backside colliding with the hard floor. Even as she felt the slight pain of her fall, Ning Shan showed no interest, only stepping over her as he walked toward the light. She wished to berate him for his actions, yet couldn't bring herself to as she realized the significance of that light.

  It was unlike the one they had seen before. She knew this light well as she had spent all her life under it. It was the dim light of the stars that illuminated the everlasting night. She couldn't help but rush to her feet, swiftly following after Ning Shan.

  Although she had many questions about what had happened in the depths of the earth, she repressed them for the time being. Her thoughts were all focused on escaping the tomb they found themselves in. She couldn’t wait to bask in the outside air.

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