Ch. 108 - The Pandemic Box
Scarlet DescentThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
"How did you get back?"
The sudden scene startled everyone nearby. Even Sen Sen, from the War Demon system, looked surprised at the sight of the concrete mixer truck.After a few stunned seconds, people rushed to help. Some pulled Ye Feifei, pale and shaken, away from the truck, while others checked the War Demon to confirm its death.Indeed, Ye Feifei was terrified but unharmed, not even a hair out of place. The War Demon, however, was truly dead—embedded in the concrete wall, its body reduced to a pulp with only a glimmer of confusion in its eyes."What’s going on?"Everyone shook their heads, still trying to process the situation. They turned to Ye Feifei: "How did you get back?""I..." Ye Feifei’s hands trembled as she recounted her story: "I was supposed to visit relatives with my dad, but we encountered patrols and had a flat tire. We changed cars, but the engine failed after just a few miles. My dad kept avoiding eye contact when talking to me, so I asked him what was wrong. He told me something was happening in Scrap Iron City... I didn’t even get the details before rushing back to help you all."The group listened with mixed emotions—both moved and hesitant to respond.Wei Wei, who had just stitched his broken bones together with crimson threads, leaned over curiously: "Did your dad agree to let you come back?""Yes," Ye Feifei replied. "He agreed right away and even wanted to arrange a driver to bring me back, but the driver refused.""Your dad is quite decisive," someone noted, nodding in agreement. The group understood that Ye Feifei’s family had initially planned to deceive her into leaving Scrap Iron City under the guise of visiting relatives, fearing she wouldn’t leave if she knew the truth. However, it seemed they underestimated the situation."What happened next?""I rushed back to help," Ye Feifei continued. "As I approached the city, I saw many people fleeing in terrible condition. I even found a construction worker in a deep coma and took him to a medical facility. I commandeered his truck, intending to find you all. When I heard the commotion here, I drove over... and the brakes failed.""I... I think I killed someone," she stammered, still shaken.The group was at a loss for words to comfort her.Wei Wei, despite his severe injuries, hobbled over to the War Demon and gently closed its eyes. "Brother, rest now. If you knew the truth, you’d be even more unwilling to open your eyes."Just then, Uncle Gun shouted from inside the mall: "Found it!" The group rushed in to see him standing on a counter, pointing to a box emitting a soft green glow in the darkness. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and flies buzzed around the box. The ground around it had softened into a swamp-like consistency, and the box seemed to float amidst this eerie landscape, its green light like demonic eyes.This was Pandora’s Box, a first-tier demon forbidden object. Such items were strategic weapons for major organizations. The Seventh Sect must have been determined to acquire it.As Wei Wei entered the mall, he noticed his silver rifle was absorbing disease energy more rapidly than before. The mall was saturated with a potent, terrifying demonic power capable of spreading disease throughout the city."I’ll get it," Uncle Gun said, tightening his belt. "Wei Wei, Sen Sen, keep watch and be ready to support me." He glanced at Lucky Sister: "Give me some luck."Lucky Sister leaned against the wall, looking dejected. "I don’t have any left. I already kissed Wei Wei earlier."Wei Wei pointed to his cheek, explaining, "She kissed me here."Sen Sen turned away, uninterested, while Ye Feifei looked at him with a hint of scrutiny.Uncle Gun didn’t find this reassuring; instead, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration: "Why do you always kick me in the butt and tell me to go when you’re giving me good luck?"Lucky Sister didn’t respond, continuing to lament: "It’s all my fault... I’m useless except for my looks and luck."The group tried to intervene, but Little Lin sighed and looked away, saying, "Don’t talk to me... I’m just a quiet window model now."Wei Wei couldn’t bear it anymore and suggested, "Maybe I should go instead?"Uncle Gun refused: "I was the first to find it. This task must be completed by me." He took a deep breath, instructed the others to prepare, and then sprang into action. He leaped up, using a banner to swing himself toward the box. As he approached, a swarm of flies flew at him, but he dodged them with agility. With a swift kick, he closed the box and booted it toward the group outside.The group was both relieved and startled—relieved that closing the box hadn’t triggered any disasters, but startled that Uncle Gun had kicked it over to them.Wei Wei quickly prepared, using plastic sheets to catch the box without touching it. He wrapped it in layers, then used tape to secure it. Ye Feifei and Sen Sen handed him the tape, which he used to bind the box tightly.With the task seemingly complete, Uncle Gun returned, and the group gathered around the wrapped box. Although it was closed, they could feel the internal heat slowly dissipating, much like a patient recovering from illness. The process was slow, but at least their symptoms weren’t worsening."What is this thing that we just wrapped up?" Ye Feifei asked curiously."Yes," Wei Wei replied, having checked the box with his scarlet intuition. There was no leakage of demonic power, and he felt relieved. Pandora’s Box had a wide influence, but resolving it was surprisingly straightforward.The group had merely been battered by the War Demon, and now the problem was solved."That’s good, that’s good..." Ye Feifei smiled, patting her chest. "I was terrified when I arrived and saw the city in such a state. I didn’t expect to catch the tail end of such a dangerous mission."Just as she finished speaking, a massive sonic boom echoed from afar, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass and endless murmurs that felt like a tidal wave crashing against their minds. The group winced, feeling as though their eardrums were being pierced by countless steel needles.Wei Wei swiftly slapped himself and rushed out: "There’s more..."Uncle Gun’s voice was almost tearful: "I knew it. With Feifei here, things wouldn’t be that simple...