bdsm-fiction Chapter 16 Ju-on 2
Chapter 16 Ju-on 2
The child's hollow humming lasted only a few seconds before abruptly ceasing, as if it had never existed. But the chill in the air did not dissipate; instead, it grew even heavier, as if invisible gazes, thick and cold, were cast upon it from all directions.
Lingdian slowly lowered the binoculars and gestured for Wang Lin to retreat. The two silently withdrew from the haunted house area, only quickening their pace and returning to their temporary base—a relatively sturdy two-story house about two hundred meters away from the haunted house. Chu Xuan and the others had already cleaned the first-floor living room and reinforced the doors and windows with the furniture and miscellaneous items they found.
"How is the situation?" Zheng Zha immediately came forward.
"The haunted house is deathly silent, but there's a strong sense of foreboding." Zero succinctly stated, "We heard a child singing, which should be a prelude to the first wave of Ju-on's attacks."
Wang Lin added, "What's even more troublesome is that when I used some kind of perception to investigate, I discovered that many 'lines' filled with resentment extended from that house, some of which... seemed to connect to the direction in which the 'West Sea Team' disappeared. That group of monks is definitely problematic; they are very likely not the real Reincarnation Team, but rather part of the Curse, or something controlled and distorted by the Curse."
These words made everyone's faces even more grim. The blond-haired newcomer was already cowering in the corner, while the other two newcomers, a man and a woman, were also trembling.
Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, a faint glint of data flashing in his eyes: "It matches my speculation. The main god didn't give any hints to the other teams, yet they appeared as 'pioneers' and 'collaborators,' which is illogical in itself. It's more likely that they are some kind of 'bait' or 'derivative' of Ju-on, with the aim of leading us into a deeper trap or diverting our strength. The shrine they suggested going to is very likely a pre-planned killing field."
"So what do we do now?" Zhan Lan asked worriedly. "We have to be wary of the elusive Kayako, and also these fake teammates who we don't even know what they are..."
"Take the initiative," Wang Lin suddenly spoke, his voice calm. "After confirming safety, find a way to eliminate them."
Everyone was taken aback and looked at Wang Lin. Zheng Zha frowned deeply: "A preemptive attack? Their strength is unknown, and... if they are truly part of the Curse, wouldn't attacking them directly trigger Kayako's full-scale attack?"
"The risks and benefits need to be assessed." Chu Xuan looked at Wang Lin. "What judgment is your suggestion based on?"
Wang Lin took a deep breath and decided to reveal more key information, but he needed to package it carefully: "I have some... speculations based on data and intuition about Ju-on's 'attack patterns.' Kayako's curse attacks are likely not continuous, but rather in waves, each wave having different manifestations and intensities. If we can know the wave patterns in advance, we can defend against them specifically, and even take advantage of the gaps between waves."
He paused, meeting Chu Xuan's sharp gaze, and continued, "I speculate that the attack will consist of about seven waves. The first wave is likely the harassment and mental interference from the child's ghost (Toshio Saeki), creating fear and weakening our spirit and will. In subsequent waves, Kayako's true form may appear, and the attack methods may include direct physical contact (but with instant death or curse effects), hallucinations, manipulation of the environment, and even area-of-effect mental attacks."
"And that 'West Sea Team'," Wang Lin changed the subject, "if they are derivatives or puppets of Ju-on, then their very existence might be part of a certain wave of attacks, or an 'extra variable' that interferes with our response to the normal waves. Keeping them around means we have to deal with two attack systems simultaneously, constantly running around in circles. While the first wave of attacks hasn't fully unfolded yet, and they might be waiting or preparing something, we should strike first, remove this thorn in our side, and concentrate our efforts on dealing with Kayako's seven waves of attacks. Our chances of survival might actually be higher that way."
This is a reasonable deduction based on the original intelligence (seven waves of attacks) and the current situation. Wang Lin did not specify the exact form of the seven waves of attacks, only their general direction. This way, he provided crucial information without making himself seem too mysteriously "omniscient."
Chu Xuan remained silent for a few seconds, his brain clearly calculating rapidly: "The credibility of the information is tentatively set at 80%. Assuming the attack is divided into seven waves with gaps, then proactively eliminating known additional threats is tactically reasonable. However, several issues need to be addressed: First, how to determine the exact location and status of the 'West Sea Team'? Second, how to ensure the attack effectively kills or severely injures these inhuman beings? Third, will the attack itself prematurely or exacerbate the Curse's attack? Fourth, how to defend against the possible first wave of Curse's attacks during the attack?"
"Regarding their location," Zero began, "I can try searching from a high vantage point using a sniper scope with thermal imaging and a psionic attachment. They went in the direction of the shrine, but the area isn't large."
"Attack methods," Wang Lin touched the exorcising bullets and amulets on his tactical vest, "My bullets have a slight effect on spirits, but it's not enough. We need to concentrate all the weapons and skills that might be effective against the supernatural. Zheng Zha's vampire energy and internal force might also have 'extraordinary' attributes; we can try that. Chu Xuan, your energy manipulation is basic; could you try interfering with or dispelling yin energy?"
Chu Xuan nodded: "We can try, but the efficiency and effectiveness are unknown. We need to test it on a target."
"As for whether it will trigger a cursed attack..." Wang Lin looked out the window at the thick darkness of the night, "Even if we don't move, the attack will still come. Rather than passively waiting to be attacked from two fronts, we should proactively create a relatively 'controllable' point of conflict. We can design the attack on the 'West Sea Team' as a trap, while simultaneously preparing for the first wave of cursed attacks. For example, we can set up some defensive or disruptive measures against the supernatural at the attack location in advance."
Zhang Jie chuckled, "Interesting. Let's do it then. I've had my eye on that fake monk for a long time."
Seeing that everyone was inclined to take the initiative, Zheng Zha no longer hesitated, his eyes sharpening: "Alright! Let's make a plan and take care of those charlatans first! But we must ensure our own safety, especially the newcomers."
Chu Xuan immediately began making arrangements: "Lingdian, Wang Lin, you two immediately go to the nearest high ground to search the Divine Community domain, confirm the whereabouts and status of the 'West Sea Team,' and assess the environment. Zhan Lan, use your mental energy to scan and assist them, being careful to shield your own mental fluctuations to avoid being detected. Zheng Zha, Zhang Jie, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, you set up defenses within the base to prepare for the first wave of Cursed Attacks, while also protecting the newcomers. I need to conduct some simple energy field interference experiments within the base and design an attack plan targeting the 'West Sea Team.'"
With clear division of labor, everyone immediately got to work.
Wang Lin and Zero climbed onto the rooftop of a slightly taller building next to the stronghold. Zhan Lan's spiritual power extended silently like mercury, carefully avoiding the chilling source of darkness in the direction of the haunted house, and explored towards the shrine.
In the darkness, the outline of the abandoned shrine was faintly visible, silent and still. But through Zero's sniper scope (equipped with a psionic sensor, obtained by consuming reward points) and Wang Lin's focused mental perception, that area was shrouded in an abnormal, dark aura, incongruous with its surroundings. Thermal imaging revealed several blurry, low-temperature humanoid heat sources there, their outlines shifting and uncertain.
"Found them, inside the main shrine. Six... no, seven heat sources. Their condition is strange, not like living people," Zero whispered.
Wang Lin focused his senses. The Eye of Lie Detection couldn't directly reach this far, but both the Danger Perception and the Primary Rule Perception sent clear warnings—the area was filled with distortion and malice, and those "heat sources" were more like a collection of resentment, disguised in human form.
"They seem to be in a state of... stillness or standby." Zhan Lan's voice came through the mental link, sounding somewhat strained. "I dared not scan too deeply, for fear of disturbing them. But I couldn't sense any normal thought activity, only a chilling resentment."
Just then, a faint, teeth-grinding "clucking" sound suddenly came from the direction of the stronghold!
That's the sound of bones grinding together! The first wave of attack is here!
Wang Lin and Lingdian felt a sudden tightness in their hearts and immediately turned their attention back to the stronghold.
On the first-floor window of the stronghold, the reflection of a small, pale child appeared. He was facing away from the window, head down, motionless. But the giggling sound was coming from him.
Inside the living room, the newlyweds let out suppressed screams. Zheng Zha let out a low growl, a faint red glow and white mist emanating from his body as he warily stood in front of the crowd. Zhang Jie, a cigarette dangling from his lips, stared coldly out the window. Ba Wang gripped his heavy machine gun (which he had exchanged for), and Li Shuaixi drew his knife.
Chu Xuan stood in the center of a simple array he had temporarily set up, outlined with cinnabar (a small amount of stock he brought from the Main God Space) and wires, holding an energy crystal (also an experimental item he had exchanged) in his hand, trying to guide a weak mental energy field to cover the doorway and window areas.
The child's reflection in the glass slowly and unnaturally turned its head 180 degrees, revealing a pale, lifeless face with empty eyes staring blankly at the people inside.
Fear, like an icy tide, instantly swept over everyone. The women among the newcomers couldn't help but scream.
"Fire!" Zheng Zha roared.
The tyrant's heavy machine gun spat fire, bullets piercing the glass and striking the figure, but seemingly passing through air, leaving only bullet holes in the wall behind. The child's figure flickered, becoming even more transparent, but did not disappear; instead, it grinned, emitting a silent, malicious smile.
"Physical attacks are ineffective!" the Overlord shouted.
Zheng Zha tried to envelop his fist in vampire energy and punched it towards the window from a distance. The dark red energy swept past, and the child's figure twisted for a moment, letting out a sharp but silent screech, seemingly affected, but quickly solidified again.
Zhang Jie raised his hand, a barely perceptible glint flashing from the muzzle of his gun. A bullet shot out, piercing precisely through the child's forehead. The figure trembled violently, becoming extremely faint, almost vanishing, but the chilling aura around them intensified abruptly, and more "clucking" sounds came from all around the house!
"He's calling for his companions, or... this is just the beginning." Chu Xuan's calm voice rang out. The energy crystal in his hand glowed faintly, and the simple array emitted a layer of pale golden light, enveloping the doorway and the main windows. Wherever the array's light reached, the bone-chilling cold seemed to be slightly blocked.
The child's reflection in the glass, along with other small, pale shadows that vaguely appeared around it, lingered before the array's light, seemingly hesitant and not rushing in immediately.
"The first wave consists of psychological intimidation and initial physical interference. It's not very intense, but it can effectively deplete our morale and resources, and create panic," Chu Xuan quickly analyzed. "Wang Lin, your assessment is basically correct. Now is the time for us to act."
Wang Lin responded via mental link: "Understood! We're leaving at midnight! Zhan Lan, continue monitoring the shrine; report any unusual activity immediately!"
Taking advantage of the fact that the first wave of attacks was temporarily blocked by Chu Xuan's temporary formation, Wang Lin and Zero leaped off the rooftop like cheetahs and sped toward the abandoned shrine under the cover of shadows.
Their plan was simple: a swift raid, using the most powerful supernatural attacks, to cripple or even eliminate the "West Sea Team" before they could react! As for whether it would succeed, and what chain reactions it would trigger…
Wang Lin gripped the pistol loaded with exorcising bullets and the contract paper in his pocket. He knew this was a gamble. But when faced with an unsolvable terror like the Curse of Vengeance, sometimes offense is the best defense.
Moreover, he has Chu Xuan by his side, a wise man who is best at turning risks into opportunities.
Under the cover of night, the abandoned shrine resembles a crouching beast, awaiting its prey. But are the "West Sea Team" within the shrine lambs to the slaughter, or more terrifying hunters?
Battle is imminent.