Chapter 613: Humans? Slaves?
Chapter 613: Humans? Slaves?
[Equipment: Anti-Venom Cloak]
[When equipped, it automatically protects against miasma and toxins in the environment and air. This resistance is ineffective if the wearer's blood comes into direct contact or if they ingest poison.]
[A moderately priced cloak suitable for use in hazardous environments.]
Lin Sai casually processed the materials, and the synthesized equipment's effects were displayed before him.
He had killed an excessive number of Deviators in the past few days.
With ample material support, he could immediately synthesize seven or eight of these well-performing Anti-Venom Cloaks.
Looking at the cloak with green stripes in his hand, Lin Sai's thoughts turned to the sand dunes on their way back:
"This will definitely come in handy for hunters and scouts on missions."
"However, giving it away directly might negatively impact the development of the territory. It's best to distribute it based on merit or other rewards. Since the dunes are almost back, I'll give the first one as a mission reward, setting an example for the city."
Lin Sai retraced his steps, simultaneously opening the Strategic Map to plan the route back to the surface.
This time, Lin Sai was preparing to undertake underground construction again.
Besides shortening the return journey as much as possible, he also wanted to connect several areas along the way, making it easier to bring back those humans without self-sufficiency to the surface.
"And the underground... the Underworld!"
Lin Sai's eyebrows arched as a new idea formed in his mind.
After the success of the Second Base's technological research,
In addition to the Insect Nest, he had one more auxiliary base to construct. Now, with the Deviator crisis at hand, wouldn't this last base be a perfect fit?
"Alright, let's build it underground!"
Lin Sai made up his mind.
According to the characteristics exhibited by the Real-Time Strategy module, a town built entirely underground should also exhibit unique functions like an underground city. When the citizens undergo training here, it will undoubtedly strengthen their combat capabilities against the Deviators!
"And after constructing three bases, perfecting the roads between them is crucial... Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lin Sai halted in his tracks.
This camp, where he had just eliminated the manager, was the largest Deviator burrow he had encountered in the past few days.
Consequently, the number of humans kept here was also the highest.
As he approached, Lin Sai noticed something he hadn't realized before.
Not all humans here were treated as livestock.
Apart from the Deviators with diminished consciousness, there were several humans in their thirties or forties assisting in managing the livestock pens!
They also showed signs of infection by the Corrupting Venom.
However, the infection was often localized to specific body parts, like arms, legs, or the chest.
Moreover, when managing their fellow humans, they could clearly shout orders or even physically discipline them.
"..."
At this moment, Lin Sai couldn't quite grasp his own emotions.
Aiding the oppressor, being an accomplice to evil? These humans weren't fully transformed Deviators, so they couldn't be ancient enemies who had died and resurrected in the present.
So... were they all humans infected in recent years?
Lin Sai inexplicably recalled a saying—after being enslaved for too long, people will come to see themselves as tools, and even the slaves themselves will think the same.
Witnessing these ugly scenes, his human instincts kicked in, and he felt nauseous.
At the same time, his proximity caught the attention of those few humans.
"Why are you just standing there?"
"Go and help!"
"Kill that guy!"
These humans were trying to command the lower-ranked Deviators.
But Lin Sai had the Withered Claw Amulet to alter his aura, and these feeble-minded Deviators, acting purely on instinct, couldn't identify him.
It was these infected humans who grew agitated.
They grabbed whatever was at hand, whips and stone spears used for herding livestock, and despite the disparity in strength, they charged at Lin Sai.
"What did you do to the adults? You damn scum!"
"Die!"
"..."
Clang—
A flash of flame lit up the underground world, and several more corpses appeared on the ground.
Lin Sai showed no mercy.
After turning these absolute 'human scum' into charred corpses, he left one alive, pinning him underfoot:
"What's your name?"
Lin Sai asked, and the human scum beneath him struggled desperately:
"You dare kill the adults! You dare!"
"Just wait, the adults' empire is all-powerful. You damn surface-dwellers will pay..."
Lin Sai didn't wait, silently taking out a Poison Thorn Arrow from his bag.
[Arrow: Poison Thorn Arrow]
[An arrow made from thorn wood. Upon hitting its target, the poison causes excruciating pain!]
[An arrow that inflicts intense pain on its prey, but doesn't kill them. Often used for live capture, it has low value.]
He aimed and pierced the man's waist and abdomen.
"Aaaahhhh!!!"
"I won't let you get away with this! The adults won't forgive you!"
"Damn ground-dwellers!"
Lin Sai was unwavering, continuing to punish the man.
After a full quarter of an hour, the man's screams had weakened.
When the physical pain reached an extreme, he finally begged for mercy:
"Please, just stop..."
"I really... I really..."
Lin Sai increased the intensity.
He put on the Sapphire Goggles, which could discern emotional changes.
Only when the man was truly exhausted, his emotional fluctuations numbed, did Lin Sai stop:
"Alright, now answer a few questions."
"Do you know the Deviators' underground organization structure? How vast is their territory? What are their recent movements?"
The weak human scum's voice was barely audible, like a whisper.
Lin Sai still heard him:
"I... I don't know..."
"I just follow the adults' orders, managing these livestock..."
...
Another charred corpse appeared.
Lin Sai ended the man's life with a sword and then took out the fiery Meteorite Pickaxe to create a path to the surface.
"A human who isn't valued, merely a tool for managing livestock."
"Knowing nothing about the Deviators, yet under such slave-like management, they develop such strong loyalty."
"Humans..."
Lin Sai's voice was complex.
Just then, he saw a stone in front of him, and as he cleared the path, he kicked it hard.
Bang! Amidst the shattering rocks and Lin Sai's own indistinguishable rage...
He turned to look at the livestock pen, at those humans devoid of intelligence, acting purely on animal instincts.
"Body and mind."
"As humans, which aspect truly defines us? Or is it both? How can one distinguish between them...?"
(End of Chapter)
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