Two-thirds of the revival process was complete; only Cheng Xiao remained. Zheng Zha kept his eyes shut and uttered the command. "Revive Cheng Xiao!"

He stood on a wide street, wielding the Zaku Beam Axe. Behind him, the girl was protected, while before him, several men continuously attacked, swarming him. Every attacker possessed blinding speed, each striving to flank him. Yet, whenever one attempted to maneuver past, the man’s gaze became razor-sharp. The Zaku Beam Axe swung like a gust of wind blades, effortlessly blocking their advance and forcing them back. In that instant—besides the sharp intensity in his eyes—there was also the familiar, blank confusion that Zheng Zha recognized.

It was only when a detached man, holding two pistols, severed one of Cheng Xiao's arms that his movements finally began to slow. Still, he refused to retreat a single step, laughing loudly as he perpetually shielded the girl from the advancing group. Despite the mounting injuries, the attackers simply could not break through his form. In terms of speed or technique, Cheng Xiao’s performance was equal to anyone present.

Only when the detached man with the twin pistols aimed directly at Cheng Xiao’s forehead did the man silently spread his arms wide. Even with one limb broken in two pieces, he held the broken arm out, smiling softly toward the detached man. His lips continued to move quietly.

Cheng Xiao’s upbringing was unique. He hailed from a line of martial arts families in the real world. His parents, grandfather, grandmother, maternal grandfather, and maternal grandmother all had varying degrees of connection to the martial world. His family was also connected to the military, meaning he endured their constant "care" from a young age. This involved bathing his body in medicinal brews, followed by relentless beatings with staffs, leaving the young Cheng Xiao in agonizing tears every time. Life changed when a neighborhood girl appeared in that quiet mountain village. For reasons unknown, Cheng Xiao desperately didn't want to embarrass himself in front of her. Whenever she appeared outside his window, the boy would grit his teeth and utter not a sound, while the little girl would simply giggle.

As they grew, Cheng Xiao became increasingly handsome, while the girl next door remained ordinary and fresh-faced. Yet, their hearts slowly drew closer until Cheng Xiao finally told her: “As long as I still draw breath… I will protect you, ensuring not a speck of harm ever touches you!” The girl’s reply was a shy, quiet affirmation.

His family background meant Cheng Xiao could not remain in that peaceful place forever. He left and returned several times; their bond remained nearly constant. It was only when Cheng Xiao excitedly returned to the village with a ring purchased in the city that a mudslide struck.

“What is an unfulfilled vow… ‘As long as I still draw breath, I will certainly protect you’? But did I manage it?” Zheng Zha watched Cheng Xiao slowly materialize before him, the final question echoing in his ears. Having lost the girl he loved most, Cheng Xiao’s inner core began to doubt his former conviction. His outward demeanor grew erratic, yet beneath it, the man still possessed the steadfast spirit of a true soldier!

Cheng Xiao violently sat up from the stone ground. He looked around in bewilderment, but upon seeing Zheng Zha and the others surrounding him, the man yawned. “Stop bothering me, let me sleep a little longer…” He started to settle back down, but realizing something felt wrong mid-motion, he lifted his head again. “Chu, Chu… Colonel Chu Xuan! Hahaha, we’re all dead then? That’s fantastic! I always thought death meant the void of all things, but I never expected so many interesting things in this post-death space… Wait, did even the Underworld suffer environmental changes? Why has it turned into a desert?” Cheng Xiao laughed heartily while pointing at Chu Xuan, then curiously gestured at everything around him.

Zheng Zha scratched his head. “Well, actually, none of us are dead. At least, you’ve been revived now.” Cheng Xiao pointed at himself quizzically, then at the surrounding people. He then burst into laughter again. “I see, this must be a hallucination of my own creation after death, right? I heard about this in science documentaries—people experience their deepest desires as they die. Damn it, I’ve long wanted to fondle those gigantic…” As he spoke, Cheng Xiao seemed to cup his hands as if kneading something, and my gaze passed straight through the others toward Zhao Yingkong.

Zhao Yingkong’s expression didn't shift. She simply raised her hand silently. Her nails didn't appear particularly long, but as she held them up, Cheng Xiao involuntarily flinched. The man laughed again. “Damn it, so boring. I actually let my own hallucination startle me. Come to think of it… Hey, my hallucinations, where are you going! Don't leave, my illusions, and that gigantic thing…” Before he could finish his sentence, a large rock struck him squarely on the nose, sending him flat onto his back.

“So, this means… this isn't my hallucination then?”

Cheng Xiao lay on a military cot, a cold water bag suspended over his nose. He looked pitiful; the careless words nearly fractured his nasal bone. Fortunately, the effects of years of medicinal soaking had enhanced his resilience, allowing him to be dragged back to the base camp. Lying quietly on the cot, he listened as Zheng Zha recounted the events that transpired after their separation from the Devil's Reincarnation Squad.

“…That’s the general situation. My goal is to challenge the Devil's Reincarnation Squad together with everyone, to face them head-on. The next time we encounter them, I don’t want another team member to die.” Zheng Zha murmured, looking at the three newly revived members. While Cheng Xiao groaned on the cot, Zhang Heng cautiously shielded his face while looking at Zheng Zha. Of the three, only Zhao Yingkong appeared composed, watching Zheng Zha with utter indifference, as if she had forgotten Zheng Zha had held her moments earlier. However, when Cheng Xiao’s eyes drifted past the others toward her chest, the young girl, still staring straight ahead, grabbed a steel ashtray and flung it directly into Cheng Xiao’s face.

“Ahem.” Zheng Zha coughed to draw everyone’s attention back. “The general situation has been explained. You three will now be joining the combat in the horror movie world again. There’s little to discuss with Zhao Yingkong and Cheng Xiao; you just need to decide on your weapons. And Cheng Xiao, since you're so knowledgeable about medicine, after we return, pick out something that allows you to perform surgery on the battlefield or temporarily boost everyone’s vitality. The last set of gold needles is gone; if you still want them, we’ll pool credits to exchange for them when we get back. The question I need to ask is… Zhang Heng, should I revive her?”

Zhang Heng, who had been listening intently, turned ashen-faced when Zheng Zha spoke those words. An outsider might have mistaken it for rage, but those who knew him recognized this man was terrified—so terrified his face had turned gray.

“No, don’t revive her now,” Zhang Heng said, shaking his head decisively, contrary to Zheng Zha’s expectation.

“Of course not here. She hadn't experienced a horror movie before dying. She can be revived by the ‘Main God’ when we get back,” Zheng Zha asked curiously.

Zhang Heng hurriedly shook his head again. “No, what I mean is… I mean, I don’t want her revived so soon, because I still don’t possess the strength to protect her right now. Nor do I have the courage to face her again. Even if she isn’t an enemy, the moment I see her, my heart still feels… Give me time. When I have the courage to face her, when I can say ‘forgive me’ or ‘kill me’ to her, then revive her!”

Zheng Zha sighed helplessly and shook his head, continuing to the group. “Forget it for now; let’s discuss the upcoming arrangements. Since this incident proceeded unusually smoothly with virtually no delays, we will spend the remaining few days in this world. Next, we head to the Resident Evil world… to acquire the TBD stock solution, allowing everyone to unlock the first stage of the Genetic Lock. At the same time, we can check if acquiring this solution is a side mission. If it is, perhaps we can gain a substantial amount of reward points and a side mission completion.”

While Zheng Zha was speaking, Zhao Yingkong suddenly looked at him seriously. “You saw my past?”

Zheng Zha paused, then quickly nodded. “Yes, when reviving, you can see how the other person died and their past. I truly didn't want to, and if you mind terribly, I can apologize…”

Zhao Yingkong quietly lowered her head. The little girl mumbled with a bewildered expression, “Not that. I wanted to ask you… Why did he betray us? Why did he do that? Is it really as he said? Just to test his own limits, was that enough reason to kill the comrades who once fought side-by-side with him?”

Zheng Zha stood up and walked to her side. For some reason, he felt this girl was pitiful, like a small child covered in scars. Seemingly strong, her inner self was riddled with wounds; a gentle prick of a needle might cause her to lose faith in everyone forever.

Zheng Zha gently stroked Zhao Yingkong’s hair. “I don’t know why he did it. So you must verify it yourself, you must ask him the reason in person… But remember, we are always by your side too; we are your comrades. And there’s one more thing you must believe… No one can kill us!”