Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-826

Chapter 826 Why Not Dance

Genava didn’t notice any abnormalities, but he fully trusted Shang Jianyao’s judgment and asked, “Is it because we’re closer to the root of the problem?”

Genava believed that although the possibility of Shang Jianyao joking or pulling a prank at critical moments existed, he or another him would quickly right course without delaying the important matters. Therefore, with Shang Jianyao giving no other explanation, Genava believed his words.

Shang Jianyao stared into the dark depths of the main city district and shook his head. “I didn’t feel this way back at the square, and it’s only 20 to 30 meters from the center of the square to here.”

There was a small fountain and a square with a statue that wasn’t large to begin with.

What Shang Jianyao meant was that there was no reason for him not to sense anything ahead, only to detect something after walking only 20 to 30 meters.

Genava didn’t agree with what Shang had said: “Almost 25 meters. Although this is indeed insignificant compared to all of Ceningmis, a quantitative change will result in a qualitative change. We’ve already traveled an unknown number of 25 meters; this might be the last one that crosses the critical line.”

Shang Jianyao still shook his head. “I seriously thought about it and realized that the surrounding situation had changed a little after the library projection was destroyed by the high-voltage electric current you released. It’s probably from that moment on that the vortex slowly became stronger. It’s finally strong to the point I can vaguely sense it from this spot.”

“That’s a possibility.” Genava finished his analysis in a flash. “By attacking the projection brought about by the overlap, it’s equivalent to indirectly stimulating the New World, resulting in some changes.”

Shang Jianyao’s mind raced as he sighed with emotion. “That vortex should be a few kilometers away from me, far exceeding the range of my senses, but I can now sense it a little. Did I become stronger in this special environment?”

Genava, who was focused on listening to him, was nearly stunned by his sudden turn. He hurriedly voiced his opinion, “Firstly, that vortex is too huge and exaggerated. Secondly, similar objects will create a certain disturbance in the surroundings. This disturbance is transmitted layer by layer, and although the corresponding signal is gradually attenuating, it has still reached a level where you can capture it.”

These two points complemented each other. It was precisely because the vortex was too huge and exaggerated that the disturbances could be transmitted to this side several kilometers away.

“Is that so?” Shang Jianyao asked in disappointment before saying, “From the looks of it, it’s highly possible that it’s a huge New World node. Secondly, it’s the body of a dormant Kalendaria’s body of descent. Other situations can be eliminated.”

Genava moved his metal neck up and down. “Are we still going deeper?”

Shang Jianyao fell into a dilemma-no, an internal conflict.

It took them a few seconds to reach an agreement and give an answer: “The strengthening of the vortex continues. I’m worried that it will only get worse.”

“Let’s retreat and meet up with Big White and the others. We’ll observe Ceningmis’s situation closely. If the vortex doesn’t calm down and continues to spread out, we’ll launch the nuclear bomb at it to prevent the Heartless disease from spreading to all of the Ashlands.”

“Alright.” Genava’s main module simulated a sense of relief.

The two of them were just about to turn around when they suddenly saw a building covered in thick fog in the distant darkness.

It was a hazy tower.

Upon hearing Jiang Baimian’s orders, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen took a few seconds to understand that there was indeed only one enemy. As long as they split up and fled, at least one of them could escape the other party’s abilities and return to normal. They could then use their equipment and long-range attacks to help their teammates escape their predicament.

This was a very effective plan for the current situation. Of course, the premise was that there was only one enemy.

Long Yuehong—who was in his drunken state

—was much bolder than usual. With the Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor protecting him, he was the first to rush out.

He hoped that he could lure the enemy away and create an opportunity for Bai Chen and his team leader to escape danger!

Upon seeing this, Bai Chen immediately turned around and ran in another direction. As an experienced warrior, she knew that the only way not to implicate her companions in such a situation was to escape with all her might.

This way, the enemy would hesitate and have a chance of choosing to pursue her, leading to the safety of others. It wouldn’t be long before they found an opportunity to counterattack.

The woman in a bionic artificial intelligence armor similar to the Chameleon wasn’t angry; instead, she chuckled.

As the sound spread, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen became more ‘drunk.’ Their body language became increasingly incongruous.

Bang! The two of them fell to the ground almost at the same time like crashing mountains.

Jiang Baimian—who was running toward the jeep-did the same, but she had already expected this. She took the opportunity to pounce forward and roll before finally arriving beside the driver’s seat that had the door open.

At this moment, the enemy abandoned the AS-9 anti-tank missile, picked up the rifle hidden behind a tree, and aimed it at Jiang Baimian.

Compared to the duo fleeing on foot, she was more worried about Jiang Baimian-who had returned to the jeep. After all, there was a bomb that the other party had claimed to be very powerful.

For this reason, she had no choice but to choose ordinary firearms to prevent any accidents from happening. This was also one of the reasons why she didn’t hit the vehicle previously and only used anti-tank missiles and grenades to scare the people opposite her.

Of course, this was also the reason she did this at the end. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen the grenade launcher and the anti-tank missile at all. She wouldn’t have even given the three Old Task Force members a chance to get into the car.

She quickly aimed.

She was very confident in her skills in this regard. This was because one of her three abilities was: Firearms Genius!

After entering the Mind Corridor, this was enhanced to that of a Hot Weapons Genius.

Just as the enemy in the quasi-Chameleon armor was about to pull the trigger and let the bullet drill into Jiang Baimian’s torso through her unarmored side and rupture the flesh within, a female voice suddenly sounded in her ears. “Look, look.

“Why not dance?

“Chatting? Why not dance[1]…”

The lady was stunned and had a strong urge.

Shooting? Why not dance!?

Fighting? Why not dance!?

Using abilities? Why not dance!?

She then gyrated her crotch, put down the firearm, and waved her hands.

She wasn’t the only one. Long Yuehong and Bai Chen—who had collapsed onto the mudalso danced on the ground.

Although they had never danced such a dance before, it wasn’t like they had never seen dancing. It had to be known that the Old Task Force had an Old World dance master; he was proficient in all kinds of dances.

Yes, he was Genava—this information was stored in his database.

Shang Jianyao often learned from him and requested his guidance. Long Yuehong and Bai Chen felt like they nearly mastered it from watching

Jiang Baimian also danced.

She grabbed Chaotic Right Hand and shook it as a prop. Her body trembled.

She kneeled down from time to time and twisted upward-it was very rhythmic and beautiful.

At this moment, the scene seemed to have entered the routine of films in a particular Old World country. It was absurd and joyous.

However, Jiang Baimian didn’t stay in her spot. Wearing the military exoskeleton, she gyrated her body and walked toward the enemy step by step like she was in some Old World movie.

Not only was she—who was holding the small speaker in her other hand-implanted with the idea that it was better to dance, but she was also affected by the negative effects and suffered a certain level of mental problems. This made her seem like a copy of Shang Jianyao.

She was filled with the strange idea of having to fight the enemy and defeat her in a dance-off. Since they were going to dance, they definitely had to close the distance and build up the atmosphere between them.

In just a few seconds, Jiang Baimian successfully reduced the distance between the two parties to less than 100 meters with the help of the military exoskeleton. She then threw the small speaker to the ground as if she were throwing a pair of white gloves.

But as the small speaker left her palm and lost the support it needed from an Awakened, the song became normal. It was no longer imbued with the magic of making one believe that nothing beat dancing.

Of course, the corresponding thoughts implanted in them still existed and wouldn’t disappear immediately. However, this was at great odds with the environment. It wouldn’t be long before the three Old Task Force members and the enemy realized that the situation was amiss and returned to normal.

Compared to Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen, the influence the enemy-who had already entered the Mind Corridorsuffered was clearly weaker. Therefore, her recovery was naturally faster.

This was a conventional development, but reality was often not like this.

Jiang Baimian gyrated her waist and continued dancing, but she no longer had the intention of having a dance-off.

In the ‘cold’ brought about by Chaotic Right Hand, she suddenly felt stoned. Why dance when it’s so cold?

With this contradiction, Jiang Baimian instantly broke free from her implanted thoughts and found the right understanding.

She wasn’t surprised by this situation at all. Before using the small speaker, she had already thought of using Chaotic Right Hand’s negative effects to help her escape the restraints of Thought Implantation!

She didn’t expect that the ‘cold could overcome the music and magical powers.

Once her mind cleared up, she was no longer in a drunken state. As Jiang Baimian locked onto the enemy, her eyes turned deep. Then, she raised her arm and aimed the military exoskeleton’s grenade launcher at the target.

At this moment, the enemy wearing the quasi-Chameleon armor also found her normal train of thought and stopped dancing.

Her pupils reflected the black muzzle and the reflective metal skeleton.

She knew very well that her armor didn’t specialize in defense. Although she wouldn’t be seriously injured by a grenade, she would still be affected significantly. This included the damage to her equipment and her own injuries.

[1] Kelly Chen’s Why Not Dance