Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

Chapter 759 - 338: Performance and Battle

Wu Chang originally thought that Hercules would be discovered by the guards, leading to a skirmish.

However, contrary to his expectations, the three guards showed no intention of taking action.

As he wondered if the Cursed Space ability was malfunctioning, the rules for using the Cursed Space surfaced in his mind.

In the Cursed Space, the attacks of Psychic Monsters are divided into two phases.

Namely the Performance Phase and the Combat Phase.

The Performance Phase allows the Psychic Monster to freely exploit and create scenarios based on the vulnerabilities of the target’s mind, engaging them in a play of willpower and true intentions.

During the Performance Phase, the Psychic Monster does not cause actual harm to the target, but instead expands the target’s mental vulnerabilities, thereby fortifying itself.

When the mental vulnerabilities can no longer be expanded, the Psychic Monster ends the performance and directly attacks the target.

From the moment harm is inflicted, they formally enter the Combat Phase, relentless and unending.

More specific details are not clarified in the Skill Description; Wu Chang needs to rely on Hercules, the first user of the Cursed Space, to explore them.

Because as soon as the target is harmed, it will awaken them from the performance atmosphere, interrupting the Performance Phase.

Therefore, as the ability’s user, Wu Chang cannot intervene during this phase and can only stand in a god-like perspective as an observer.

He watched the cluttered room below, where Hercules, blocked in the corner by three guards, stood weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Having gained Imaginary Divinity, having gone through most of the twelve trials, able to command wind and rain in the Realm of Reason, it seemed even his consciousness had returned to childhood, back to that night of a failed escape.

Let alone resist, even maintaining a standing posture was exceedingly difficult for him.

The leader of the guards asked:

"Little mouse, running away on your own is a big deal, do you know what consequences you’ll face?"

Hercules, forcing himself, replied, "It’s just death anyway, since being tortured by you all, we won’t live long."

The Guard Leader wagged his finger, shaking his head, "No, no, no, you are too naive. This time is different, when you ran away, someone attacked the Body Modification Department’s Sawblade, cut off one of his hands, and blinded one of his eyes."

"Sawblade usually likes performing strange experiments with scrap materials. This time when he woke up, he vowed to dismember those who escaped."

"Believe me, you wouldn’t want to enter Sawblade’s black little room."

Hercules shivered, seemingly recalling some fearful memory, the courage he had just mustered instantly dissipating.

The Guard Leader squatted down, patted Hercules’ shoulder, and whispered:

"Take me to find your companions, and we’ll pretend we never saw you, okay?"

A trembling Hercules, hearing this, saw it as a decree of pardon. He nodded immediately and said:

"No problem, I know where they’re hiding!"

"Then what are we waiting for, lead the way."

Hercules led the way in front, while the three guards followed behind with sinister smiles; Hercules didn’t notice that as he chose to abandon his companions and cooperate with the guards, the three guards expanded by a size, and a fourth guard emerged from the darkness.

"The target is attacked by the Psychic Monster, creating cracks in the Will Barrier, Psychic Monster’s attributes increase by 30%."

In the darkness, from his god-view, Wu Chang watched, dumbfounded.

Got it, the evil from the Psychic Monster had the same flavor as Amber’s Heart Demon from the Cursed Dungeon.

They didn’t attack the target directly but instead used the weaknesses in the target’s heart to assault the target’s Will Barrier, developing themselves before moving.

He still remembered Amber’s state at that time, when facing the Psychic Monster. If one doesn’t fight to the end at the first encounter, they would only become more mired, their mental vulnerabilities expanding until they collapsed.

Led by the mole, the five quickly found an escaped test subject in a small compartment in the utility room.

The Guard Leader kindly said to Hercules:

"Well done, I knew you’d stand on the side of justice and help us maintain order."

"These little mice keep escaping, causing us a lot of trouble, implicating everyone in punishment with them, simply rot that needs removal. To clear them out and leave everyone a clean living space, how about you act as our undercover?"

"Next time they have an evil escape plan, secretly tell me. I assure you, you’ll no longer undergo any dangerous experiments, how about it?"

Having cowered once, Hercules now had no way back, a gentle expression from the Guard Leader causing him to nod.

"Great!" The Guard Leader patted him on the shoulder contentedly, handing him the metal baton, then softly pointed to the newly captured test subject and said:

"Go kill him."

Hercules flinched, "Didn’t I already agree to your terms?"

The Guard Leader maintained a smile, speaking in a gentle tone, "I’ll give you three seconds; if you don’t kill him, I’ll let him kill you."

"3..."

Bam!

As the countdown began, Hercules struck the back of his companion’s head with the baton. In the instant he killed his companion, half of his muscle shriveled, and the fear in his eyes intensified.

"The target is attacked by the Psychic Monster, partially damaging the Will Barrier, Psychic Monster’s attributes increase by 30%, target’s All Attributes reduced to 70% in the Cursed Space."

Observing, Wu Chang drew a sharp breath, indeed a Talent strengthened by the S-Level Book of Inspiration.