Chapter 20: The Devil's Left Arm

Chapter 20: The Devil’s Left Arm

[This life has ended. Beginning settlement!]

[.]

[Life Span: 18 (This is an age of untimely death; perhaps you should consider changing yourself.)]

[Status: 8 (You attempted to enter a dangerous world, but ultimately failed.)]

[Fame: 10 (You were fortunate to draw the attention of a certain existence, but unfortunately, it came after you.)]

[Evaluation: ☆ (You studied diligently, strove to grow stronger, and challenged perilous beings, but in the end, you are still mortal. You will never truly understand them, nor can you harm them.)]

[Reward: 20 (Fate Points)]

“Ten points deducted as an entry fee, still gained ten points overall.”

Jiang Ren stared at the twenty Fate Points on the settlement screen. The evaluation was the same, but the rewards in this world had doubled.

It looked rather enticing.

“This is probably the only good news,” Jiang Ren said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. As he had expected, the “Demon Hunt” was no ordinary world; it was filled with phenomena and entities that defied scientific explanation.

Of course, the dangers were real—many were nearly unsolvable threats.

Jiang Ren had managed to survive into adulthood by adhering to the principle that survival was victory: avoiding danger at all costs and only acting when confident.

But once danger fixed its gaze upon him—

There was no tomorrow.

Jiang Ren rose and sat down at his computer desk. He didn’t turn on the room’s main light, only the desk lamp.

Under its soft glow, he took out a notebook and began recording all known information about the Demon Hunt world.

Dangerous species, paranormal events, invulnerability.

If anyone else saw the notebook, they’d simply think it was a walkthrough guide from some game enthusiast.

Half an hour later, Jiang Ren rubbed his dry eyes.

He had already formed a rough plan. After deducting the Demon Hunt entry fee, he had 109 Fate Points left. Next, he would see what practical items the in-game store had to offer.

He reopened the system.

[Entry requires a deduction of 10 Fate Points. Do you wish to proceed?]

[.]

[You have met the criteria to unlock the store. Would you like to open it?]

[.]

Identity, talents, items—these remained the three categories.

But the talents and items for sale revealed the world’s differences.

[Talent: Paranormal Affinity]

[Description: Paranormal beings harbor a higher initial favorability toward you.]

[Note: You can become intimate friends with them, even as deeply as family once deceased.]

[Price: 10 Fate Points]

[Talent: Yin-Yang Eyes]

[Description: These eyes allow you to see things unseen by ordinary people, but also bring unforeseen dangers.]

[Note: Congratulations, you’ve taken your first step toward death.]

[Price: 20 Fate Points]

[Item: Church Lantern]

[Description: A lantern from a small church, bathed in hymns for decades. Its light can dispel certain abnormal darkness.]

[Note: Listen, how beautiful the singing is. Let us join in the hymn.]

[Price: 15 Fate Points]

[Item: Dangerous Shroud]

[Description: Wrapped around an unknown being’s corpse long ago. Though aged, it still frightens many strange things.]

[Note: Wrap yourself in it, and you will rapidly grow stronger—at a small cost.]

[Price: 25 Fate Points]

Neither talents nor items were familiar from the previous world’s store.

It was clear this was no ordinary realm.

Moreover, both talents and items had significant side effects, as the notes indicated. The stronger the power, the greater the consequences.

Jiang Ren’s attention, however, was caught by a single item.

[Item: Devil’s Left Arm]

[Description: ???]

[Note: ???]

[Price: 100 Fate Points]

It wasn’t the most expensive item, but it was the only one shrouded in mystery.

Though its abilities were unknown, considering the immense value of the shroud for an unknown entity, what might the devil’s left arm be worth?

“Should I purchase the Devil’s Left Arm, or choose more practical talents and items?”

Recalling his eighteen years in the Demon Hunt world, Jiang Ren smiled and immediately made up his mind.

The Twentieth Century was an era that commanded the winds and tides.

The rapid advancement of science and technology brought humanity convenience and ever-changing transformations.

But toward the end of the twentieth century, as people indulged in superficial prosperity under the control of capital, certain unknown beings—once thought to exist only in legends—somehow appeared on this continent...

In a sterile operating room, a blonde Caucasian woman was attempting a natural childbirth, encouraged by her husband and guided by medical staff.

“Jennifer, you can do it! You’re amazing!” the black-haired Caucasian man next to her squeezed her hand tightly, his expression even more anxious than hers.

Seconds ticked by.

Jennifer’s cries weakened, but the baby had yet to emerge. The medical staff’s faces grew serious, already contemplating a cesarean section.

Listening to the woman’s agonized screams, the man urged again, “Jennifer, you can do this. I believe in you!”

“It’s coming! I see the head!” the midwife exclaimed excitedly.

The man’s excitement surged: “Our baby is coming! Jennifer, hold on a bit longer!”

With a piercing scream, Jennifer gave birth to a child who let out faint cries.

“The baby is healthy.”

The midwife quickly swaddled the infant. Instinctively, she glanced inside—and her eyes suddenly widened. She staggered and nearly fell.

Before her colleagues could ask what had happened, the man furiously stood up.

“You idiot! If you drop my child, I’ll shove your head where the sun doesn’t shine!”

The nurse shook her head in frustration, about to speak, when Jennifer weakly whispered, “My baby... please, let me see him.”

“Darling, you did it,” the man softly said to her, then turned harshly to the nurse, “Did you hear me? Bring my baby here!”

The nurse approached, hands trembling as she handed the swaddled infant to Jennifer.

“My baby...” Jennifer smiled faintly as she took him. But when her gaze landed on the infant, her already pale face drained further.

Doubt, fear, revulsion—

A torrent of negative emotions overwhelmed her.

“No!”

Jennifer pushed the baby away, screaming in terror, “Get it away! Take it away! He’s not my child! Get this ugly monster away from me!”

“Jennifer, what’s wrong?” the man worried his wife’s mental state was faltering. He caught the infant as he was almost pushed off the bed and instinctively glanced inside the swaddle—his expression mirrored surprise.

In that small bundle lay a baby boy.

To the untrained eye, he looked no different from any newborn.

But his left arm was a molten, dark red—like flowing lava—and combined with his wrinkled face, he looked like a monster.

(End of chapter)