Vol. 5 Chapter 8: The Spread of Fear

Chapter 8: The Spread of Fear

A roaring voice spread through the area, and under the distant glow of streetlights, onlookers felt something approaching. An overwhelming sense of fear preceded any sense of absurdity.

With Lu Li's declaration, a miasma of fear began to spread. Everyone who witnessed the scene felt this fear seep into their hearts, the sensation of dread rising uncontrollably from within.

The black figure on the bridge dissipated into a dark mist, drifting into the night. No one noticed as Lu Li quietly folded his oil-paper umbrella and slipped away. With this act of spreading his name, a continuous influx of legendary energy flowed into Lu Li's heart. This energy was all related to the moniker "Dark River, King of Fear," an alias for Lu Li.

Those who saw the scene were overwhelmed with fear, believing the black mist had merged with the darkness, watching them from the shadows, ready to pounce and consume them entirely. They would see nothing in the darkness, but as soon as they turned away, they would feel something still watching them.

These feelings were all tied to the legend of Dark River. Most of this legendary energy was fear, black mist, slippery darkness, and hidden threats. Lu Li's heart absorbed all these elements, which began to nurture something within him.

As word of the night's events spread, the legend of Dark River, the King of Fear, grew. The more widely it spread, the more legendary energy Lu Li accumulated, making him feel he was on the verge of developing a new legendary ability.

The next day, as Lu Li anticipated, the name Dark River spread wildly. The primary means of transmission was the internet. Someone had filmed the entire scene on the bridge with their phone, capturing the mist turning black and forming a human shape that proclaimed its name, followed by screams of terror and a shaky, dropped camera.

The video went viral, but outsiders considered it a hoax, not believing it to be real. However, many locals were convinced. In Leping City, merely mentioning the name Dark River induced a heart-pounding fear, especially near the bridge. Those who witnessed the scene dared not approach the darkness again.

The police investigated the bridge but found nothing unusual. Local experts suggested a chemical reaction could explain the black mist and eerie proclamation, attributing the fear to psychological effects.

Meanwhile, other mask bearers in the city speculated about the incident. Excluding those who knew about the existence of fear like Li Yuanfeng, groups led by Xiao Zhang, Zheng Long, Meng Xi, and Fu Bin debated the culprit.

"It must be the last mask bearer or those people," said the masked Shadow Assassin A. "Based on our information, the remaining masks are Greed and Gluttony, both of which might have the power to create large-scale effects. That black mist giant could only be them."

"It's unlikely those people would do something so conspicuous," Fu Bin shook his head. "Such reckless behavior makes them a target. It's more plausible the new mask bearer, unaware of the mask war, acted out of ignorance."

"How's the search going? Have you found the last bearer?" Fu Bin asked Luo Yan.

"I've deployed many stray cats around Wujiang Bridge but found no clues. The people we've been monitoring moved as soon as they noticed my cats, but the last mask bearer remains elusive," Luo Yan replied.

"Could they have the ability to conceal their mask's presence?" Fu Bin pondered, directing his question to the Shadow Assassin.

"No, only my Envy Insect-type power can hide a mask's presence. Neither Greed nor Gluttony has such an ability," the Shadow Assassin replied. In reality, Lu Li had structured an original sin within him, compatible with his Envy Insect type, but his insufficient envy prevented full power utilization.

"Then the person must be hiding in a place we can't detect. Could they have left Leping City?" Luo Yan suggested.

"Impossible. The masks are connected mysteriously; bearers wouldn't stray too far," the Shadow Assassin replied.

"Didn't you distribute the masks? Do you not know the person's identity?" Fu Bin suddenly questioned. "You claimed to have initiated the mask war."

"Yes, I distributed the masks. The last bearer is named Li Yuanfeng, but his former residence is abandoned. I can't find his current location," the Shadow Assassin replied calmly.

Fu Bin's expression darkened. Though he had never fully trusted the Shadow Assassin, they had cooperated smoothly until now. Given the situation, Fu Bin quickly deduced the Shadow Assassin's intentions.

"He wants to pit us against each other, hence providing information about those people. The irreconcilable conflicts between us might be his doing, fearing my dominance and hoping to emerge victorious amidst our conflict," Fu Bin thought, keeping his suspicions to himself, though his gaze grew colder.

At this moment, a group of three entered Leping City with a resolute determination. They were members of the Strategy Bureau, known as the Mad Dogs...

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Translator's Note:

The original text mentions "油紙傘" which translates to "oil-paper umbrella." In Chinese culture, this often implies an old-fashioned or traditional item, usually associated with classic or historical contexts. The translation retains this term to preserve the cultural nuance.