A Cocoon

Both Shirley and Zhang Jue sat on a small stool while holding hands inside the lab. "Brother Zhang Jue, I'm a little scared." Said the little girl looking down at her toes. She was already used to the current state and turned her face away.

"It's okay. Brother will always be with you." Zhang Jue reassured the little girl, then nodded to Clement.

Clement said a few words over the intercom, and not long after, the door to the lab opened, and Cain walked in. Outside the lab, a team of heavily armed MTFs was on standby for any possible accidents. Many researchers had always wanted to see this experiment led by Zhang Jue, but all had been refused because of Shirley's anomalous trait.

Although Zhang Jue could unleash his ability to disable Sherry's cognitohazard temporarily, but just to be sure, he wanted to minimize the uncertainty of this experiment. Only Clement, as his assistant, was allowed to stay in the lab. But then again, he needs to watch his time because if the experiment took too long, he too would have to leave once it approached a critical condition.

With everything ready, Zhang Jue looked around to make sure nothing was missing and said to Cain, "Let's begin."

Cain nodded and sat in front of Shirley, reaching her other hand. Even though Zhang Jue didn't activate his powers, he seemed equally immune to Shirley's cognitohazard.

Cain slowly closed his eyes. A minute went by. Two minutes went by. Five minutes went by. Cain was unresponsive as if he was asleep. Clement looked at the time and wanted to call Cain but was stopped by Zhang Jue with a look.

Two minutes later, Clement had no choice but to exit the lab. Now it's only the three of them are left in the lab. After a few more minutes, just as Zhang Jue's patience was running out, the strange symbol on Cain's forehead suddenly lit up. A light blue glow radiates from Cain's forehead, illuminating the entire lab.

Cain, who had never suffered any injuries, suddenly began to cough violently and then vomited a large mouthful of blood. His blood was red but emitting a faint golden glow. After being exposed to the air for a few seconds, it turned into a cloud of smoke and disappeared.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhang Jue hastily held Cain. Cain waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

The voice of Clement came from within Zhang Jue's earpiece, "Advisor Zhang Jue, is something wrong? do you want to stop the experiment?"

Zhang Jue glanced at Cain, who shook his head. Zhang Jue said into the intercom, "No, not for now. I'll let you know if something bad happens."

Cain's face paled a bit, and he said, "This little girl's condition is a bit complicated." even if Cain didn't say it, Zhang Jue already knew that the situation was not good.

What kind of person could make Cain be injured and vomit blood? This is no longer could be considered a "complication".

Cain glanced at Shirley and said deliberately, "I saw a shadow inside her body."

"A shadow?" said Zhang Jue

"Yes." Cain said, "The shadow was surrounded by an unknown substance, unable to see its shape. I tried to approach it but was repelled by a great force."

Zhang Jue cupped his chin and pondered Cain's words. "Is there a way I can see it?" He suddenly asked.

Cain looked at him, "There is, but I'm afraid you can't handle it."

Zhang Jue waved his hand and interrupted Cain's words. He understood what Cain was going to say. With Cain's physique, he couldn't even completely counteract the impact of that force. While he, an ordinary man, was simply a suicide act.

But Zhang Jue's thoughts were simple, Shirley's self-healing ability has saved him many times, and she has always treated him like his own brother. When Shirley encountered this kind of thing, just standing by and doing nothing was something he absolutely couldn't do. The tendency to avoid harm and fear of death is the nature of people. But there are times when you have to hold your bottom line for someone.

"Brother Zhang Jue." Shirley called out timidly, "Shirley is fine. You don't need to-" Although Shirley was young, she could already tell from Cain's expression how dangerous what Zhang Jue was about to do next would be. She didn't want Zhang Jue to get hurt.

However, Zhang Jue rubbed her little head as usual, "When adults talk, children shouldn't interfere. Just be good and obey."

He said to the headset, "The experiment will continue. No one is allowed to enter the lab without my permission. Clement, an hour later, if you do not hear my voice, you're in charge of this experiment continuation."

Clement's voice came, "Yes, Sir!"

Zhang Jue turned to Cain and calmly said, "Let's begin."

Cain looked at Zhang Jue. It took only a minute for him to think about the next step and be persistent about his choice. His expression was calm and collected, without a single sign of fear for the danger he might face. Cain could not understand what power was driving Zhang Jue.

He sighed, pulling Shirley with his left hand and reaching for Zhang Jue with his right. Zhang Jue looked at Cain's hand. The corners of his mouth twitched a few times involuntarily, and then he handed him his hand.

-----

There was a haze. Zhang Jue realized that he was already inside with Cain in Shirley's subconscious. This seemed to be a ruin. There were broken walls all around, and it was impossible to tell what it was like before, probably a city? Under Cain's leadership, the two of them went all the way forward. In front of a large broken gate, Cain stopped in his tracks.

"It's just up ahead." He said to Zhang Jue, "But I can't go through." Zhang Jue nodded.

If Cain were injured by that strange power again, the two would likely be trapped in Shirley's subconscious and never get out.

Zhang Jue stepped into the gate alone. Inside the gate appeared to be an altar, which was so large that it was visually estimated to be nearly 100 meters in diameter. Zhang Jue walked toward the center of the altar, and when he saw the massive shadow that Cain had described. Rather than a shadow, Zhang Jue thought it would be more appropriate to describe it as a 'cocoon'.

Zhang Jue wanted to keep moving closer, but the air around him seemed to start getting heavy, and each step he took required a tremendous amount of effort. He fought his way forward, and when a certain line was crossed, the entire altar suddenly exploded.

Boom!

Zhang Jue felt as if his head had been hit by an iron hammer, and the tremendous mental shock made him unsteady on his feet.

"Bleugh!" Like Cain, he spat out a large mouthful of blood, and the scene in front of him began to blur.

Zhang Jue placed the tip of his tongue against his incisor and took a vicious bite, the taste of blood filling his mouth. The pain came from the heart, but he had recovered in a minute. I don't know how part of his intestines is now on the outside, but his mind is indeed quite exhausted. He would be screwed to death by that huge cocoon if he didn't back off.

But Zhang Jue didn't hesitate in the slightest and continued to trudge forward against the huge mental trauma. Countless illusions flashed before his eyes. He saw himself being split up and eaten by a pile of worms, but his steps never stopped. I don't know how long it's been.

He opened his eyes.

Only to find out that he had come to the very center of the altar and the huge cocoon was right beside him.