Chapter 3 Starting from Scratch

The mysterious scientific research paper appeared, and Han Dong immediately immersed himself in it.

In his student days, Han Dong's highest record was narrowly reading twenty SCI-medium and short papers in a day.

But this time it was a bit tough, not a problem with his brain, but that Han Dong couldn't understand some of the knowledge described in the paper.

"Quantum physics... involves the use of the fourth dimension, interfering with the quantum field through subjective consciousness?

Using the human brain as a 'carrier' to 'influence' and 'control' the quantum space subjectively. Wow, this interdisciplinary literature reading is killing me."

Every profession has its own area of expertise.

Han Dong's level in physics only stayed at undergraduate level.

"If the hypothesis in this paper is correct, if brought back to my world, it might unleash a revolutionary storm in the field of physics... but, this paper also explains the magical principles of this world; I cannot understand the weird text in these last few pages.

In other words, only this world could benefit from this technology.

Never mind, it's giving me a headache!

In short, the so-called Subspace Containment Technology has been gathered in this brain."

Han Dong turned his head to look at the brain in the hydraulic tank.

Using the operating mode recorded in the literature, he opened the tank and touched the 'smooth' skull with his hand.

Unnamed (Before death, identity unknown)

[Head of the Faceless] - Modified, with 'Imitation' and 'Portable Prison' abilities.

Load demand: 100

"Full load value?!

This head is not just simply merged with the quantum space, it also possesses the ability to change appearance.

Moreover, its description is slightly different from the other bodies in the prison."

Should he select the complete body of a convict, or choose this separate head?

"I've decided!"

The life force of the female believer's upper body vanished in an instant, slumping on the table.

Grumble!

A clump of cells crawled out of the mouth, slowly moving towards the smooth and round faceless head.

[The Faceless Skull (Modified)], which requires a load of 100, once occupied, no other body can be selected. Do you want to take possession of it?

Yes!

Very decisive.

However, this time the acceptance of the body is completely different from before.

The time taken to accept the skull was very long.

One minute... one hour... ten hours.

During this acceptance process, Han Dong's consciousness was in a 'stagnant' state that combined with his brain.

After concentrating on when a considerable amount of time had passed

By the time he regained consciousness and opened his eyes, the scene in front of him had completely changed.

A slightly chilled cold wind blew by Han Dong's ears.

Night, full moon, stars.

Earth, needle-leaves, forest.

The original prison no longer existed, and Han Dong, in the form of a head, had fallen into a pine forest.

"The prison disappeared automatically because I made my choice?"

At that moment, the familiar system voice spoke.

"Body selection is complete, due to the incomplete state of the host, the related ability of [Head of the Faceless] cannot be activated temporarily.

Please find a complete body of an ordinary person as soon as possible.

Attention: The current load has reached 100%, it's impossible to occupy the body of a special individual, please choose an 'ordinary person' with a lower physical qualification to occupy their body.

This occupation will not increase the load."

After receiving the related information, Han Dong tried to move.

When the brain issued the 'move' command, a tingling sensation spread from the neck.

Lowering his head to look...sturdy mycelium (tentacles) had grown from the neck, carrying the head to move quickly, with the fastest speed reaching the running speed of a normal person.

Just when Han Dong hadn't been active for too long.

Clop, Clop, Clop!

The sound of horse hooves shattered the silence of the forest.

Under the moonlight, Han Dong clearly saw a scientific product with a different 'worldview' from his own, racing through the forest.

A carriage.

But it was infused with steam technology and brass metal.

The limbs of the horse were replaced by a kind of copper steam piston device, providing adequate power.

It worked with a precise gear structure to perfectly replicate the running mode of a horse's leg.

The perfect streamlined metal design made the run more natural and smooth.

As for the horse's body and head, they were kept intact, and a kind of metallic armor with flowing light and strange color was embedded on the surface.

The type of metal used to forge the armor could not be identified with the naked eye.

Two copper horses were dragging a sealed brass carriage.

A substantial amount of steam kept flowing from the edge of the carriage, leaking from the neatly arranged pipes, indicating the carriage was currently moving at full speed.

"A steam carriage? Sprinting at full speed through the woods, is something chasing them?"

Han Dong was lurking quietly in a pile of grass, with all of his tentacles retracted.

He held his breath and focused, waiting for the carriage to pass.

However....

Click!

The metal side door opened, and a human, wrapped in a black cloak and wearing a face mask, reached out and grabbed a human head from the grass.

You have to remember, the carriage was moving at 80 km/h, and the people in the carriage were able to lock onto a head hidden in the dark forest.

Their movements were as smooth as flowing clouds and water.

The skull was tossed into a linen pouch the moment it was brought into the carriage.

A foul smell filled Han Dong's nostrils.

There were two already stinking corpses in the linen bag.

But, Han Dong, who had spent many years in stinky rodent breeding rooms and had done almost ten thousand dissections of mice, was unfazed by the smell... he pretended to be a corpse and eavesdropped on the conversation outside.

Standard British English was spoken:

"Denise! Do you know how dangerous what you just did was!? Among those chasing us are 'Abnormals'."

Then came the elegant and firm voice of a woman:

"Even for a single head, we can't give them a chance to feast...."

"You're too stubborn! Your recklessness will cost you your life one day... it's strange, the Holy City is very close to us, but where did this head come from?

Any fearful ones that might sneak out of the Holy City should either be completely dead, or their whole body would be left behind! There should be more than just a head left.

We need to check this!"

Han Dong inside the body bag was greatly startled.

Even though they're human, if they discover that Han Dong exists in the form of a 'living head', then that would be problematic.

If it were in Han Dong's original world, he would be sent to a scientific institution for research next, unable to live or die.

Even in a parallel world, the result should be more or less the same.

The body bag opened, and a pair of eyes behind a mask stared straight at Han Dong's skull.

Just then.

Boom!

The carriage underwent a fierce impact, the body bag was closed.

"It can even catch up to a steam carriage! Counterattack using copper bullets... we're not far from the Holy City now, we should have enough bullets to last until we get into the city."

Click Click Click!!

The deafening sound of machine-guns firing could be heard.

Han Dong inside the body bag sighed in relief, surprisingly the so-called 'Abnormals' came to his rescue at the critical moment.

Gradually getting used to the sound of gunfire, Han Dong calmed down and his curiosity about the world he had crossed into was piqued by the conversation of these people.

What are the Abnormals? Some kind of monster?

The Holy City? I've never heard of it? Is it a country that evolved in a parallel world?

"There's too little information, I can't figure anything out... once we reach the Holy City, I have to find a way off this carriage! After separating from these people, I can take my time to understand this world.

Hopefully, the chasing monsters can damage part of the carriage."

Just as Han Dong was thinking about it, he heard a 'creak' sound.

It seemed that the metallic skin of the carriage was actually cut open by something sharp.

"Quickly send a signal! Let the useless city guards open the gate for us!"

"Yes!"

A firework was shot from the top of the carriage.

Following that, Han Dong could hear the roar of a heavy gate opening.

About five minutes.

The machine gun stopped firing and the speed of the carriage gradually decreased.

"Have we entered the city... I need to prepare to get off the carriage."

Han Dong could roughly guess the situation outside.

The group of people who escaped the monster's chase were both physically and mentally relaxed.

Before the city gates closed, these people must be watching the situation outside the city gates attentively... their attention would not be diverted.

He slowly opened the mouth of the body bag using the mycelium around his neck.

The tear on the side of the carriage was big enough for Han Dong's head to go through.

"Wait!"

Han Dong was waiting for the best opportunity when he would not be discovered.

Boom!

The moment the city gate closed, the sound drowned everything else out.

A head flew out of the side of the carriage and immediately crawled into the dark alley when it hit the ground.

Listening to the still ongoing sound of metal hooves.

Han Dong, in the dark alley, smiled and continued to look for the right body of a common person.