– HWHIFG | Volume 1 – Chapter 6

In the darkness, Wu Wang watched as Zhou Mo froze for several seconds before slowly crouching down, trembling as he shuffled behind the dog and tried to make himself as small as possible.

The woman opposite them crouched down as well.

“What do you mean, dead people? Boss, you sure know how to joke.”

The woman stood submerged in darkness. Her pale face was bloated and stiff, mottled with corpse spots.

Yet when she opened her mouth, her voice sounded no different from a living person’s.

“Oh? There’s even a little doggy. How cute.”

She stared at Wu Wang without blinking and licked her lips.

“Woof!”

Wu Wang enthusiastically returned her gaze. His stomach growled loudly in greeting.

Beside him, Xiao Tao quietly pressed for details.

“What do you mean you don’t accept invitations from dead people? Do you have history with them?”

“Half a month ago, they should already have died by my hand,” Fu Guang replied openly.

“I kindly saved them, but they tried to use me to scout out a dead-end path…”

He suddenly paused, as though recalling something.

Two seconds later, he continued calmly:

“…I was merely acting in self-defense.”

His tone was helpless, even tinged with a sigh.

As if he were truly an honest man who had only fought back because he had no other choice.

The next second—

CLANG!

The sharp crash of metal weapons colliding erupted in the darkness, accompanied by ragged panting like a starving beast.

The faint crimson glow of Xiao Tao’s Blood Blade cut through the darkness, illuminating his face—and revealing the man called Dike.

His face was swollen purple and blue, hideous and feral, no different from a starving wild animal.

Whether Fu Guang’s story had become too ridiculous to tolerate, or whether Dike had finally reached the limit of his patience, he completely abandoned the rational composure he’d shown earlier.

Like a crazed beast addicted to flesh, he lunged forward with yellowed fangs bared, biting viciously toward Xiao Tao.

Fortunately, Xiao Tao reacted in time and blocked the first attack with his Blood Blade.

“—HOLY SHIT! A ZOMBIE!”

Zhou Mo jumped violently.

His first instinct was to grab Wu Wang.

But Wu Wang’s spirits instantly soared.

His tail began wagging furiously as he launched himself forward, using Zhou Mo’s chest as a springboard before pouncing toward the woman, whose mouth had split open into a savage grin.

A healthy, energetic husky could never resist prey that looked agile and challenging.

Darkness meant nothing to Wu Wang.

The Siberian wolf blood flowing through his veins had long accustomed him to hunting at night.

Every muscle in his powerful body tensed.

Again and again he knocked his opponent to the ground, only to leap away moments later.

The only reason he hadn’t bitten down yet was because the corpse was crawling with white maggots.

…For a pampered household dog, eating maggots was still a bit too avant-garde.

Fortunately, the zombie wasn’t very durable.

Even without biting, after several heavy headbutts from Wu Wang, half an arm snapped off and fell to the ground.

Its right leg soon followed.

The two zombies collapsed one after the other.

They crawled across the ground with wheezing groans.

Their glowing green eyes remained fixed on the living flesh before them as they dragged themselves forward using all four limbs.

Panting heavily, Xiao Tao stepped on Dike’s head.

With one clean slash of his dagger, the zombie was decapitated.

The corpse gradually stopped moving.

Turning around, he raised his blade to help Brother Husky remove the female zombie’s head—

Thud.

The woman’s head suddenly fell off by itself.

A section of shattered vertebrae protruded from the neck, as though the spine had simply been broken by brute force.

Xiao Tao, who had struggled desperately, used special items, and nearly had his chest torn open just to defeat his opponent:

“…”

So this was what people meant by being inferior to a dog.

For the first time in his life, he truly understood.

Putting away his blade, he hissed through his teeth while applying a healing item to his wound.

Nearby, Zhou Mo stared at him with worshipful eyes.

“Brother Xiao Tao, you’re amazing!”

Brother Husky’s strength was beyond species.

Zhou Mo didn’t even dare dream of imitating that.

But someone like Xiao Tao still seemed attainable through hard work.

“…”

Xiao Tao fell silent for a moment before lifting the Blood Blade and pointing it toward his own eyes.

“I used a vampire item card. Night vision and combat ability come with the package.”

Zhou Mo immediately caught the important part.

“? You can see in the dark? Then why didn’t you say so earlier? You were following behind Brother Husky pretending to be bl—”

He stopped.

He understood.

Xiao Tao had obviously been hiding a trump card because he was wary of Fu Guang.

Unfortunately, circumstances had forced him to reveal it early.

Fu Guang didn’t seem concerned about being distrusted.

Instead, he carefully examined Wu Wang under the Blood Blade’s red light before sighing regretfully.

“Not a single injury.”

Wu Wang: “…Woof?”

Zhou Mo: “…Brother, don’t you think that’s a little… weird? Earlier you kept trying to pet the dog, and now you’re disappointed he didn’t get hurt?”

What kind of twisted “if I can’t have him, I’ll destroy him” yandere script was this?

Fu Guang merely chuckled.

He didn’t explain.

Instead, he lowered himself and crouched beside the two zombie corpses.

Wu Wang licked his lips and sat down across from him.

Carefully and seriously, he inspected every inch of the corpses, searching for any spot free of maggots where he could take a bite.

It was difficult.

After a long search, he found only one clean place.

Around the base of the zombies’ necks, there were no maggots at all, as though insect repellent had been sprayed there.

Only a ring-shaped bruise encircled each throat.

Xiao Tao was examining the same mark.

After several seconds, he couldn’t help looking toward Fu Guang.

That looked…

Like a strangulation mark.

And it matched the chain wrapped around Fu Guang’s wrist surprisingly well.

Originally, Xiao Tao had assumed the chain was some sort of restraint imposed on Fu Guang by the game.

Now it seemed more likely that Fu Guang could actually use the chain.

The realization left him unsettled.

He stared too long.

Fortunately, Fu Guang didn’t seem bothered.

He casually rummaged through Dike’s waist pouch.

“This equipment was probably attached after death. There should be clues inside… Ah. Found it. Several torn pages.”

Using the Blood Blade’s glow, they could barely read the writing.

╔⏤⏤⏤╝  ✼  ╚⏤⏤⏤╗

…This is simply an unbelievable disaster.

I desperately need support from my comrades, yet after spending less than half a month here, I find myself praying that headquarters sends no more people…

07/28

I finally met the famous Mammon.

His treasury truly is magnificent.

I pretended to be dazzled by wealth and accepted their assimilation. Two horns have begun growing from my forehead…

What a shame.

Compared to horns, the wings grown by my colleagues infiltrating Heaven look much better.

I actually wanted to visit Heaven.

My mother believed in God. I was never very devout, but I was curious what angels and God looked like.

Though I know that beings who slaughter indiscriminately cannot possibly be true angels.

Sigh.

If God and angels truly exist, why don’t they reveal themselves and save us?

╚⏤⏤⏤╗  ✼  ╔⏤⏤⏤╝

“This sounds like something written by an NPC,” Zhou Mo said quietly.

He looked much more relaxed.

“So assimilation by angels only gives you wings? That doesn’t sound… too bad?”

Fu Guang simply smiled and turned the page.

╔⏤⏤⏤╝  ✼  ╚⏤⏤⏤╗

07/30

Headache.

I feel dizzy all the time.

I checked my forehead and seem to have a fever.

Luckily I brought some medicine during infiltration. A few days should fix it.

08/02

Not fixed.

My head still hurts.

At least gatekeeping isn’t difficult.

Usually all I do is open doors for demons and fallen angels whenever Heaven and Hell start fighting…

Hmph. In that regard, these monsters really do match the legends.

08/05

Headache.

08/07

Still hurts.

Strange.

I’ve been resting properly and taking medicine on schedule, but the fever seems to be getting worse.

08/11

MY HEAD HURTS SO MUCH!!!!!

╚⏤⏤⏤╗  ✼  ╔⏤⏤⏤╝

The final line was carved into the paper with incredible force.

The exclamation marks grew larger and more frantic.

The final stroke tore across half the page, splattering blood and yellow stains everywhere.

Wu Wang sniffed the note.

Immediately:

“Bleurgh.”

Even Zhou Mo stopped smiling.

Staring at the diary, he looked as though he could see his own future.

“This scratch… doesn’t it look like the writer collapsed while writing? And these bloodstains… Brother Xiao Tao! Are you listening?”

“I am.”

Xiao Tao was still crouching beside Dike.

“I’m looking for something… Ah. Just as I thought.”

Wu Wang turned his head.

His body instinctively leaned backward, creating a fluffy double chin.

The fur along his body puffed up as he watched Xiao Tao reach toward the maggot-covered corpse.

Riip.

Xiao Tao tore open the fabric at the back of Dike’s neck, crushing several maggots in the process.

“See this? A coin-shaped brand.”

“The reason these two became zombies after death is because they were summoned by necromancy.”

He met Wu Wang’s horrified gaze without understanding it.

Then continued:

“Lots of people use necromancy, but only one person leaves this specific mark and casually throws summoned undead around everywhere.”

“Jack. From the Night Chasers.”

He spoke as if this were common knowledge.

Instead, the other two humans and one dog stared at him blankly.

(Wu Wang. Zhou Mo. And Fu Guang, whom Xiao Tao was convinced was pretending.)

Wu Wang tilted his head.

His stomach rumbled.

As though asking:

What’s a Jack? Can I eat it? Is it enough to get stuck between my teeth?

Xiao Tao: “…”

Dryly, he explained:

“The Night Chasers are a player organization. They’re notorious. Every member is wanted.”

“Their methods are extreme. They often don’t care about collateral damage to other players.”

“As for Jack—”

He paused, looking defeated.

“Forget it. Jack isn’t important.”

“The notes are what’s important.”

════════

As Xiao Tao began analyzing the information, Wu Wang listened for a few seconds before losing interest.

He lay down with his head resting on his paws.

The earlier hunt had only made him hungrier.

After pretending to be dead for a while, he couldn’t help licking the dirt beside him.

“—PTOOEY!”

The dirt tasted awful.

A low chuckle sounded nearby.

Wu Wang immediately sprang upright in alarm, preparing to relocate away from a certain dog-obsessed two-legged creature.

He had barely taken a few steps when something rolled into his leg.

Something warm.

Round.

Slightly soft.

Something alive seemed to be crawling on it.

Cold little bodies wriggled against his fur.

“…………”

Wu Wang froze.

For half a second.

Then nearly launched himself into orbit.

“WOOF!! AROOOO!!”

“?”

Xiao Tao’s analysis was interrupted.

Turning around in confusion, he saw Dike’s severed head sitting beside Wu Wang’s paws.

The skull was expanding and contracting.

Like a breathing heart.

A breathing heart covered in white maggots.

An outrage against all dogs.

Wu Wang bounced backward repeatedly as though the ground were burning his feet.

His lips peeled back to reveal gleaming white fangs.

He growled deeply at the culprit—Fu Guang—who was watching with obvious amusement.

At the same time, the other severed head rolled silently out of the darkness.

Like it possessed a radar system.

It navigated several turns before rolling directly toward Zhou Mo.

Crack.

A faint sound echoed out.

Like a chick hatching from an egg.

Then another.

Wu Wang’s glowing blue eyes widened.

Two shriveled lumps of flesh, each about the size of a soccer ball, burst out through the skulls.

One from each head.

Meanwhile, the completely petrified Zhou Mo had no chance to react before one of them grabbed his ankle.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAA SAVE ME!!”

“…”

Xiao Tao closed his eyes painfully.

Then drew his blade.

Wu Wang stared at the flesh lump in front of him like it was the apocalypse.

It slowly stretched its limbs.

Its face resembled a hundred crop circles mashed together into a wrinkled nightmare.

Then it began crawling toward him.

“Waaah—! Waaah—!”

It cried shrilly.

Wu Wang wanted to scream too.

The fur puffing around his body expanded further with every inch the creature approached.

At the same time, claws extended from beneath his paw pads.

His fangs bared completely.

The Authority Angels had been ugly, but at least they’d looked clean.

The worms crawling all over these things triggered pure biological revulsion.

Some of them were almost climbing onto him.

Into his fur.

His claws fully unsheathed.

With a violent scrape against the ground, Wu Wang lunged.

Both paws crossed through the air.

The first strike sliced off the creature’s two tiny horns at the roots.

At the same time, Zhou Mo let out another scream.

“AAAAAA WAIT! ISN’T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LITTLE DEMON WE HAVE TO ADOPT?! BROTHER HUSKY, MERCY!!”

Save the little demon! Save the little demon!

At last, Fu Guang moved.

Whether because it involved his quest or for some other reason, he reached out to stop Wu Wang.

Wu Wang’s fur exploded outward.

Locking onto the culprit who had kicked the head toward him, he instantly changed targets.

His second slash struck directly toward Fu Guang’s palm.

The claws that could damage Heaven’s walls met a broad, clean hand.

Three bloody gashes instantly appeared.

“…”

For the first time, Fu Guang’s honey-gold eyes widened in visible surprise.

Before he could react further—

The ground shook.

“WAAAHHH—”

Countless identical cries erupted beneath them.

No warning.

No time to react.

A tidal wave of monsters surged from the darkness.

“—THAT UGLY THING WAS CALLING ITS PARENTS!”

Xiao Tao roared.

“THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM!”

The swarm was so enormous that survival alone would be difficult.

Protecting Zhou Mo as well was impossible.

Wu Wang immediately kicked off Fu Guang’s hand and sprinted toward the light pillar they had used earlier.

Throwing back his head, he released a long, piercing howl.

“AWOOOOOOOO—!”

Xiao Tao reacted instantly.

Grabbing Zhou Mo, he followed.

“Back to Heaven! No way these demons can chase us into Heaven, right?!”

Fu Guang finally snapped out of his daze.

For once, he stopped slacking off.

With one hand, he casually grabbed the two flesh creatures by their backs as though picking up kittens.

════════

They hadn’t traveled far from the portal.

After sprinting for barely ten seconds, they crashed back into the passage.

As they were pulled upward, Xiao Tao quickly unfolded the skin sack and covered everyone again.

Fu Guang, however, was excluded because of the earlier incident.

He frowned slightly and stared silently at the claw marks on his palm.

Nobody knew what he was thinking.

The little demons were already gnawing at his hand with rows of needle-like teeth, yet he remained distracted.

Zhou Mo, raised on proper education and good manners, wanted to remind him.

But when he noticed the creatures couldn’t even leave a white mark on Fu Guang’s skin—

“…”

Never mind.

I’ll worry about myself instead.

He quietly shut up.

════════

The journey ended quickly.

The group landed smoothly.

One by one, they climbed out of the skin sack.

Zhou Mo let out a long breath and looked up.

Then suddenly met the gaze of the eagle-headed angel.

The angel was still standing in exactly the same place.

“…”

The eagle-headed angel:

“…………….”

Zhou Mo:

“Uh… Long time no see?”

“Nice seeing you again?”