Chapter 14: Complete Collapse of Inner Script “It’s not that I can’t handle Sea King, but…”
“Cough.” A composed middle-aged player broke the awkward silence, “In the medical system, male nurses are extremely rare. Patients with paralysis, disabilities, post-operative mobility issues, and unstable mental conditions are difficult to manage with just female nurses.”
“I’m a doctor, and the current situation is that there’s a professional bias against male nurses. Therefore, almost all hospitals are in urgent need of male nurses.”
“Patients in psychiatric hospitals are special; they exhibit greater destructiveness and instability. Indeed, they require male nurses even more. This scenario is quite realistic.”
So that’s how it is. Even in the next game, you can learn new things. Rong Yi nodded in satisfaction.
Raymond’s chat was also discussing the topic:
“Although, but when I played the Gicas Castle instance, I have no… memory of a male nurse?”
“Me neither.”
“Could it be a hidden NPC? But my wave of attacks didn’t leave any room to think about going around the sides.”
“…Possibly… but I really don’t understand the significance of this male nurse… Aren’t nurse misses good enough?”
Raymond frowned. Suddenly appearing and uncommon NPCs were never a good sign in the Lucky Carnival.
*
The player attempting to climb over the fence stared at the sudden appearance of the tall male nurse before him and was so frightened that he continuously stepped back. The male nurse moved swiftly and suddenly clamped his hand around the player’s neck!
His grip was like that of iron pincers, and no matter how the player struggled, he couldn’t budge an inch. The male nurse effortlessly lifted the player off the ground, his feet dangling in the air—
Then, with a swing of his hand, the player let out a cry as he was tossed down from the high steps he had just managed to climb.
Zhang Haiyang patted his chest, secretly relieved. He was timid and mostly relied on tagging along and finding gaps to get through levels. Fortunately, he hadn’t rushed in first; otherwise, it would have been him down there.
Watching the players climb up the steps in a sorry state, starting over from scratch, Rong Yi furrowed her brow.
She was well aware of her current strength; brute force wasn’t her strong suit. Could there be a clever method to overcome this level, just like the one they used against the ogres?
Unfortunately, her boyfriend was really upset this time. She tapped him several times, but there was no response.
Rong Yi felt a bit dejected as she squatted down and played with the straw head that had rolled to her feet. The crudely sewn smiley face on it looked mocking, as if taunting her.
Suddenly, she remembered why the sight of the rolling straw head seemed familiar: “…This is the NPC that got hit by the nurse and died under the steps.”
Hearing this, Luo Huayue also crouched down to inspect: “…Rong, how can you distinguish who is who among these straw figures that all look the same?”
“By their expressions,” Rong Yi recalled. “The other straw figures mostly have fierce, crying, or screaming expressions. From the steps all the way up, I only saw one with a smiling face.”
A player next to them, wearing fingerless gloves and with lean muscles, chuckled, “I thought you had made some significant discovery. It’s just a constantly respawning NPC used for level demonstrations, a waste of time here. In my opinion, this level is pretty clear—”
“As long as you get something recognized by the nurse from these patients, it’s fine!” he said, and then he charged into the weapon formation ahead!
As soon as he entered, a number appeared above his head, just like the ones on the patients: “1”.
Two players outside the field were apprehensive, “I wonder if there’s a limit to the number of people who can go upstairs…”
“I don’t know… Maybe…?”
Unable to hold back, they also entered the battlefield, just like they did at the shark pool level, with fear and anxiety.
These mentally ill patients weren’t as tough as the shark-man, using close combat cold weapons. Their combat strength was similar to that of regular people, and they had a sense of sportsmanship. Even though their numbers far outnumbered the players, they insisted on one-on-one fights. Patients without opponents would hold their weapons and wander around, allowing their companions to be injured or killed without stepping forward to help.
Patients who were killed would respawn at the same spot after 5 seconds, with the number above their heads decreasing by 1. Meanwhile, the player who killed them would have their number increase to “2”.
Rong Yi then understood that the mechanism of this level was somewhat similar to the previous staircase turn-based chase. However, the numbers above the heads didn’t represent speed; instead, they represented life.
The first guy with the brass knuckles who rushed in attacked fiercely with each move, the numbers above his head already changing to “4”. After defeating each patient, he would rummage through their belongings, collecting items like tissues, buttons, pull tabs from cans, and even pills, coins, and medicated oil. He stored everything in his backpack before moving on to the next patient.
This approach was correct. Rong Yi couldn’t help but admire him a bit. Without knowing exactly what the clearance item was, instead of trying different items one at a time with the nurse, it was more efficient to gather as many items as possible and present them all to the nurse. There would surely be one item among them that was correct.
Despite his reckless appearance, he seemed to have a thoughtful mind.
Seeing the brass knuckles guy sweeping through like a demon, Luo Huayue was worried he would take all the items, so she clenched her teeth and said, “Rong Yi, let me draw you a weapon, and we’ll join the fight too!”
Rong Yi wasn’t very confident. In this level, they not only had to fight against the mentally ill patients but also had to compete with other players to seize the potential clearance items. She hadn’t observed the strength of the other players yet, but given the combat power of the brass knuckles guy, unless Luo Huayue could create a tangible Gatling gun for her, she might not stand a chance at victory.
Rong Yi started pondering whether she could make use of the 5-second window when the patients’ bodies were on the ground after being defeated. She could try to grab their weapons during that time, not aiming to defeat them, but just for self-preservation. Once inside, she could search for more clues and then plan her actions accordingly.
“Not in a hurry,” she said, gently holding Luo Huayue’s hand that was already uncapping the pen. “We’re only on the second level, so let’s conserve our skills a bit.”
Raymond seemed to sense her hesitation and immediately drew out his silver sword, offering her the hilt. He didn’t say anything, just gazed at her with a gentle expression.
Rong Yi: …Is it just my imagination, or does he seem to have a script in his mind that I’m not aware of?
With matters of life and death at stake, she couldn’t afford to decline his offer. However, to prevent Raymond’s imagined script from getting out of hand, she raised her fist and playfully bumped his fist that held the hilt. “Thanks, buddy,” she said.
The ambiguous atmosphere was broken by this playful gesture. Rong Yi smoothly took the sword from him. Taking a deep breath, she was about to charge into the battlefield when she suddenly noticed Zhang Haiyang sitting there, looking pitiful.
Among the four of them, Raymond was the assured expert, and weapons were nothing more than decoration for him. So, it was only Zhang Haiyang who was genuinely unarmed.
Rong Yi shared her plan to go for the weapons dropped by the fallen patients, and Zhang Haiyang hesitated, shrinking back. However, the male doctor who had remained on the sidelines seemed quite interested, “I think this method could work.”
Rong Yi nodded, “Alright, I will provide you with weapons. But there’s a condition: after you enter, the first patient you kill must be the one I designate, and any resources on that patient will belong to me.”
She wasn’t in the mood to be charitable. With these two resources, she would be able to gather information much faster. Zhang Haiyang eagerly agreed, nodding like he was pounding garlic, and the male doctor, seeing his swift agreement, nodded as well.
Rong Yi then turned to Raymond and asked, “Are you joining us, buddy?”
Raymond stylishly swept his golden curls away from his forehead, “I’m more than willing to be of service to you.”
Rong Yi rolled her eyes internally. Fine, as long as he’s enjoying himself playing along.
Rong Yi and Luo Huayue exchanged nods, and the three of them entered the battlefield from different angles. Except for Raymond, the two newcomers were having a bit of difficulty in the fight. Rong Yi finally managed to defeat a skinny middle-aged patient NPC and tossed his iron fork to Zhang Haiyang.
Zhang Haiyang looked uneasily at the male doctor, “So, should I go first?”
The male doctor nodded gently, “You two are familiar with each other, you go first.”
Just as Rong Yi finished searching the first patient’s body, the second patient immediately attacked, leaving her no time to choose her opponent. She dealt with him while signaling with her eyes for Zhang Haiyang to go after the patient on his left, the one with the “2” above his head.
The patients who had been killed were mostly looted already, which was the reason she had to designate patients.
Raymond glanced at the visibly struggling Rong Yi and suddenly shouted to the male doctor, “Your deal with her is invalid. How about making a deal with me instead?”
Rong Yi looked at him with surprise. Raymond felt a sense of delight: this kind of woman couldn’t be pampered all the time; she needed ups and downs. Indeed, only this approach could catch her attention! Raymond said, “I will give you weapons before her, but not just any weapons—weapons from the NPCs on the field. You can pick whichever you want!”
The male doctor pondered for a moment. Although he wasn’t sure what was going on, it seemed like a competition between two stores to lower prices, and he, as the customer, might end up the ultimate winner.
What could be wrong with that?
“Sure,” he agreed.
Rong Yi couldn’t quite understand the blond seductive man’s tactics. With his strength, he could have cleared the level long ago if he waited for the male doctor to defeat the first NPC. Why did he have to intercept her, a newcomer?
However, in this life-or-death game, no one was willing to be charitable, just as she wasn’t. The weapon she was using was given to her by Raymond, so returning a favor was only fair. She was barely holding her ground against these patient NPCs, and in a moment of distraction, a patient with a big sword swung it right in front of her.
“Be careful, Rong Jie!”
Ruo Huayue quickly extended her spear for support, but the patient in front of her was no pushover either. With a swift swing of his big hammer, he managed to knock her spear back.
Rong Yi, in a sorry state, bent down to dodge the gleaming blade. Tripping and stumbling, she ended up falling toward the forbidden zone outside the enclosure.
Meanwhile, a nurse was pushing a small cart to distribute medication among the observing patients. She cast a disapproving glance in their direction.
Raymond’s eyes lit up when he saw the barrage of comments flashing “heroic rescue,” “bridge effect,” “Professor Raymond, quick, go!” He immediately used vines to entangle the NPC in front of him, as if he were risking it all to rush towards Rong Yi.
A perfect opportunity!
He had shown her assistance, but also competed for resources, disrupted her plans, caught her attention, and in the end, suffered minor injuries while saving her life.
Ah, no woman could resist such a fate intertwined with destiny!
Raymond felt as though Rong Yi’s progress bar in conquering her heart had reached 99%!
Suddenly, the unkind gaze of the nurse was blocked by a tall figure!
It was the mysterious male nurse!
His plastic model-like rigid and shiny eyes stared fixedly at Rong Yi, who had already fallen half of her body into the forbidden zone. He extended a hand that resembled iron tongs!
Raymond’s heart raced: He might have been confident in dealing with the nurse, but this male nurse, whose background was unclear, was not someone he dared to confront head-on!
Should he let Rong Yi die? If the target of his conquest were to die, it would be a major live streaming accident, resulting in significant negative impacts on his reputation, image, and fan loyalty!
So, should he go and save her?
With a determined expression, Raymond bit his lip and extended his hand, releasing thick, deep green vines!
Meanwhile, fear had taken hold within Rong Yi. She felt like her limbs were brand new and completely out of her control. Her long arms and legs had become her biggest obstacles, and her slender body was uncontrollably tumbling towards the edge of the enclosure!
From reality to the game, from the first level to now, she had always managed to turn danger into safety.
She had grown accustomed to success and gradually started to disregard the “death” warning on the transparent display!
This time, she had become too overconfident.
If the male nurse treated her like the previous player, only pushing her off the stairs, then as long as she held onto the sword, having a weapon in hand would still give her a chance to pass the level and survive.
But what if the male nurse didn’t do that?
“Thud!”
Rong Yi crashed heavily into the forbidden zone.
Unlike the previous player who had merely attempted to enter, she had actually violated the rules.
Would there be a more severe punishment?
Raymond’s green vines spread and rushed towards them, entwining around the male nurse’s raised wrist!
The male nurse lifted his hand lightly, and “snap.” He twisted and broke the 【Rose’s Tale】 that had been held by one of the stairway NPCs.
Rong Yi clenched the silver sword in her hand, cold sweat streaming down her forehead. Could she escape an NPC that even Raymond was powerless against?
She still had work to finish, the project with Fan Xingze had just been approved, and in six months, the company could reach the pinnacle of the industry. She hadn’t even had a chance to see her boyfriend yet…
She couldn’t die!
The male nurse’s slender, fair hand descended, and Rong Yi closed her eyes, letting out a loud roar as she swung the silver sword!
The sword froze in midair.
Rong Yi’s hand that held the sword couldn’t stop trembling, she was panting, and slowly opened her eyes.
The male nurse easily pinched her sword between his fingers, while his other hand was placed on the neck of the NPC who had been chasing her all along.
Rong Yi: …?
Wait, wasn’t I the one who broke the rules?
The male nurse effortlessly lifted the NPC off the ground, suspending him in the air.
Then he flicked his hand, and the NPC let out a miserable cry as he was thrown down from the high steps, crashing onto the player who was already halfway up.
“Ahh—”
Everyone else: …
There was a momentary silence in the barrage, followed by the audience cautiously discussing:
“Did they mess up?”
“Seems like they messed up…”
“Did they mess up quite a bit?”
“I don’t understand, but I’m deeply impressed!”
“Is it a bug?”
“Can only be a bug, right?”
Raymond looked at the barrage full of “BUG” comments, awkwardly retracting his half-dead vines.
He couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but he felt like the male nurse seemed to give him a fierce glare?
Huh? How is that possible? He didn’t break any rules.
This is indeed… a bug, right?
TL Note: Hi guys, sorry for not uploading recently, its been too hectic after college started and I got a job so it was tough to get into that rythm. I’ll try to update consistently. Hope you guys are having a great day!
By the way, what do you think of the male nurse? ( ＾∀＾)
Is that the boyfriend 👀