Chapter 278: Chapter 274: Infinite Horror

Bai Qi directed Delta to land in a concealed location and subsequently summoned his remaining three pets.

His task this time was to conduct reconnaissance, so there was no need to provoke unnecessary attention. Therefore, Husky was the best choice. However, considering there might be King-level creatures inside, it would be better to bring Alpha along.

As for Gamma, it was, of course, for the purpose of self-defense. Awuuuu?

(Are they sleepwalking?)

Beta looked around, observing the ferocious beasts wandering like zombies, feeling somewhat puzzled.

“Sleepwalking, not zombies right?”

Zombies, although also part of the Undead Department, were generally of Carrion System. They uncontrollably emitted poisonous gases, meaning almost no Undead Beast Master would choose to contract with a zombie.

After all, one might be poisoned to death by their pet zombie before even defeating the enemy.

“It should not be. My life-detection device shows that although their vital signs are weak, they are still stable and indeed dreaming.”

Having scanned, Schuck came to a conclusion, saying, “Although it’s unclear why they are sleepwalking, I recommend that you, Beast Master, be cautious.” Bai Qi nodded, took the anti-poison helmet from Schuck, put it on, placed Gamma on his shoulder, and then carefully moved forward into the valley on Delta.

The creatures wandering on the outskirts were all low-level, so they did not sense the approach of Bai Qi and his pets. Bai Qi even found time to have Alpha transport several dazed humans to a safe area outside.

However, as they moved closer to the valley, the double-level of the ferocious beasts gradually increased. Although they did not wake up, they instinctively attacked Bai Qi and his team.

“Alpha, be a bit restrained.”

Looking at the many ferocious beasts crowding around them due to the approaching noise, Bai Qi sighed helplessly and signaled for Alpha to handle them swiftly.

Craack. Craack.

(No problem.)

Alpha nodded, disappeared in a flash, and the surrounding ferocious beasts collapsed in rapid succession, with absolutely no chance to resist.

Kaplooey. Kaplooey.

(So many materials, we must not waste them.)

After Alpha eliminated the enemies, Gamma conscientiously released several tentacles to pull the dead bodies of the beasts back and promptly threw them into the Secret Realm Base.

Recently obsessed with cooking, it naturally could not pass up such fresh ingredients.

Awuuu?

(What smell is this? It’s so fragrant.)

At that moment, Beta suddenly stopped and took a sniff. It felt a captivating fragrance wafting over and couldn’t resist taking a few more deep breaths. Subsequently, Beta fell asleep right then and there.

Zizzzz…

Seeing Beta in this state, Schuck helplessly shook its head and directly woke it up with a strong electric shock.

According to the analysis, the composition of this fragrance has a 57% similarity with the Dream Vine Flower Powder. The remaining ingredients are unknown for now, but it also has a hypnotic hallucinogenic effect.” Schuckcoldly analyzed the ingredients of the fragrance, and Bai Qi couldn’t help but feel grateful for his foresight in wearing an anti-poison helmet. If he didn’t wear it, perhaps he would have ended up like the rest of them. “However, how come you didn’t react at all, Beta? What about your Mind’s Eve ability?” y

Bai Qi patted Beta, feeling perplexed.

Awuuu?

(Can I just say, I don’t know either?)

Bai Qi frowned slightly; ever since Beta’s perception skills awakened to the Mind’s Eye, its danger perception level had significantly increased. In cooperation with Schuck, it could even predict the opponent’s next move. However, it was surprising that it was put to sleep by this fragrance without any indication of danger.

Craack. Craack.

(Probably because this dumb dog didn’t detect any hostility. This pollen doesn’t seem to be controlled by any creature. It’s completely aimless.) Alpha was the first to venture a guess, and Bai Qi finally understood. Indeed, if there was no deliberate targeting, the effects of Mind’s Eye couldn’t demonstrate much of its capabilities.

“However, you were the sole one get hypnotized, which is rather embarrassing.”

Bai Qi looked disdainfully at Beta, who, although feeling a bit put off, quieted down after seeing the other companions.

A skeleton without the need to breathe or smell, a slime monster that would eat anything, an Ancestral Beast that could change its form according to the environment, not to mention a metal lump.

Looking around, it seemed like Beta was the only one who needed to breathe normally…

Luckily, since Schuck and he shared one body, he had cloaked Schuck in a metal skin. Beta also perked up and cautiously paved the way forward.

Finally, one man and four pets officially reached the front of the valley. Contrary to the gloomy exterior, the valley looked quite normal. It was covered in fresh flowers and lush greenery, presenting a vibrant scene. However, the more it was like this, the more Bai Qi was on his guard. Bai Qi looked at the images transmitted by Schuck’s reconnaissance bees and found no anomalies, not even the slightest trace of living creatures. “No animals, then it must be the plants.”

Thinking about Schuck’s previous report, although it only had half the composition, as long as Dream Vine’s pollen existed in the fragrance, the peculiar creature lurking here was most likely the Dream Vine.

Unlike beasts with animal attributes, those with plant attributes were typically calm. Besides a few that served as supplements making them easily preyed upon, some of the plant-attribute ferocious beasts could possibly sleep for decades without moving a muscle.

The Dream Vine was one of them.

As the major ingredient for the Phantom Spirit Potion, Bai Qi had researched it. Dream Vine was, just as its name implied, not only had its pollen easily induced people into deep sleep, but it was also fond of sleeping. Hence, it was bestowed with the name ‘Dream Vine.’

However, despite its seemingly harmless appearance, the Dream Vine was a real high-grade lord. It had quite a bad reputation even among the ferocious beasts.

Although the Dream Vine spent most of its time in sleep, it needed to feed when it woke up, and it depended on dreams for its mode of attack.

Dreams could be beautiful, but they could also be nightmares. From the literature Bai Qi read, some Nightmare Vines took advantage of their skills to immerse their enemies in nightmares. After terrifying them to death, they would then slowly drag them back to gradually become their own nutrients.

Therefore, there were two types of Dream Vines classified in the Pet Beast Illustrated Handbook. One was the Sweet Dream Vine, which had a gentle demeanor and favored sleep, and the other one was the Nightmares Vine, which was cruel and liked to attack its enemies with nightmares. Judging by the current situation, it seemed to be a Dream Vine that was causing all the unusual occurrences in their vicinity.

But he had not heard of anyone sleepwalking after being exposed to the pollen of the Dream Vine. Could it be a mutant species?

“Alpha, go in there and check the situation. Be careful, this Dream Vine that can cover such a large area should not be low-level.”

Creak creak.

(Good, I’ll be right back.)

Alpha drew the Sword of Death and slowly flew towards the valley.

Although he wasn’t very clear about the situation in the valley, Alpha was a king-level beast. Together with the Sword of Death and the Undying Flame, two attributes that perfectly countered the plant attribute, even if it wasn’t the ’ Dream Vine but some other stronger creature, Alpha wouldn’t fail.

Woof woof?

(Why are the things outside suddenly coming this way?)

Soon after Alpha left, Beta suddenly growled at the area outside the valley, while Schuck aimed its weapon at the external beasts.

“Has it started to consciously control things?”

Looking at the ferocious beast horde marching uniformly towards them, Bai Qi knew that it was time for the creature in the valley to take action.

‘Schuck, are you sure there are humans in there?”

“According to the detection, there are four humans among the beast team.” Looking at a few blue spots marked on the screen, Bai Qi patted Delta, who immediately understood what was happening, and instantaneously accelerated and disappeared into the void. In a few flashes, he had taken all the humans away from here.

The hostages are safe, and the beasts have entered the attackable range. Shall we attack?”

“Go ahead.”

Bai Qi nodded, and Schuck instantly understood. The Thunderflame Cannon whizzed out and fell precisely on each beast. Gradually, the valley was filled with the aroma of roast meat.

Crunch crunch.

(It looks and smells so good, Gamma wants to eat…)

Looking at the bodies of the ferocious beasts roasted by the Thunder Flame Power around him, Gamma couldn’t help but feel incredibly hungry. A few tentacles swished out and pulled back several chunks of “roast meat” nearby swallowing them delicately. Within a few seconds, Gamma had broken them ’ down into their most basic energy and stored them in the Twin-Life Contract.

“Gamma’s appetite is improving day by day.”

Bai Qi smacked his lips, looking at the beast bodies devoured by Gamma and marveled at it. Not a single piece was spared, not even a hair.

His simple-mindedness aside, if he ever turned rogue, apart from anything else, his knack for destruction of evidence could qualify him as number one in the industry.

Hummm…

Just as Bai Qi was about to remind Gamma not to waste resources, he suddenly felt a faint vibration in his ears, followed by dizziness and a blurry vision.

Was it a psychic attack?

Noticing the changes in himself, Bai Qi instantly focused his mind and forcibly resisted the dizziness in his mind. However, after he steadied himself, he realized that the scene before him had changed.

The original valley was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a dense forest, and in front of Bai Qi was a vast lake. The calm lake under the moonlight looked as beautiful as a crystal.

Furthermore, the Husky and Gamma that had been closely guarding Bai Qi also disappeared, leaving him alone in the vast forest.

“What the hell is this? Have I been hit too?”

Bai Qi forcefully pinched his own face, only to feel a surge of severe pain. However, the scene around him remained unchanged.

Indeed, the rumor that pinching oneself could wake them up from a dream was a lie.

But, when had he been hit?

He was wearing an anti-poison helmet, so inhaling pollen was highly unlikely. Could it have been that weird vibration?

Bai Qi had a hunch and was about to meditate and see if he could forcibly break through the dream.

If he was just dreaming, his body would definitely be protected by Gamma and the others, so he didn’t need to worry about that. But if he couldn’t break out of the dream, it would be a problem.

However, before Bai Qi could make his move, ripples suddenly appeared on the peaceful lake surface in front of him.

Then, to his surprise, a burly man wearing a hockey mask and holding a large cleaver slowly walked out of the lake.

Crystal Lake.

A hockey mask.

A large cleaver.

The serial killer Jason?

Infinite Terror?!

What the actual fuck?!!!