Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 56: Formless Offspring

"Physique check?" Liu Xing expressed his confusion. He hadn't expected KP Cao to conduct such an obscure test on their physiques.

Liu Xing, 52/40, failed.

Tina, 64/50, failed.

Akira Akashi, 15/50, succeeded.

Tian Dao, 47/80, succeeded.

"Those who failed the physique check suddenly feel a growing hunger..." KP Cao hadn't finished speaking when Liu Xing suddenly felt as if he hadn't eaten for an entire day, his stomach hollow and uncomfortably hungry, distracting him from KP Cao's words.

At that moment, Liu Xing caught the scent of sweet fruit, drawing his attention to the altar.

"Now, the players who failed the physique check, please undergo a willpower test," KP Cao said, sounding almost delighted.

Liu Xing, 45/80, succeeded.

Tina, 39/70, succeeded.

"Thank goodness," Liu Xing sighed in relief, knowing that if he had also failed the willpower test, he would have pounced like a starving tiger on the peaches on the altar, especially since there was one for both him and Tina. A failure here would have prematurely ended their promotion game.

According to information Liu Xing obtained from Ray, in the real world, humans who stealthily ate offerings would die suddenly, appearing as if starved to death. Liu Xing had reason to believe that eating the offerings in the mirror world could lead to a similar fate.

Liu Xing was grateful for his strong willpower, resisting the temptation of the "delicious food."

"Cut, I didn't expect your physique to be average, but your willpower is quite high. Although Tina and Liu Xing feel very hungry, their strong willpower convinces them not to eat the peaches on the altar. The Private Room time is now officially over; please continue your roles," KP Cao said casually.

Despite overcoming his appetite with willpower, Liu Xing still felt an annoying hunger, which would intensify with strenuous activity.

Tina was in the same boat, frowning and holding her stomach.

"What's wrong with you two?" Akira Akashi asked knowingly.

Liu Xing shook his head, "I don't know why, but I suddenly felt very hungry, as if I hadn't eaten anything all day. For a moment, I wanted to eat the peaches on the altar, but then I remembered Ray's story about the curse of the gods on those who eat the offerings, so I resisted."

"Yes, I feel the same as Liu Xing. Moreover, I think if we ate the food here, we might not be able to return to our world," added Tina.

Tian Dao frowned with concern, "With your current condition, can you still go to the Grape Gallery? What if something happens there? Can you two still run?"

Tian Dao's concern was not unfounded. Given Liu Xing and Tina's current state of hunger, if they encountered a mythical creature in the Grape Gallery and a chase ensued, KP Cao would definitely reduce their agility. Even at their best, running from the commercial district under Crane Temple back to the temple would leave Liu Xing and Tina gasping for breath, let alone now in their weakened state.

Liu Xing glanced at Tina, who nodded to indicate she was alright. So, Liu Xing nodded and said, "Don't worry, Tina and I will be careful. If we notice anything amiss, we'll immediately return here. There shouldn't be any accidents."

"Alright, we must act without delay. Tian Dao, you must take care of Nan Xiaoniao and Li Ming. If anything happens, go find Akira Akashi first, then come to us. But thinking about it, if Tian Dao yells from up there, we should be able to hear him in this mirror world," Tina said.

After all, the vertical height of Crane Temple was less than twenty meters, and in this mirror world, apart from their own voices, there were no other sounds. With no noise pollution, a shout from Tian Dao at the temple should be heard throughout the mirror world.

This mirror world seemed to embody the joke—communication relies on shouting, travel relies on walking.

After discussing their plan, Liu Xing, Tina, and Akira Akashi left the temple. Halfway down the mountain, Akira Akashi went alone to the bamboo forest to look for bamboo shoots, while Liu Xing and Tina continued down to the commercial district.

Upon reaching the commercial district, Liu Xing and Tina heard faint sounds, like... someone eating! They exchanged glances, knowing it must be Nan Xiaoniao's mother eating something. In this mirror world, the only thing to eat was grapes!

Liu Xing and Tina quickened their pace, arriving beside the Grape Gallery. They saw a young-looking woman squatting there, surrounded by grape skins.

"Damn, what do we do now? Is this woman Nan Xiaoniao's mother? She looks so eerie. I'm a bit scared to approach her," Tina whispered to Liu Xing.

Frowning, Liu Xing said helplessly, "We have no choice but to ask her. We can't let her finish all the grapes. If she does, we won't be able to gather enough offerings to return to the real world."

After saying this, Liu Xing walked ahead and asked the woman, "Hello, are you Nan Xiaoniao's mother?"

Upon hearing Nan Xiaoniao's name, the woman squatting on the ground began to tremble unnaturally, then slowly stood up.

Liu Xing and Tina sensed something was wrong and silently stepped back, distancing themselves from the woman.

After a moment, the woman stopped trembling. Just when Liu Xing thought they could communicate with her, something unexpected happened!

The woman's body suddenly inflated, turning into a toad-like mass of wrinkled flesh. But on this mass grew hundreds of underdeveloped, slender tentacles, writhing unconsciously, creating a deeply unsettling sight.

This was the Formless Offspring, the embryonic form of Sathogua!