The Perfect Path To Insanity-Chapter 41: Everyone Fears Death

’Death.

Death is an ugly thing.

It’s the snatcher of light, the silencer of breath. It comes uninvited, squeezing lungs tight and weighing down every instinct to fight.

It renders one powerless, clawing for nothing as the air becomes heavy as stone and the light in your eyes fades till it dies.

Facing death is inevitable. A painful end to a short life. A cruel process.

Death is painful. I fear it. I don’t want it.

But seeing others face it with the same fear thrills me.

They should be scared of it too.

It has always been fun to watch. The way they cower, scream, beg. It’s an expression I always want to see.

So why was she smiling? I don’t understand.’

Fei Ming stood apart from the others.

The game was finally over. He won.

His fingers flexed around the grip of his long polearm blade.

The stench of rotten flesh mixed in with the metallic pang of blood.

Eris remained crouched against the wall. Her breaths came in short, wet hitches. Tears tracked clean lines through the grime on her cheeks, dripping onto the floor between her knees.

It was useless fighting for what was lost.

Walking in, Helena lowered herself to one knee beside Eris, until her face was level with the other woman’s.

One arm slid around Eris’s shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.

Eris leaned into the contact, forehead dropping against Helena’s collarbone. Her fingers clutched the fabric of Helena’s sleeve as she mourned.

Fei Ming watched the motion of Helena’s hand on Eris’s back. His gaze drifted lower, settling on the sledgehammer resting against Helena’s thigh.

The head of the weapon was matte black in blood.

As he stared at the blue metal, he thought to himself, ’Another weapon of hers? Or a skill connected to her Path?’

He should ask about that. He should be curious. He had helped her win just out of curiosity.

But where was it now?

Fateless searched for the spark. But the eagerness to ask was no more. The importance of knowing about what she was, had left.

Was this the effect of losing a percentage of his humanity?

In fact, the only spark of curiosity left in him was why? Why does seeing Nyx smile after death unsettle him?

It was the least satisfactory.

An unsatisfactory death outcome.

Slowly lifting her head, Helena kept one arm around Eris but turned her face toward Fei Ming.

"Why the hell are you still here watching? Don’t you feel anything?" she spat. "Nyx was already turned, yes. But look at Eris right now."

Fei Ming met her harsh stare. "If I did feel guilt, wouldn’t that strike you as strange?"

She narrowed her eyes at him in disgust. Patting Eris’ head, she replied, "Just take your shit and leave. I’m done trying to speak to a psychopath."

He stepped past her. His shoulder brushed the edge of Helena’s sledgehammer as he moved.

Raising his left hand, his system flickered into view, casting a warm blue glow across his face.

[Congratulations, Fateless! You won!] 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

[Although the ending was unsatisfactory on our end, we’re pledged to grant you the prize!]

[Prizes won: A pair of black gloves!]

[One week temporary resistance to the current plague!]

[A-tier Game Core!]

[The ’Cure’ and ’Cause’]

Even though this game didn’t have him exactly what he looked for, the focus of trying to clear his bounty was back.

Winning an A-tier Game should bring better prizes. But like always, he wasn’t given any new skills or rare items.

Pushing the thought away, he had decided the next step of his actions. If these cosmic slugs hated him, what more would there be to add more hate? It cost nothing.

The surviving players had already gathered near the game exit thirty meters away.

They stood in a loose semicircle, weapons lowered but grips tight. Eyes followed him. No one spoke. Several shifted their weight, feet sliding half a step back when he turned in their direction.

He walked straight toward the glowing exit frame. The others parted without a word. He did not look at their faces.

Until one screamed. "MURDERER! DIE!"

The player threw a rock at him.

Immediately, Fei Ming sent his blade flying and stabbed the player’s neck. The blood sprayed, layered by multiple other players screams.

"Fools."

The bloody polearm blade retracted back to his side and he placed his other hand on the game exit—the cracked hospital building.

Flash!

The transfer pulled him through the game realm.

Back in the gray zone, he stood in a narrow alley behind a row of low concrete buildings.

A light rain has started. It was evening time, and still, the number of towners littered in the street grew. Over the corner, more people gathered. Their skins showcased blisters when they coughed.

A plague in the Gray sector. Yet no one spoke about it.

Unless they themselves hadn’t noticed.

He walked for nearly an hour.

His goal was yet to be achieved.

The Gray sector border appeared ahead: a low concrete barrier topped with razor wire, dead floodlights mounted on steel poles. One sentry post stood fifty meters to the left.

Fei Ming approached them. When he reached the open stretch of ground in front of the post, he raised both hands, palms out. "I surrender."

A young Krat soldier saw him. He held a simple bow and arrow as a weapon.

Looking closer at this man, the Krats soldier yelped. "It’s him!" He alerted the others. "It’s him! The crazed serial killer!"

Within thirty seconds, Fei Ming was surrounded.

More soldiers fanned out, forming a circle.

"Report to General Bai!" One commanded.

"Raise your weapon! Don’t let him any closer! Hold your ground!"

A few more minutes passed.

Soon, a broader figure pushed through the line.

An older man in his late 30’s. Unlike the other simple dressed soldiers, his dark armor was more detailed. The iron plates etched with dragon scales patterns.

General Bai stopped three meters away. His uniform bore faded rank insignia on the shoulders. The sword at his hip was already half-drawn.

Bai’s eyes narrowed at him. "You."

Fei Ming looked at him.

Bai continued, his voice was stoic and stern. "You are the man we seek. You stripped honor from my men. Took dignity from my soldiers. Why have you walked in here? Have you lost solace and now seek death?"

Two troopers moved in from the sides. They seized him. Hands gripped his upper arms, forcing him to remain still.

Fei Ming did not resist the harsh treatment. It was just as expected. This ’General Bai’ was a huge man before him. With the difference in armor and rank, Fateless noted him to be a Krat leader.

Although not a high rank leader.

Then, he replied, "I will be hunted every day until I die. And spend every hour in despair, counting my freedom. I do not want to live that way."

Slash!

General Bai drew the sword fully. The blade caught the evening sun and sent a sharp reflection across Fei Ming’s throat.

"You low vile murderer." Bai’s grip tightened on the hilt. "What makes you think your life is worth more than the edge of my sword?"