– HWHIFG | Volume 1 – Chapter 11

Before the last two random events appeared, everyone thought that, at worst, Raphael would simply be the final one to show up.

After the last two random events appeared, however, they realized something else.

When someone's luck is bad enough, even a guaranteed event can somehow bug out.

Wu Wang, who was happily running wild outside, was having a great time. Meanwhile, the three people inside the giant glass container listened as the thunder-themed background music outside changed from mono to stereo.

"..."

...How could something like this happen?

How could anyone—or any dog—be this unlucky?

The random events were missing only Raphael. If Raphael simply refused to spawn, that would have been one thing.

But how had they somehow spawned a second Raguel instead?!

"..."

Zhou Mo looked pale. This time it wasn't because of the corruption—it was because he was stunned by such spectacular bad luck.

"I think... compared to Brother Ha, anyone could call themselves lucky. Seriously, what do we do now? What if a third or fourth Raguel shows up next?!"

"..."

Even Xiao Tao fell silent for several minutes before finally speaking in a dry voice.

"This is the first time I've learned that random events can repeat."

Outside the glass box, the tides of monsters continued to surge back and forth. Every wave made their hearts sink a little further.

Their worries weren't unfounded. In barely ten minutes, the background music outside had already evolved from stereo into a full multi-track performance.

Although every monster's attention remained fixed on Wu Wang, the monster hordes frequently slammed into the glass box as they rushed past, kicking it around like a soccer ball.

Despite the miserable situation, Fu Guang remained as relaxed as if he were riding bumper cars. His long legs stretched out comfortably as he tapped thoughtfully on the glass wall.

"Don't you think this box is rather strange?"

Zhou Mo: "..."

I just think you're strange.

As if hearing the complaint, Fu Guang suddenly turned and looked directly at him, smiling mysteriously.

"It's sturdy enough to withstand constant impacts from monsters without suffering any damage."

"The fabric covering outside is strange too. The cloth on the right side hangs down very far, and there's a tie at the end. It looks like it was originally meant to wrap around the bottom of the box as well."

Fu Guang always spoke slowly and calmly. When he deliberately slowed down even more, it sounded almost like he was guiding a student toward the answer.

Zhou Mo unconsciously followed his reasoning.

"If the bottom was covered too... then the whole box would be completely dark. Why would Heaven make something like that? Is it some kind of angel sleeping bag... sleeping box?"

That would be ridiculous. Were these angels Snow White or something? Sleeping in crystal coffins?

Fu Guang sighed helplessly, like a teacher disappointed by a particularly slow student.

"Then tell me—how would an angel get into the glass box by themselves and then tie up the covering?"

Zhou Mo froze.

Then realization hit him.

"So this glass box wasn't something angels use voluntarily—it's used by someone else to contain angels!"

His thoughts suddenly flowed smoothly.

"No wonder it's built so sturdily! It's meant to stop imprisoned angels from escaping! And even though it looks sealed, oxygen can still get in... Is that because they don't want the angels to suffocate?"

As he spoke, he became confused again.

"Wait. Do angels even need oxygen?"

"..."

Fu Guang's smile looked almost affectionate, as though he were indulging a foolish child.

He parted his lips, apparently about to say something.

Before he could, however, a hollow whisper suddenly drifted in from outside the glass box.

"..."

Fu Guang paused and looked toward the source.

Zhou Mo's spirits immediately soared.

"'Random Event: Raphael. Appears accompanied by ethereal whispers. Can heal any fatal injury and dispel Gabriel's sleeping hallucinations.' Brother Husky finally spawned Raphael!"

It hadn't been easy. He was practically moved to tears.

Excited, Zhou Mo turned around, about to grab Xiao Tao and celebrate.

Instead, he abruptly saw a horrifying monster reflected in Xiao Tao's amber eyes.

The monster had his own face.

Its eyes bulged grotesquely.

Two swollen compound eyes, covered in countless hexagonal lenses, rolled beneath eyelids stretched so thin they looked ready to burst.

The corners of its eyes had split into long bloody tears because they could no longer contain the enormous eyeballs.

Earlier, Xiao Tao had wondered why Zhou Mo's tears carried a faint tint of blood.

Now they knew why.

"..."

Zhou Mo's eyes widened silently.

The monster reflected in Xiao Tao's eyes widened its hideous compound eyes as well.

Behind it, a pair of wings covered in eye-like patterns bent awkwardly against the glass container.

The whispers vanished.

The thunder vanished.

The sounds of fire vanished.

In their place came the deafening buzz of insect wings.

The shadows on the floor transformed from elongated human silhouettes into bloated insect bodies.

All the blood in Zhou Mo's body seemed to flow backward.

Yet the first thing that came to mind wasn't fear.

It was Fu Guang's earlier hints.

The breathable glass box.

The material strong enough to imprison angels.

This thing was originally a laboratory containment chamber, wasn't it?

No wonder it allowed airflow.

Angels didn't need oxygen.

But moths did.

Two hands landed on Zhou Mo's shoulders almost simultaneously.

Xiao Tao said, "You can't delay anymore. Leave the dungeon right now."

Fu Guang said, "Let's hurry to Eden and finish the mission. Then we'll find a way to cure you together."

"—?!"

Xiao Tao spun around in disbelief.

This guy had previously urged people to leave the dungeon as soon as possible.

Why had he suddenly changed his mind?

BOOM!

A massive impact shook the outside of the glass box.

Something huge had been violently thrown into the container.

The three occupants rocked with it.

Fu Guang acted as though he hadn't noticed Xiao Tao's furious glare at all.

Naturally, he continued:

"Raphael and Sariel are fighting. Shouldn't we use the opportunity to infiltrate Eden?"

Xiao Tao's gaze immediately sharpened as he looked back at Weekend.

His warning was obvious.

"Zhou Mo."

"..."

Zhou Mo forced himself to remain calm.

After several deep breaths, he finally made his decision.

"Didn't the dice say I was lucky?"

"I'll be fine."

"Come on. Brother Husky worked hard to lure the enemies away. We can't waste his efforts."

"Let's go to Eden."

════════

Wu Wang hadn't witnessed his teammate turning into a monster.

But he had clearly seen the bird-like monsters behind him transform into giant moths.

It was difficult to say which was more disgusting: grotesque bird-men or enormous moths.

Instinctively, Wu Wang slammed on the brakes.

Standing at the edge of the platform and looking back, he happened to see a plump moth pin another moth down with its forelegs and smash it into the glass chamber covered by fabric.

Wu Wang: "..."

It was the first time in his life he had seen moths fighting in such a remarkably human fashion.

The moths that had been chasing him seemed equally fascinated by this historic battle.

Even after he stopped running, none of them attacked.

After cautiously wandering a few steps, Wu Wang simply lay down on the spot, tucked his front paws neatly beneath himself, and openly watched the unprecedented wrestling match.

His keen motion-tracking vision functioned like a slow-motion camera, capturing every detail.

The moths were all snow-white.

Different eye-like markings decorated their wings.

Dense, soft fuzz covered their swollen abdomens and backs.

Every flap of their broad wings scattered clouds of scales into the air.

If not for the unmistakable insect features—compound eyes, antennae, segmented grub-like abdomens—the scene of drifting white scales would almost have seemed beautiful.

Almost heavenly.

Like snowfall.

The scales inevitably landed on the dog as well.

Wu Wang sneezed.

Suddenly, he noticed faint angelic figures superimposed over the battling moths.

Whenever one of the moths released another cloud of scales, however, the illusion vanished instantly.

"Woof?"

[Interesting.]

Wu Wang narrowed his deep blue eyes thoughtfully.

Then came his conclusion:

The spectacle had made him hungry again.