Lu Luo slammed down the phone harshly, realizing that his idea to seek Ludie's help at the last minute was completely shattered.
The temperature around him continued to drop. Even with a Constitution that reached 5, he was struggling to withstand it. If the temperature kept falling, his mobility would definitely be restricted.
"Why doesn't this degree of cold freeze the water?"
Lu Luo himself could hardly bear the cold. But when he looked towards Zhou Kai, he found that Zhou Kai seemed unaffected, looking around as if nothing was amiss, completely immune to the chill.
Brother Kane's unorthodox aura is resisting the cold? That's good news, I guess. At least I won't have to expend energy to protect him. Is this sneaky fellow a Specter Species with ice abilities?
"Not exactly, or at least not entirely."
The voice was right next to Lu Luo's ear, directly answering his question. Lu Luo reached behind him, trying to grasp the speaker, but caught nothing but air.
There was, in fact, nothing behind him; or rather, he couldn't touch what was hiding behind him. Lu Luo had already begun to feel the eerie nature of the Specter Species.
[Only a part of the Specter Species are entirely spectral; they lack a physical body and can only be harmed by energy-based attacks. By the way, it seems like Lu Xiaoluo doesn't have any means of energy attacks at the moment, does he? Indeed, how could a mere weakling without Dark Energy possibly deal with the Specter Species.]
Lu Luo couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the Observer, who was still mocking him at such a time.
This is getting tricky.
BOOM! The monster outside struck the iron door for the third time. The once-sturdy door now seemed on the verge of collapse. Lu Luo knew he couldn't wait any longer and shouted to Zhou Kai, "Brother Kane, help me hold the door!"
"What did you say? You want me to block the door?" Zhou Kai's face was etched with disbelief. How could you assign such dangerous work?
"Hold the door, or we're all dead!"
Lu Luo's expression was extremely stern, startling Zhou Kai, who was also intimidated by his intensity.
"Fine, I'll do it!"
Zhou Kai moved beside Lu Luo, braced his feet against the wall, and used his back against the iron bed to barricade the door, awaiting Lu Luo's next instruction.
Knowing he had no way to harm spectral entities, Lu Luo had already made his decision.
[The Specter Species hasn't left any trace, and even the mighty Observer Sequence can't lock onto it. However, that mirror from before seems problematic; you might want to try it.]
Lu Luo picked up the toothbrush cup beside the mirror and smashed it against the reflective surface.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
He struck it with all his might three times, yet the mirror, which should have shattered, merely vibrated violently without breaking!
As it vibrated, an incredibly sharp, piercing sound echoed through the room.
"Damn it!"
The Specter Species' voice was like a grating screech that set one's teeth on edge, but its outburst confirmed to Lu Luo that attacking the mirror was indeed effective.
His reaction was simple: keep smashing.
CRACK!
The mirror finally shattered, and a ghostly gray shadow roamed the room. The temperature dropped once more. This time, however, the Observer finally offered a hint.
[Second Tier Exotic Species, Circle Mirror Void. A Specter Species that can inhabit reflective surfaces like mirrors and water. Its strength is generally moderate. Capable of releasing a chilling aura, binding, and mirror reflection, it is an exceptionally difficult pure spectral Exotic Species to deal with.]
Currently, I have no means to attack the Specter Species, so I can't deal with it. Better to save my own skin than risk it all; if there's no other way, I'll just have to run.
Lu Luo took out the machete he had obtained from Gu Fangyi and slashed wildly at the air, but it was utterly useless.
He looked a bit grim; it was a classic case of fearing the worst only for it to happen. He truly had no way to deal with a spectral entity, and now one was upon him.
Just as Lu Luo was considering his options, Zhou Kai's cry for help interrupted his thoughts.
"Fuck, save me! Lu Luo, can you please come save me?"
The creature outside the door extended a long tongue. It was coiling around Zhou Kai, licking his face incessantly. Each lick left a bloody gash on Zhou Kai's face and neck.
Zhou Kai was also in dire straits, making their situation even more critical.
BOOM!
With another impact, the monster outside completely demolished the door. A skinless creature, all muscle, burst in and leaped onto the metal table.
[Ghoul, Second Tier aberrant species. Its evolution is entirely focused on its physical body. A creature with almost no capacity for thought, knowing only to attack, eat, and kill. In terms of strength, speed, or Constitution, the Ghoul is an elite among its tier—a Second Tier killing machine.]
"GRAH!" the Ghoul roared, its body pouncing like a swift cheetah. At close range, Lu Luo could even discern each of its exposed, streamlined muscles.
The claws closed in rapidly. Zhou Kai was about to have his head ripped open by the Ghoul. However, Lu Luo, contrary to expectation, felt a surge of elation.
He was incapable of dealing with spirits, but the Ghoul before him was not a spirit!
Draw machete, horizontal slash.
The Ghoul's claws were mere centimeters from Zhou Kai's eyeballs, but they could advance no further. Lu Luo's machete had pierced through its ribs, pinning it in place.
"GRAH!"
The Ghoul howled wildly, thrashing its claws. Its extended tongue licked across Lu Luo's chest, sending an instant burning sensation. Lu Luo knew without checking that a deep gash had been left.
Lu Luo kicked the Ghoul in the face and, retracting his machete, pressed the attack. Relying on his superior dexterity and agility, he engaged the Ghoul in close combat.
"Brother Kane, help me block that Specter Species."
"How should I block it?"
"Your Evil-Warding Presence!"
Lu Luo refocused on the Ghoul. Though weaker in strength and Constitution, his speed and skill were overwhelmingly superior. Combined with the advantage of a sharpened weapon, if the fight continued, Lu Luo was confident he could slay the Ghoul then and there. Unfortunately, there was more than one Exotic Species in this place.
The dropping temperature began to slow Lu Luo's movements. He wasn't as robust as the Ghoul, and the biting cold significantly hampered his agility. Just moments ago, the Ghoul couldn't touch him; now, it had already inflicted two wounds upon him.
[The temperature here has dropped too much; it's unsuitable to continue fighting. I suggest you perform a sliding tackle under the Ghoul's crotch to flee this place.]
"Brother Kane, help me out!"
"But I'm looking for the Specter Species!"
"Stop looking."
"Oh!"
Zhou Kai lifted a chair and, with a BANG, smashed it onto the Ghoul. However, such an attack had no substantial effect. Lu Luo immediately stopped him from continuing.
"Move the table and bed; let's get out of here first."
"Alright!"
Zhou Kai was no longer an ordinary person; Dark Energy was gradually strengthening his Constitution, so moving some furniture was no problem for him. He quickly cleared a path and scrambled out.
"Lu Luo, run for it!"
Lu Luo fought as he retreated. Just as he reached the doorway, preparing to leave the room, the voice of Circle Mirror Void suddenly rang in his ear.
"Where do you think you're going? Don't you want to play with me anymore?"
An inexplicable sense of crisis engulfed Lu Luo. This feeling solidified into a tangible restraint, imprisoning his body.
This restraint itself should have been harmless, but Lu Luo was currently in battle with the Ghoul!
BANG!
The Ghoul rammed into Lu Luo's chest, sending him flying. He crashed heavily against the wall.
Seemingly sensing Lu Luo was in danger, the Observer started to take things seriously.
[Your third rib on the right side is broken. Luckily, it's not closer to the center, or your heart would be in danger. The current situation is very dire. If the host isn't planning to run, I suggest activating Overclock mode.]
"Overclocking won't work against a spirit; now is not the time."
Lu Luo knew he had only two choices now.
The first choice was to use Zhang Zhe's pocket watch to deal with Circle Mirror Void. This method was safer, but it was an unfavorable trade. The second choice was to find a way to synthesize the Wraith Blade.