The butcher's violent struggle began to slow.
From vicious thrashing to weak jerks, the once-ferocious body now trembled softly. The fire behind his eyes dimmed.
Inside Lucas's mind, a strange and sudden image flashed—unfamiliar, like a memory not his own.
A dimly lit corridor.
Faces. Terror-stricken. Screaming. Running.
Each one looked over their shoulder, eyes wild with fear. Every face turned in the same direction… as if fleeing from a shared nightmare.
Then—nothing. The image dissolved.
Lucas blinked, a rush of adrenaline fading from his bloodstream. He loosened his grip on the kitchen knife, his breathing uneven.
The butcher lay motionless in the recliner, the once-dreaded figure now reduced to silence and [mosaic].
[Butcher's Corpse at Angel Orphanage: Threat Level – Cleared]
The tension that had clutched Lucas's body finally eased. A wave of strange security wrapped around him.
He licked the edge of his bloodied cheek—the butcher had caught him there during the chaos.
"That… might've been the most dangerous moment since I entered this cursed game," Lucas whispered to himself.
[Player Lucas has slain the Butcher. Shadow 16's resentment has been completely dispelled. Side quest complete.]
[Reward acquired: Skill – 'Dismantling']
[Skill Type: Permanent]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Attack Power: ???]
[Attributes: None]
[Description: Capable of dismantling anything. Potential waiting to be unlocked.]
[Player Lucas has unlocked the complete hidden storyline – 'Rainy Night Butcher']
[Exploration progress of this dungeon: 80%]
[System prompt: Player Lucas's item is evolving…]
[Evolving Item: Bloodstained Kitchen Knife]
[Item Type: Weapon]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Attack Power: Unknown]
[Attributes: None]
[Note: Once an ordinary kitchen knife incapable of gutting a fish, now it's powerful enough to slay the Butcher of Yuye. This knife is a marvel among blades.]
The comment stream flared back to life.
"Did you hear what Lucas just said?" a player nearly shouted in disbelief.
"I did! He said that was the most dangerous moment since the start… WHAT?! I just saw him carving through the butcher like it was lunch prep!"
"If that's danger to him, what the hell counts as safe?"
Even though the butcher's death was complete, the grotesque [mosaic] image lingered on-screen, burned into the minds of every player watching.
"That was terrifying. Lucas completely lost it. And now the system's background AI is flagging him as abnormal?"
"We thought he was finished… and then he initiated a massacre instead."
Some viewers remembered something important.
"Wait! Isn't this the mission that even 'Xiao Shen' couldn't complete?!"
A chorus of shock followed.
"Lucas… is really a newbie?"
"I swear, I watched his first stream."
"His strength is beyond ridiculous."
"No one has ever triggered a system flag during a live broadcast that leads to trial committee review. No one. Until now."
[1,107,891 people are watching the live broadcast of Supernova player Lucas. 1,039,627 have sent gifts. Points earned: 1,039,627.]
[Lucas is only 100,000 views away from taking the #1 spot. He's now entered the core of the Supergod Livestream rankings. Highest growth rate this period.]
"The Supergod core?! A newcomer actually made it here??"
"Only 100,000 left... Is it just me, or is surpassing the Captain starting to feel possible?"
"It's not just you. It's happening."
——
Lucas walked over to the butcher's recliner and reached into the blood-soaked fabric. From within, he pulled out the butcher's evaluation form.
Calmly, he ticked every box. Then, without urgency, he wiped the blood from his hands and chest. The kitchen's heavy wooden door creaked open as he stepped forward.
The rain had finally stopped.
Lucas looked upward. "About time."
——
Meanwhile, in the director's office…
A single document lay on the desk. Soaked in crimson. Stamped with the words: "Employee Performance Evaluation."
The headmistress stared at the paper.
Her fingers trembled as she reached forward.
Lucas stood in front of her now, silent, confident.
[Director of Angel Orphanage – Risk Level: Low Threat]
The display didn't change. Her status had no spikes, no signs of deception. Just a consistent low danger level.
"Director," Lucas said flatly, "I believe I've passed my evaluation."
The headmistress gripped the paper harder, teeth clenched.
She looked down as the words slowly surfaced before her eyes:
"All evaluation criteria met..."
Her elegant smile cracked. Then collapsed altogether.
"Congratulations… You are now a certified Phase 2 employee."
[Player Lucas has been granted Outstanding Employee (Phase 2) status. Hidden quest complete.]
[Reward: +50 Blank Attribute Points]
: FIFTY?! One hidden solo mission and the man nets fifty stat points?! That's insane!
: Doesn't matter who the NPC is—50 is huge!
: Honestly, 50 stat points from a story-based mission is unheard of.
——
A red banner lit up every player's screen:
[System Announcement: Player Lucas has completed Phase 2 Assessment ahead of schedule. 80% of hidden plot unlocked. Dungeon time shortened: only 5 safe survival days remaining.]
Across the dungeon, seven players stopped what they were doing.
They stared at the notification, dumbfounded.
"Phase 2 complete… ahead of schedule?"
"Wait… 80% of the hidden story is already unlocked??"
"When the hell did he do any of that?!"
"HOW did he do any of that?!"
The Captain's mouth fell open. He didn't even speak—just stared at the screen.
A broom slipped from his fingers.
SMACK.
"…WTF?!"
Wasn't he with Jason the whole time?!
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