Alan left the mushroom garden.
He boarded the griffin summoned by the feather talisman and flew back to Quint Island.
In real time, summer gave way to autumn, and only two months had passed.
Converted to time in the secret realm, it felt like a full year.
Now, Alan was sixteen years old.
A few days after returning home, he received a letter from Feilin, informing him that the academy had sent out a second investigation team.
This time, Vice Dean Russell was leading the team himself.
Feilin and his cousin Julie joined the team for the second exploration.
The siblings, along with Olivia, served as guides.
After a hard-fought battle, they finally wrested control of the secret realm from the cult.
Feilin, Julie, and Olivia, having made outstanding contributions, were granted six years of training in the mushroom garden.
At the end of the letter, Felin couldn't help but lament for Allen:
"If you hadn't left, you could have also secured a place in the training program."
The joys and sorrows of this world are not shared.
When Allen received Felin's letter, he was at the cemetery, attending a funeral.
It was the funeral of an old classmate.
The portrait of the young girl, with a pursed smile, was beautiful and serene.
Just two days before Allen returned home, class monitor Beatrice died of the plague.
The innocent and kind girl, only fifteen years old, was taken away by the merciless disease.
From the onset of her illness to her death, only three days passed.
Amid the suppressed sobs of the deceased's parents, the burial ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner.
When it was Allen's turn, he stepped forward to lay flowers.
A bouquet of white chrysanthemums was placed on the coffin.
Alan put down the bouquet, but the regret in his heart couldn't be put aside.
If he had returned a few days earlier, even just two days, there might have been a chance to cure Beatrice.
But fate is unpredictable. In life and death, there are no "ifs."
…
After the funeral, Alan left the cemetery.
Donning a bird-beak mask, he dressed as a plague doctor.
Aunt Sora was the president of the Physicians' Guild in Quint.
At her introduction, Alan joined the guild.
Alan wasn't afraid of the plague, but he still wore the mask, not wanting anyone to know he was immune.
…
August 15th.
A full moon was in the sky.
The streets were exceptionally bright at night.
A group of black-robed men wearing bird-beak masks patrolled the streets.
Each one held a slingshot, their pockets filled with thumb-sized stone bullets. They weren't doctors, but volunteers from the town.
The town council accepted Ms. Sora's suggestion.
They called on the townspeople to form a "rat extermination team" to use their spare time at night to hunt down the rats that spread the plague.
A group of cats led the way.
The rat-catching team followed the cats, searching everywhere.
When they found a rat, they shot it with slingshots!
The rat carcasses were piled together, doused with lamp oil, and set on fire.
Allen walked along the street, seeing many piles of burned bodies.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of burnt food.
Yet, even in the roadside gutters, rats could still be seen from time to time, running around unchecked.
In this war between humans and rats, humans were on the outskirts.
Using this inefficient method of rat extermination, there was little hope of defeating the plague.
Alan considered using poison to kill the rats.
But he knew one thing: a poison that could reliably kill rats would definitely kill the town's cats, dogs, and livestock, as well as the homeless and scavenging children.
What's more, Alan had a premonition...
This sudden plague storm that had swept across Quinte Island was probably not simply a natural disaster; it also had the shadow of a cult behind it.
Turning the corner, he saw a mansion on the roadside.
In the high-walled courtyard, a woman's cries could be heard faintly.
The mayor had died, and his widow and orphan were keeping vigil.
Alan paused and sighed.
The mayor and Beatrice had contracted the disease on the same day and died on the same day.
In the face of the plague, everyone was equal.
On his way home, Alan stopped by Robin's house.
He was treating Robin's mother for the plague.
A single drop of Alan's blood could cure the plague.
However, to cure tens of thousands of patients, he would likely have to draw out all his blood.
This treatment would be too harmful to him personally and wouldn't address the underlying problem.
For example, at Hunter's house, Alan detected a strong bacterial reaction the moment he entered.
Though Hunter and Robin, father and son, are currently in relatively good health, prolonged exposure to this harmful environment would soon lead to their own infection.
Most families in town, especially those in the lower and middle classes with poor sanitation, face this risk.
The fact that they haven't fallen ill yet is a stroke of luck.
If this toxic environment isn't thoroughly cleansed, a wave of infection will inevitably follow.
Taking advantage of treating Robin's mother, Alan quietly removed the bone spur from the palm of his left hand.
Using his venom gland's newly evolved "absorption" function, he absorbed the plague bacteria floating in the air.
In the blink of an eye, the Hunter family's home had become a sterile space.
However, it wouldn't be long before germs from outside would seep in, contaminating the indoor air.
Rats and mice, carrying disease, would continue to spread the disease.
Until this situation was resolved, disinfection would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.
In fact, Hunter and Robin, father and son, knew that as long as they stayed in town, they would eventually fall ill.
"Alan, when my mom gets better, our family plans to move to the mountains."
Robin worriedly told his friend.
"The air in the mountains is better, and there are fewer germs."
"The three of us plan to stay in the mountains until this epidemic is over."
"What do you think of this idea?"
Alan paused.
Robin's family's plan to take refuge in the mountains wasn't a bad one.
But what if there were disease-carrying rats deep in the mountains, or if they encountered ferocious beasts during the dead of winter when the mountains were covered in snow?
If anything were to happen, how would he seek help?
Just as he was pondering this, a sudden cry erupted from the street outside!
Then, Alan heard a familiar squeaking sound.
It sounded like a rat's cry amplified tenfold!
Huh?!
Alan's face paled slightly, and he turned and rushed out the door.
"Alan—wait a minute!"
Robin hurried after him.
Hunter, sensing the situation, also grabbed his bow and sword, then rushed out, following Alan and his son.
Under the full moon, the cobblestone streets cast a pale glow.
In the alley, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed.
Four rat catchers hurried out.
The mask had slipped off, revealing a pale, frightened face.
Behind them, a pack of giant rats, as big as wolves, were chasing them.
Their whiskers twitched, their eyes red, and they squeaked strangely.
The stones launched from their slingshots hit the rats, but they felt no pain.
The rat catchers were only ordinary people, after all, and didn't dare to engage these monsters in hand-to-hand combat.
What else could they do but flee?
A tabby cat, however, seemed even more courageous.
It stood alone at the alley entrance, hunched over, growling and snarling at the rats.
Like a raging tiger cub!
Alas, cats are not tigers after all.
The giant rats were not only enormous in size.
As their bodies mutated, their temperaments also became brutal and bloodthirsty.
Facing the cat, he hesitated for just two seconds before overcoming his instinctive fear.
His stinking maw opened wide, revealing two pairs of large, yellowed teeth, and he pounced madly at the cat!
He was determined to bite this arrogant little creature to death!
Swish!
A figure flashed!
The tall, muscular young man stood in front of the giant rat.
Bang!
A single "finger wave" sent the giant rat flying.
Its head exploded on the spot!
Alan picked up the frightened cat and gently stroked its head.
Soon, the cat calmed down in his arms, purring softly.
Squeak!
Squeak!
The two giant rats rushed out of the alley side by side, attacking Alan from both sides.
Allen held the cat and launched a barrage of kicks.
With two thuds, the two giant rats flew back.
Their bones were shattered, their skin pierced, and blood gushed forth.
They lay flat against the wall like two fresh hamburger buns.
Accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps,
Hunter and Robin arrived.
Father and son drew their bows and arrows, assisting Allen in killing the rats.
Soon after, the town's security team arrived.
Allen remained silent, holding the cat as he watched the others hunt the rats.
Within half an hour, the entire rat colony in the dark alley was wiped out.
The battle was over, but everyone's spirits remained simmering.
"Strange! Where did these giant rats come from?"
"This is the first time something like this has happened in our town!"
"Could it be that the plague has mutated ordinary rats into giant rats?"
"Who knows? When will this unfortunate time end?!"
Alan didn't participate in the discussion, but he knew...
Ordinary rats carrying the plague can occur naturally, but giant rats aren't a creation of nature!
All signs indicate that the plague warlocks of the Beast Cult have arrived in town.
Plague warlocks are mostly ratmen.
These rat-men not only spread the plague, but can also transmit the even more terrifying disease of lycanthropy.
Even more troublesome...
Alan also has the statue of the Plague God that the plague warlocks are pursuing.
Now that the Beast Cult has extended its tentacles to Quint Island, Alan can't help but worry that his secret possession of the Plague God statue has been exposed.