Chapter 19: Desperate Straits

If everyone had initially chosen the metal box associated with the rattling tongue and demons, they would have undoubtedly prepared and devised countermeasures in advance.

But now,

with no preparation, completely unexpected, and placed behind the zombies, the mere sight of it severely injured the squad leader.

Moreover, as second-year high school students, they lacked experience dealing with such intangible anomalies. Even though they had studied demon-related knowledge at school, it was merely theoretical.

According to what the school taught,

once an individual is possessed by a demon-type anomaly, the only way to avoid harming the host is through exorcism.

Since the city where Roddy and the others lived was mainly under the rule of the Huaxia Nation, the number of pseudo-humans exhibiting demonic traits was extremely rare, if not nonexistent. Most schools did not provide in-depth teaching on this subject; systematic instruction was usually reserved for post-secondary education.

However, a top student like Gao Yuxuan had privately sought some understanding, his mind racing.

From his perspective, Anna, a Su national student from a prestigious school, should have undergone specialized training and come prepared with tools to combat demons.

He swiftly rummaged through Anna’s backpack and indeed found a Russian-language Bible, with a metal cross tucked inside.

When the Bible was retrieved,

Anna, lying on the bed and possessed, merely maintained a smile, showing no signs of impending danger.

Gao Yuxuan gently tossed the Russian Bible into Roddy’s hands.

“Don’t you want it?”

“I can recite it… Quickly turn to Psalm 91 and read it aloud with me. We can pray for the Lord’s protection and the expulsion of evil. It should suppress the demon inside Anna to some extent and safeguard our minds, buying time until the specialists from the research institute arrive.”

As Roddy flipped to the correct chapter,

Gao Yuxuan held the cross toward Anna on the bed,

and together they recited in Russian: “Whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…”

Yet their chanting only caused Anna to laugh heartily. The ashes filling the room did not diminish, and the ambient temperature continued to rise.

“Ha ha~ Such obedient children who love to read. You’re not even believers, probably have never stepped foot in a church, let alone met clergy.

You don’t truly believe, yet you try to borrow the power of ‘that guy upstairs.’ It’s hilarious.

Right now, you can do nothing.

Why don’t you run away like Wenwen? Maybe then you’d have a slim chance of survival.

But I don’t think you’re the cold-blooded type who would just abandon this poor girl here, right?”

The demon’s words from Anna did not disrupt their recitation; after all, this was their sole method of exorcism.

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Though the continuous chanting caused no discomfort to Anna, her smile slowly faded, replaced by a look of disgust and revulsion.

“Enough!”

A roar burst forth from Anna’s tongue, cracking the mirror on the vanity in the master bedroom.

“Listening to such disgusting words makes me nauseous! Stop disgusting me, or when the ‘complete fusion’ occurs, I won’t kill you so easily.

Instead, I will slowly peel you off piece by piece, muscle by muscle.”

At that moment, one of Anna’s eyes began to change; the normally sized pupil rapidly shrank to the size of a grain, the rest filled with white.

Moreover, a slender, tiny secondary tongue sprouted beneath her original tongue.

This transformation seemed to indicate that the possession had advanced to a new stage, and the demon’s influence on reality was growing stronger.

Roddy, still reciting the Bible, was startled when he saw a tongue emerge from the printed text on the page, gently licking the finger holding the book.

The sensation was not the anticipated moistness or stickiness but a strange feeling, as if the surface of that tongue was covered with countless tiny baby arms, gripping and pulling Roddy, trying to drag him into the depths of hell.

He dropped the Bible,

which fell onto the scorched earth below, burning to ashes.

Watching the Bible consumed by flames and the possession worsening unabated, Roddy conceived a special plan in his mind.

He immediately glanced toward Gao Yuxuan, signaling with his eyes to stop reciting.

The chanting ceased, and silence fell.

Anna’s tongue slapped repeatedly inside her mouth, as if applauding joyfully.

“Phew~ You finally quieted down.

There’s still some time before full possession. Let me take a look at your ‘essence’ to pass the time.

Let’s start with you—the bespectacled boy who loves reading and knows acupuncture.”

Her grainy pupils fixed intently on Gao Yuxuan, as if able to pierce his soul and discern his thoughts.

“Oh! The favored child of heaven, raised high from birth, blessed with both strong physique and intellect, poised to enter the company’s elite high school.

But unfortunately, an accident before enrollment damaged your left hand, severely impacting your exam results. You ended up in an ordinary high school, sinking into self-doubt, while your arm’s condition deteriorated.

You paid a hefty price for a prosthetic limb, but just as you began using it, you met with someone like me.

How does that make you feel now?

Just as you were about to rise from the depths,

just as you could prove yourself through this year’s practical exams,

you’re about to die in this accident.

Your proud ‘talent’ is about to be buried by my own hands. Are you beginning to feel despair?

Despair tastes exquisite; I can’t wait to slip my tongue into your mouth to savor it. I wonder how sweet it will be.”

As the demon vocalized Gao Yuxuan’s past, his expression remained calm, only lightly touching his glasses with his index finger.

He had long since tasted death and endured the depths of despair, finding peace a year ago.

Now, his only focus was on the present predicament, contemplating how to break free.

At the same time, he wondered why so much time had passed without any rescue from the research institute. His gaze frequently flicked toward the door, hoping for a figure to appear.

“They might not be coming…” Roddy’s sudden remark made Gao Yuxuan pause.

Waiting for rescue formed the foundation of Gao Yuxuan’s current strategy. If this last hope were shattered, he would be trapped in a mental deadlock.

But upon reflection, Roddy’s conclusion seemed justified.

The research institute had made such a basic error because something was amiss within their ranks. Even their personnel might be in danger, unable to address emergencies here.

If they were to act, it would only be after internal stability was restored.

Gao Yuxuan’s eyes grew vacant, uncertain of his next move.

Anna, still on the bed, continued her infernal monologue:

“You’re right; the people from the institute probably won’t come.

My appearance isn’t just due to a technical slip-up.

Now, let me examine this quiet boy who likes to play the hero.”

Her head rotated mechanically on her neck,

bringing her eyes to focus on Roddy.

When her grainy pupils fixed on him,

the possessed Anna’s expression instantly shifted, becoming curious, intrigued, and excited.

“...What a peculiar human!”