Sure enough, everything ultimately revolved around the Nemesis tape. However, Alexander did learn something valuable—Janet's manipulation seemed linked to some evil deity.
“Janet has gone mad. I always felt that the entity we contacted through the ritual merely plunged us from one abyss into a deeper one, yet he believes it's divine revelation…”
Annandon shook his head and said, “I was instructed by him to steal the tape from Innsmouth, but I reported the situation to Madanra, who sent people to meet me. On the way, Janet sent someone to ambush me, but Madanra’s men killed them and brought me here for protection.”
“So, that’s what happened.” Alexander nodded, understanding how some plot elements fit together.
“Do you think Janet intends to kill you? Why would he want you dead? And how did pretending to be mad help you avoid his wrath?”
“I don't know for sure. I just guessed that if he thought I was insane, he wouldn’t bother to kill me.” Annandon’s explanation was vague.
Alexander gave him a meaningful look but said nothing more.
“Any other findings?” Carmen approached.
“No, let’s keep moving…” Just as Alexander spoke, the wall in front of them exploded, sending concrete and debris flying.
A gigantic arm reached through the wall, belonging to a massive creature known as a “Star Spawn.”
“Damn, a dangerous-level elite monster…” Carmen roared these words, immediately spending another 120 survival points to summon his shadow beast.
A giant stag emerged from the shadows of the ground, leaping effortlessly onto the massive arm, charging along the limb of the Star Spawn.
Suddenly, countless filthy tentacles shot out—it was the Star Spawn’s appendages attacking swiftly, with one piercing the stag’s body.
Carmen cried out in agony, clutching his abdomen and falling.
At the same moment, the stag dissolved like a shadowy fluid, disappearing…
“The shadow beast’s injury has affected Carmen—what’s happening?”
Alexander had a sudden flash of insight, crucial information connecting in an instant.
“Watch out!” Jin Jianshu tackled him to avoid the monster’s hook-like claws.
“Carmen is injured, and the shadow beast is gone. Alexander, what should we do?” Jin Jianshu noticed and felt urgent concern.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Alexander realized the situation was dire, but it was already too late—Carmen, a key combatant, was gravely wounded and down.
Spain and the others fired desperately, but the massive creature, towering over ten meters, was unrelenting. In the grand building, its movements were somewhat constrained, making it cumbersome.
In truth, the monster could grow larger, with a body capable of reaching over forty meters. Its rubbery, writhing muscles could expand and contract at will; its massive claws shredded a soldier instantly.
In a critical moment, the stag reappeared, covered in wounds yet defiantly facing the monster.
“Get out of here, take Annandon with you. Leave this thing to me!”
Carmen tossed aside his cane, gripping Alexander’s shoulder and speaking softly, “Give me your right hand…”
“What?” Alexander had no time to comprehend before Carmen transferred something through the Spectral Covenant.
“The Spectral Covenant can store some items. I’ve transferred my remaining survival points and some items to you. I’m going to use an item to bring Xu Lin back from the dead. With him, you have a chance to survive…”
“What are you saying?” Alexander heard but couldn’t process what Carmen meant.
Carmen didn’t respond, only gave a sorrowful smile and took out the Lament Configuration.
“I’ve had enough of living, really enough, but at least in the end, let me trade a life for a life.”
He turned the Lament Configuration, moving it rapidly into place, and with a click, the box opened.
The void twisted, and chains shot from the darkness, impaling Carmen and anchoring him in place. With a struggle, he was pulled back into the darkness, disappearing in an instant.
The stag fighting the Star Spawn roared and vanished like a shadow.
At the same time, the Lament Configuration fell to the ground with a small thud.
A hand suddenly reached out and picked up the box. It was a skinless hand, and its owner was a figure cloaked in gray.
“Who… who are you?”
Alexander couldn't fathom who might arrive at this moment…
“Me!”
The figure in the gray cloak revealed his face—it was the resurrected Xu Lin, appearing again before Alexander.
“I gave the Lament Configuration to Old Li, hoping he’d find someone else to open it, not sacrifice himself. I underestimated his desire for death…”
Xu Lin didn’t look like a dead man. He bore no marks of serious injury, though he was wrapped in thick bandages, and the cloak emanated an odor of burnt flesh.
He gripped the Lament Configuration with his skinless hand, his eyes a bit unfocused. Drawing from the “Hellraiser” space, a dimension ruled by hellish Cenobites, where every entrant became a twisted toy and puppet.
Unlike the original, the Lament Configuration in this scenario held a peculiar resurrection ability—when a holder used it and was dragged into its world, they could be released when the next holder opened it.
Such variations align with different comic versions of “Hellraiser,” explaining these diverse interpretations.
“Boom!”
The Star Spawn resumed its assault, extending a hook-like claw to smash a pillar. Gunfire and bullets couldn’t hinder its power; Spain’s team retreated desperately.
“Give me the magic elixir…” Xu Lin summoned his sacrificial blade, instantly entering combat mode.
“Magic elixir?” Alexander was confused.
“It must have been transferred to you, likely through the Spectral Covenant’s space. Check inside; besides the magic elixir, there should be Spectral Embers. Check how many, but give me the elixir first.”
“Consume one Ember, activate the basic function of the Covenant, take out the elixir for me…”
Xu Lin swung his chain mace, activating its enchantment effect, delivering a heavy strike. He hit a spot on the ceiling, triggering a collapse—caused by the Star Spawn smashing the pillar, leading to cracks. His keen eyes caught this detail.