19 The Last Bullet

When Jin Ze heard me say that this pervert was my father, his hand pressing on my shoulder gave a visible jolt.

After a brief pause, he immediately said to me, "Chen Mu, are you sure? What kind of memory is it? Steady your mind and whatever you do, don't let your thoughts run wild. This environment and the images being played might have a hypnotic effect on you; don't let yourself be influenced."

At the mention of hypnosis, my already throbbing head suddenly spiked with a sharp, piercing pain, as if a steel needle had been driven deep into my skull. I felt my brain turn into mush instantly; my entire being grew dull and foolish. For a moment, I could not distinguish what was what—what was real and what was illusory, as if I were trapped in the hazy state of sleepwalking.

I closed my eyes and bit down hard on the tip of my tongue, forcing myself to calm down before searching through my memories.

I quickly discovered that I truly remembered this perverted man. It was no wonder that when I first saw the video of the baby being boiled from my childhood, I felt he looked so familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere before.

In my memories, he really was my father. Previously, these memories had been locked away as if frozen in my mind, only released at this very moment. However, I could not fully recall exactly what had transpired between me and this pervert. I only vaguely remembered that our relationship was not unpleasant; in fact, just as the footage had depicted, I was a good son and he was a good father.

At this moment, Jin Ze asked me, "If this man is your father, then what about Chen Youquan?"

I was stunned. It felt as if a giant hand had appeared in my mind, trying to pull me back, but it did not affect my judgment.

Vaguely, I said to Jin Ze, "He is my father too, but honestly, I feel that the memories of this perverted man are more real, while the memories of my original father are somewhat blurred."

Jin Ze was about to say something, but he suddenly spun around sharply, aiming his gun toward the distance.

The moment he aimed, a light suddenly flared in that direction, and from that radiance, I saw a human figure.

Someone was standing there. When I saw him clearly, every nerve in my body tightened. This person was the one who looked exactly like me. His name was also Chen Mu, so looking at him was like looking at another version of myself—like staring into a mirror.

I was about to join Jin Ze to apprehend him when I suddenly noticed something.

Around this person, there was not a single shadow to be seen. While lighting could be a factor, the total absence of a shadow felt wrong.

I immediately thought of his death portrait, and a chill ran down my spine.

Jin Ze naturally noticed this eerie detail as well. However, he was much smarter than me and a more steadfast atheist, so he suddenly turned and aimed his gun behind me.

I understood his intention immediately; he must have thought the person in front was merely a reflection, and the real one was standing behind us.

In truth, there were many contradictions here. First, if that were a mirror, why didn't it reflect Jin Ze or me? Perhaps it was because we were standing at an awkward angle, but if that person were behind us, could he appear so large in the reflection? I felt that unless complex optical principles were used, along with multiple reflective angles, such an effect would be impossible.

Yet, Jin Ze was right. I discovered that there was indeed someone standing behind us, and it was the very person who looked like me.

***

I was about to marvel at Jin Ze’s brilliance when I soon realized that this figure also had no shadow.

Jin Ze, always one step ahead, quickly aimed his gun at another angle.

Inevitably, I saw another version of him. Before long, we were surrounded by multiple versions of the same man from all directions. It reminded me of ghostly apparitions, deeply sinister and terrifying.

Just then, Jin Ze said to me, "Chen Mu, be careful. You know how to use a gun; protect yourself."

He then abruptly chose a direction and charged forward.

Soon, he fired a shot in that direction, and upon hearing the blast, I immediately heard a shattering sound—the sound of breaking glass.

I realized then that the guy must have modified this place. He was an expert in optics, mechanics, and electronics. Although I didn't understand the technicalities, he had clearly created multiple 3D projections of himself, making it seem as though there were many of him.

He had gone to such great lengths to lure us here, surely not just to play games. My heart skipped a beat. Was he trying to settle the score and kill me?

Regardless, it was fortunate that Jin Ze was with me. I figured that since Jin Ze had chosen to strike, that direction must be where the real man was hiding, while the others were mere illusions.

As I was thinking this, a series of gunshots rang out. At first, I thought it was Jin Ze engaging the man, but I quickly realized it wasn't; the sounds were being played through speakers.

No sooner had I realized this than I witnessed a blood-curdling scene.

I saw each of the figures that looked like me have their heads instantly pierced by bullets. Headshots, one after another—flesh and blood flew, making my heart race as if my own head were being shattered over and over again.

To be honest, the sight was horrifying. This was not as simple as the recording I had seen before; it looked like it was happening in real-time, right beside me. I felt as if I were on the verge of a breakdown.

Amidst my terror, the impossible happened. Though I had anticipated it, it was still unbelievable: the heads of these "me's" that had been blown apart suddenly regrew in an instant. The scene was shocking and grotesque.

As their heads regrew, they began to laugh, saying to me, "Chen Mu, you want to replace me? Do you still want to? Hahaha..."

Hearing this, my mind exploded. I felt as if I had suddenly remembered something.

They continued, "Since that is the case, happiness belongs to me, and suffering belongs to you. I live, you die."

Hearing this, I knew these weren't just simple images. It had to be the man who looked like me, hiding somewhere and speaking to me; these were merely live-feed projections.

He could be any one of them!

***

Thinking of this, I was nearly broken, but I didn't care anymore. I let out a loud scream and fired a shot at the figure in front of me without hesitation.

A shattering sound followed—the sound of glass breaking.

The noise grated on every nerve, driving me into a frenzy.

I immediately turned and shot at another version of him. My eyes must have been blood-red by now. I only wanted to kill—to kill this demon who sought to control me.

Bullet after bullet flew from my gun, and my marksmanship was displayed to its full extent. I was terrifyingly accurate, hitting every forehead. The feeling was bizarre, as if I were killing myself, committing suicide.

But I couldn't stop. I kept firing.

However, it was all in vain. Aside from the crisp sound of shattering, I hadn't hit anyone.

Finally, only one figure remained.

I had completely collapsed. My legs gave out, and I shouted hysterically at him, "Who the hell are you? What do you want? If you have the guts, come out and let's duel!"

Just as I finished, I heard a voice—exceptionally calm.

He said peacefully, "Very well, I will come out. I am right before your eyes."

I was stunned, and then I realized that this last version of him was actually moving. He was walking toward me slowly.

Since he had come out, I didn't care about anything else. Instinctively, I raised my gun and fired at him.

But as I pulled the trigger, he laughed—a sinister, chilling laugh.

My heart shattered. A dry click. I was out of bullets.

"Chen Mu, the last bullet belongs to me."

At that moment, he raised his gun and fired at me.