You fill my lungs and take away the air [Global Examination]

Chapter 8: Backed against the wall

An examinee had just died.

This wasn't too surprising, since it pretty much happened all the time within the System.

But this was the first time that 154 had seen someone die to the Hanahaki Disease, and not from any of the twisted machinations of the System's brutal examinations.

Drowning to death in her own blood, the report had stated.

What a way to go.

It wasn't unheard of, there were plenty of examinees that were stubborn enough to think that they could power through the exams despite the toll the disease took on their bodies, but even then, examinees would either be killed off by the exams, or their sense of self-preservation would kick in, and they'd take up the System's offer of taking the surgery.

After all, dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence... though, in the System's case, 154 supposed that force was also completely valid.

154 wasn't afraid of dying; he already knew that his death was inescapable, even without taking his Hanahaki into account.

He cursed his poor immune system for making him susceptible to Hanahaki.

Why couldn't he have caught some other normal generic disease!?

But this had reminded 154 of one thing, that his time was limited; it was common knowledge at this point that victims usually lasted roughly three to six months upon being initially inflicted with the disease.

Depending on how much time victims of Hanahaki spent spitting up flower petals, they'd spend roughly half that time coughing out blossoms before eventually choking to death, unable to breathe past all the flowers clogging up their lungs, and drowning in their own blood.

Of course, there were some odd cases that didn't adhere to this rule, but the longest that anyone had ever lasted with Hanahaki was eight months; anyone who was more resistant to the disease wouldn't even contract it in the first place.

154 had been coughing out petals for a better part of two months, which meant that, in the best case scenario, he had six more months; worst case scenario, which was also the most likely, considering his demon king of an older brother ( 154 would consider his luck to be on the lower end), he had one month left.

And as far as he knew, it was going to take much, much longer than six months, let alone one month, for 154 to even have a chance at taking out the System; trying to figure out what he had to fix in order for the System to regain its senses, attempting to find that blasted self-correcting program... all that required time, time that 154 was steadily losing.

His current lead was taking advantage of the aftereffects that had been left behind by You Huo and Qin Jiu's previous actions, whether it be by all the loopholes caused as the System haphazardly tried to duct tape any holes left behind by their shenanigans, or through "fixing" bugs.

154 had been successful so far, and had managed to gain a bit of power and authority, but he still had to be careful; his acting may be able to fool the System for now, but if 001 caught wind that something was off about him... well, Qin Jiu had never tried to conceal his distaste towards the System.

But it wasn't enough, wasn't nearly enough to even begin to think about taking on the System, because no matter how much power 154 had, there was no way he could overpower the System directly, and attempting to outsmart the all-seeing System was a whole different issue altogether.

The only ones who had a chance of doing so were You Huo... who was missing, Chu Yue... who was also missing (but at least she was still in the System, as far as 154 knew), and Qin Jiu... who was currently suffering from amnesia, and he, as 001, would probably kick 154 out and throw him away personally if he even found out 154 used to be a part of the System.