endless horror

Split Paths

Just as Chu Xuan had predicted, events began to unfold rapidly. The two Xenomorphs being monitored started moving toward them, and soon after, the Xenomorph that had abducted the middle-aged man and the others also appeared. Everyone's attention was fixed on the large screen, including Ye Wudao.

Despite the decision to part ways with Chu Xuan and his group, isolating the Xenomorphs was a matter of life and death for all of them. So, Ye Wudao, too, couldn't tear his eyes from the surveillance footage.

"Just one more... where is the last one... the last one..." Chu Xuan muttered under his breath, his face growing paler as beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Suddenly, Zhan Lan touched her own forehead and spoke, "In the original plot, there were seven members—one robot and six humans. When you calculated the number of Xenomorphs, did you include the protagonist? This horror scenario is just Alien I..."

Chu Xuan's eyes widened as he realized his mistake. Quickly, he pressed a series of buttons, and several containment walls appeared on the screen, blocking the Xenomorphs' advance. Trapped, the creatures were forced to change course. Slowly, the three Xenomorphs were herded into a remote corridor, eventually being sealed in by thick alloy walls. From the map on the screen, it was clear that the path to the armory had been cleared.

The six survivors exhaled in relief. Ye Wudao, lowering his voice, asked Zhan Lan, "What exactly did you two figure out? There's still one Xenomorph unaccounted for. Why did mentioning Alien I make him immediately deploy the containment walls?"

Zhan Lan chuckled. "It's about the protagonist. Remember, in Alien I, one protagonist survives, right? If she were killed by a Xenomorph, then what would happen to the sequels—Aliens II, III, and IV? They wouldn't exist. So, it's likely we're only dealing with five Xenomorphs: a queen, one that's been killed, and the three we've just isolated. There's no fourth one."

Ye Wudao frowned, thinking it over. "But what if the protagonist in each horror movie is reborn? Wouldn't that mean there's another Xenomorph lurking behind room fifteen?"

Chu Xuan cut in, "That's just a matter of probability. In any case, I always choose the option with the highest probability. If the chance is over fifty percent, it's worth the risk."

Ye Wudao scoffed. "Even at the cost of your life? What if you're ambushed by a hidden Xenomorph—does that not matter?"

Chu Xuan responded coolly, "Yes, even if it costs my life. It's still just about playing the odds... I'll always choose the higher probability. You mentioned my life—are you planning to part ways with me?"

Ye Wudao's expression hardened. "Exactly. I can't stand being around you. Who knows when I'll end up getting hurt or left behind like dead weight? I'd rather trust my own strength to survive. I can't rely on you—just like the Overlord said, I can't trust you to have my back!"

"Is that so?" Chu Xuan said casually, glancing away. "That's unfortunate. Like I said, I only abandon those who are of no use to the team. It's a matter of probability. That man had a low chance of survival, and he failed the test I set for him. As for Li Shuai Xi, I did everything I could for him. But for the team members I deem valuable, I will do everything in my power to keep them alive and ensure that the majority survives."

Ye Wudao's voice dropped to a murmur. "What if the probability of saving me in a desperate situation is slim, but there's still a chance? What would you do?"

"It depends. If your survival is crucial, I'd pay any price to save you. But if saving you jeopardizes the entire team, I'd leave you behind."

"Is that so?"

Ye Wudao fell silent for a long time before he finally spoke, his voice cold. "I get it. Your way of thinking might be rational for you, but it disgusts me. I can't stay with you anymore... And don't give me that bullshit about sacrificing yourself for the team. You always talk about the team, but what if you were the one who had to be sacrificed? You'd probably do whatever you could to shift the danger onto someone else, wouldn't you? Screw you!"