Mo Bai's energy was immediately drained when she used Rule Optimization to restore Sheng Yan and Du Heng's abilities.

Fortunately, she still had a bottle of intermediate nutrient potion that Liu Congyi had given her. When she was surrounded by Ant Queen, Mo Bai drank it and instantly refilled her energy bar.

This amount of energy should be enough to let her hold out for a while inside an Ultra-Star Rank monster.

Once Mo Bai was entangled by the tentacle, the grayish-black appendage swallowed her entire body. The suckers along it pressed tightly against her body, and from it, countless fine needles pierced her skin. The needles dissolved into threads as they burrowed in, attempting to connect with her blood vessels, muscles, nerves, and tendons.

There seemed to be some kind of anesthetic in the needles, so Mo Bai felt no pain.

She even experienced a strange illusion of pleasure.

It felt as though her body was gradually growing stronger, as if a mere lift of her arm would allow her to swing a mountain-sized tentacle. The sensation was intoxicating and mesmerizing, making her feel that resisting was wasteful.

She would have never known if she hadn't experienced it herself. She had assumed that being devoured was something agonizing, like being corroded and digested by acid. Instead, it wasn't painful at all.

She tried to resist by raising a hand to tear off one of the suckers. But the moment she did, it felt as though her own spinal cord were being ripped from her body.

Resistance brought unbearable agony, while surrender brought pleasure. It was in this process that the devoured gradually lost their sense of self.

Using Environmental Rejection now would likely be excruciating, Mo Bai thought with a flicker of reluctance.

In her mind, Xiao Qi cheered her on: "Player, hang in there! You can't let it erode you. Losing yourself is far worse than physical pain!"

"Don't worry," Mo Bai replied. "When it comes to enduring pain, I'm a professional."

Five years of illness had raised her pain tolerance. Rejecting assimilation by an Ultra-Star Rank monster would hurt, but it wasn't beyond what she could bear.

Clenching her teeth and hardening her resolve, Mo Bai closed her eyes and silently activated Environmental Rejection.

This time, she was rejecting the alien entity attempting to invade her body.

The ability surged into motion. Her mental energy transformed into waves of power, radiating outward from the center of her body repeatedly as it pushed back against the monster's corrosion.

In the process, searing pain erupted throughout her entire body.

It was no longer the pain of marrow being drawn out, nor the sting of needles. It was as if every needle embedded in her was being pulled out by an inch, only for the Ultra-Star Rank monster to thrust them back in.

It felt like there were knives stuck all over her body. Every time she managed to pull out a little, someone would just push it back in, again and again, like a brutal tug-of-war. It was cruel beyond belief, and she was the one forcing this upon herself.

A voice in her mind kept whispering for her stop struggling. If you give up resisting, it won't hurt anymore.

Mo Bai was very familiar with this process.

Every time pain tormented her during those five years, she would always think of the same thing: why endure this suffering? Why keep holding on?

Her disease was incurable, and no one believed she would survive. She even severed her family ties so that no one would mourn too much and too long for her death.

She was destined to die. Living one more day only meant one more day of pain. So why keep living meaninglessly in such agony?

Back then, she couldn't find an answer.

Perhaps it had been a simple unwillingness. Unwilling to accept that her life would be so short and that her bright future would end before it even began.

But now, Mo Bai found her answer.

She carried hope, responsibility, and the lives of her teammates.

That responsibility was not a burden; rather, it became the meaning of her life, like a powerful force that sustains her.

And this time, she had a future.

Her legs had already recovered. She could walk freely again. She could enjoy life in Peach Blossom Land, and her vibrant world had reopened.

Even if she retained consciousness while merging into the Ultra-Star Rank monster, so what? If she became such a monster, she would have to crawl with tentacles. The legs she had fought so hard to regain would be useless once again.

Mo Bai refused to let that happen.

So even as her entire body was torn apart in that relentless tug-of-war, her spirit remained unshakable. Neither pain nor pleasure could break her resolve.

To distract herself from the pain, and to extract a little more information from the Main System, Mo Bai spoke to Xiao Qi: "Xiao Qi... ask... the Main... System... those four... players... are they... still alive...?"

Her mental focus was slipping, and even her thoughts broke apart mid-sentence.

Xiao Qi hurried to ask. Soon, it replied, "The Main System says the rules only forbid disclosing players' movements and plans. It doesn't forbid reporting the total number of players. The current number of surviving players is five, including two investigators from the previous batch."

"They're already dead..." Mo Bai murmured sadly.

She briefly crossed paths with those players and had little to no interaction with them, yet she still felt sorrow for strangers' deaths.

In the end, her ability was limited. She couldn't save everyone.

Fortunately, Mo Bai did not blame herself excessively. She wasn't perfect, much less save the whole world. In an instance like this, being able to protect the ones who fought alongside her was already enough.

Xiao Qi continued, "The number of surviving players has changed. The total is four, including one investigator from the previous batch."

One from the previous batch died? Who? The assistant, or Du Heng? Anxiety flickered through Mo Bai's mind.

A stronger wave of pain crashed over her that she nearly lost control of her ability. It felt as though every cell in her body was being sawed through with an electric blade.

Her mind kept replaying the sorrow of learning about the four deaths, yet she also envisioned the joy of her companions' survival. In her thoughts, she pictured herself running and swimming contentedly in Peach Blossom Land. By drawing strength from these uplifting visions, she managed to endure the surge of pain.

She didn't know how long the struggle lasted. Just as she barely gathered her scattered consciousness, Xiao Qi said, "Player, the Main System has issued some notifications. Do you want to hear them?"

"Say it." She replied briefly, trying her best not to lose concentration.

Xiao Qi informed, "Players Sheng Yan, Liu Congyi, and Du Heng have jointly eliminated five Super A-rank monsters, earning a total reward of 500,000 points. Based on the contribution, Sheng Yan receives 200,000 points, Du Heng receives 200,000 points, and Liu Congyi receives 100,000 points."

At the mention of Sheng Yan earning 200,000 points, Mo Bai's eyes lit up.

She and Sheng Yan had agreed beforehand that all the points he earned in this instance would belong to her. His 200,000 points meant she effectively gained 200,000 as well!

Adding the 200,000 points from completing the first-stage mission, she was finally a player with some real assets!

She could treat Gu Tiandong to a lavish meal costing 5,000 points per person to repay him for letting her freeload earlier. She could also order the ridiculously expensive freshly squeezed juice in Peach Blossom Land. She really wanted to sip iced juice while basking in the sun!

Her longing for the future kick-started her brain again.

Sheng Yan and the others had destroyed five Super A-rank monsters, which meant that Sheng Yan had nearly leveled the entire research institute.

At this point, no one was protecting Professor Yang anymore.

If he didn't merge with the Ultra-Star Rank monster now, Professor Yang could easily die when it splits tonight.

He must be extremely desperate to merge with the super-star monster. And no matter how intelligent or calculating he was, this desperation would stumble him.

She could start her operation now. Success or failure hinges on this moment.

Mo Bai took out the A-rank card Blessing of the Puppets and used her last trace of energy to upgrade it.

Her energy was exhausted, and she lost all of her abilities. She didn't even know what level the card had risen to.

"If only Ye Pingjun were here... I really want to borrow some luck," Mo Bai thought to herself.

Xiao Qi said, "Player, don't worry. The Main System says your luck will definitely be the best this time."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because the Infinite World doesn't want an Ultra-Star Rank monster to be born. Player, your world should have the concept of heavenly tribulation, right? When a cultivator's power surpasses what a plane can bear, they face a heavenly tribulation. The Heavenly Dao and the world's laws impose a balancing force on those who attempt to transcend their boundaries. An Ultra-Star Rank monster in the Infinite World is that kind of existence. If it wants to be born, it must undergo a tribulation. It might not be heavenly lightning, but it will definitely be something.

Right now, you are its tribulation, so the world's fortune is on your side."

"Tribulation... I like that title," Mo Bai said.

Knowing her companions were safe and no longer needed her support, Mo Bai stopped resisting and allowed the Ultra-Star Rank monster to invade her body.

"Xiao Qi, keep talking in my head. As long as I still have consciousness, I'll answer, even if it's just an mm. If I stop responding, you must shout in my ear and wake my last shred of awareness," Mo Bai issued a task.

With effort, she barely raised her hand and placed the Blessing of the Puppets on her chest.

With a single thought, she could activate the card.

As long as she retained even a trace of human consciousness, she still had a chance to save herself.

Xiao Qi chattered in Mo Bai's ear, "Player, the Main System just told me your title has been upgraded. Want to know what it is?"

Mo Bai: "What is it?"

Xiao Qi: "It's Indestructible Diamond (堅固的金剛石 - Jiāngù de Jīngāngshí). The Main System said that for players in the Observation Group, it should be called (polished) Diamond. A diamond is a gemstone refined through cutting, polishing, and carving. It's crafted into something beautiful, bought at high prices, and highly valued for both appreciation and collection. But you're not like that. No matter how many times the system adjusted your title based on your performance, you refuse to be polished by it."

Mo Bai: "Collection?"

Xiao Qi: "Yes. Appreciation value includes collection value too. An ornament that nobody wants to collect can't be considered high-grade."

Mo Bai: "Hmm?"

Xiao Qi: "Also, Gu Tiandong has advanced to intermediate level, so his title will change too. Xiao Qi checked the Observation Group database, and saw that intermediate players' titles are related to how they used their viewing title before leveling up. Xiao Qi remembers that at the end, you used the ice sculpture he turned into as a shield, right? I wonder if his new title will be related to that?"

Mo Bai: "..."

When Xiao Qi didn't receive any response, it immediately shouted at the top of its voice, "Player, wake up! If you don't wake up, Xiao Qi is going to use your points without permission! Xiao Qi will transfer all your points to Sheng Yan! Xiao Qi means what it says!"

Mo Bai still didn't answer.

Xiao Qi kept shouting, unsure if its voice could reach her. But as long as it existed, as long as it could make a sound, and as long as it hadn't been reclaimed and formatted by the Main System to be handed over to the next player, Mo Bai was still alive.

It would keep calling her name until the very last instant before it was formatted.

The moment Mo Bai lost consciousness, the Ultra-Star Rank monster finally grew quiet.

Professor Yang, who had long been waiting in the corridor on Basement Level Four, sensed it. The monster had finally fallen asleep.

It was no longer resisting.

The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

The research institute had already been blown apart by those players, and they were on their way to Basement Level Four. He had no time left.

He had to merge with his other half, become whole, and then return to that small town to wake his daughter, who had long been trapped in an unending nightmare.

He leapt down toward the terrifying monster.

Professor Yang's torment of test subject No. 107 had not only been out of hatred for the ruin brought upon his family. He had also been using No. 107 as a living experiment.

To fuse with the Ultra-Star Rank monster, his body had to adapt to the monster's extract first.

He had used every method imaginable to turn No. 107 into his testing vessel. Each time No. 107 successfully tolerated the extract, he would administer the same method to himself and absorb a portion of it.

At this very moment, eighty percent of the fluid in Professor Yang's body consisted of the monster's extract.

His physical similarity to the Ultra-Star Rank monster exceeded eighty percent, and his consciousness was already linked to it. As long as he jumped in, its body would instinctively fuse with him even if the monster was asleep.

He would merge with it calmly, without any pain.

Professor Yang landed upon the monster, and his body sank into its mass.

Liu Congyi and the other two rushed to Basement Level Four just in time to witness Professor Yang merging with the creature.

Without hesitation, Liu Congyi took out her last B-rank card, Absolute Damage Grenade (絕對傷害手雷 - Juéduì Shānghài Shǒuléi), and hurled it viciously toward where Professor Yang had disappeared.

The Absolute Damage Grenade possessed the ability to guarantee damage. No matter what defensive card the opponent used, the grenade would inflict a certain degree of harm. Of course, if the opponent's defense card was S-rank, the grenade might do little more than trim their nails, neaten their hair, or scrape off a layer of skin.

But the monster wasn't using any defensive card.

The grenade blasted a massive hole in its body. Yet the creature was so enormous that the hole was just like a fingernail-sized wound on a human: utterly insignificant and incapable of shaking its core.

Among the three of them, two had their abilities suppressed, and one possessed mental-type powers. They had no means to deal with an Ultra-Star Rank monster, so they could only watch helplessly as Professor Yang fused with it.

Sheng Yan dropped to his knees as despair flooded his mind.

He remembered that before meeting Mo Bai, he had never truly thought about clearing the instance. He had only wanted to curse Mo Xiangyou before dying spectacularly in the instance, then descend to accompany his brother, Sheng Lei.

It was Mo Bai who had given him hope to live.

Sheng Yan understood himself well. He never had much initiative. In his mind, he was simply the younger brother who followed in Sheng Lei's footsteps.

Without someone to lead him, he would struggle to survive in a world like this.

Mo Bai's arrival had filled the void left by Sheng Lei.

If she had only been a girl with special abilities, he might not have transferred his attachment onto her. Perhaps he would have developed a faint, hazy affection, grown closer over time, fallen in love, and found a new reason to live.

But Mo Bai was too resolute. She was like a lighthouse in a stormy sea that guided those who were lost, making them unconsciously follow her.

Sheng Yan was no exception. Without knowing it, he had already placed the weight of his emotions upon her.

Sometimes, he couldn't even tell whether the figure in his eyes was Mo Bai or Sheng Lei.

At times, he felt a flicker of jealousy over the presence of Phantom Butterfly. But more often, he was content to be a silent fighter standing behind her, ready to charge into battle at a single command.

At this very moment, he still had one card in hand.

It was the Recorder that Mo Bai had given him, which contained her Environmental Optimization ability.

He could use it to restore his own powers, then jump down and deploy his final ability, the Soul Bomb.

He didn't know whether the Soul Bomb's one-for-one exchange could kill Professor Yang. But it was the last method he could think of, and also the most meaningful way he could die.

But why? Why couldn't he do it?

The Recorder card was in his hand, yet he couldn't activate it.

The fear of death pinned him in place. He could only kneel on the ground, trembling.

He had always thought that he didn't care about dying. Yet in this instant, life felt unbearably precious. Even if he could live just one more second, he wanted to live.

"Liu Congyi! Remove the suppression! I still have one last move!" Sheng Yan shouted as his whole body shook, his face pale beneath the shadow of death.

Liu Congyi shook her head. "I have no energy left. Even if I want to help you, I can't."

In truth, she had only exhausted the energy she had accumulated through her E-type ability. She still had some of her own energy left, which was enough to lift Sheng Yan's suppression.

But she didn't.

It was part of her agreement with Mo Bai, and she also decided to wait a little longer.

It wasn't the final moment yet. The system hadn't announced Mo Bai's death. This is the sliver of hope that remained in her heart.

Du Heng waited quietly as well.

He blamed no one. In this instance, they had fought deep in enemy territory, surrounded by countless foes, and were even betrayed by their fellow player, Soul Contractor.

To have reached this point was already a battle worthy of being recorded in the Mending Heaven training camp's combat manual as a classic example.

The three of them stood in the corridor, silently awaiting the final moment as they observed the slumbering monster below.

Then, in the suffocating stillness, countless golden threads suddenly appeared above the monster.

They looked up and saw innumerable puppets suspended by those golden threads.

The puppets gripped the shining strands in their hands. Their forms were grotesque, yet radiant smiles stretched across their faces.

The golden threads pierced into the monster's body, then the puppets pulled the threads as they sang.

A chanting echoed in the air, like a church choir singing hymns in solemn unison.

A figure was drawn upward by the golden strands and was suspended in midair with her eyes closed.

Golden light bathed her, dispelling the tentacles still wrapped around her body.

Within that radiance, Mo Bai slowly opened her eyes.

At the same moment, the previously stable Ultra-Star Rank monster began to convulse violently.

After losing the last portion of serum, it regained awareness, but not completely. It was now struggling against Professor Yang's consciousness!