Virus King [Translation]

[Note: Looking for more chapters? Check out the novel section! It has 10+ advanced chapters. The title is Dominion of the Virus King!

P.S. The version you're reading is in the Fanfic section, so it's a bit behind the one in the Novel section. Same book, same author, same translators—just a different title (having identical titles for books isn't allowed).]

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Waking up from sleep always feels a little disorienting. 

As Novak opened his eyes, the two figures before him seemed momentarily startled, almost caught off guard by his presence. Novak and Meimei's appearances left both Crow and Ian at a loss for words.

"White Emperor? Meimei? It's me, Crow—Silas Crowe. Just call me Crow!" Crow finally broke the silence, his voice tentative. Meanwhile, Ian, flushed and awkward, lowered his head, too embarrassed to speak. 

Even if this was just a dream, the awkwardness felt real.

Novak and Meimei both nodded in acknowledgment.

"Novak Yie," he introduced himself.

"Mei Mei, hello," Meimei responded.

After a few pleasantries, the initial tension began to ease, and the true nature of the group emerged. In the previous life, Crow—better known as the Fearmonger—had a reputation as a cold and terrifying figure, known for being eccentric and unsettling. However, upon meeting him now, Novak noticed that without the power that had once shaped him, Crow was quite approachable, even amusing.

As for Ian, who had been under immense stress during the past few days of the apocalypse, he now seemed more at ease, regaining the cheerful, chubby demeanor he once had.

"Alright, enough chit-chat," Novak said. "Meimei's dream extension has limits, and it consumes energy. Let's head to Red Star Mental Hospital straight away."

In this dream world, Ian's dream served as an extension. There were no zombies here, and no sign of evolvers either. As they walked, Ian began explaining the situation about the mental hospital.

"After my father passed away, I found some old documents at home that I'd never seen before. That's when I discovered our family has a history of mental illness. My aunt was admitted to Red Star Mental Hospital, and the family mystery led me to take on this quest. When I got there, I realized the hospital had turned into a Secret Realm."

In the cosmic will's judgment, quest triggers are highly random. All it takes is one catalyst.

Novak glanced at Ian. 

"What level is this quest?" he asked.

Ian didn't hold back and shared the details with the team, allowing all three of them to see the mission:

[Family Mystery (S)]

[The talent you awakened early on reflects the strength of your spiritual power. 'But why don't you know!?' In your father's diary, you found clues about a family member—a mysterious aunt—whom your father never mentioned. To uncover the secrets of your family, you need to enter the mental hospital and investigate.]

[Mission Objective: Obtain the 'Bart Family's Medical History' item]

[Mission Rewards: ???]

Interesting!

Novak smiled slightly. In the previous life, Ian had been led astray early on, but in this one, thanks to Novak's influence, he was thriving in the apocalypse. The implications of this were intriguing. Could this "family medical history" have something to do with their bloodline?

Ian, the pioneer of early talent awakening with his formidable spiritual power, was indeed extraordinary.

Red Star Mental Hospital was located on the outskirts of D-avao. And Ian's home wasn't far from the hospital. Soon, they arrived at a large courtyard, with a four-story building standing tall in the center.

The mental hospital was typical of such institutions: not too high, with each window secured by thick, rusty bars. Even in this dream world, it exuded a sense of eerie foreboding. After all, mental hospitals weren't exactly pleasant places, filled with those who suffered from various psychological conditions, or were deemed "problematic" by society.

Under the rusting, dilapidated iron gate, the large sign read "Red Star Mental Hospital." Beneath it swirled a vortex—the entrance to the Secret Realm.

Notably, beside the sign were Arabic numerals: XVI.

"Sixteen? Is that a street number?" Novak mused, raising an eyebrow with interest.

The four of them stood before the vortex.

The waves of the dream world didn't seem to affect the rotation of the Secret Realm.

[Do you wish to enter the Nightmare-level dungeon 'Red Star Mental Hospital (Level 5-12)'?]

[Yes!]

The four figures stepped into the swirling vortex, as if entering the jaws of a giant beast. Ian, visibly nervous, fixed his eyes on the whirlpool ahead. Together, they crossed into the unknown.

As they entered, the world seemed to darken. Even though the sun still hung brightly over the manor, a deep, unsettling darkness and terror pervaded the atmosphere. How could a low-level Secret Realm feel this strange?

Novak's heart sank. From his decades of experience in the apocalypse, he could tell this dungeon was special. But what made it unique, he couldn't yet pinpoint.

"Be careful. Something's off here," he warned, his voice low as his eyes scanned the human-like figures staggering around the manor.

He activated the spiritual perception skill given to him by Meimei and focused on the creatures ahead:

[Crazy Nurse of Red Star Mental Hospital (Level 7)]

[Attributes: Strength 17, Agility 15, Constitution 10, Spirit 21]

[Skill: Horror Howl]

This was just a mob, yet its stats were this high?

Novak narrowed his eyes. On the other side, Crow grinned and spoke up.

"Alright, who's going first?"

Novak had already sensed Crow's eagerness.

"Go ahead."

Crow chuckled, and in an instant, dark shadows seemed to stir behind him.

"Fear! Terror! Howl!"

Suddenly, a massive scarecrow, shrouded in shadow, appeared behind Crow. It was the embodiment of fear. The nurse, who had been advancing menacingly moments ago, froze in place, her eyes turning pitch black and void of expression.

Ignoring Crow's over-the-top theatrics, Novak's mind returned to the mystery of the Red Star Mental Hospital. He remembered hearing about strange occurrences on regional forums in D-avao during his previous life.

Subconsciously, his gaze shifted back to the sign at the hospital entrance, lingering on the rusty Arabic numerals: XVI.

Did it mean something?