I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 70

“Extermination tactics” wasn’t a name Shi Beng came up with.

It was from a senior of the common minerals.

He found that after defeating the enemy in a hollow, new enemies would soon be born again.

Endlessly.

But if the entire vein inside the pillar was destroyed, the pillar became completely safe, with no more enemies appearing.

This tactic spread.

But soon, the rare minerals learned it too, and both sides started clearing veins after battles.

So, both tribes had fewer and fewer newborns, and the Needle Stone Forest grew ever more desolate.

The rare minerals began to hide, sneaking through the interconnected caves, forming squads to ambush veins and lone common minerals.

They’d also use exhausted hollows to make new entrances, creating secret passages to hide themselves.

After all, they were intelligent-they wouldn’t fight hopeless battles.

Under the threat of extinction, the rare minerals showed their potential.

Now the war dragged on endlessly, deadlocked.

“You never thought of peace? You don’t have any real conflict,” Li Luo said after thinking.

These mineral tribes were all born from the pillars; broadly, they were the same species.

Their faction division was just a subjective split into “rare” and “common.”

No resource competition, no deep hatred, why fight?

“Why is there war?”

“I don’t know.”

At this, Shi Beng seemed dazed, not answering directly, with no real view on the meaningless war.

He mechanically described everything in the Needle Stone Forest, like an observer, unexpectedly calm.

Only when talking about his own dangers did he show fear.

It seemed fear was his only emotion.

Mo Ling suddenly recalled their first meeting, Shi Beng’s lively expressions and banter were all driven by fear.

He’d even joked and been embarrassed.

Now, he was like a robot.

As the fear faded, he became mechanical and numb, his voice flat as he answered Li Luo.

Calm and indifferent.

So strange.

Was this the void state? Mo Ling wondered.

Li Luo seemed to sense the change too; she waved her hand in front of Shi Beng’s face.

Startled, Shi Beng became lively again, but soon went blank.

It was like switching between two personalities, very odd.

After learning about the Needle Stone Forest, Li Luo asked, “Do you know how to get out?”

But Shi Beng’s answer was shocking: “You can’t get out now. The Needle Stone Forest is sealed.”

“Sealed?”

“Yes.”

At this, Shi Beng’s expression became animated again.

He pointed in a direction and said to Li Luo, “There’s only one exit from the Needle Stone Forest; the rest are blocked by pillars. Now that exit is sealed.”

“Then why not just fly out?” Mo Ling thought.

But curiosity drove him to keep asking.

“Why is it sealed?” Li Luo was curious too.

“I’ve been away from the tribe too long, not sure. Probably because of Vein Mutation Disease. The road to the exit is blocked,” Shi Beng said, his face growing unnatural.

His tone became animated again, lively.

Was it fear?

Fear of Vein Mutation Disease?

When he mentioned it, he glanced at the cube in the air, seeming afraid of it.

Mo Ling tried descending, flying toward him.

This made Shi Beng panic, retreating behind a boulder.

“What are you doing! Stay away from me!”

Mo Ling didn’t get it, Shi Beng had just called him a brother, now he was acting like he’d seen a ghost.

He kept after him, blocking his escape.

Shi Beng braked too late, nearly crashing into the cube, and had to stop by putting his hand on it.

The instant he touched the cube, Shi Beng’s mouth gaped, his whole body rippling, chaotic waves running over his surface.

He backed away, staring at his hand-his stone joints started trembling.

As if making a decision, he gritted his teeth and broke off the hand that had touched the cube.

But it didn’t stop there-Shi Beng hurried away from the severed hand, then began breaking down his body.

Soon only his head and legs were left, and he turned to run.

Mo Ling quickly sliced off his ankle, making him fall.

Even on the ground, he kept crawling, trying to get away from the cube.

Mo Ling flew over, blocking him again.

Shi Beng, seeing the cube in the way, turned around, even biting the ground as he crawled.

“Why is he suddenly so afraid of me?”

Li Luo came over, frowning, and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you running?”

Shi Beng didn’t answer, just kept fleeing. As the cube drew near, life surged in him again.

His ankle stump regrew rapidly, the sound of metal and stone boomed, echoing violently over his body, as if triggering some potential.

Spikes burst from his back, his body quickly bulking up, completely different from before.

With the ripples surging, his body recovered fast, lost arms regrew, and he grew taller.

Then he suddenly leapt, jumping over Li Luo’s head and running off.

He stopped at a closed stone wall, looking helplessly at it.

Now a stone giant, his body still trembled uncontrollably.

Li Luo took the chance to shout, “Calm down!”

Away from the cube, Shi Beng finally calmed a bit. He turned, pointed at the cube, and his hoarse voice trembled.

“You are the one with the Vein Mutation Disease!”