I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 81

At first, the Natural Gas Tribe did not sneak into mineral veins to quietly change others, but used the method of sending in spies.

They would turn some of their companions into other tribes, then have them blend into the corresponding mineral veins to spread the Vein Mutation Disease.

This is also the origin of the term “Sacrifice” .

After these Sacrifices underwent material transformation, they began to experience different emotions-they were no longer only fear.

Sacrifices were even willing to spread Vein Mutation Disease for the sake of their tribe.

However, before their material was changed, most tribe members were unwilling to become other types.

Gradually, fewer and fewer were willing to be Sacrifices.

And as the Vein Mutation Disease spread, the other mineral tribes learned to distinguish and actively expel spies.

Material changes were extremely obvious to the mineral tribes’ senses, which made spreading Vein Mutation Disease harder and harder.

So they switched to a new method: wearing the red cloth  to sneak into other mineral veins and randomly select a mineral tribe member to turn into a Vein Mutation Disease case.

This did not require a Natural Gas Tribe Sacrifice, so this method quickly replaced the old one.

Those who had their material changed and were treated as Vein Mutation Disease victims continued to be called “Sacrifices,” though they themselves were unaware of their “sacrifice.”

This is also why the ghost called the cube a Sacrifice at first.

As the Natural Gas Tribe kept using the red cloth, Vein Mutation Disease gradually began to rage in all the mineral veins of the Needle Stone Forest .

However, the red cloth had a flaw-each person could only use it once.

This meant the Natural Gas Tribe had to send different people each time.

Although there were many Natural Gas Tribe members, compared to all the mineral tribes in the Needle Stone Forest, it was still a drop in the bucket.

So, the red cloth began to be passed between different Natural Gas Tribe pillars, with new users each time.

That’s why Vein Mutation Disease seemed to “appear everywhere” by coincidence, leaving the solid mineral tribes completely baffled.

Thanks to the efforts of Natural Gas Tribe members everywhere, the Vein Mutation Disease caused massive panic in the Needle Stone Forest, and the war subsided.

Their goal was achieved, but the Natural Gas Tribe continued spreading Vein Mutation Disease, keeping the panic going.

“We don’t have many tribe members left who haven’t used the red cloth. After a while, when no one can use it, the disease will stop happening,” the ghost said.

Li Luo recorded the red cloth’s ability, but the confusion on her face didn’t fade.

Mo Ling also found the red cloth rather strange.

“Why is it that, like the Midas Touch, this red cloth can also change material, and even cause these Vein Mutation Disease victims to develop emotions?”

It sounded like the red cloth’s ability was similar to the Midas Touch, but also different.

Thinking of this, Mo Ling asked Li Luo, “Does the Midas Touch spread by contact, like Vein Mutation Disease?”

Li Luo checked her tablet for a while, then answered, “No.”

“So that’s another difference,” Mo Ling thought.

But the two were still extremely similar.

It was obvious that the red cloth must also be a functionally similar relic, with a mysterious resemblance to the Midas Touch.

After Li Luo finished recording the red cloth’s ability, she casually asked the ghost, “What’s the price for using the red cloth?”

But this simple question left the ghost stunned.

Li Luo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You don’t know?”

The ghost nodded.

Almost the whole tribe had used the red cloth, and yet they didn’t know the price?

A bad feeling crept into Mo Ling’s heart.

Thinking of the red cloth’s restriction of “only once per person,” Mo Ling felt even more uneasy.

He had a guess:

“It’s not a usage restriction! The price has already been paid. These Natural Gas Tribe members who have used the red cloth can’t pay the price again, so they can’t use it twice.”

There was no restriction at all!

He quickly focused his senses on the ghost’s body, searching for anything missing.

Everything was normal.

What had these Natural Gas Tribe members lost?

Mo Ling told Li Luo his guess, and she was just as shocked.

“Don’t you feel like you’ve lost anything?” Li Luo asked.

“No.”

“Is there any difference between those who have used the red cloth and those who haven’t?”

“No.”

Too strange-using a relic should always require a price. How could a price that can only be paid once be completely undetectable?

Could it be something unknown?

The ghost added, “I’ve used the red cloth too, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.”

“Could it be the red cloth isn’t a relic at all, but some kind of creature?”

Mo Ling’s thoughts drifted. In the Abyss, anything was possible.

But at least now they knew the source of Vein Mutation Disease, which satisfied some of their curiosity.

In a while, Vein Mutation Disease would stop appearing in the Needle Stone Forest. Would war break out again then?

Li Luo, after asking a few more questions about the red cloth, also fell into deep thought, apparently unable to come up with a reasonable explanation.

Seeing Li Luo stop asking, the ghost prepared to float upward, its body swelling and blurring, looking very light and ethereal.

Who would have thought that such a seemingly harmless tribe was the true culprit behind the panic in the Needle Stone Forest?

Mo Ling could only feel that the mineral tribes of the Needle Stone Forest were living in deep suffering.

Such a meaningless war had led to this situation.

How absurd.

Just as the ghost was about to dissipate, Shi Beng, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly rushed forward.

He was trembling all over, ripples surging, and clearly terrified.

But his actions were decisive, he charged straight at the ghost.

He reached the still-blurry humanoid, thrust out his left arm, and plunged it into the mist.

Ripples surged to his two right arms, and then he smashed down hard into the mist with his left hand.

The move seemed to take all his strength; even though his body resisted in fear, he still completed the action decisively.

“What was he doing?”

Mo Ling was baffled.

But soon, he understood Shi Beng’s purpose.

Mo Ling quickly moved to shield Li Luo.

After Shi Beng smashed his right arm down, a spark flashed on his left hand.

The heat from the rough basalt  rubbing together created a spark.

He was trying to ignite the ghost!

Mo Ling didn’t know why Shi Beng wanted to do this, but it was always better to dodge.

The spark shot out, passed through the ghost’s body, and fell to the ground.

Nothing happened.

Seeing this, Shi Beng’s fear faded, and he kept striking sparks in the ghost’s mist.

The ghost kept fleeing, and Shi Beng chased the mist until the ghost reformed in midair, finally stopping.

The ghost hovered in fear and asked, “What are you doing? That’s dangerous! You’ll burn me to death!”

Ripples still vibrated on Shi Beng, and his rough, deep voice rang out, firm and strong.

“You can’t be burned! You’re not a Natural Gas Tribe member at all!”