I will burn books and slay gods.

A murmur of discussion arose in the hall.

"Further intelligence indicates," Instructor Guichi switched the screen, displaying a series of surveillance screenshots and blurry photos, "that unidentified individuals have been active in the old factory area over the past two months. Thermal imaging shows anomalies gathering underground. We have reason to believe that the cult has established a temporary base there, possibly conducting some kind of... experiment."

Enlarging the photos, one of them, though blurry, reveals several figures in dark robes surrounding a glowing container.

Something seemed to be wriggling inside the container.

"What are the experimental details?"

An old Night's Watchman with gray hair asked a question; his code nameplate read "Historian Regressor 03".

"Unknown. But considering the method of strengthening the mist core, it is speculated that it may be related to 'artificially creating high-level Nightmares'."

Instructor Guildra's voice was cold. "The Order's ultimate goal is to open the 'Gate of Return to Nothingness,' and a stable gate requires immense irrational power as fuel. Naturally generated Nightmare energy fluctuations are too great and uncontrollable. If they could cultivate it artificially..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

If the Order could cultivate Nightmares like mushrooms, it would be catastrophic.

"Our mission?" This time, it was Lin Su who asked the question.

She had changed into a formal dark gray uniform, with the flame pendant worn on the outside.

"Reconnaissance and assessment."

The instructor retrieved the architectural blueprints of the old factory area. "A five-person team will infiltrate and confirm the nature, scale, and threat level of the experiment. If conditions permit, collect samples and destroy the experimental facilities. If not... assess the situation and retreat, awaiting further instructions."

She surveyed the room: "Team composition: I'll be responsible for spatial support and evacuation. Lin Su, Chen Ye, and Wang Xiaoming, the three of you have participated in the library mission and have some understanding of the cult's methods. In addition, we'll have 'Concept Anatomist 09,' who will be responsible for sample analysis and on-site concept deconstruction."

When Chen Ye heard his name called, his heart skipped a beat.

Is this a real attempt to infiltrate the cult's stronghold?

"Mission Hazard Level: B+, may be upgraded to A-".

Instructor Guild continued, "Most of the cult members are former Night Watchers or failed awakenings, possessing various dangerous abilities. If the test subjects go out of control, they may face unknown types of Nightmares. Therefore, participants should confirm their status tonight and assemble at 08:00 tomorrow to depart."

After the meeting, Chen Ye was stopped by Lao Li in the corridor.

The old man looked more serious than usual, holding Chen Ye's training data and karma monitoring report in his hand: "Kid, are you sure you want to go? Your cognitive deepening is not stable yet. If you go into that kind of place now, a single stimulus could cause you to fall completely into a vortex of knowledge from which you can't climb out."

"I have to go."

Chen Ye said he was somewhat surprised by the firmness in his tone, "I've seen those Mist Spirits, I've seen the corrupted citizens. If the Order is really artificially creating more of that stuff... I can't just stand by and watch."

Old Li stared at him for a few seconds, then took something out of his pocket—a small, metal bookmark engraved with intricate fractal patterns.

"Here you go. It's a cognitive stabilizer I used when I was younger. When you feel your thoughts are about to spiral out of control, hold it and think about 'the simplest facts.' It will help you temporarily simplify your thinking and return to the most basic level of logic."

Old Li stuffed the bookmark into Chen Ye's hand, "But remember, this is only for emergencies. True stability depends on you finding your own foothold."

Chen Ye gripped the bookmark tightly; the metal felt cool to the touch. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me."

Old Li turned to leave, then stopped. "Come back alive. I hate writing death reports."

That night, Chen Ye couldn't sleep.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

The philosophers in my mind are unusually quiet tonight, like the calm before a storm.

He knew what he would face tomorrow—a real enemy, a truly planned and intelligent enemy, not a Nightmare that acts on instinct.

He remembered the three citizens who had been rescued.

Teacher, accountant, housewife.

Ordinary life, ordinary worries, ordinary happiness.

They shouldn't have been dragged into this madness.

He recalled Lin Su's mother's choice.

They used their lives to seal the cracks, buying more time for others.

He recalled Wang Xiaoming's gradually disappearing figure.

I remember him saying, "You must remember me."

fulcrum...

Chen Ye sat up and took out a notebook and pen from the bedside table.

He began to write on the blank page.

It's not a diary, not a plan, but a series of simple statements, written in the most unadorned handwriting:

My name is Chen Ye.

I am the Night's Watchman.

I choose to protect.

Lin Su was a companion.

Wang Xiaoming is a companion.

The instructors, who use rulers, are the guides.

Old Li is a teacher.

I must stop the Guixu Cult.

Because the innocent should not be harmed.

Because madness should not devour reason.

Because someone needs me to go back alive.

After he finished writing, he read it over and over again until every word was etched into the depths of his mind.

This is not a philosophical proposition, nor a mathematical theorem.

This was simply his own choice, his own reasoning.

As I closed my notebook, the sky outside the window began to lighten.

The name Morning Star Hospital took on a new meaning at this moment—the long night was coming to an end, the darkest hour before dawn, but the morning star was still shining.

Chen Ye picked up the bookmark Lao Li had given him and put it in his pocket.

Then check the equipment and the testing instruments.

The flame is stable.

The karmic fog fluctuated, but was firmly confined within its boundaries.

She put on her uniform and headed to the assembly point.

Lin Su was already waiting in the corridor.

She held the flame pendant in her hand today and nodded when she saw Chen Ye.

Wang Xiaoming was also there; he had even more glowing stickers on his body today, making him look like a walking constellation.

The instructor came from the other end, carrying a silver equipment case on his back.

Concept Anatomist 09 is a tall, thin middle-aged man with thick glasses. He always carries a tablet computer with various data and formulas scrolling across the screen.

"Is everyone here?" Instructor Gui glanced at the time. "Let's go."

The car drove out of Chenxing and headed towards the abandoned factory area in the north of the city.

Chen Ye gazed at the city scenery passing by outside the window, his hand on his chest, his heart still filled with excitement and nervousness. He could feel the outline of the notebook and the hard edge of the bookmark through his clothes.

Now, for me, I have found my footing.

Now, he will use this newly found fulcrum to pry open the impending darkness.

The mission begins.

The century-old pharmaceutical factory complex resembled a dead steel behemoth in the morning mist.

Rusty pipes clung to the building's exterior like exposed bones, and broken windows resembled empty eye sockets.

The perimeter wall surrounding the factory has mostly collapsed, and weeds are growing wildly from the cracks in the cement, almost swallowing up the rusted factory sign.

But beneath this desolate exterior, Chen Ye's "vision" saw something else.