"It's strange. These two—clearly their souls are separate, but their actions are completely off."
John Chou muttered, then crouched in front of his cousin Howard Zhang and Susan Li, both still struggling to get up.
"Any ideas, John Chou?"
I asked, and John Chou immediately shook his head.
"If these two are just manufactured souls, then The Dark Banquet is probably running some kind of experiment. As for why they'd throw people afflicted with The Stilled into this pool to dispose of them—it's happened plenty of times before, hasn't it? You even brought some here yourself."
I sucked in a cold breath.
"Could I be fake too?"
John Chou burst out laughing.
"You've got some imagination, brother. No matter how fake things get, I doubt your instincts could ever be fake."
I hummed in response, awkwardly looking at the two people on the ground.
Everything right now is beyond belief.
Faced with these two acting so bizarrely, I have no idea where to start.
"Let me give it a shot, brother. We're out of options here."
I looked at John Chou in surprise.
"What are you planning to do?"
John Chou smirked, extending his hand.
"Lend me Belle."
"No. If they're real, then..."
For a moment, John Chou stared at me coldly. In the end, I reluctantly handed him Belle. He took it, examined it closely, then lifted Susan Li's long hair and cut off a small lock. Afterward, he walked to the edge of the pool, and I followed, using Deathbane Aura to tightly restrain the two.
John Chou separated a few strands of hair, then placed over ten hairs into the black pool water.
In the morning, the factory doors opened and a steady stream of workers entered. I noticed that their faces resembled Howard Zhang and Susan Li—their expressions blank, almost mechanical.
Outside the factory, there was an area for buying ingredients. Many residents had already arrived to make purchases, but only shopkeepers were allowed. Ordinary families couldn't buy food here at low prices.
Pieces of food rose from the black water. The workers took them and walked out, but once they reached the sales counter, their faces returned to cheerful smiles. Some even chatted with regular customers, looking completely different from how they were inside the factory.
John Chou stared intently at those pools, as if he had figured something out. I didn't disturb him, instead activating Ghost Web to keep watch on everything around us.
Time passed. John Chou remained silent, and I kept my senses tuned to the surroundings. The factory continued its routine, and the city outside seemed unchanged.
Eventually, John Chou turned to me, his eyes dark and thoughtful. "Brother, do you understand what this means?" he asked quietly.
I shook my head, still watching the scene below. "Not yet," I replied.
John Chou gave a faint smile, then looked back at the pools. "They're not just making food here. They're manufacturing people—copies, experiments, like your cousin and Susan Li. The process is hidden in plain sight."
His words sent a chill down my spine. I stared at the black pools, understanding dawning slowly.
"So the food, the workers, even the customers—they're all part of the experiment?" I asked, voice low.
John Chou nodded. "It's all connected, brother. The Dark Banquet controls every aspect—production, consumption, surveillance. The pools are the core of it all."
I clenched my fists, anger and fear mixing inside me. "Then how do we break free?"
John Chou looked at me, his gaze steady. "We need to destroy the pools, or at least disrupt their process. But it's dangerous, brother. The Dark Banquet won't let us do it easily."
A heavy silence fell. I stared at the pools, the weight of our situation sinking in.
John Chou finally spoke, voice low and resolute. "We'll have to wait for the right moment, brother. Watch, learn, and strike when they're vulnerable."
I nodded, swallowing my fear. The city outside continued its eerie routine, indifferent to the darkness brewing beneath.
The hours dragged on as we watched the factory from the rooftop, neither of us speaking.
At last, John Chou stood up, determination in his eyes. "Let's go, brother. We'll come back when we're ready."
We slipped away from the factory, the knowledge we'd gained weighing heavily on us.
Back in the city, I returned to my barbecue shop, mind racing with plans and fears.
John Chou visited that night, silent as ever, sitting in the corner and drinking alone.
I knew we were running out of time. The Dark Banquet's grip was tightening, and soon, we would have no choice but to act.
Late into the night, I sat alone, staring at the city lights. The oppressive feeling of being watched never left me.
Tomorrow, we would return to the factory. This time, we would try to disrupt the pools and break the cycle.
I closed my eyes, gathering strength for the struggle ahead.
Morning arrived. John Chou met me outside the shop, his expression grim but determined.
We set out together, silent, each step heavy with anticipation.
As we approached the factory, the air seemed thicker, charged with a sense of foreboding.
Inside, the factory was just as we remembered—black pools, silent workers, the machinery of the Dark Banquet in motion.
John Chou glanced at me, signaling that it was time. I summoned Deathbane Aura, feeling its cold power surge through me.
We moved quickly, targeting the largest pool. I unleashed Deathbane Aura, watching as the black water began to churn and dissolve.
A siren blared. Workers turned, their faces blank but their movements suddenly sharp and coordinated.
John Chou fought beside me, his own powers flaring as we tried to destroy as many pools as possible.
The factory shook. Black water splashed everywhere, and the workers advanced, their eyes empty but relentless.
I felt the pressure mounting. My Deathbane Aura was strong, but the pools seemed endless.
John Chou shouted, "Fall back!" We retreated, dodging the workers' grasp.
We barely escaped the factory, panting and shaken. The Dark Banquet's forces were stronger than we had imagined.
Outside, we paused to catch our breath. The city felt colder now, the shadows deeper.
John Chou looked at me, his voice grim. "We need a new plan. The Dark Banquet won't stop—they'll come for us soon."
I nodded, determination hardening inside me. We would fight, no matter the cost.
We melted into the city streets, blending with the crowds. The struggle had only just begun.
Above us, the sky darkened, heavy with the threat of what was to come.
John Chou whispered, "Stay sharp, brother. The Dark Place is always watching."
I nodded, feeling the oppressive weight of the supernatural pressing in. Our fight for freedom was far from over.