Chapter 13: The Corruptor

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Wenren Jing, the top-ranked player on the Desire Tower leaderboard, once summarized that every floor and every region within the Desire Tower has its own story. Although the Three Towers’ inhabitants possess intelligence comparable to humans—indeed, they were originally human—they are manipulated like NPCs, bound by predetermined destinies.

Take Jack, Remian, and Anderson, for example. Even though Wen Xishu’s intervention delayed Jack’s progress, Remian and Anderson would still deliver despair and pain to Jack at the appropriate times. This is the trajectory of their journey through the Desire Tower.

Understanding the stories of each region equates to mastering each character’s Desire Tower trajectory, which aids in achieving a higher completion rate. Yet, when different players enter the same area and undertake the same missions, everyone is sent back to a certain point in time, repeating their fate once more.

In simple terms, a dungeon reset.

Recently, however, Wenren Jing published a paper that sent shockwaves throughout the bunker. The paper introduced an entity called the “Corruptor.” Unlike ordinary denizens of the Three Towers, Corruptors retain fragments of memory each time a mission restarts. Gradually, they become aware that they live in a cyclical game world.

Realizing that all their efforts are futile, they choose to indulge in hedonism and chaos, wreaking havoc without restraint. The phrase “the collapse of rites and music” aptly describes the Corruptors’ nature. Since the world will reset anyway, and it’s just a game, having fun is paramount.

Parents and friends are mere data—playing tricks on them, deceiving them, or even killing them poses no problem.

In essence, Corruptors resemble protagonists trapped in an endless time loop—unpredictable, intimately familiar with their surroundings, and utterly deranged. They attempt to resist, deceive, and torment players.

The higher the floor, the higher the likelihood of encountering Corruptors, which can cause significant divergence in the same mission for different players.

Thus, strategies for the upper floors of the Desire Tower have a certain time sensitivity, as the original storylines can become a chaotic mess due to Corruptor interference. Naturally, the chance of mission failure increases.

Wenren Jing’s paper also mentioned that Corruptors are still bound by the rules of the Desire Tower, which might be the price they pay for becoming Corruptors.

If Wen Xishu had read this paper and knew that the Desire Tower forbids all acts of violence, he would understand why the “doctor” wore such a confused and bewildered expression.

Because the doctor was a Corruptor, bound by the same rules as players.

For example, when killing an old woman, he couldn’t strangle her directly. Instead, he had to use the momentum of a wheelchair to push her off.

In the original storyline, Jack was never diagnosed with stomach cancer. He couldn’t even afford a hospital checkup and naturally had no idea what was truly wrong with him.

In that original narrative, Jack did suffer betrayal by Remian and deceit by Anderson, but his mother did not die. Jack retained a shred of humanity and ultimately spared Jennifer.

However, with this doctor manipulating events behind the scenes, Jack’s fate changed. His mother’s death became the true catalyst that shattered his sanity.

Because of this, Jennifer heard Jack’s cruel words inside that building:

“You have a mother. Are you bragging to me?”

In the end, Jennifer turned back to her mother and was killed by Jack.

Thanks to Wen Xishu’s intervention, Jennifer’s fate changed—she did not turn back, and Jack did not kill her out of jealousy.

Back to the point: Wen Xishu was unaware of these details but had discovered the Corruptor.

“This isn’t right. Where did things go wrong? Everything was the same as last time, so why did you suddenly appear in the hospital?”

The doctor was surprised by Wen Xishu’s arrival.

Wen Xishu said, “Tell me, who exactly are you?”

The doctor shook his head gently. “That question is meaningless. I admit your appearance surprised me. I must have made a mistake somewhere. But it’s fine—since you can use violence, you’re just an ordinary person. I’ll keep an eye on you after the reset.”

Wen Xishu didn’t understand, so he changed his approach.

“Here’s a secret: I actually enjoy playing the role of a calm, kind-faced good person.”

The doctor was puzzled by the sudden confession.

Wen Xishu smiled more warmly.

“Because only then, when I lose control, does it feel incredibly exhilarating, as if the world itself is out of sync.”

Before he finished speaking, an unscrupulous heavy punch struck, distorting the doctor’s handsome face. The sound of his nasal bone breaking echoed, but Wen Xishu did not stop.

He noticed the fake doctor seemed fearful of violence.

That punch was only the beginning. A storm of blows followed, and in moments, the doctor’s face was a bloody, mangled mess.

His pig-like face now made him appear far more docile.

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Seeing the doctor battered and bruised, Wen Xishu felt much better. The better his mood, the stronger his punches.

His smile shifted from kind to ferocious, revealing a growing primal savagery—completely opposite from when he faced Jennifer.

The doctor had never been this terrified before.

In his mind, since Wen Xishu could wield violence, he must be an ordinary person, not an awakened being like himself.

Yet, watching that increasingly malevolent smile, he wondered: Was this person trying to kill him?

As an ordinary person, shouldn’t he fear the Moen City police and consider the consequences of assaulting others?

The lawless, chaotic Corruptor was ironically hoping for the arrival of Moen City’s order-keeping police.

Wen Xishu was genuinely trying to beat the doctor to death.

His logic was simple: the purpose of violence is either to “extract information” or “eliminate threats.”

If he couldn’t obtain information, then he would use violence to eliminate the threat.

Strangely, Wen Xishu felt immense joy from using violence in the Desire Tower—it was exhilarating.

It was like sleeping in class: a bed is naturally more comfortable than a desk, but the forbidden thrill of dozing off in class was truly delightful.

Wen Xishu didn’t even worry about killing the doctor.

When he first used violence to drag the doctor, he saw the health bar and the faint damage numbers.

Although the doctor’s health was still relatively intact, the relentless beating soon forced him to beg for mercy.

High-level Corruptors in the Desire Tower might possess superhuman abilities like Jack, but the doctor lacked such powers.

Faced with Wen Xishu’s brutal, frame-perfect attacks, the doctor had no choice but to plead and confess.

Initially, Wen Xishu assumed the doctor was part of some organization.

This world was becoming strange; some people seemed to have special potential, like Jack, who could transform into the twisted “Jack.”

Where there are such individuals, there are naturally those who seek to control them.

The bad news was, Wen Xishu had guessed wrong—the doctor wasn’t that impressive.

The good news was, the doctor’s existence was even more intriguing.

From the doctor’s description, Wen Xishu realized he was indeed a Three Towers inhabitant, but his behavior and logic increasingly resembled those of a “player.”

It was incredible—an NPC in the Desire Tower had become aware of the cyclical nature of their world.

Wen Xishu was thrilled. This must be a mutation of the Three Towers’ people.

He could imagine that at higher levels, such variables were numerous, and everyone’s Desire Tower trajectory might be thoroughly scrambled.

Yet, in the midst of such chaotic twists, altering a character’s fate gave Wen Xishu a deep sense of accomplishment.

...

The incident on the nursing home’s rooftop caused no further disturbance.

In fact, Wen Xishu had helped the nursing home greatly by resolving a potential crisis.

Half an hour later, Jack arrived at the nursing home.

Jack’s warm reunion with his mother bored Wen Xishu. He was already eager to return to the Eldritch Tower, though the task here was not yet complete.

Wen Xishu shared many of his speculations with Jack, including those about Jennifer.

“So, you’re saying... Jennifer and I are attracted to each other?” Jack found this unbelievable.

Wen Xishu said, “You don’t like Yulia, right?”

Jack nodded, “That’s true.”

Wen Xishu smiled, “And you’re not a pedophile. If you’re honest, then you don’t like other children either. So Jennifer is special.”

Jack still nodded. He had said before that beyond work, he didn’t want to interact with other kids.

Though he mentioned going to a school performance, that was because he was short of money.

Thinking carefully about Wen Xishu’s words, Jack indeed felt that Jennifer stirred a protective instinct in him.

It was strange. He had seen many children, some even cuter than Jennifer, but none made him want to get close like Jennifer did.

Wen Xishu said, “You might find this hard to believe, but I actually know some things about the future.”

“Jack, Jennifer shares your potential. While she attracts you, you also attract her.”

“Master this power and protect her. A disastrous era is coming soon. You’ll need to support each other to survive.”

Jack was shocked, “You mean... Jennifer is also tainted by something like me?”

“Not tainted. Unfortunately, I’ve only just begun investigating these matters. My journey of discovery is still long,” Wen Xishu replied.

Jack nodded slowly.

He could indeed feel something strange within his body.

The doctor, being a Corruptor, also knew Jack was about to transform into a monster—likely within twelve hours.

Corruptors are essentially hedonists who enjoy chaos.

So the doctor thought to let Jack experience a shattering moment before his transformation.

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These revelations, along with Wen Xishu’s arrival and his ruthless beating, were all admitted by the doctor himself.

Wen Xishu’s knowledge of the future and his interruption of the plan deeply terrified the doctor.

The doctor had assumed Wen Xishu was just an “NPC,” unaware that in Wen Xishu’s eyes, he himself was the NPC.

Now, the doctor believed Wen Xishu was an awakened being like himself.

This was the most frightening part, because if Wen Xishu was awakened too... then why could Wen Xishu use violence, but the doctor couldn’t?

In the doctor’s mind, every moment of his life was destined to reset. Even robbing banks or committing murder was fine, since it would all reset.

But he couldn’t do those things—not even resort to roughing someone up.

Yet Wen Xishu could.

The doctor wondered if there were higher-level awakened beings.

This self-constructed theory only heightened his fear of Wen Xishu. Both could perceive the cycle, yet one could use violence, and the other couldn’t.

This was supreme domination.

Wen Xishu didn’t know what the doctor was thinking, but his contemptuous gaze made the doctor even more fearful.

Jack seemed to have accepted his fate, and he did not doubt Wen Xishu’s words.

After all, according to the doctor, Jack could transform today or tomorrow.

Wen Xishu suddenly recalled something and advised:

“I’m leaving this fake doctor to you. Your body will soon change. After that, you will gain immense power.”

“You can torture him at will—don’t hold back. Never repay evil with kindness when it’s someone trying to ruin your life.”

Upon hearing this, the doctor could only pray for the reset to come quickly.

“Jack, being a nice guy is a weak move. If you must be nice, be a sharp-edged nice guy.”

“You need to let loose sometimes, or you’ll suffocate yourself. I suggest you try it with Anderson and Remian.”

“To be honest, I quite like stepping on watermelons. One stomp, and the juice bursts out. Keeping some meat in the fridge is also a good habit.”

Wen Xishu worried his interference might make Twisted Jack boring, so he offered these reminders.

If time allowed, he even considered creating a twisted test—letting Jack leave only after scoring 97 points.

Of course, this was just a thought. He still had to complete the final part of this mission.

Before leaving, Wen Xishu did not forget to loot some coins from the “boss.”

He took the money from the doctor’s pocket.

...

Night fell.

In a high-end Western restaurant in Moen City, Wen Xishu invited Yulia to dinner.

Outside the restaurant, many signs warned, “Beware of rats.” Moen City was currently plagued by a rodent problem.

Despite this, the upscale restaurant remained busy, and the staff evidently put effort into keeping the rats away.

Wen Xishu knew exactly how to please Yulia.

But this was no romance novel—this was the apocalypse. Love was trivial now.

His sole purpose was to build rapport with Jennifer. He had no interest in the typical romantic entanglements most people gossiped about.

Since Wen Xishu had gained Jennifer’s favor in the Eldritch Tower, young Jennifer was very close to him.

While Yulia enjoyed her red wine, Wen Xishu asked to whisper something to young Jennifer.

This delighted Yulia immensely.

A handsome man, much younger than her, seemingly in his prime, with some money, and willing to treat her daughter well—she felt she had found her true love.

Nearby, Jennifer beamed with joy.

Unbeknownst to Yulia, their conversation went like this:

“Jennifer, do you think turning into a monster is cool?”

“Huh? I can really transform? That’s so cool!”

“Aren’t you afraid of rotting flesh, bones, and skulls?”

“Scared, yes, but if it’s Uncle Jack, then it’s really cool.”

Wen Xishu adored this double-standard little girl.

“Right? Remember your promise with Uncle Jack? He’ll invite you to see his show.”

“I remember! I really want to go, but Mom won’t let me.”

“Don’t worry. Uncle Jack will become really cool soon. He’ll appear before you in an amazing way. That show will be unforgettable.”

“Really?”

“Of course I’m not lying. Jennifer, this world is about to change drastically, but don’t be afraid because Uncle Jack will be with you.”

“That’s great! I want to play with Uncle Jack too!”

Wen Xishu gently stroked Jennifer’s head.

The data in his eyes changed:

[Jennifer’s current happiness: 99. Mission status: completed.]

[After completing the Eldritch Tower trial, the Desire Tower trial rewards will be simultaneously unlocked.]

This meant Wen Xishu could claim dual rewards from both towers.

He smiled happily. To Yulia, his smile appeared innocent and childlike.

But with a slight change in his gaze, it mirrored the sinister smile of Twisted Jack.