Chapter One: The Headless Man of Blood

Dawn broke, gilding all things in gold as the morning light bathed the earth, and the entire city began its daily operations. On the broad bridge spanning the sea, traffic surged, horns blaring in a chaotic symphony. Amid the throng, a nimble figure on a skateboard darted skillfully through the crowd, his white silhouette flipping and twisting, his superb technique drawing astonished exclamations and praise from passersby.

“Hey, Mu Yu, wait for me!”

Behind the crowd, a chubby boy was struggling upstream against the tide of people, gasping and shouting after the white-clad youth speeding ahead. Hearing his name called, Mu Yu pressed his foot down, launching himself and the board into the air like a swift blade, sharply turning to slice back into the crowd, gliding swiftly to the side of the bridge.

“Fatty San? How come you're here so early today? Didn’t you stop for a snack?”

Seeing Fatty San panting heavily, Mu Yu couldn't help but tease him with a laugh.

“You run way too fast, I almost threw up my breakfast.”

Fatty San bent over, catching his breath without raising his head, then handed Mu Yu two tickets.

“Death Row… Amusement Park? What's this?”

Mu Yu took the tickets, frowning as he read, puzzled.

Fatty San swallowed, straightened up, calmed himself, and asked earnestly, “Mu Yu, aren't we brothers?”

“Of course,” Mu Yu replied, surprised by Fatty San's rare seriousness. “What's up, tell me.”

Fatty San’s chubby cheeks blushed, a comical sight. “Death Row Amusement Park opens today. My dad worked hard to get three tickets. One’s for you, and the last… it's for Jiang Man. I want to ask her out tonight. Can you help me play wingman?”

He ended, uncharacteristically shy.

“Well, well!”

Mu Yu’s eyes lit up, punching Fatty San’s chest with a hearty laugh. “Not easy, huh? The three of us grew up together, and you finally decided to court someone right next door!”

“Enough with the nonsense. Go tell Jiang Man for me. By the time I get to school, it’ll be almost time for class.”

“Alright!”

Mu Yu positioned his skateboard, hopped on, and sped off, waving back. “I’m off! Take care on the road!”

Fatty San was speechless. “Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?”

…

Speeding along, Mu Yu traversed a path he’d taken a thousand times, long since familiar. Beneath the bridge, the sea breeze brushed gently, snow-white seabirds tumbled across the sparkling waters, everything serene—except for that time the world ended.

Halfmoon Island, the main island of the northeastern archipelago of the Central Experimental Base, was famed as an eastern paradise atop the sea. Endless reefs and coral, together with steel and concrete, supported this vast city on water—the place where Mu Yu had grown up.

On February 2, 3001, at eight in the morning, spring’s chill still lingered as Halfmoon Island was just revealing its unique vitality. Suddenly, dazzling earth-light exploded, followed by violent tremors; hurricanes, carrying towering waves, smashed into the city, swallowing everything in an instant.

That day, the Cosmic Security Bureau detected seven meteors, each rivaling the moon in size, appearing from nowhere in the galaxy. Their powerful magnetic fields instantly paralyzed Earth’s defenses, sea levels surged, and overwhelming floods destroyed the surface, obliterating human civilization overnight.

That year, Mu Yu was born. His parents spent all their savings for a single berth on the Ark, and so died resolutely in that unparalleled catastrophe.

After the disaster, humanity’s numbers plummeted, borders vanished, and after several rounds of political chaos, the world was reshaped. Seven survival bases were established atop the meteors, and for the next sixteen years Mu Yu grew up in an orphanage, living freely and unrestrained.

Skating across the main bridge, Mu Yu lowered his head and dove into a pitch-black tunnel leading to the island’s largest artificial green space. The terrain sloped steeply, and as Mu Yu accelerated downhill, he shouted excitedly. Ahead, white light blossomed, and he seemed to smell the fragrance of grass and earth.

But—

The sound of the skateboard scraping against the ground abruptly ceased.

Before him stood a vast cluster of antique buildings, the once lush greenery completely gone.

Mu Yu was struck dumb.

Inside the ancient gates, a massive black bat-shaped structure unfurled its giant wings, adorned with blood-red skulls. Between the wings, cables crisscrossed like webs, and huge crimson skulls moved slowly up and down.

At the entrance, blood-jade sculptures of spectral phoenixes and ghostly dragons flanked either side, their expressions lifelike, but their eyes empty and eerie, making Mu Yu feel uneasy.

“So this is… Death Row Amusement Park?”

Laughter and joy echoed faintly in the distance, but Mu Yu shivered inexplicably.

The sky had darkened without warning, the wind turned chilly. Mu Yu pulled his school uniform tighter and hurried toward campus.

Tap tap… tap tap…

Chalk galloped across the blackboard as the lesson progressed, but Mu Yu, unlike usual, was distracted, ever since passing Death Row Amusement Park that morning. Even Jiang Man was late today, arriving with Fatty San just as the bell rang. Fatty San gallantly let her enter first, then turned to Mu Yu with a look of deep worry and helplessness. Mu Yu shrugged, indicating he could do nothing.

The sky grew darker still, the air so humid it seemed to drip water. The bell didn’t ring, and an inexplicable irritation made Mu Yu feel suffocated.

Ah, never mind…

Mu Yu shook his head, gazing at the slender figure before him. Since entering secondary school, Jiang Man had grown increasingly lively and beautiful, no wonder Fatty San’s heart was stirred.

He tore off a sheet of paper, scribbled a few lines, slipped a Death Row Amusement Park ticket inside, and gently tapped the violet butterfly bow atop Jiang Man’s head—a sixteenth birthday gift he’d given her.

“Silly Man, a handsome guy sent this for you.”

“Wait a minute…”

The girl in front didn’t look up, still scribbling furiously, following the teacher’s lecture, muttering urgently, “I can’t spare a hand now, just put it on my head. And stop calling me silly, I’m clever!”

Mu Yu pouted helplessly, laying the note flat atop Jiang Man’s head. She lowered her head, the note slipped onto her desk, and the dark red ticket slid out.

Her pen suddenly halted. Mu Yu noticed Jiang Man’s body tense—the ticket had caught her attention—and he grinned.

It’s working!

After a moment, Jiang Man turned, her brows slightly furrowed, shaking the ticket in her hand, her watery eyes curious as she asked Mu Yu, “Did you give this to me?”

“Why me?”

Mu Yu was momentarily taken aback. The girl before him was delicate and lovely, her smile revealing charming dimples, shy yet gentle—a beauty who had bewitched many. She had many admirers and received countless gifts, but Mu Yu and Fatty San acted as her guardians, fending off all threats and happily helping her deal with the flood of suitors.

Mu Yu rarely gave her anything; by probability, he was the least likely suspect.

“It’s you, hmph. Would you ever admit anyone else was a handsome guy?”

Jiang Man wrinkled her cute little nose, pouting playfully, then smiled to herself.

“Heh, so that’s how it is…”

Mu Yu scratched his head, embarrassed, clearing his throat to gently convey Fatty San’s invitation. But then he noticed her expression freeze.

The ticket slipped from her fingers like a blood-red flower, falling gently.

On Jiang Man’s lovely, moonlit face, all color drained away. Her lips quivered, mouth opening soundlessly, her throat seemingly constricted by an invisible hand. Her autumn eyes trembled, as if she’d seen something terrifying.

“Hey? Are you alright? What’s wrong?”

Mu Yu turned back, confused, only to be struck silent. His pupils contracted sharply, reflecting a blood-red figure.

Outside the window, the sky was heavy as ink. Pale lightning flickered within the clouds. Suspended in midair was a blood-clad man nearly two meters tall, one hand pressed against the window, his entire body dripping with blood-red fluid, which slid slowly down the glass from his bloody palm.

Mu Yu’s hair stood on end—this was the sixth floor!

Cosplay? A prank? Or… was it real?

The man silently gazed at the classroom. The students below the window were absorbed in their notes, the scene eerily surreal.

As Mu Yu stared in horror, the man slowly drew a giant black double-bladed scythe from his back. Lightning split the sky, the blade gleaming with a cold, lethal light, the wind whipping his dark red cloak.

“Ah!”

Mu Yu screamed, falling to the floor. Instantly, everyone turned their attention to him. Ignoring their questioning looks, he pointed at the blood-clad man, trembling violently. He saw—the cloak was empty beneath, there was no head!

How could he be alive?

“Ghost… ghost…”

Mu Yu, pale and panicked, lost all composure. It must be a hallucination! Surely!

But shrill screams erupted one after another, dragging Mu Yu back to a blood-soaked reality.

The classroom was in chaos. The man outside raised his scythe overhead, aiming straight at the crowd. Blood dripped from the hilt. Before Mu Yu could process his movement, a blinding flash shot through, followed by a deafening explosion. A fierce gust swept through, and the shockwave slammed Mu Yu to the ground, his head cracking against the wall, pain overwhelming him to the brink of unconsciousness.

The classroom was unrecognizable. Cold wind and icy rain swept in, the chilling air restoring some clarity to Mu Yu’s mind. He felt warm liquid dripping from his head, carrying a metallic tang.

Mu Yu turned his head with difficulty, eyes bulging, eyelids splitting.

The familiar violet butterfly bow was now soaked in blood, crimson staining Jiang Man’s dark, glossy hair, dripping into Mu Yu’s eyes—a heartbreaking red.

What had happened? Jiang Man… dead? Was anyone else alive here?

Through the haze, Mu Yu sensed the blood-red figure approaching. Terror shattered his remaining sanity. He retreated, nearly sobbing, shouting, “Who are you? Why are you killing people? Aren’t you afraid of justice? Stay away! Don’t come near!”

Mu Yu screamed in panic, grabbing a shattered piece of wood and hurling it at the headless man. The man didn’t dodge; the metallic clang rang out with no reaction, as he continued to press forward.

The bloodied scythe touched Mu Yu’s chin, forcing him to look up. The headless man scrutinized him, stepped closer, and opened his chest.

Before Mu Yu could comprehend, the man unzipped a seam sewn onto his chest, and a bright red tongue extended outward, releasing a stench of rotting flesh.

The headless man licked Mu Yu’s body, inhaling deeply as if intoxicated by his scent. The viscous liquid exuded a suffocating odor; Mu Yu’s stomach churned, and he retched uncontrollably.

Seeing Mu Yu’s lack of cooperation, the headless man angrily lifted him, pinning him against the wall. Mu Yu saw stars, felt a chill at his neck, and blood gushed forth. The headless man greedily latched onto Mu Yu’s neck, drinking deeply.

“What are you doing? Let me go, you monster!”

Mu Yu pushed desperately, but his limbs grew weak and cold—clear signs of blood loss.

“Let… me go!”

His struggles weakened, then his legs slackened as he fainted.

Only then did the headless man release him, smacking his lips with lingering satisfaction. Seeing Mu Yu’s shriveling mouth, he bit his wrist, pried open Mu Yu’s mouth, and poured his blood in.

The dark red blood was lifeless, flowing into Mu Yu’s body. From the wound, a centipede-like creature crawled out. The headless man yanked it, placing it at Mu Yu’s neck wound, and the centipede burrowed in with a hiss.

After finishing, the headless man stood, glanced around, then rose into the sky, vanishing into the horizon.

Ding—

The gentle chime of the bell finally sounded in the empty classroom, lingering amid distant thunder and a silence as profound as death.