35: Chapter 35 Return to Los Santos

The golden light receded like a tide, and Lin Fan's consciousness broke free from the chaos, crashing heavily onto the cold concrete floor.

A bone-chilling cold spread through his limbs, mixed with the smell of gunpowder and rust permeating the air, instantly pulling him back into that familiar yet strange virtual world.

Lin Fan pushed himself up slowly, brushed the dust off his clothes, and looked up—

The sky was a dull gray, as if covered by a thick black veil, with not a sliver of sunlight to be seen. The buildings on both sides of the street were either entangled in black data streams or had collapsed directly into distorted pixel blocks. The once-bustling main road of Los Santos was now deserted, save for a few abandoned cars that emitted sharp "creak-creak" sounds as the wind blew.

In the air, tiny code fragments floated like fireflies, flickering with an eerie blue light.

Was this the Los Santos he had left only a few days ago?

An indescribable bitterness welled up in Lin Fan's heart.

He remembered that when he left, although it was chaotic, there were at least the lights of the Survivors Base and the laughter of Michael and Franklin.

Now, it was as silent as a grave.

"System Prompt: Host return detected. Virtual world synchronization rate 100%. Two-way channel operating stably."

The system's cold voice rang in his mind, but Lin Fan felt no joy. He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination.

He was back.

Back to this world that needed him.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and set off toward the Survivors Base.

The street was quiet; only the sound of his footsteps echoed through the empty space.

After walking a short distance, Lin Fan saw a wanted poster stuck to a wall. The poster featured photos of three people—himself, Michael, and Franklin.

Above the photos, bold red letters read: Most Wanted, Danger Level: SSS.

Below the photos was a line of smaller text: Reward of 100,000 virtual coins for information; 1,000,000 for capture; 10,000,000 for a kill.

The signature was—The Prophet.

Lin Fan's gaze instantly turned cold.

It seemed the Prophet had completely taken control of Los Santos.

He tore down the wanted poster and continued forward.

After a few more steps, a cacophony of footsteps suddenly came from ahead.

Lin Fan's expression changed, and he quickly ducked behind an abandoned car.

He poked his head out and looked toward the source of the footsteps.

A group of NPCs in uniform were marching this way. Their eyes were hollow, their faces expressionless, and they held energy rifles, their pace as synchronized as robots.

On their chests, they all bore the same emblem—a silver mask.

These were the Prophet's followers.

A strong sense of unease rose in Lin Fan's heart.

He remembered that when he left, the number of Prophet followers was small. Now, this single squad alone had over a dozen people.

It appeared that during the few days he was gone, the Prophet's power had expanded to a terrifying degree.

"Pick up the pace! Lord Prophet said we must find those three wanted criminals today!" the leading NPC said expressionlessly.

"Yes!" the other NPCs replied in unison.

Their voices were as cold as machines.

Lin Fan's brow furrowed tightly.

He noticed that a faint layer of black data stream was wrapped around these NPCs. The data stream was like a parasite, constantly boring into their bodies.

This must be the Prophet's ability—Data Assimilation.

He could control NPC consciousness through the black data stream, converting them into his followers.

Moreover, looking at these NPCs, they had completely lost their self-awareness and become the Prophet's puppets.

A chill ran through Lin Fan's heart.

If the Prophet's ability were only to control NPCs, it wouldn't be so terrifying.

But what if his ability could affect the consciousness of players?

Lin Fan didn't dare think further.

He held his breath and waited until the squad had gone far away before emerging from behind the car.

He didn't dare take the main road anymore, choosing a secluded alley instead.

The alley was piled with trash, emitting a pungent stench. Lin Fan walked cautiously, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.

Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Lin Fan's expression shifted, and he spun around instantly, a silenced pistol appearing in his hand, aimed at the person behind him.

The person behind him wore a tattered trench coat and a black mask over their face, leaving only their eyes visible.

Those eyes were very familiar to Lin Fan.

It was Franklin!

Lin Fan's eyes lit up instantly.

He put away the pistol and said excitedly, "Franklin! It's you!"

Franklin didn't speak; he just watched Lin Fan warily, his eyes full of suspicion.

"Why are you here?" Franklin's voice was as raspy as sandpaper. "Aren't you supposed to be in the real world?"

"I came back to save you guys," Lin Fan said, his tone full of sincerity.

Franklin did not lower his guard. He took a step back, the suspicion in his eyes deepening.

"Save us?" Franklin sneered. "How can you prove you weren't sent by the Prophet?"

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't expected Franklin to doubt him.

"Franklin, have you forgotten? We stole cars together, robbed banks together, and fought Victor's men together! We're brothers!" Lin Fan said passionately.

"Brothers?" Franklin's gaze grew even colder. "In this world, the word 'brother' is worthless."

He paused and continued, "You know the Prophet's power. He can control anyone's consciousness through Data Assimilation. He can even mimic a person's speech and behavior, making it impossible to tell real from fake."

"How do I know if you're being controlled by the Prophet? How do I know you're not an undercover agent sent by him?"

Lin Fan's heart was filled with bitterness.

He knew Franklin's suspicion wasn't without reason.

In this chaotic world, anyone could be an enemy.

But he really wasn't being controlled by the Prophet.

He had truly come back to save them.

"Franklin, look at this." Lin Fan pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Franklin.

On the USB drive, a line of small text was engraved: For Michael and Franklin, wait for my return.

This was the USB drive he had left behind before he departed.

Franklin took the USB drive and looked at it closely.

Seeing that line of text, his gaze finally softened a bit.

But he still didn't completely lower his guard.

"Follow me," Franklin said, turning to walk deeper into the alley.

Lin Fan followed closely behind.

The two of them traversed several narrow alleys and arrived at an abandoned basement.

The entrance to the basement was covered by a pile of trash, making it hard to find.

Franklin moved the trash aside and called out toward the inside, "It's me."

Footsteps came from within the basement.

Soon, a familiar figure emerged.

It was Michael!

Michael's face was covered in dust and wounds. His arm was wrapped in thick bandages, which were already stained red with blood.

Seeing Lin Fan, Michael's eyes lit up instantly.

"Lin Fan! You're back!" Michael said excitedly, his voice full of joy.

He stepped forward quickly, wanting to hug Lin Fan.

"Watch out!" Franklin shouted, stopping Michael. "He might be an undercover agent sent by the Prophet."

Michael's movements froze.

He looked at Franklin, then back at Lin Fan, his eyes full of confusion.

"Undercover?" Michael frowned. "That's impossible, right? How could Lin Fan be an undercover agent?"

"In this world, nothing is impossible," Franklin said, his eyes still warily fixed on Lin Fan. "The Prophet's power is too terrifying. He can mimic anyone."

Lin Fan looked at Franklin, feeling a sense of helplessness.

He knew he had to prove his innocence.

"Franklin, do you remember? The first time we stole a car, you almost drove it into the ocean. It was me who pulled you back," Lin Fan said.

Franklin's eyes flickered.

"And the first time we robbed a bank, you were surrounded by police. It was me who drove through the police blockade to save you," Lin Fan continued.

Franklin's lips twitched.

"And when we were besieged by the Gang Alliance at the nightclub, it was me who used hacking skills to paralyze the enemy's communications. And it was you who drove into the lobby to save us," Lin Fan's voice grew more emotional. "Only the three of us know these things. Even if the Prophet mimics my behavior, he couldn't possibly know these details!"

Franklin's gaze finally softened completely.

He was silent for a moment and then slowly lowered his guard.

"Sorry, Lin Fan," Franklin's voice carried a hint of guilt. "I didn't mean to doubt you. It's just that we've experienced too many betrayals these past few days."

Lin Fan smiled and patted Franklin's shoulder. "I understand."

Michael also breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to hug Lin Fan tightly.

"Kid, you finally came back," Michael said, his voice carrying a hint of a sob. "We were almost at our breaking point."

Lin Fan patted Michael's back, a warm current flowing through his heart.

[part:deepseek-chat]

I'm back,

From now on, we will defeat the Prophet together.

Michael and Franklin nodded heavily.

The three of them walked into the basement.

Inside the basement, the light was dim. A few worn-out tables and chairs were placed in the center. In the corner, some canned food and bottled water were piled up.

This was their current hiding place.

"Tell me, what has happened these past few days?" Lin Fan asked.

Michael and Franklin exchanged a glance, bitter smiles appearing on their faces.

"After you left, the Prophet began expanding his influence on a large scale," Michael said. "Using his Data Assimilation ability, he has controlled more and more NPCs. Those NPCs unwilling to be controlled by him were all deleted."

"Deleted?" Lin Fan's brows furrowed tightly. "You mean..."

"That's right," Franklin took over. "The Prophet can directly delete an NPC's code, making them vanish completely from this world. It's as if... they never existed."

A chill ran through Lin Fan's heart.

This Prophet's power was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

"It's not just NPCs," Michael continued. "The Prophet also started recruiting players who remained in the virtual world. Those players with weak wills were assimilated by his data, becoming his followers."

"Players with strong wills either got deleted by him or went into hiding," Franklin added. "Los Santos has now become the Prophet's personal domain."

Lin Fan's expression grew increasingly grave.

"What about the Survivors Base?" Lin Fan asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.

The light in Michael and Franklin's eyes dimmed.

"The Survivors Base... was breached by the Prophet," Michael's voice carried a trace of sorrow. "Those survivors were either controlled by him or deleted. Only the two of us managed to escape by chance."

Lin Fan's heart felt as if weighed down by a stone, heavy and oppressive.

He remembered the faces of those survivors, remembered the hope in their eyes when they looked at him.

And now, they were gone.

Lin Fan clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

"That bastard Prophet!" Lin Fan said through gritted teeth.

"What's even more terrifying is that the Prophet's goal isn't just to control this world," Franklin's voice held a hint of fear. "He says he wants to purify this world."

"Purify?" Lin Fan frowned.

"Yes," Franklin nodded. "He says there are too many unstable elements in this world. These unstable elements affect the world's order. What he wants to do is delete all unstable elements."

"And we are the unstable elements he's talking about," Michael added. "He says we players are invaders who barged into this world. We disrupted the balance of this world. What he wants is to delete us completely."

A strong sense of crisis rose in Lin Fan's heart.

It seemed the Prophet's target was him.

He had to find a way to defeat the Prophet as soon as possible.

Otherwise, he, Michael, and Franklin would all be completely deleted by the Prophet.

Just then, Kate's voice suddenly came through Lin Fan's earpiece.

"Lin Fan, can you hear me?" Kate's voice carried a trace of urgency.

"Kate?" Lin Fan's eyes lit up. "I hear you. What's wrong?"

"I just found out that Victor's new server is about to go online!" Kate's voice was tense. "According to my investigation, this new server was prepared by Victor for the Prophet. Once the new server goes online, the Prophet's abilities will undergo a qualitative leap. At that point, he might even be able to directly manipulate the rules of this world!"

Lin Fan's face instantly turned pale.

He knew what Kate said was true.

If the Prophet's power underwent a qualitative leap, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"When will the new server go online?" Lin Fan asked urgently.

"According to my calculations, in less than twenty-four hours," Kate said. "Lin Fan, you must defeat the Prophet within twenty-four hours. Otherwise, it will be too late."

Lin Fan's heart was roiled by stormy waves.

Twenty-four hours.

He only had twenty-four hours.

"I understand," Lin Fan said solemnly. "I will defeat the Prophet within twenty-four hours."

"Be careful," Kate's voice held a note of worry. "On this side in the real world, I'll do my best to delay the new server's activation."

"Thank you, Kate," Lin Fan said.

"No need to thank me," Kate chuckled. "We are allies, aren't we?"

With that, Kate ended the call.

Lin Fan put down his earpiece and looked at Michael and Franklin.

"We only have twenty-four hours," Lin Fan said gravely. "Within twenty-four hours, we must defeat the Prophet. Otherwise, we will all die."

Michael and Franklin's expressions also turned grim.

"What should we do?" Michael asked.

Determination filled Lin Fan's eyes.

"The Prophet's power comes from Data Assimilation. And the core of Data Assimilation is the black data stream on him," Lin Fan explained. "What we need to do is disrupt his black data stream."

"How do we disrupt it?" Franklin asked.

"I remember, before I left, I left behind a USB drive," Lin Fan said. "On that drive is a program I wrote. This program can interfere with the operation of the black data stream."

"Really?" Michael and Franklin's eyes instantly lit up.

"Yes," Lin Fan nodded. "But this program needs a carrier. A carrier that can get close to the Prophet."

"A carrier?" Michael frowned.

"Correct," Lin Fan said. "This carrier must be able to approach the Prophet and, moreover, implant this program onto the Prophet's person."

The three fell into silence.

Who would be this carrier?

Approaching the Prophet meant a near-certain death.

Just then, the basement door was suddenly kicked open.

A group of uniformed NPCs rushed in.

The leading NPC looked at the three of them expressionlessly.

"The Prophet has been waiting for you for a long time."

As the NPC's words fell, countless black data streams surged from his body, like venomous snakes, rushing towards Lin Fan and the others.

Lin Fan's face instantly turned pale.

He knew an intense battle was now unavoidable.

Michael and Franklin also tightened their grips on their weapons, their eyes filled with resolve.

"Lin Fan, you go first!" Michael shouted. "We'll hold them off!"

"That's right! You go find the Prophet!" Franklin also shouted. "We'll wait here for you to return!"

Lin Fan looked at Michael and Franklin, his eyes instantly reddening.

He knew this parting might be farewell forever.

But he had no time to hesitate.

Gritting his teeth, he turned and ran towards another exit of the basement.

"Stop him!" the leading NPC shouted.

Countless black data streams surged towards Lin Fan.

Lin Fan's body became entangled by the black data streams.

He felt his consciousness being slowly devoured.

"No!" Lin Fan roared, using all his strength to break free from the black data streams' bindings.

He charged towards the exit.

Behind him, the sounds of gunfire and battle cries from Michael and Franklin echoed.

Tears streamed down Lin Fan's face.

He knew he couldn't look back.

He had to find the Prophet as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, Michael and Franklin's sacrifice would be in vain.

Lin Fan wiped away his tears, his eyes now filled with determination.

He raised his head, looking at the gray, overcast sky.

"Prophet, I'm coming."

Lin Fan's figure disappeared into the depths of the alley.

And in the basement, the sounds of gunfire and battle cries continued.

A battle concerning the fate of Los Santos had begun.

Meanwhile, in the laboratory of the real world, Kate watched the surveillance footage on her computer screen, her eyes filled with worry.

She knew Lin Fan was now facing an unprecedented crisis.

But she also knew Lin Fan wouldn't give up.

Because he was the hero of Los Santos.

And also the hope of both worlds.

Kate took a deep breath, turned to her computer, and began inputting commands.

What she had to do was delay the new server's activation.

Even if only for one second.

In the corner of the laboratory, an inconspicuous camera continued to rotate quietly.

The man in the white lab coat watched Lin Fan on the screen, a strange smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Lin Fan, my child," the man murmured to himself. "This game is getting more and more interesting."

In his hand, he tightly clutched the file labeled 'New World Project - Two-Way Channel Test Subject: Lin Fan'.

"I'm looking forward to what kind of surprise you will bring me."

The man's smile grew increasingly sinister.

And in the virtual world of Los Santos, Lin Fan's figure was speeding towards the Prophet's lair.

A final showdown was about to begin.