The two needlemen who had chosen the "Data" identity were sent to a vast, library-like place. It was circular and very tall, with walls completely lined with bookshelves embedded into them, creating a grid-like pattern. But everything inside was already decayed—dust, cobwebs, bookworms. The floor was covered entirely with decayed powder, and when the needlemen appeared, their legs sank into it up to the calves.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared, its gaze falling upon the two needlemen. In the next instant, their bodies were no longer under their own control—they floated into the air. Two of the shelf compartments opened, and the needlemen were forcibly stuffed inside. One compartment was large enough to hold a person, but the other was much smaller. Yet the shadow didn't stop and forced one needleman into the smaller compartment regardless. Blood splattered, flowing from the cracks of the compartment as the violent pain made the needleman scream in agony, but it was useless. The shadow seemed completely emotionless as it squeezed the needleman like a hydraulic press.
At this point, Ron noticed that nearby compartments already contained similar scenes: some filled with clearly human bones, some with remains of those who died as they were crammed inside, and some containing skeletons of people who had starved to death while trapped there. Fresh chapters posted on novelFɪre.net
Illumi said, "I've lost control of those two needlemen."
Ron spoke calmly. "Judging from this situation, it seems these identity choices must be interpreted literally. Choosing the 'Data' identity means being treated as data. This must be the ark's library. It probably stored vast amounts of records here in the past, but now that it has become a Nen entity, it seems unable to determine what actually constitutes as data. So it forces entrants to choose an identity and treats them accordingly—whether human or otherwise.
Therefore, this option is absolutely not viable."
Choosing "Data" meant being assigned to the library and forcibly crammed into compartments, with no chance of survival. It was a certain death choice.
Ron and Illumi turned their attention to another feed—this time it was the "Seed" identity. The scene revealed an enormous open space, much larger than the library, filled with cultivation tanks. Each tank was divided into three sections: a seed zone, a growth zone, and a processing zone. The seed zones all contained seeds, and the growth zones varied according to the type of seed: some contained soil, some water, and some displayed thriving plants, while others remained barren, not because the tanks were faulty, but because of the age of the seeds.
Ron noticed that the seed zones on the tanks were marked in three colors: green, yellow, and red.
Tanks marked green had no plants growing.
Yellow showed a few sprouts.
And red displayed lush growth.
"Even seeds have a shelf life. Once stored too long, they lose viability. So this system updates seeds in this way," Ron mused. "But what about animals?"
He soon saw the answer. Eggs and oviparous creatures were also inside cultivation tanks, but their conditions were completely abnormal. Parts of their bodies had already mutated, and the aura surrounding them reminded Ron of what he once saw in the nation of Taris.
"They sacrifice their original form to prolong life—some even reach the point of hermaphroditism and asexual reproduction."
Ron looked at one tank. Inside, a creature had just been born, appearing normal and without a strange aura. But in the neighboring tank, a slightly older creature was already beginning to change. When the two needlemen entered this area, the shadow appeared again, seizing control of them and stuffing them into cultivation tanks. Immediately, the needlemen's forms began to change—a strange power invaded their bodies. Their upper halves remained unchanged, but their lower halves melted into a mass of flesh from which tentacles sprouted.
"The preservation methods for plant and animal seeds differ slightly, but the principle is the same—the goal is to ensure the continuation of life," Ron said, turning his gaze toward another tank. Inside was a being somewhat similar to the needlemen: part human, but far more monstrous, its expression twisted in agony as it struggled to break free. It even tried to kill itself, but at that moment, another force descended, seizing control of its body.
"Choosing the 'Seed' identity turns one into a monster. You won't die, and compared to the 'Data' identity it's better since you gain extra power after the transformation. But the price is that you must remain inside the tank forever, unable to leave—even unable to take your own life. There's no real difference from being dead. Maybe it's even worse."
This led Ron to give up on the "Seed" option as well.
Ron and Illumi turned to the third video feed. These two needlemen had chosen the "Ordinary Human" identity. The place they appeared in resembled a small single room: a bed, a small desk, and a combined bathroom and toilet. Some books sat on the desk, but they were decayed to powder, leaving only a few fragments.
Among the three groups of needlemen so far, these two seemed to be in the most normal circumstances—no danger, no strange occurrences. A clock on the wall was slowly ticking forward.
Suddenly, an alarm rang—"Ding-ling-ling!"
With a creak, the door opened.
"Please proceed to the cafeteria for lunch."
One needleman stepped out. However, not both doors opened—only one. As soon as the needleman stepped out, control of its body was lost. Some kind of force took over and directed its actions.
Following the corridor, the needleman arrived at the cafeteria, a very spacious hall. It found an empty seat and sat down. At that moment, through the camera attached to the needleman, Ron spotted a familiar figure sitting nearby—it was one of the Ten Dons.
The Ten Don also noticed the needleman, his gaze shifting over cautiously, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes.