BXBX NOVEL Chapter 43: Insatiable Consumption, Jeremy Becomes Vegetative
Floating weightlessly in the dark, silent void, Jeremy found himself here inexplicably after falling into a frenzy.
"What is this place?" Jeremy frowned, looking around. In the darkness, he could see white points of light, both dazzling and dim, floating like stars in the sky, beautiful and enchanting yet filled with the unknown.
Observing this strange sight, Jeremy pondered.
He had heard before that some people had accidentally entered a special world, which sounded somewhat similar to this one—equally void and dark, with countless points of light like stars.
These people regarded this place as a manifestation of the collective consciousness, believing each light point represented the soul of a living being, holding the most fundamental secrets of life and the world.
Some called it the "Deep Collective Consciousness Space," while others preferred "Spirit World," the world of souls.
Jeremy had never believed in such abstract concepts but was surprised to find the Spirit World actually existed.
"But how do I get out?" Jeremy wasn't interested in this place. His real-world self was probably going insane. Even if there were great secrets here, they weren't what he needed to consider now.
Just as Jeremy was about to try slapping himself to see if he could return,
He suddenly spotted a basketball-sized purple orb not far away.
This object was clearly different from the other points of light. Not just in color and size, but also because it was constantly devouring the other lights, like an insatiable monster.
As Jeremy looked at it, a thought filled with "hunger" entered his mind.
"Eat... Eat... Eat..."
Jeremy's heart shook violently.
Is this... the Devouring Tyrant?
Why is it here?!
Before Jeremy could think further, the purple light seemed to notice him too, suddenly turning into a streak of light and charging straight at him.
Jeremy instinctively tried to dodge, but the purple light was too fast. Before he could react, it hit him and merged into his body in the blink of an eye.
"Boom!"
In an instant, a blinding purple light exploded in the darkness!
Jeremy was enveloped by the purple light in an instant.
At this moment, Jeremy felt his mind filled with an intense hunger.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Eat!
As this thought emerged, a purple vortex quickly formed around Jeremy.
All the surrounding points of light were drawn into the vortex, crazily converging towards Jeremy, then merging into his body.
Jeremy was stunned for a moment.
He actually felt his spiritual power grow stronger!
Jeremy's eyes moved, realizing he might have stumbled upon an incredible opportunity.
Before he had time to think, countless points of light were already hurtling towards him.
As each point of light merged with his body, Jeremy could feel his spiritual power growing at an astonishing rate.
Soon, Jeremy's figure vanished, replaced by a giant cocoon radiating white light.
...
Meanwhile, in the outside world.
After rescuing Jeremy, Benjamin and the others quickly made their way back to the downtown building under the protection of Howard's soldiers.
Though Jeremy's wounds had begun to heal, he had not yet awakened.
This caused Benjamin to feel an ominous premonition.
Therefore, upon returning to the building, Benjamin immediately took Jeremy to the hospital for a comprehensive examination.
Not far from the downtown building was Moonlight Grace Hospital. The monsters inside the hospital had been cleared by the special forces at the start of the apocalypse, so most of the doctors and nurses were still alive.
After the hospital received the order, it wasn't long before the deputy director, Wain, arrived at Jeremy's ward in a hurry with a group of leading physicians.
Following a detailed examination, Deputy Director Wain and the doctors quickly reached an uncertain conclusion.
Apart from some superficial injuries, Jeremy's breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure were all normal, his health even surpassing that of an ordinary person.
The reason for his deep coma was not due to external injuries but possibly an issue with his brain neurons.
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
Does that mean there's something wrong with Jeremy's brain?
Claire, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, said, "Brain issues can vary in severity. Please, Deputy Director, clarify what exactly is wrong with Jeremy."
Among those present, she was the most familiar with Jeremy's condition.
Claire knew that Jeremy's brain neurons were somewhat different from those of ordinary people due to post-war syndrome.
Thus, she suspected that what Wain and the others had found might relate to this issue.
Deputy Director Wain hesitated for a moment, seeing that Benjamin and the others were frowning.
He had no choice but to say, "Honestly, this is the first time we've encountered such a situation. Although the patient's body appears normal, his brainwaves are flat. Logically speaking, with flat brainwaves, he should be dead by now. However, the patient's organs are miraculously still functioning normally. This is incredible and beyond the scope of medical science. We're powerless to help."
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Dana exclaimed, "Doesn't that make Jeremy a vegetable?!"
Emma's face turned pale at these words.
She grabbed Wain's sleeve, urgently saying, "Deputy Director Wain, Jeremy just fainted. How could it be serious enough to become vegetative? Can't you check him again? There must be some mistake."
Tears were already brimming in Emma's eyes, her fear clearly overflowing.
She couldn't imagine how she would continue to live if something happened to Jeremy.
Ritchie, hands on hips, angrily said, "A bunch of quacks just trying to scam money! Jeremy was perfectly fine. I don't believe a word you say!"
The group of doctors was speechless.
In this apocalyptic world, scamming money was the last of their concerns.
Benjamin frowned and said, "The guy was just jumping around alive and well a moment ago. Could you have made a mistake?"
Deputy Director Wain sighed and responded, "We used the most advanced brainwave monitoring equipment and have checked three times. Although we're unclear about the cause of the patient's condition, we're certain about his symptoms. Please prepare yourselves for the worst."
Hearing his words, everyone fell silent.
Bonnie and the others stood frozen in place, uncertainty flashing in their eyes.
They had never imagined that Jeremy could end up in a vegetative state.
Claire tightly pursed her lips, her knuckles turning white from the grip.
The thought that it was because of her that Jeremy had ended up like this caused her intense pain.
Later, at Emma's earnest plea, Wain and a few other doctors reluctantly conducted another brain examination on Jeremy.
But the result was the same: flat brainwaves!
At this point, everyone was in despair.
Jeremy had truly become a vegetable.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Emma fainted on the spot.
Even Claire felt a wave of darkness before her eyes.
Ritchie sat silently in a corner.
Looking at Jeremy lying on the bed, Benjamin said with a bitter face, "Fuck! How did it come to this! We survived through the toughest times only to face this at the final hurdle..."
With that, Benjamin sighed again.
Looking at the motionless Jeremy on the bed, Bonnie bit her lip.
Although she disliked Jeremy, she didn't wish for him to just die like this.
The news of Jeremy becoming a vegetable quickly reached Howard, who was clearing monsters in the commercial district.
He made a special trip back.
When Howard saw with his own eyes the boy, who everyone had high hopes for and believed had a limitless future, lying motionless on the hospital bed, his body pierced with needles.
He clenched his fists and said with profound regret, "Heaven envies the talented! Truly, heaven envies the talented!"
After Howard walked away, shaking his head and sighing.
Emma, sitting beside the bed, tightly held Jeremy's hand and murmured, "Jeremy, I believe you can wake up. I know you can."
Claire, leaning against the wall and gazing out the window, dared not look too much at Jeremy on the bed.
Later, Benjamin reported the situation here back to the capital.
Initially, he thought the higher-ups would give up on Jeremy and support other players instead.
But to his surprise, the order from the capital was clear.
"Save him at all costs!"
Benjamin didn't understand why, but this was exactly what he had hoped for.
In his heart, Benjamin couldn't believe that such a remarkable young man, who hadn't yet had the chance to shine his brightest, would end so abruptly!
Time flew by quickly.
On the first day, most of the monsters in the commercial district were cleared.
Dana, Maggie, Eina, and others came to see Jeremy.
Many hoped for a miraculous recovery.
But Jeremy continued to sleep.
Emma's eyes dimmed a bit, yet she remained steadfastly by Jeremy's side.
Claire was healing in the next room, but she spent the most time in Jeremy's room.
On the second day, John, George, Eric, Hedy, and others came to visit.
Seeing Jeremy's condition, John and George couldn't bear to look at him, while Hedy cried with eyes red and swollen, unable to stop her tears.
"Damn, how did it come to this!" Eric stepped out of the hospital room and sighed incessantly while smoking in the garden.
Before leaving, Hedy, with eyes red, comforted Emma, saying, "Miss Emma, Jeremy will surely wake up. He's so strong. He definitely won't go down so easily."
"Yes, he will wake up." Emma managed a smile.
But her smile was somewhat bitter, and her complexion had grown much more haggard.