Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World
Chapter 50 Head Replacement

"Nico, don't you think something's off with you?" Michael asked, staring hard at him.

Nico was floored as he watched the surveillance footage. He tried to remember, but his mind was blank. It was like he had these weird gaps in his memory. Usually, if he didn't think too hard about it, everything seemed normal. Just another day at work, nothing special.

Nico said, "Michael, are you saying my head's been swapped out, like those people in the video?"

Nico looked at him, totally shocked and disbelieving.

"Seems like you don't know what's going on with you. Alright, then tell me, where were you before you came to the surveillance room?" Michael asked.

"I was..." Nico started to answer but then froze.

How did he get to the surveillance room?

Did he come after the power outage? But what route did he take, who did he meet, what did he see?

He couldn't remember, he had no memory of that part at all.

Michael said, "You can check your surveillance footage. The mall's cameras usually have night vision. Even if all the lights are off, you should still be able to see clearly."

"Okay." Nico immediately started looking for his footage.

He quickly found it.

The time went back to when Mr. Rossi was doing the exorcism ritual.

Everyone in the mall was in the first-floor lobby.

Then Michael, replaceing it amusing, couldn't help but interrupt Mr. Rossi.

But in the footage, Nico seemed to ignore the whole thing and walked away.

No one noticed a security guard leaving.

"Why did I go to the power room?" Nico was shocked when he saw himself in the footage.

After Nico went to the power room, the mall's power went out shortly after.

It turned out Nico himself had cut the power.

Michael said, "Even if you don't remember it, you did it. Keep watching."

After the mall's lights went out, Nico stood still like a statue, not moving at all. But this didn't last long. He soon moved again.

He turned and walked towards the first-floor restroom.

When Michael saw this, he was sure that the ghost that had come to the restroom earlier was really Nico.

"No, this can't be. Why can't I remember doing any of this?" Nico suddenly stood up, looking at Michael with a face full of fear.

Michael took a step back and said seriously, "Because when you lost your memory, you were no longer human. You were a ghost, or you were replaced by a ghost. The only reason you still have your memories is that your head is still intact and hasn't rotted yet. In a few days, when your head rots, your memories will completely disappear.

So, strictly speaking, you died a few days ago. Touch your neck, the wound from the head replacement should still be there. If you weren't a ghost, you wouldn't have that wound." Nico touched his neck.

As his hand passed over the skin on his neck, a small cut immediately opened up, revealing crimson flesh inside and a foul stench emanated from it.

He was already rotting.

"No, I don't believe it. I don't believe I'm dead. I'm clearly still alive," he shouted in fear.

Nico became agitated, constantly touching the wound on his neck to confirm if what Michael said was true.

However, it had been several days since his head was replaced by a ghost. The wound was not tight and as he touched it, the wound grew larger and the flesh started to fall off. The stench of decay grew stronger.

"What should I do? I don't want to die, Michael. Is there any way you can help me?" Nico was utterly panicked upon realizing the truth. His hands were covered in blood, emitting a foul odor and his head was already misaligned, looking at Michael in a very awkward way.

Michael saw fear, pleading and despair in his eyes.

"Sorry, there's nothing I can do to help you," he said seriously. "The best I can do is to remind you to call your family and say your last words. That's the only thing you can do."

With trembling hands, Nico took out his phone from his pocket, tears streaming down his face as he prepared to call his family.

But as he lowered his head, the already misaligned head couldn't stay on his neck any longer.

A dull thud echoed as Nico's head fell off his neck, rolling several times on the floor before finally hitting the wall and coming to a stop.

The headless body froze, the phone in its hand lighting up but unfinished.

Michael glanced at Nico's pale, bloodless face with closed eyes and sighed inwardly, 'Another one taken by a vengeful ghost.'

He turned his gaze to Jane, who was trembling against the wall in fear.

Michael walked over, roughly grabbed her delicate face, and pressed her head against the wall. Then he ran his fingers forcefully across her neck.

"You're not a ghost?" Michael said, surprised. His fingers slid across her neck but didn't replace a wound.

Jane, both scared and angry, said, "You actually thought I was a ghost?"

"I had to. You're also a mall employee. Who knows if your head's been swapped? Anyone with a replaced head could be a ghost, and they wouldn't even know it," Michael said, releasing her.

"So what do we do now? There are ghosts everywhere outside. How do we get out of here?" Jane asked, not angry but scared that Michael might be upset. She held his hand with a pitiful look.

Michael said, "There are still people in the mall. I'll get them out, and then we'll leave. The key to the main door should be with Leila. We need to get it from her to leave."

Then he added, "But before we go, you have to stay here and go through these tapes. Find out who this ghost really is, and if possible, where it came from."

"I don't want to stay here. I want to go with you," Jane said, clinging to his arm and refusing to let go.

Michael shook his head. "No, I need you to watch the surveillance. Otherwise, how will I know when a ghost is nearby? How can I confirm the ghost's identity? I don't have time to stay here any longer. It's almost dark, and once night falls, the mall will be completely dark, which will be even more dangerous for us."

"But Nico is here. I'm scared to stay here," Jane said, her voice trembling with tears.

Michael ignored her and took a phone from Nico's corpse, then dialed his satellite phone.

"Keep the call connected at all times. Inform me immediately if anything happens. Also, remember one thing: never turn your back on anyone. The ghost can only replace a person's head from behind. As long as you face the ghost, it won't attack you," he said, handing the phone to her.

"I'm still scared," Jane said.

"Remember what you promised me on the first floor? If you don't listen, you won't survive. You're smart; you know what to do. Just be a little braver, and this won't be a problem for you. Now, get started." With that, Michael left the surveillance

room.

Jane wanted to stop him, but the door had already closed.

She wanted to follow him but immediately stopped.

Because it was more dangerous outside, only this young security guard had the guts to walk around the ghost-filled mall.

After hesitating for a moment, she suppressed her fear and walked towards the surveillance desk, tightly clutching Nico's phone.

As for Nico's headless corpse and the head leaning against the wall, she didn't dare to look at them.

"Can you hear me?" Michael walked through the mall, speaking into the satellite phone.

"Yes. I can see you on the screen," Jane's nervous voice came through the phone.

"Good. Keep an eye on any movement around me and inform me immediately," he said.

Michael hung the walkie-talkie-style phone on his chest and headed towards the place where Mr. Wagner and his group had their incident. Among that group, Leila was a ghost.

'Will I earn that million dollars?' Michael thought to himself. 'But this time, as long as Jane cooperates well, I can earn that money without using the power of the demon's eyes.'

As he began to move, figures started to emerge from various hidden corners of the previously quiet mall.

They looked different, each with a pale face, closed eyes, and stiff movements.

Seeing this in the surveillance room, Jane's face turned pale with fear.

Some of them were already close to Michael.

"Those things have appeared," Jane said, her voice trembling as she warned Michael.

"I know. Just tell me the positions of the ghosts near me. Don't worry about anything else and don't forget my earlier reminder," Michael said calmly, which helped Jane calm down a bit.