SCP-053 was still advancing, her tiny fists clenched in determination to "chase away the bad man."
Luo Shu couldn't touch her—one scratch, and he'd drop dead of a heart attack.
Think fast.
He pointed behind her, leveraging the lingering Persuasion effect:
"Look! 'God' Grandpa's hiding in your room! Playing peek-a-boo!"
The girl spun, squealing, and dashed inside to search.
Luo Shu slammed the door shut.
Crisis averted.
At least the encounter updated the Anomaly Catalog:
[Page: 34]
[Item #: SCP-053]
[Designation: Young Girl]
[Object Class: Euclid]
[Anomalous Properties: Bratsplosion. Ever wanted to strangle a screaming child in a supermarket? Now you can share that feeling! (Warning: Ensure you're durable enough to survive the backlash. Amen.)]
[Status: Recontained]
[O]
"Bratsplosion"?
So SCP-053's lethality wasn't even her own power—it was SCP-343's "blessing."
And that bastard just tried to murder me with it.
As if summoned, the old man reappeared down the hall, smirking.
"Impressive mental resistance. Almost Clef-tier. And skilled too—handling 053 so smoothly."
Luo Shu's fingers twitched. One touch. That's all he needed to activate Domination.
But SCP-343 leaned against the wall, ready to phase away.
Alternative plan: Martyr's Light.
Would a Jesus-blood-derived ability work on a self-proclaimed "God"?
He triggered it—
—and SCP-343 vanished just as footsteps echoed nearby.
Epsilon-11 had arrived.
Cain led the squad, relief flashing across his face. "There you are. All good?"
Luo Shu gestured to SCP-053's door. "Someone tried to release this one. I stopped them."
"Description?" the squad leader pressed.
Luo Shu feigned uncertainty. "Dark clothes. Phased through walls."
Cain's face darkened. He knew.
But the squad leader missed the hint. "Spatial abilities? Chaos is escalating. I'll report to the O5s." He turned to Luo Shu. "Jack says you're cleared to return to Site-19."
No.
Too many anomalies left unclaimed:
SCP-196 ("Time Paradox")
SCP-1915 ("Status Quo")
I need one more.
"Actually," Luo Shu rubbed his stomach, "I'm starving. Anywhere to eat?"
The squad leader nodded. "Kitchen's closed, but… there's that."
Perfect.
The Last Prize
He followed the team to a vending machine—one stocked not with snacks, but anomalous items.
Among them: SCP-261 ("Pan-Dimensional Vending").
Drop in coins, get otherworldly treats.
Luo Shu fed it a dollar.
The machine whirred, spat out a can labeled:
"Jolt of Clarity"
See through illusions for 1 hour.
Not bad.
But he wanted more.
Another dollar.
This time: "Echo Candy"
Record a 10-second sound, play it back once.
Meh.
Third try: "Skin of the Chameleon"
Shift your appearance for 5 minutes.
Bingo.
He pocketed it just as Jack's voice crackled over the radio:
"Luo Shu! Move your ass! Chopper leaves in ten!"
Time to go.