Chapter 219

Chapter 219

Chapter 219

Unlike the others, who were relieved about the audience’s safety, my heart sank the more I heard. They’d completely misjudged the situation—focusing all defenses on the hotel?

Oh well, it’s standard manga procedure. If it wasn’t set up like this, with the teachers around, how could the students naturally fall into danger?

Though the entertainment match wasn’t part of the official Tri-School Competition and didn’t count toward the score, it was historically the most popular event. Understandably so—it was fun, and the contestants were all fan-favorites chosen by the audience, causing it to draw a lot of attention.

Zhao Xiaoyu, articulate as ever, explained the rules from the stage. In short, this entertainment match was hide-and-seek. Without using items, contestants could hide any way they wanted.

Each round’s “seeker” and map were randomly chosen, with matches lasting half an hour for ten rounds, ensuring everyone played “seeker” once.

The final score combined the number of people caught as “seeker” and total hiding time as a “hider.” The highest scorer would be crowned the Hide-and-Seek King.

Zhao Xiaoyu even showed off the trophy—a head-sized, solid gold cat’s paw, seemingly heavy from her handling of it.

The first round’s “seeker” was Lan Subing. Her luck was always great, and in this game, being “seeker” early was best. It gave you the seeker’s perspective first, letting you avoid spots seekers would check when hiding later.

Excluding Lan Subing, nine people had five minutes to hide. I wasn’t in a rush, leisurely watching where others hid. Some stuffed themselves in washing machines; one carved a hole behind a painting to hide in; another used flight to hang from the ceiling…

Notably, Zuzong’s ability was too strong for this game, so catching him had special rules. The “seeker” just needed to guess his [Arena]’s room, with three chances.

Thus, anyone hiding with Zuzong via [Arena] risked being caught with him.

Due to his earlier friendliness, Zuzong, keeping face, asked if I wanted to hide with him in the [Arena]. I declined—I had my own plan.

With less than a minute left, after everyone else hid, I casually adjusted my small pointer and hid behind a flowerpot by the staircase.

Luckily, it was a person-high vase, or I wouldn’t fit. Still, my spot was the most half-hearted. I didn’t even hide inside the vase—just behind it.

The audience began discussing, as this round wasn’t just for watching. The entertainment match thrived on interaction. Each round, they could vote on who’d win. Picking the seeker’s number meant they thought the seeker would catch everyone.

Since both “seeker” and “hiders” could use abilities, the big screen showed nearly 90% voting for Lan Subing. Her [Word Spirit] made finding anyone easy—a match without suspense.

They weren’t wrong. As the match started, Lan Subing entered the first floor and used [Word Spirit] from the center.

Her [Word Spirit] range wasn’t tied to voice distance but to her Mental Energy and voice combined. Simply put, if she targeted one person, all her Mental Energy focused on them, succeeding unless their Mental Energy outstripped hers.

But using a megaphone to cast [Word Spirit] on a whole school split her Mental Energy, giving weak control with uncertain results.

Notably, this “splitting” wasn’t even. Controlling three people at once was less taxing than controlling three separately.

Back to the match, Lan Subing’s [Word Spirit] from the first floor’s center only called out first-floor hiders. With high enough Mental Energy, some might resist if her power was spread thin.

Honestly, Tri-School contestants all had high Mental Energy. In a 1v1, Lan Subing’s [Word Spirit] was unstoppable, but spread out, she couldn’t fully call anyone out.

Still, it was enough. Noises came from a cabinet, a chandelier, and a picture frame. Lan Subing smiled and headed toward them.

The three exposed hiders didn’t bother hiding anymore, emerging as she approached: Wu Mingbai, Si Zhaohua, and Huangfu Mingzhe.

After sweeping the first floor, Lan Subing went upstairs. As she passed the staircase, I slipped out from behind the vase, leisurely heading to the first floor.

Against a cheat like Lan Subing, staying in one spot would eventually land you in her ability’s range, making discovery inevitable. Roaming around was safer. With my luck boosted, I didn’t worry about her turning back and spotting me.

The three eliminated contestants were stunned seeing me slip from the staircase’s blind spot back to the first floor.

“I knew his nonchalance meant something,” Wu Mingbai said with a fake smile. “Wonder how Subing will feel seeing this in the replay.”

“Depends if she finds him,” Si Zhaohua said logically. “If she does, it’s just a funny anecdote. If not…”

He and Wu Mingbai exchanged a glance, then looked away. If she didn’t, missing victory would probably infuriate her.

On the second floor, Lan Subing repeated her tactic, flushing out Jiang Tianming and Wu Jin.

Now, only I, Qiao Mu, and Houde’s Zuzong and Li Bowen remained.

Qiao Mu was surely in a shadow—hard to find, but Lan Subing’s cheat [Word Spirit] made it feasible. Having caught others quickly, she had plenty of time.

She tirelessly used [Word Spirit] on every shadowed spot. If no one was there, it cost no Mental Energy, so she didn’t worry about running out.

Under this carpet search, Qiao Mu was soon found.

By then, I’d slipped back to my original staircase hiding spot, while Lan Subing began hunting Houde’s duo.

They were likely in the [Arena], requiring pure guesswork to find—logically, the last people to seek.

But as a long-time classmate, Lan Subing knew me too well. She knew I was versatile, especially at dodging risks, so she didn’t expect to find me.

Finding me was luck; not finding me was reasonable. To save time, she focused on the duo first.

In King of Abilities, Lan Subing’s luck was unmatched, a core trait. Despite no clues, on her third guess, she found Zuzong and Li Bowen.

When time ran out, I won.

Returning to the first floor, confused, Lan Subing saw me standing there and asked, baffled, “I swept the first floor clean. Where were you hiding?”

She hadn’t just searched—she’d used [Word Spirit]. Even with my higher Mental Energy, I’d struggle to stay hidden. Plus, her “heart’s voice” evolution had boosted her Mental Energy.

Jiang Tianming, who’d watched my antics, stifled a grin, explaining calmly, “He was always behind the vase at the staircase’s first-to-second-floor corner. When you hit a floor, he’d sneak to the other.”

Wu Mingbai, ever mischievous, showed her a video he’d recorded.

Lan Subing: “?”

A little girl quietly shattered.

Four rounds passed that morning. I was caught only once, when Qiao Mu was “seeker.” Her ability was a cheat here—sensing anyone passing shadows. Open ground was even easier to spot, leaving no hiding place. She caught everyone, winning big.

The morning matches ended without incident, meaning “Black Flash” would act in the afternoon. At lunch in the cafeteria, I didn’t know what to say. The author was kind, letting us eat before facing real danger.

The afternoon matches started soon. After a calm morning, staff relaxed, many believing they’d disrupted the enemy’s plan, preventing action.

But as most let their guard down, “Black Flash” struck. The audience stands’ base exploded, black-clad figures pouring out, rushing the arena.

Shockingly, they were ordinary humans. Jumping from high, they splattered blood everywhere, collapsing unconscious, their fates unknown.

The bloody scene startled everyone. Endless' Jiang Tianming and crew handled it better—though new to such gore, their experiences made them more resilient.

Others weren’t so calm. Zuzong screamed, retreating to the arena’s corner instantly. Li Bowen fell in fright, scrambling up to scan warily. Qiao Mu covered her mouth, fighting nausea. Huangfu Mingzhe paled but, seeing Si Zhaohua and others stand firm, held his ground.

The black-clad figures’ positions were calculated. Their blood glowed faintly red, forming a crimson array. It flashed brightly, and two figures appeared on the arena.

One was familiar—Cyril, from Alpha Ability Academy. The other, unknown, had black hair and red eyes, deathly pale with sunken cheeks, looking near death.

“Yo, long time no see!” Cyril greeted Jiang Tianming and the others cheerily, like a friendly big brother.

But seeing him, those who knew his identity—part of “Black Flash” with the powerful [Cell Control] ability—felt their hearts sink. His presence here was bad news. “Stop yapping, get on with it,” the black-haired man, Li Xiang, glanced at him irritably.

Cyril pouted, “Li Xiang, you’re too stiff. I finally see some old pals, and you rush me? Annoying.”

But he didn’t delay, snapping his fingers, “‘Cell Erosion’!”

Instantly, everyone, including me, felt subtle bodily changes. I couldn’t pinpoint what, just a bad feeling.

Checking everyone’s Destiny Compasses, I saw all large pointers at “Illness.” Cyril’s ability had taken effect.

Cyril got straight to the point, “Your cells have been altered. In twenty minutes, you’ll all die. Join ‘Black Flash,’ and I’ll give you the antidote. Refuse—”

He chuckled, “Twenty minutes, and no one outside can save you.”

Everyone’s faces darkened. Their bodily sensations confirmed Cyril’s words—they were in trouble.

Shock filled my eyes. “Black Flash” was so blunt this time—submit or die. Their leader must be impatient, tired of our escapes, and played their trump card.

No wonder Mo Xiaotian acted like that yesterday. He knew Jiang Tianming and the others wouldn’t submit. After so many kidnappings and threats, joining “Black Flash” would disqualify them as the protagonist squad.

“What’s that mean?” Zuzong, unaware of the backstory, cowered in the corner, trembling. “Submit to who? Who are you guys?!”

“Maybe you’ve heard of ‘Black Flash’?” Cyril smiled elegantly.

Zuzong had, and so had other non-Endless students. Their faces changed at the name—the nation’s biggest villain organization. As Ability users, they’d heard rumors.

“Black Flash” didn’t just target Endless. Other Academies had been hit, losing students or even teachers, especially without a protagonist squad.

Everyone despised such a vile group.

“I’d never join you,” Huangfu Mingzhe declared first, proud despite the threat. “No matter what happens to me, prepare for the Huangfu Family’s wrath! They won’t let you off!”

Cyril wasn’t fazed, patiently persuading with a good-natured tone, “Then you’ll just die here. Unless I lift my ability, you’re dead in twenty minutes. I welcome anyone to join ‘Black Flash.’ Even if you don’t care about your life, think of your families. How heartbroken would they be if you threw your life away over pride?”

“They’d be heartbroken if we joined ‘Black Flash,’” Si Zhaohua shot back, wings spreading as he took flight. He needed to escape!

He wasn’t abandoning teammates but knew someone had to get out to alert doctors to their condition.

The others would be safe—having used their trump card, Cyril’s duo wouldn’t act further.

But Cyril’s calm demeanor told them Si Zhaohua wouldn’t escape. Sure enough, he crashed into an invisible barrier, forced to land. The arena was encased, offering no way out.

Now they were stuck. Everyone looked outside, hoping teachers would save them. Cyril said twenty minutes was too short, but what if?

I wasn’t worried. With the protagonist squad here, things wouldn’t spiral out of control. But honestly, I didn’t know how to save myself. Unless Cyril changed his mind within twenty minutes, they couldn’t counter the cell changes.

Counting on Meng Huai and the others to break in and save them in time? If they did, this wouldn’t be a shonen manga. Shonen was about kids saving the world—I was used to it.

Others, unaware they lived in a manga, still hoped for teachers. To stall, Jiang Tianming played the emotional card with Cyril. They knew his story—joining “Black Flash” for revenge. Shouldn’t he respect his friend’s wish to save lives? Mass killing here betrayed that.

Cyril was unmoved. He’d joined for revenge but now genuinely believed the leader’s vision—sacrificing some for a better world was worth it. If he wanted out, he’d have left at Alpha Ability Academy, not waited till now.

As they talked, I pondered Li Xiang’s ability. He was brought for a reason, but so far, only Cyril had acted or spoken. Li Xiang wasn’t just here to supervise, was he?

What was his ability?

As most panicked, Huangfu Mingzhe couldn’t sit still. Activating his ability, he roared, “If I’m dying, I’m taking you with me! Submit? Dream on!”

He charged Cyril.

He had a point. They were dying anyway—why waste their abilities waiting? Better to fight and maybe take the culprits down.

Inspired, the others’ eyes blazed, joining the attack on Cyril and Li Xiang.

I didn’t join, observing for a turning point. I doubted we could beat them—they were likely elites, like Meng Huai. Students like us weren’t enough.

If this was the final battle, we might pull off a miracle. But it wasn’t time, so the turning point was elsewhere.

As I thought, Jiang Tianming’s fight grew fiercer. Cyril, likely avoiding damaging his altered cells, didn’t use his ability. Still, his strength was formidable—speed, power, and high physical defense made him untouchable.

I finally glimpsed Li Xiang’s ability—he controlled corpses. Corpses rose, fighting Jiang Tianming’s group instinctively without his direct action.

They were corpses due to faint decay smells, cold bodies, blank expressions, and no breathing.

But the scariest part was their ability use. Though weak, the fact that corpses could use abilities was terrifying.

Now I understood why “Black Flash” wanted us dead. They’d aimed to kidnap us for research, but with Li Xiang, our corpses could serve too.

Though less valuable than living subjects, after failing so many times, “Black Flash” didn’t care—corpses would do.