Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Since he asked, I naturally wouldn’t hide it: “They’re trapped by ‘Black Flash’ people.”

“‘Black Flash’? How are they involved here?” Mu Tieren was both surprised and worried. Surprised by the sudden third party, worried for Jiang Tianming and the others’ safety.

As for why I escaped first while “Black Flash” trapped the others, Mu Tieren didn’t ask. He was used to me dodging danger a step ahead.

“Dog noses, sniffing their way over,” I shrugged, avoiding mention of the mole. As I said, there’s no point telling him—he couldn’t solve it, and he’s still recovering. No need to stress him out.

As we spoke, hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by a “knock knock knock” on the door.

I opened it to find Zhao Xiaoyu and two others. They hadn’t gone to the Nightmare Beast world, so “Black Flash” didn’t catch them.

Seeing me, Zhao Xiaoyu wasn’t surprised, explaining: “We heard Class Monitor woke up, so we rushed over to check.”

I stepped aside to let the three in. While Zhao Xiaoyu, Li Shu, and Mu Tieren exchanged greetings, I looked at Feng Lan: “Has the homeroom teacher talked to you?”

Knowing the context, I understood him. It seemed Feng Lan’s prophecy showed this would resolve smoothly—at least, the scenes he saw were positive.

“What are you talking about? What ‘they’ll be fine’?” Li Shu looked over curiously. Sharp as he was, he quickly sensed something off, his expression tensing. “Is it Tianming and them? They’re in trouble?”

Seeing his reaction, I blinked, puzzled: “Don’t they get into trouble all the time?”

Why so shocked?

At that, all four fell silent. It did seem that way—they were always in some type of mess. Thinking this, their initial worry eased a bit. With their “rich” experience in trouble and Feng Lan’s prophecy as assurance, they’d likely turn danger into safety and return unharmed.

Mu Tieren recovered quickly, able to walk after just a day. His Ability hadn’t returned yet, currently unusable. But according to him, he could still sense its presence, so he hadn’t become an ordinary person.

In Class S, Zhao Xiaoyu and Wu Mingbai’s Abilities had already changed. I wondered how Mu Tieren’s would evolve. I sat by the window, pondering.

But it might not change. Replacing the heart didn’t necessarily alter the Ability. As for Boss Sun’s claim that Mu Tieren’s Ability stemmed from his green heart, I thought it was nonsense.

It’s well-known that Abilities are tied to Mental Energy. I’d believe different brains could produce different Abilities, but different hearts? No way. R̃å₦ȮᛒËS̈

If Mu Tieren’s Ability didn’t change, what was the author’s point in crafting this whole plot? Without a change, Mu Tieren would eventually fall behind.

Thinking about this was pointless—I couldn’t change anything. I cleared those thoughts and focused on my own matters.

This event, though I barely touched the main storyline, was incredibly rewarding. First, I learned the meteorite’s fate: scattered in the Nightmare Beast world as floating gravel.

Destroying all that gravel was tough, and I still hadn’t figured out how. But knowing its location was better than nothing—it gave me a direction to go in.

The other gain was successfully planting a foreshadowing in the manga. Barring surprises, the author would definitely draw that scene. Even if readers didn’t catch anything special, I could guide them with my “Prophet” account.

Planting this foreshadowing before the Tri-School Competition made me very satisfied. If all went as expected, the next manga update would cover the Tri-School Competition, giving us a chance to rest.

No, wait. I suddenly remembered the mole issue. This time, it was undeniably a mole’s doing—otherwise, no matter how skilled “Black Flash” was, they couldn’t have known we’d go to the Nightmare Beast world, let alone the exact coordinates.

Endless Ability Academy wouldn’t let this slide without finding the mole. With only a few suspects, using the method of elimination, it wouldn’t take long to uncover clues.

Now it depended on whether “Black Flash” would sacrifice the teacher or Mo Xiaotian to take the blame.

I leaned toward the teacher. Though I didn’t know their status in “Black Flash,” Mo Xiaotian’s was clear.

Called the “Saint,” with his grandfather leading “Black Flash,” he was too important to be discarded as cannon fodder or the lesser choice in a binary decision.

But whoever it was, they wouldn’t leave quietly. If their identity was exposed, they’d likely cause a stir to justify their long undercover work.

Realizing this, I really wanted to take a leave. I had zero interest in dealing with a school explosion, poisoning, or campus zombie outbreak. Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

But Alpha Ability Academy’s Cyril had just pulled something similar, so the author probably wouldn’t repeat it. It’d likely be something else.

I just hoped the author would skip straight to the Tri-School Competition. I was tired of school drama—it made me feel Endless Ability Academy’s defenses were pathetically unsafe.

The only good news was that I didn’t have to attend classes until Jiang Tianming and the others returned. With the group incomplete, it’d be hard to explain during lessons. They couldn’t say Jiang Tianming and co. illegally went to the Nightmare Beast world—that’d be traced back and cause trouble for everyone.

The next day, Mu Tieren’s Ability recovered, still [Body Enhancement]. But now, it enhanced not just strength and speed but also his mechanical body.

This meant Mu Tieren could now accept various body modifications and even alter his form.

For example, he could enhance his arm, making the mechanical arm, skin and all, tougher—no scratches even from a knife.

According to Mu Tieren, combining this Ability with Mu Scientist’s modifications would yield even better results. They’d need to research how, aiming to complete his evolution before the finals.

Endless Ability Academy quickly studied this change. Several research-focused teachers concluded it was indeed tied to the “Perfect Heart.”

As Ye Lin had said, the “Perfect Heart” wasn’t rigid—it didn’t just give humans human hearts or Nightmare Beasts their own. It transformed into the heart best suited for the host.

Thus, Mu Tieren’s heart wasn’t human or mechanical but a new kind of biomechanical heart, unstudied by anyone.

When X-rays revealed this heart, Mu Scientist’s breathing quickened, and he immediately asked Mu Tieren if he’d sign an organ donation agreement. Such a heart was perfect for research, potentially benefiting humanity.

That was another matter. For Ability users, Mu Tieren’s new heart allowed him to perfectly control his entire body, even with added components. His Ability, originally limited to enhancing himself, now extended to his mechanical parts.

His evolution differed from Zhao Xiaoyu’s new Ability and Wu Mingbai’s enhanced one. His was an expansion of scope.

For now, I couldn’t judge Mu Tieren’s evolved Ability. It was definitely stronger, but since I had no frame of reference for an Ability that boosted a mechanical body, even I couldn’t predict how far he’d develop it or how powerful it’d become.

But since the author went through the trouble of revealing his backstory and introducing the “Perfect Heart” to revamp his Ability, its ceiling was likely high.

Classmates getting stronger was good, especially among Ability users. Their main task wasn’t internal strife but fighting humanity’s common enemy: Nightmare Beasts.

Thus, competition among Ability users wasn’t intense. Stronger comrades increased survival rates against Nightmare Beast tides. Plus, as classmates with bonds, I was genuinely happy for Mu Tieren.

But Mu Tieren wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. He was still worried about Jiang Tianming and the others. They’d risked going to the Nightmare Beast world for him, only to be caught by “Black Flash.” If something happened, he’d feel eternally guilty.

He even sought out Feng Lan, asking if he could use [Prophecy]. Feng Lan, having already prophesied on this, didn’t hide it, sharing the results.

Hearing Jiang Tianming and the others would likely return safely, Mu Tieren let out a huge sigh of relief.

On the third day, the day before Mu Tieren would’ve succumbed in the original timeline, a teleportation door appeared behind the assembly platform. A disheveled Jiang Tianming and others stepped out one by one.

At the same time, the “Manga Consciousness” chimed in my ear: “King of Abilities has updated. Please check.”

The manga updated? Hearing this, I understood. Jiang Tianming and the others must’ve resolved the issue, or the manga wouldn’t have updated.

I was eating in the cafeteria with the few remaining classmates. The moment I looked up, Feng Lan suddenly sensed something, meeting my gaze. We said in unison: “They’re back.”

Amused, I said: “Did you prophesy they’d return now, or did you say it because you saw I would?”

From what I knew of Feng Lan’s Ability, he couldn’t pinpoint timing like that. At best, he’d foresee their return during lunch, not the exact moment. Without my cheat, I wouldn’t have known Jiang Tianming and the others were back either.

“Bit of both,” Feng Lan set down his chopsticks. “I knew they’d return today, but not the exact time.”

In his future fragments, he’d seen the date first, then their return. But in a five-second precognition, he saw me say it, so he instinctively followed.

He wasn’t embarrassed being called out—it was just friendly teasing.

Unlike our calm, Mu Tieren and the others were excited. Li Shu’s eyes lit up, musing: “If I used [Illusion] on Tianming now, would he be too immersed to tell real from fake?”

Jiang Tianming had just escaped danger, likely exhausted and mentally relaxed from going from peril to safety—perfect for lacking defenses. Li Shu thought he could fulfill his long-held wish: trapping Jiang Tianming in his [Illusion].

We were used to Li Shu occasionally stirring trouble with Jiang Tianming. It happened every so often. Who could say it wasn’t a love-hate dynamic? Though one-sided.

“Bit unfair, no?” Mu Tieren hesitated, not wanting Jiang Tianming to face a classmate’s ambush right after returning.

“When did I say I’d win fairly?” The gentle-looking, pink-haired boy had a rebellious streak. “I just need to trap him in my [Illusion] forever.”

I ignored his yandere spiel, brushing past him expressionlessly, tossing out a prophecy as I left: “It won’t work.”

Ignoring Li Shu’s dramatic “No!” and his grayscale meltdown, I left the cafeteria in a good mood with Feng Lan and the others.

We headed to the field. I’d returned via the field’s teleportation door, so the others likely would too.

On the way, I felt changes in my body. After the manga update, my Ability had shifted, gaining something new.

If I wasn’t mistaken, it was the foreshadowing from the last update taking effect: seeing fate trajectories.

After hesitating, I activated my Ability to check. It clearly needed someone to test it on, and with people around, now was perfect.

Activating it, everyone’s Destiny Compass appeared above their heads, still with two pointers, unchanged. But I faintly sensed something waiting to unfold.

Thinking, I focused on Mu Tieren’s compass, instinctively urging it with Mental Energy.

The next second, my eyes widened. I saw the shadows of the large and small pointers moving! They spun briefly, the small one more frequently, while the large one moved once, from “Going Out” to “Gratitude.”

Of course, it was just a shadow—the actual pointers didn’t move.

I had a guess about this change and decided to observe.

Sure enough, at the field entrance, we ran into Jiang Tianming and the others. Seeing them, Meng Huai strode over: “Since you’re all here, talk among yourselves. I’ll report to the principal. No one leaves the Academy these next few days.”

As he left, Class S gathered. Everyone first looked at Mu Tieren with concern. Jiang Tianming asked: “You’re okay now? The teacher said Su Bei brought back the ‘Perfect Heart.’ How’s the fusion?”

At that, many glanced curiously at me, wondering how I’d single-handedly secured a “Perfect Heart” in a day.

It was a High-Level Nightmare Beast, even if relatively weak among them. Even as a group, they weren’t fully confident, let alone me alone.

Especially since the known Heart Nightmare Beast spot was sealed, I couldn’t have seamlessly found another, reached it, and killed one quickly, right?

If so, my strength was leagues above theirs.

“It fused well,” Mu Tieren smiled, happy his body was healthy again, especially seeing his classmates safe. “My Ability also improved a lot this time—a blessing in disguise.”

Wu Mingbai asked curiously: “What direction?”

Having evolved his own Ability, he was naturally interested in others’.

“Uh… mechanical, I guess? Lots of potential,” Mu Tieren said, uncertain at first but then confident.

“Cool! Let’s spar sometime!” Mo Xiaotian said eagerly. “An evolved [Body Enhancement] must be awesome in a fight!”

In our class, I was top in physical combat, with Mu Tieren second. Unlike me, who avoided private sparring, Mu Tieren welcomed all challengers, making him a favorite for practice.

I wholeheartedly supported his openness. Without him taking the heat, I’d be annoyed way more.

“How’d you get the ‘Perfect Heart’?” Lan Subing finally asked, her curiosity finally overwhelming her.

I bullshitted solemnly: “I met a High-Level Nightmare Beast. Awed by my charisma, it gave me a ‘Perfect Heart.’”

Everyone rolled their eyes, too lazy to press further. My mouth never spoke truth—asking was a waste.

“By the way, consider that favor repaid,” I said to Wu Mingbai, referring to when he identified the floating gravel in the Nightmare Beast world.

The non-sequitur stumped Wu Mingbai before he reacted: “That doesn’t count, does it? Finding the ‘Perfect Heart’ was the mission for everyone who went to the Nightmare Beast world.”

“Who said I went for Class Monitor?” I said unabashedly. “I was sightseeing.”

Everyone was speechless.

Li Shu didn’t know if others believed it, but he did: “No wonder you went.”

Though I said I didn’t go to the Nightmare Beast world or get the “Perfect Heart” for him, Mu Tieren didn’t mind: “Thanks anyway, Su Bei, and all of you. Your kindness means a lot. I’m really grateful!”

Seeing him thank us, I squinted, confirming what the fate trajectory Ability did. By spending a bit of Ability, I could see where the large and small pointers would land next, likely based on the large pointer’s movement.

There was probably more, but with the time and place being inconvenient, I could only study this far. I’d research the rest back at the dorm.

“What about you? How’d you escape ‘Black Flash’?” After the brief emotional moment, Zhao Xiaoyu asked her question once their side was done.

Jiang Tianming, as usual, answered: “It was probably a spur-of-the-moment plan, not well-prepared. We knew who had the space-sealing prop, so we found a way to beat her and escaped.”

“Spur-of-the-moment” was an interesting phrase. Coincidences stop being coincidences at a certain point, especially when they don’t look like coincidences.

Li Shu gave a strange look, his dark pink eyes scanning everyone: “How’d they just ‘spur-of-the-moment’ know where you were going? Or—did someone leak it?”

Though the leaker wasn’t necessarily from Class S, Li Shu, ever the drama-stirrer, wouldn’t rule it out. In his view, everyone but Mu Tieren, unconscious the whole time, could be the mole.

Even Feng Lan, head of the Feng Family and screwed over by “Black Flash,” wasn’t above suspicion. Anything was possible.

Li Shu even hoped Jiang Tianming was the mole—then he could openly target him.

After standing like a statue for a while, Si Zhaohua broke the silence: “The Academy will investigate. We don’t need to play detective.”

He didn’t want to think about a “Black Flash” mole in our class. None was best, but if there was one, he wouldn’t be lenient. Enemies deserve no mercy—hesitation only hurts yourself and others.

After the ice broke, Jiang Tianming continued: “Teacher Meng was outside to meet us. Oddly, there were tons of High-Level Nightmare Beasts gathered outside for some reason. Without Teacher Meng’s protection, we might not have gotten out safely.”

Cough. I coughed guiltily, touching my nose. “Probably because you made too much noise.”

No way I’d admit I tricked those High-Level Nightmare Beasts into thinking someone was causing trouble in their world, prompting them to show up.