"Evil Horn"

Less than a day remained before the awakening began.

The Awakening Stones, which had always been kept under strict control, had finally been removed from their protective barrier and delivered to schools.

The sound of a truck driving past the classroom building came through the window. The Rc Cells inside Shisui instinctively stirred, but he suppressed them instantly.

He sensed a vast amount of Psychic Energy stored in the truck. After adapting to the mutation, a Ghoul's keen perception of Rc Cells had extended to Psychic Energy as well.

Shisui was certain that the Psychic Energy gathered together belonged to the Awakening Stones.

It really is the Human Race's greatest invention in a thousand years. The Psychic Energy inside is pure and gentle. As a "brick" for drawing out awakening talents, it couldn't be more suitable.

Most Human Race awakeners had awakened through Awakening Stones.

Other races were different. Aside from those born with talents, they generally awakened on their own when forced into desperate situations.

Cases of people awakening talents after stumbling upon spiritual treasures of heaven and earth were rare throughout the world. Fools whose bodies were taken over by spiritual treasures, on the other hand, were everywhere.

The advent of Awakening Stones had greatly increased the Human Race's survival rate and directly advanced its development and expansion.

Although the chance of becoming an awakener still did not exceed 0.2%, there was at least a safe and reliable method.

No wonder something this good is so tightly controlled. If only I could get my hands on some.

As Lou Shisui listened to the lesson, he split his attention and sensed the truck moving farther away.

Several figures of varying strength followed close around the truck.

Looks like I'll have to use underhanded means to get the Awakening Stones.

Shisui thought carefully, refining his plan to obtain the Awakening Stones. He was so absorbed that he didn't even hear the bell ring.

Just then, a voice suddenly rose from a small group in the distance.

Shisui sensed a trace of malice directed at him.

He looked over through his thick black bangs and caught sight of a shade of red he vaguely remembered.

So it's the Lin Family brat. I'll start with you, then.

"Tch! What fucking bad luck. I couldn't stand him even before his family fell."

The teenager with a head of flashy red hair shot a disdainful glance at the back row.

"He sits in the corner all day without a peep, like a corpse."

He didn't mention anyone by name, but everyone knew who he meant.

Lou Shisui's name sounded arrogant and overbearing, but his personality could hardly be said to match it. If anything, the two had nothing to do with each other.

The already introverted fellow had grown even more timid after the downfall of the Lou Family of Yin City.

He lacked the resolve to survive on his own and had lost his powerful backing, which meant that sooner or later, the world would leave him behind.

In a society where strength reigned supreme, it was only natural that he would be disliked and shunned.

Several students from families of their own gathered around the red-haired teenager and joined the discussion.

"Exactly. He's even taking up one of West District No. 1 Middle School's awakening slots. Isn't he just dragging down our awakening rate?"

"You can't say that. The Lou Family must have left him some resources. Surely that's more than enough for him to awaken a talent?"

"Buddy, awakening a talent takes a firm will. Does he look like he has a firm will to you?"

"Uh, forget I said anything."

They didn't lower their voices, and their overlapping remarks easily reached Lou Shisui's ears.

But Lou Shisui ignored them. Instead, he pulled up the hood of the sweatshirt beneath his school uniform jacket and quietly huddled in the corner by the window.

Seeing that, they grew increasingly brazen in their discussion.

But from beginning to end, no one did Lou Shisui any actual harm.

None of them were fools. They knew the line between "a joke" and "bullying" better than anyone.

What sort of snowball will this ridiculous, childish malice turn into? I can't wait!

A sharp Blade Scale flashed at Shisui's fingertips and vanished. No one noticed the streak of dark red shooting out of the shadows.

Everyone knew that Lin Feng hated Lou Shisui.

The young master of the Lin Family ranked among the top students, and the Lin Family was an up-and-coming family that produced one talented person after another.

Although it had yet to match the established powers, Lin Feng was confident that his generation would surpass them.

The flattery of those around him made him increasingly arrogant, and he began to find even the slightest bit of "filth" intolerable.

That was why he particularly hated Lou Shisui, a fellow scion who had been placed a whole class above him thanks to his family's protection despite being a good-for-nothing.

When he learned that the Lou Family had tried to advance further only to be brought down by his own family, that hatred turned to contempt and gloating.

A family that raised a good-for-nothing really is good-for-nothing itself.

He loudly made a few mocking remarks, only to find, to his disappointment, that Lou Shisui merely glanced at him in silence before lowering his head again.

Originally, that would have been the end of it. He and Lou Shisui were no longer on the same level, and he had no interest in lowering himself to do anything to a fallen young master.

But a voice came to his ears, now distant, now close, and an inexplicable malice began to surge in his heart, leaving his reason on the verge of collapse.

What if the Lou Family left him rare awakening materials?

What if he awakens a high-level talent?

What if he can get in touch with the Lou Family's old contacts?

That good-for-nothing will climb back up, and the Lin Family will have another enemy.

No, a good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing. Even the best resources would be wasted on him!

See? You think the Lou Family left him resources too, don't you?

So what! With his temperament, there's no way he could awaken a decent talent!

People can change, especially after losing their families and homes.

You can feel it, can't you? That good-for-nothing you keep talking about has far more Psychic Energy inside him than you do.

"Lin Feng! Lin Feng! Class is starting!"

The cries of his classmate beside him woke him. He escaped the nightmare with his heart still pounding, his shirt soaked in cold sweat.

"What's wrong? You look so pale. Do you need to ask for leave?"

"I'm fine. I just had a nightmare. Thanks."

Lin Feng forced a smile, then said nothing more.

His pupils were slightly unfocused. A seed of chaos took root in his mind, making his head throb as though it would split.

Yet his senses were unusually sharp and heightened, and the small details he normally overlooked were magnified endlessly.

Lou Shisui is paying more attention in class than before. Is he preparing for the future?

Lou Shisui is even quieter now. Is he secretly building up his strength?

Lou Shisui glanced this way. Lou Shisui's Psychic Energy is stronger now. Lou Shisui, Lou Shisui!

He has to die! He has to die before he awakens his talent!

The neurotoxin spread through his blood, drowning out his thoughts and his family's teachings. His malice was magnified by hallucinations until it boiled over.

At last, the urge to kill broke through the restraints of reason and took complete control.

Shisui caught the rusty scent of blood as Lin Feng's nails dug into his flesh and savored the intense malice washing over him.

The "evil horn" is in place to draw attention away. The show is about to begin!