A figure slowly emerged from the pitch-black vortex.
The newcomer was a young man.
He looked no older than seventeen or eighteen. His tall, straight frame was like a sword, and his impeccably tailored black instructor's uniform, with its sharp lines, set him completely apart from the chaos and filth around him.
His long, jet-black hair was exactly like Xia Yao's, and his gray-black eyes were as lifeless as the abyss.
His features were breathtakingly handsome, yet utterly devoid of life, like a statue of a god carved from the ice of eternal night.
The instant he appeared, it was as though the whole world had been muted.
Every sound, every movement—even the flow of light and air—froze in place.
An indisputable Power of Rules, an absolute sense of control, spread from him.
This was unquestionably an SSS-Class anomaly!
"Guh... croak..."
The anomalous roommates who had lorded it over the survivors were now all prostrate on the ground, wailing in utter terror. Their bodies shook like leaves, and they couldn't even muster the thought of resisting.
It was as if they had come face-to-face with the absolute ruler of their bloodline.
The survivors were in an even worse state. They felt as though an invisible hand had clamped around their souls. Their thoughts ground to a halt, leaving only a primal terror that grew wildly within them.
Yet the young man's cold gaze didn't linger on those ants for even a fraction of a second.
His eyes pierced through every twisted, terrified face and landed with pinpoint accuracy on a corner of the sports field.
On the man who stood there with an easy expression, even taking the time to look him over.
And on the man's arms, where his own older sister lay, sleeping sweetly as he held her gently.
When the young man saw this, his utterly still eyes rippled violently for the first time.
"Mm!"
In Chu He's arms, Xia Yao, who had been asleep until now, let out a muffled groan and shuddered violently.
Her butterfly-wing lashes flew open!
All traces of sleep vanished!
Her cool eyes no longer held the languor and dependence she showed around Chu He. Instead, they were filled with a gravity and wariness she had never shown before.
She recognized that aura. It was painfully familiar—and a constant headache.
Xia Yao immediately slipped out of Chu He's arms and stood straight, instinctively tidying the school uniform he had put on her rather carelessly.
She didn't look like she was facing someone her own age. She looked like a child who'd done something wrong and was standing before the strictest of parents.
Pressing her lips tightly together, she looked at the handsome young man in the middle of the sports field, her brows drawn together.
"Little brother? What are you doing here?"
Her voice was full of barely contained surprise—and a trace of guilt she hadn't even noticed herself.
The young man everyone called her little brother didn't answer.
His gaze remained fixed on Chu He, like two invisible blades of ice, ready to dissect him from soul to flesh.
It was a gaze full of aggression and judgment.
Chu He's alarm bells went off, but his expression remained unchanged.
Siblings?
He glanced at Xia Yao, who had suddenly become as obedient as could be, and a thought came to mind.
So the legendary little brother-in-law had arrived.
And this guy was definitely SSS-Class!
In fact... he felt even stronger than Xia Yao had when they first met!
Just standing there, he exerted pressure more terrifying than what Xia Yao had deliberately unleashed back then!
At last, the young man, Xia Nuo, spoke.
His voice, like the rest of him, was cold and clear, utterly devoid of human warmth.
"You're the mortal who defiled my sister?"
As the words fell, an invisible Power of Rules surged outward!
The air around them instantly froze, growing as heavy and viscous as quicksilver!
The survivors, already collapsed on the ground, felt an icy hand clamp hard around their hearts. They choked instantly, their faces turning dark red.
Under that terrifying pressure, crashing over him like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami breaking, Chu He felt his bones groan as though they were about to give way.
But he didn't retreat.
He knew that taking even one step back now would mean plunging into an abyss.
Chu He slowly raised his head and met Xia Nuo's cold eyes. Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted into a provocative smile.
He calmly corrected him:
"Not defiled."
"She's my woman."
The moment he said it, the entire field fell silent.
Every survivor, even the anomalies who'd been scared out of their wits, stared at Chu He as if he were a madman.
He was crazy!
This man had to be crazy!
Facing such a terrifying being, he hadn't dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. He'd actually dared to brazenly claim her as his!
At his words, the chill in Xia Nuo's eyes deepened, as if it could freeze time itself.
"Your woman?"
A faint, mocking smile curved his lips as he let out a cold laugh.
"A mere mortal, and you think you're worthy?"
He surveyed the field, then let his gaze settle on Chu He once more. In the tone of someone delivering a final sentence, he said:
"Starting today, I'll be your Head Instructor."
"You'll undergo seven days of 'Adaptation Training.'"
He put particular emphasis on the words "Adaptation Training." His eyes gleamed with undisguised cruelty and murderous intent.
"Let's see how many days you, you worthless ant, can stay alive."
Chu He's mind buzzed.
He understood.
This wasn't training at all.
It was aimed straight at him!
This guy planned to use the next seven days to make his life hell in the most "perfectly reasonable" way possible!
"Xia Nuo, you wouldn't dare!"
Xia Yao's face turned horribly grim!
She glared at her little brother, her usually cool eyes blazing with fury for the first time.
"If you dare lay a single finger on him, I'll..."
But before she could finish her threat, Xia Nuo merely glanced at her.
There was no anger in his eyes, no defiance—only a calm, indifferent air of superiority.
"Sister."
"This is Mother's will."
Just those few words.
In an instant, all of Xia Yao's anger and all her defiance were utterly crushed, vanishing without a trace.
The blood drained from her beautiful face at a visibly rapid pace, leaving it deathly pale and lifeless.
"Mother... she found out..."
Seeing his sister's crestfallen expression, Xia Nuo's lips curved in the faintest smile, gone in an instant.
What an interesting human. To make my fearless sister look like that... I'll have to see what you're capable of!
Just as Xia Yao's aura sank to its lowest point and Xia Nuo's will completely enveloped the field—
A crisp voice, lazy and annoyed, rang out without warning in the silent sports field.
"Hey, it's early in the morning. Why are you making such a racket? Are you trying to keep everyone from sleeping?"
Everyone turned toward the voice.
At the edge of the crowd stood a petite figure who hadn't been there a moment ago.
Silver short hair, eyes like a starry river—it was Kachi, the librarian!
She yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes, then surveyed the field. Her gaze finally settled on Xia Nuo, and her pretty brows drew together slightly.
"I was wondering. So it's you, you little brat, making all that noise."
Before you continue