Volume Three: The Academy's Full-Scale Rampage, Chapter 230: A Hair's Breadth from Disaster (Part Two)

"This way!!!"

In the pitch-black underground, only the girl with light brown hair stood out. The projection of her thoughts emitted a faint glow in the darkness, guiding her forward.

In fact, there was no need for Givinia's lighting; Xiao Wu could see in the dark thanks to her innate ability as Ghost Clan. She moved nimbly through the pipes, some wide and some narrow, completely unaffected by the slippery footholds and the dampness that enveloped her.

"Are you sure this route will avoid that mad scientist?"

"Believe me!"

"Seriously, who is that guy?! I've never heard of the Central United Academy having such a powerful individual!"

"Dr. Fiaz —basically, all you need to know is that he's one of the most formidable people in the world! His overall abilities are more than enough to qualify him for a high-ranking position in the 'organization'! We must get to A Ye's place as soon as possible, before he launches a thorough search of this underground waterworks hub!"

"This is... terrible!"

If it were Xiao Wu's usual style, she probably would have already forced her way down through the pipes, but she didn't dare to make any drastic movements right now—if she was thinking about the person on her back.

"Huff... huff..."

Hearing the heavy breathing coming from beside her, Xiao Wu frowned helplessly.

"Hey you, if you're in such bad shape, just go back home and stay there! I'll take care of things here!"

"No... at least... see her one more time..."

The weak voice was barely a coherent sentence, but the will it contained was extremely firm; clearly, Haoyue had no intention of backing down.

Since things had come to this point, Xiao Wu couldn't object anymore. After all, if Ye really went completely berserk, there would be no way to stop him. Xiao Wu would have to risk her life to stop that irrational monster, and who knows, if they didn't see each other now, they might never see each other again.

"Alright... since you've made up your mind, grit your teeth and stick with it!"

Although her tone was stern, Xiao Wu tried to minimize the range of her movements while moving at high speed to avoid hurting her.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... It was all my negligence..."

"So you can apologize now, you Qipao Woman? This isn't like you at all."

"But..."

"Do you know how painful it has been for me to just watch you suffer all this time, and to choose to ignore it? Things have turned out this way, and there's nothing we can do but believe that our efforts won't be in vain..."

"Hmm... Xiao Wu, you really are a good person."

"... I'll take that as a compliment."

Xiao Wu was much gentler than usual, partly out of guilt and concern for Haoyue, and partly to ease her own tension.

About a few minutes ago--

"Arrive!"

"Whoa!!!"

Xiao Wu let out a rare cute cry, and was caught by Ling Ye just as she was about to fall to the ground.

"The Ling Ye Express, traveling at six times the speed of sound, has now reached its final destination. How was your experience? First passenger on this train?"

"This is terrible!"

As she spoke, Xiao Wu ran quickly towards the clothing store on the side of the road. The punk-style clothes she was wearing earlier had already turned to ashes from friction with the air, meaning she was 100% naked. A minute later, she ran out again, this time wearing a simple white tank top and denim shorts, a stark contrast to her usual punk style. Although simple, it was refreshing.

"Xiao Wu."

"How?"

"You're like a single woman in her late thirties who's finally getting married."

"Sinai!"

"This way!" Givinia reappeared.

"Your ability to teleport by swapping the positions of your main body and the projection is really convenient... Can't you carry other things with you when you teleport?"

"No, it can only be my physical body and the clothes. Moreover, I have worn the same style of clothing since I was a child, so that the image of the clothes is firmly engraved in my subconscious. That's why the clothes will appear on the projected mental image of me, and when we switch positions, the clothes can move together."

"So that means you can't move things you suddenly acquire with you?"

"Otherwise, I would have brought the Serpent's Egg here myself long ago... Enough of the small talk, let's move on! Let me explain the situation first!"

Just then--

"You... ha... are here--woo!"

With a thud, Haoyue, who had stumbled out of the alley, lost her balance and fell to the ground.

"Miss Haoyue!"

"Qipao Woman!"

Xiao Wu and Givinia rushed to help her up, but Haoyue shook her head and used Snow Moon to prop herself up.

"What exactly happened, A Ye?!"

"... It's been exposed."

"... You've been exposed, you mean..."

"It's my fault, I was careless," Haoyue wiped the cold sweat from her face, her complexion was terrible, "I didn't expect Xiao Ye to get up so early today, I didn't even have time to wash the blood off the sheets, and she saw it."

"..."

"Alright, you two, go ahead and curse me if you want, you can even beat me up... because of me, Xiao Ye..."

What are you saying?!

Xiao Wu did take action - but instead of beating her hard, she slapped her on the forehead.

"Ouch—what's going on, you delinquent! If you're going to hit me, give me a good beating!"

"Are you a masochist... I'm telling you, you've already endured far too much that you shouldn't have to bear. How could I possibly complain to someone like you, you idiot?"

"... a delinquent girl?"

"Don't make me say it twice, you idiot," Xiao Wu turned her head, running her fingers through her hair in a slightly agitated manner. "Anyway, this isn't your fault at all. You... don't get stuck on this and think you're doing something rash... do you know how worried I was about you? Seriously... ugh, forget I said anything earlier!"

"Xiao Wu can be a bit tsundere sometimes, huh? Since there's nothing more to say, let's get moving."

"That's what I've been waiting for you to say, I'm going!"

"Wait!"

Haoyue clung tightly to her clothes.

"... What's wrong now?"

"I'll go too."

"I don't want to say this... but you'll only be a hindrance if you go in this state."

"It's okay, just leave me aside when we get there, don't worry about me."

"... Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"If anything were to happen to Xiao Ye, my life would lose more than 80% of its value."

"..."

"Moreover, I must witness her destruction or... rebirth."

"Alright, since that's the case... Ling Ye?"

Xiao Wu turned her head away, but the young man had already quietly left.

There was a note on the ground.

"If I stay any longer, I'll just spoil the atmosphere, so I'll take my leave now --by Ling Ye"

"... This guy's being so sensible is actually a bit boring."

It can't be torn off, it can't be torn off, it can't be torn off, it can't be torn off!

"Ugh... ji... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..., ts'ssss..."

They roughly tore open the blood vessels on my face, finally exposing my skin to the damp air. But the next instant, new blood vessels covered them. These were the same blood vessels that had originally emerged from under my skin, yet they acted like some other creature! These blood vessels were filled with the residual malevolent Killing Intent of the Rakshasa True Word. Just touching my skin caused excruciating pain, as if countless tiny needles, sometimes cold and sometimes scalding hot, were drilling into my bone marrow!

My consciousness is growing increasingly hazy. Is this body really still mine? The foreign substances emerging from my body are trying to erode it, and the stimulated body is producing even more foreign substances that overflow from my skin, like an endless cycle resembling an ouroboros...

When will this finally end?

No... perhaps the very idea of "wanting to see the end" is a pipe dream.

I should have realized this much sooner.

I simply can't hold on that long.

I overestimated my adaptability.

The current situation has exceeded my limit.

Perhaps, there is only one way for me to get rid of all this right now.

"Suicide..."

Between suffering to death and cowardly taking one's own life, the latter is far more comfortable, no matter how you look at it.

But that's impossible; I would never do that.

It wasn't because of pride, nor because I still held onto hope.

It's not that they can't do it.

"Gurgle... Ughh..."

Tearing the skin hurts, and so does healing. A mysterious force nourishes the body, forcing it to heal itself. The healed body and the tangled blood vessels merge further, and the feeling is like being thrown into lava.

The pain is unbearable, yet death is impossible—or rather, the spirit may die at any moment, but the body will not.

"I'm sorry... I... I really tried my best..."

Who was this said to? I don't know.

We'll never know.

Having humiliated my best friend and caused my companions so much pain, it seems like it wouldn't be so bad for me to die like this.

So...

"...Ye..."

You can take a short break now.

"Ye!!!"

"... Um?"

Was it a hallucination on the verge of death? A replay of memories? A final burst of energy before death?

There were three figures approaching me.

Xiao Wu.

Givinia.

No... wait! Don't come any closer!!!

Countless vascular tentacles lunged at the three, their surging Killing Intent piercing through space—

"Demon Transformation 40% - Ura 41st Style: Jabana!!!"

A powerful force tore through the surging blood vessels, but only temporarily, barely creating a passage wide enough for one person to pass through. New blood vessels were already stirring.

"Hey, don't—"

"Orange Moon - Moonwalk!"

The field of vision became slightly clearer.

I saw it.

That resolute-looking girl.

That girl, as pure as the moon in a clear sky, who never uttered a word of complaint even though I hurt her, even though she was covered in wounds, even though she was already in unbearable pain.

And behind her, desperately drawing the tentacles' fire, was a girl who, despite her dark origins, cold words, and rejection by others, never betrayed her sense of justice.

And then there's the light brown-haired girl who uses Air Bomb to resist attacks, seemingly always Stay Out of It, but actually more serious and responsible than anyone else.

It is their support that has brought me to where I am today.

"Hurry up—this!!!"

Veins had already coiled around the Qipao Girl's body, but she completely ignored them, handing me the package she was carrying.

That alone lessened the terrifying Killing Intent.

Something inside the package exuded vitality and even temporarily dispelled the Killing Intent.

What's this?

I suddenly recalled the fragments I had seen and the conversations I had heard in the truth about the meeting.

"The Serpent's Egg" -- I think that's what it's called.

"Hurry... please... devour it!!!"

The cloth covering it came undone, revealing a rapidly pulsating, bright green mass of flesh.

"This is... the culmination of... our... hard work all along..."

Despite the excruciating pain raging beneath her frail body, she offered up her last hope.

"Don't die... for us... at least, for me—don't die!!!"

I didn't hesitate.

The girl's fragile yet powerful voice had already told me everything.

There's no time to devour it by dripping blood.

Using all the strength I had left, I pried open the veins on my face.

Then—she opened her mouth as wide as possible and swallowed the pulsating, emerald-green fleshy mass— the Serpent's Egg —in one gulp.

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This afternoon is the first exam, an electronics experiment. (orz)