The forest was shrouded in dense fog before dawn. Tang Yu stood on the watchtower, his breath condensing in the air. He had kept watch all night, but the mysterious figure had never returned.
"Your shift's over." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's voice came from below, breaking the morning silence.
Tang Yu climbed down from the watchtower and rolled his stiff shoulders. "Everything's quiet."
"What about Ryuen?" Ayanokoji asked, his voice as calm as ever.
"Nothing so far." Tang Yu lowered his voice. "But I'm sure he got something yesterday."
Ayanokoji's gray eyes seemed especially deep in the morning light. "The special exam resumes today. He'll make his move."
Back at the tent, Tang Yu splashed cold water on his face, forcing himself to stay alert. The System Interface displayed:
[Emotion Points: 18250/20000] [Stamina Recovery: 78%] [Special Reminder: Class C hostility has risen to 75%]
He was only 1,750 Emotion Points away from unlocking the next ability, and Tang Yu had a feeling he could reach it today. He quickly made a plan—take the initiative, lure Ryuen into making a move, and collect enough Emotion Points during the confrontation.
After breakfast, the D Class Leadership Group held an emergency meeting. To everyone's surprise, Horikita Suzune appeared on the video call. She was sitting in the school infirmary with her right leg in a cast, but she seemed to be in good spirits.
"The doctor said I can take part in decisions over video." Horikita's voice came through the tablet. "I can't be there in person, but I can offer advice."
Tang Yu noticed Ayanokoji frown almost imperceptibly. Horikita's return had disrupted some of his plans.
"Welcome back, Horikita." Hirata Yosuke spoke sincerely. "Your advice means a lot to us."
The meeting focused on how to respond to a possible attack from Class C. Tang Yu proposed splitting into two groups: one would stay at camp while the other went out to find mission points.
"That's too risky." Ayanokoji objected. "Splitting up would weaken our defenses."
"On the contrary." Tang Yu pointed to the map. "Ryuen expects us to hunker down and defend. If we take the initiative, we'll throw off his plans."
"I agree with Tang Yu." Horikita's sudden declaration took everyone by surprise. "The best defense is a good offense."
Ayanokoji's gaze shifted between Horikita and Tang Yu, as though reassessing how their relationship had changed. Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and caught a brief flicker of wariness in Ayanokoji's Emotion Cloud. Horikita's change in attitude had made him suspicious.
[Wariness from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +150]
In the end, Hirata went with Tang Yu's proposal. Tang Yu, Ken Sudō, and three other students would form the Reconnaissance Team and search for new mission points in the northern part of the island. Ayanokoji, Hirata, and the others would stay at camp.
Before setting out, Tang Yu quietly approached Kushida Kikyo. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on Ayanokoji."
Kushida smiled sweetly. "Of course, but... why?"
"I'm just curious what he's plotting on his own." Tang Yu answered casually as he activated Emotion Perception. On the surface, Kushida's Emotion Cloud was a friendly pink, but at its core lay a dark gray scheming streak.
[False Cooperation from Kushida Kikyo +50]
"No problem!" Kushida readily agreed. "I'll tell you if I find out anything."
Tang Yu nodded in thanks, but remained wary. This two-faced girl couldn't be trusted, but for now, she was a necessary source of information.
The Reconnaissance Team followed the stream north. The forest was especially quiet after the storm, its stillness broken only by their footsteps and the occasional birdcall.
"I heard Ryuen met with someone from outside the school yesterday," Sudō asked in a hushed voice.
Tang Yu nodded. "I'm not sure who it was, but it couldn't have been anything good."
"If you ask me, we should just beat him up. He'd fall in line." Sudō brandished his fists.
"Violence won't solve anything." Tang Yu said it aloud, but in his mind, he was figuring out how to use Sudō's fighting ability. If they had to face Ryuen head-on, Sudō would be indispensable.
Two hours later, the group reached a cliff in the northern part of the island. An arrow had been carved into the rock face, pointing toward a concealed cave.
"A mission point?" one of the boys asked excitedly.
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and sensed a faint emotional disturbance inside the cave. "Someone got here first."
"Class C?" Sudō immediately went on alert.
"Not sure." Tang Yu motioned for everyone to hide. "I'll check it out first. Wait outside and back me up."
Before Sudō could object, Tang Yu had already crept toward the cave entrance. The opening was narrow, but inside was a spacious natural chamber about fifty square meters wide, with a metal Mission Box in the middle and someone standing beside it...
"Ichinose?" Tang Yu stepped into view, surprised.
The leader of Class B turned around, just as surprised. "Tang Yu?"
They stared at each other for a second, then both laughed. Ichinose's Emotion Cloud was a warm yellow, filled with genuine delight.
"Looks like we had the same idea." Ichinose pointed to the Mission Box. "I just found it. I haven't opened it yet."
Tang Yu examined the Mission Box. "It needs the fingerprints of both classes' leaders to unlock."
"How convenient that we're both here." Ichinose smiled. "Shall we work together?"
Tang Yu nodded, and they pressed their thumbs to the scanner at the same time. The box clicked open, revealing several waterproof maps and a key.
"What's this...?" Ichinose picked up the key.
Tang Yu quickly scanned the maps. "There's a hidden Warehouse in the island's southeast corner. This must be the key. The maps mark the weak points of all four classes' camps."
"Strategic intelligence." Ichinose's eyes lit up. "Shall we share it?"
"Of course." Tang Yu agreed readily. "But..."
He suddenly stopped. Emotion Perception picked up intense hostility outside the cave. Ichinose sensed it too. "Someone's coming."
They quickly hid behind a stone pillar. A few seconds later, three Class C students entered the cave, led by Ryuen Kakeru. Unlike usual, Ryuen's eyes were bloodshot.
His muscles had visibly bulged, and he radiated a dangerous air.
"Search!" Ryuen barked. "That Class B girl has to be nearby."
The two Class C students began searching the cave. Tang Yu and Ichinose held their breath, pressed close to the pillar in the shadows.
"Strange. The map says the mission point is right here..." one of the Class C students muttered.
Ryuen kicked the Mission Box in frustration. "Someone beat us to it! It must've been Class D or Class B!"
Tang Yu noticed that Ryuen was in an extremely abnormal state. His breathing was ragged, his pupils dilated, and his muscles twitched unnaturally. This didn't look like mere anger. It seemed more like... a reaction to drugs.
Just then, Ichinose accidentally knocked a small stone loose. Its faint clack rang out in the silent cave.
"Who's there?" Ryuen whipped around, a beastlike glint flashing in his eyes.
Tang Yu acted without hesitation, bursting from the shadows and shouting, "Ichinose, run!"
Ichinose reacted instantly and dashed toward the cave entrance. Ryuen roared and lunged at Tang Yu. They collided in the middle of the cave, and a tremendous force slammed into Tang Yu. That was no ordinary high school student's strength! He crashed against the stone wall, his back aching sharply.
[Impact sustained: Stamina down 30%] [Abnormal target state detected: Drug Enhancement]
The system's warning confirmed Tang Yu's suspicion. Ryuen had taken some kind of mysterious drug that enhanced his physical abilities. No wonder he was acting so brazenly.
"Finally caught you, Chinese Kid." Ryuen grinned viciously as he advanced. "I'm going to finish you off today."
Tang Yu quickly assessed the situation: deep inside a cave, cut off from help, facing a frenzied opponent enhanced by drugs. He had only one advantage—Ryuen's emotions were wildly unstable, making this a perfect chance to collect Emotion Points.
"Taking drugs to work up your courage?" Tang Yu deliberately provoked him. "Looks like you know you can't beat me otherwise."
[Anger from Ryuen Kakeru +300]
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