Trap (Part 2)

"I'm in a hurry," Ayanokoji said. "Come at me together."

Ryuen's expression turned grim. "You're asking for death. Take him down!"

Five boys lunged at Ayanokoji simultaneously. The scene that followed made everyone's eyes widen—Ayanokoji's movements were so fast they left afterimages.

With a single hand strike, an elbow, and a leg sweep, all five opponents hit the ground almost at once, not even having time to let out a scream.

The gymnasium fell into dead silence. Tang Yu struggled to prop himself up, his system analyzing Ayanokoji's movements at full capacity:

[Combat Style: Synthesis of multiple military martial arts]

[Speed: 32% beyond human limits]

[Strength: 28% beyond human limits]

[Assessment: Professional-grade combatant level]

Ryuen's face turned ugly. "Damn it, all of you, go! Take him out!"

The remaining twenty-plus students swarmed forward. Ayanokoji wove through the crowd like a ghost, every strike hitting a vital point with precision, yet controlled to remain non-lethal.

His opponents couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes, while every move he made resulted in someone falling.

Tang Yu took the opportunity to crawl to Karuizawa and used his teeth to tear the rope on her wrists. Karuizawa ripped off the tape over her mouth and hugged Tang Yu tightly. "I'm sorry... it's all because of me..."

"It's not your fault." Tang Yu patted her back while observing the battle.

Ayanokoji's combat was nothing short of art—no wasted movements, with terrifying efficiency. Within two minutes, only five or six of the thirty-man mob remained standing.

The rest were groaning on the floor. Ishizaki Daichi tried to sneak an attack from behind, but Ayanokoji kicked him five meters away, sending him crashing into the wall where he fell unconscious.

Ryuen finally showed a look of fear, backing away continuously. "What... what exactly are you?"

Ayanokoji didn't answer and continued walking forward. The remaining students abandoned Ryuen and scattered in a panic. On the second-floor balcony, the spectating students were silent, some even forgetting to breathe.

"That's enough." A voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to see Horikita Manabu appearing on the second-floor balcony, accompanied by members of the Student Council.

"This farce ends here." Horikita Manabu's voice was cold. "All students involved in this group assault, report to the Student Council tomorrow morning for disciplinary action. Ryuen Kakeru, you are suspected of kidnapping and coercion; the School Administration will consider whether to involve the police."

Ryuen's face turned ashen, but he quickly regained his cynical smile. "Whatever. But the biggest gain today..." He looked at Ayanokoji, "...was discovering the true monster of this school."

Horikita Manabu followed his gaze to Ayanokoji, his eyes narrowing behind his lenses. Ayanokoji, meanwhile, expressionlessly picked up his school uniform and put it on, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

The siren of an ambulance approached from the distance. Tang Yu stood up with Karuizawa's help and walked toward Ayanokoji. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Ayanokoji shook his head. "We're even." He paused. "Tsukishiro is watching."

Tang Yu followed his gaze and saw Tsukishiro Shuhei quietly observing everything from the shadows in the corner of the gymnasium, a strange glint in his eyes.

Their gazes met in the air. Tsukishiro smiled slightly, made a gesture indicating they would meet again soon, and then quietly slipped away.

Medical staff flooded into the gymnasium and began treating the injured. Karuizawa insisted on accompanying Tang Yu to the hospital for a check-up, gripping his arm tightly and refusing to let go.

Students from Class D gathered around, expressing their concern all at once. Hirata Yosuke was filled with self-reproach, while Horikita Suzune looked at Ayanokoji with a complex expression, as if seeing this classmate for the first time.

In the ambulance heading to the hospital, Tang Yu leaned against the stretcher as the system interface refreshed continuously:

[Deep emotional fluctuation from Karuizawa Kei +1200]

[Shock from Class D students +800]

[Fear from spectating students +1500]

[Emotion value exceeded critical threshold]

[Unlocked "Combat Emotion Resonance" ability]

[Can absorb the fear of surrounding opponents to convert into personal combat power]

[Current emotion value: 125600/∞]

Karuizawa held Tang Yu's hand, tears falling continuously. "I'm sorry... if I hadn't been careless and let them catch me..."

Tang Yu squeezed her hand. "The important thing is that you're safe." He hesitated. "The photos Ryuen mentioned..."

"They're fake." Karuizawa shook her head. "He showed me a few blurry, composite images and threatened to release the 'real' ones if I didn't cooperate. But I knew very well they weren't real."

Tang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Ryuen really didn't have any leverage over Karuizawa; this kidnapping was purely to lure him into a trap.

Hospital examinations showed that Tang Yu mostly had superficial injuries, the most serious being two cracked ribs that required a week of rest. After the doctor finished dressing his wounds, Karuizawa insisted on walking Tang Yu back to his apartment.

The night was deep, and the two walked along the quiet street. Karuizawa suddenly stopped. "Tang Yu, I..."

Tang Yu turned to look at her. Under the moonlight, Karuizawa's eyes were shining, her lips trembling slightly. The next second, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Tang Yu's cheek lightly.

"Thank you... for everything you did for me." Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Tang Yu was stunned. Through the "Emotion Weaving Network," he could clearly feel the complex yet pure emotions Karuizawa felt at that moment—gratitude, reliance, admiration, and something deeper and more intense.

"I..." Tang Yu was just about to speak when the system suddenly issued an alert:

[Remote surveillance detected]

[Position: Rooftop on the right]

[Identity: Tsukishiro Shuhei]

Tang Yu instinctively shielded Karuizawa behind him and looked toward the rooftop on the right. Under the moonlight, a blurred figure was watching them, their glasses reflecting a cold light.

When Tang Yu met his gaze, the man raised his hand to make a strange gesture, then vanished into the night.

"What's wrong?" Karuizawa asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing." Tang Yu withdrew his gaze. "Let's go."

Back at the apartment, Tang Yu made sure Karuizawa was emotionally stable before letting her return to the girls' dormitory. Once the door was closed, he immediately opened his computer and began recording all of today's findings:

1. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka possesses combat abilities far exceeding those of an ordinary person, suggesting he has received professional training;

2. Tsukishiro Shuhei watched the entire time without intervening, seemingly observing something;

3. Ryuen's behavioral patterns have changed, becoming more extreme and dangerous;

4. The new system ability "Combat Emotion Resonance" may become the key to countering Tsukishiro.

Halfway through writing, the doorbell rang. Tang Yu vigilantly checked through the peephole—it was Ayanokoji.

"Sorry to disturb you." After entering, Ayanokoji spoke directly, "Tsukishiro has accelerated his plan."

Tang Yu frowned: "What plan?"

"The White Room project." Ayanokoji's voice remained calm, but a rare ripple flashed through his eyes. "I am the first successful product, and you are... an unexpected variable."

Tang Yu's heart rate accelerated: "Explain clearly."