Fallen Genius

"Lu Li? Why's this trash back? Let him in."

Before long, Lu Li and Ying Zi'an entered one after the other.

Zhao Hui craned his neck to look and noticed Xu Xiao and the other two still standing by the door, their expressions somewhat strange.

"Lu Li's mixed up with Xu Xiao? Not surprising. That woman's too soft-hearted—she'll take in any kind of trash..."

Seeing Lu Li covered head to toe in grime, Zhao Hui's contempt rose another notch.

"Looking at that pathetic state, he was probably scared out of his wits by the monsters outside and came to beg me to take him back..."

Yet after entering the classroom, Lu Li said nothing. Instead, Ying Zi'an wore a fawning smile.

"Brother Zhao, Lu Li got his hands on something good!"

"Something good?" Zhao Hui frowned. "What good thing?"

"This!" Ying Zi'an held up an object and quickened his steps as he approached Zhao Hui.

The latter was completely unguarded, all his attention focused on what Ying Zi'an held.

It was an Origin Crystal, blood-red in color.

"This is... a Second-Order Mana Crystal?"

Zhao Hui blanked out for a moment, then instinctively looked at the one in his own hand.

Yet Ying Zi'an did not answer.

More precisely, he did not respond with his previous obsequious attitude.

What came instead was the Sharp Claw that struck without warning!

With Zhao Hui completely unprepared, Ying Zi'an's Sharp Claw pierced straight through his neck without resistance.

Blood erupted like a fountain, instantly splashing across most of the classroom!

"Die! Go die!!"

Ying Zi'an roared hysterically. The fury of humiliation and the ecstatic thrill of his successful ambush twisted his face to the extreme.

"Ying Zi'an, stop!"

Wang Xuyan was terrified and instinctively wanted to use her ability to heal Zhao Hui.

But Ying Zi'an gave her no chance. He pulled out his claws and drove them back in again and again, nearly pulverizing Zhao Hui's neck.

"Anyone who helps him dies!!"

Ying Zi'an laughed maniacally, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Zhao Hui's.

"You treated me like a dog? You think you're fucking worthy?!"

Tian Yuhao cried out to stop him.

"Ying Zi'an, if you kill Zhao Hui, who'll protect us?!"

"Protect?" Ying Zi'an suddenly turned around. One hand dragged Zhao Hui by the neck bones while the other gripped the Second-Order Mana Crystal as he stepped toward Tian Yuhao. "You really expect him to protect you? He was only using you all so he could live comfortably!"

"I can kill those monsters too!!"

With that, Ying Zi'an tossed Zhao Hui's corpse forward and let out a threatening roar.

"Are you still going to stand up for this dead man!?"

The classroom fell silent.

Zhao Hui was already dead. Even with Wang Xuyan's healing skill, she could not bring a dead man back to life.

Tian Yuhao's ability was [Scout], and he had no way to contend with Ying Zi'an's [Sharp Claw].

The other girls had no combat ability either. After all, Zhao Hui had only chosen them to build himself a harem.

Zhao Hui had lost, defeated by his own arrogance.

As everyone remained silent, Lu Li, who had been standing off to the side like background scenery, suddenly stepped forward and brushed a hand across Zhao Hui's face.

The corpse that had died with its eyes open finally closed them, looking somewhat more peaceful.

"Lu Li, stop putting on an act. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting!"

Ying Zi'an did not deactivate his ability and wiped his face with his blood-covered Sharp Claw.

"What else do you know? Tell me everything. We can work together and make something of ourselves in this apocalypse."

Hearing Ying Zi'an's words, everyone in the classroom looked at Lu Li in surprise.

So this whole upheaval had been orchestrated by that Black Iron trash?

Lu Li sighed and spoke calmly.

"That's all. I was just lucky enough to stumble across this Second-Order Mana Crystal. If you don't believe me, ask Xu Xiao."

Before he finished speaking, Xu Xiao entered with Wang Chao and Ma Han.

The class monitor first looked at the corpse on the floor, then furrowed her brows.

"That's right. The monsters fought among themselves. A Lv.6 Queen Bug killed a Lv.5 Queen Bug. This Second-Order Mana Crystal came from the Lv.5 one."

"When we found Lu Li, he was being chased by the Lv.6 Queen Bug."

Everyone else sucked in a sharp breath.

"A Lv.6 Queen Bug? There are monsters that high-level outside the Teaching Building?!" Cheng Duoduo cried out, covering her mouth.

She was also one of the "teammates" Zhao Hui had selected. Her ability was [Storage Space].

Just as its name suggested, this ability opened up a space for storing items. It had no offensive power at all and was fairly useless.

In the early stages of the apocalypse, Players like this could still serve as human backpacks through their abilities.

But as Players continued to level up, an item called a Space Ring would replace their role.

By then, they would completely lose their value and be ruthlessly abandoned by their teammates.

Whether to comfort the girls or show off his manliness, Wang Chao chuckled.

"What are you scared of? That Lv.6 Queen Bug was already killed by us. The Origin Crystal is with the class monitor! Class monitor, take it out and show them—mmph mmph..."

Before Wang Chao could finish, Ma Han had already covered his mouth with one hand while cursing.

"Are you the only one with a mouth? Do you have to talk so much? Shut up and stay put!"

Seeing Ma Han's reaction, the slow-witted Wang Chao finally understood and hurriedly shut his mouth.

Right. This was the apocalypse now.

The last person who showed off his wealth had not even gone cold yet.

Xu Xiao raised a hand to quiet everyone and spoke seriously.

"We're all classmates. There's nothing to hide."

"Just as Wang Chao said, the Lv.6 Queen Bug on the Teaching Building Back Hill was indeed killed by us."

"But it wasn't a one-on-one fight like you imagined. It was the result of everyone working together."

With Xu Xiao confirming it, Wang Xuyan immediately sidled up to her ingratiatingly.

"Sister Xiao, you're so amazing. Can I join your team? My healing ability is very useful..."

A barely noticeable trace of disgust flashed through Xu Xiao's eyes, but she still nodded.

"Not just you. I want all the students in the class to join."

"Because only by uniting and helping one another can we survive better in this apocalypse! Dictatorship never ends well."

After saying that, she gave Ying Zi'an a meaningful look.

Ying Zi'an was somewhat unconvinced and raised his chin as he retorted.

"You make it sound so nice! Can you guarantee you won't become a dictator like Zhao Hui?"

"My awakened ability is an Amplify-type ability, which means I'm destined to work closely with teammates." Xu Xiao patiently explained.

"But if you don't trust me, I'll respect your choice. Just don't kill anyone else."

Ying Zi'an fell silent, seeming to weigh the pros and cons.

He glanced at the righteous-looking Xu Xiao, then at Lu Li, who had earlier handed the Second-Order Mana Crystal to him.

In the end, he shook his head.

"Forget it. I'm not interested in joining your harmonious, friendly little family. Let me fend for myself."

With that, Ying Zi'an lifted a leg and started to head outside.

Wang Chao suddenly stepped sideways and blocked his path.

Ying Zi'an frowned. "What? You won't let me leave unless I join you?"

Wang Chao rolled his neck, and the skin all over his body rapidly hardened as he chuckled.

"Don't misunderstand. Leave if you want, but before you go, leave that Second-Order Mana Crystal behind."

Ying Zi'an's face darkened.

"What if I refuse?"