The Mastermind of Multiverse: Starting from *Fullmetal Alchemist*

"In that case, there's no reason for that blade to be just for show, is there?"

Su Wei stepped forward slowly, the pitch-black blade instantly extending.

"Only one way to find out."

Before the words had even left his lips, his hand had already fallen with the blade.

It was as if he were slicing through a piece of soft cheese.

The head of the Evil Spirit, still roaring, soared into the sky before dissipating into a cloud of black smoke.

"As I thought." Katsuragi nodded.

Ryuen Kakeru curled his lip, clearly having anticipated this:

"It was obvious that it would work. If he couldn't even cut through that, what else could the person who chose that blade do besides go to their death?"

Yet, he did not mock Su Wei's choice.

As a delinquent who relied on violence, he understood clearly:

With the fragile physical constitution of a human, engaging in close-quarters combat with such extraordinary creatures was a gamble in itself.

If you can't react in time, you die.

This was the reason he hadn't chosen a combat blade this time.

A person should know their own limitations.

"You've already taken your two heads."

Ryuen suddenly spoke up to remind him.

"Rest assured."

Su Wei nodded and sheathed his blade:

"The rest are yours; I won't snatch them."

Hearing these words, the tense atmosphere seemed to ease slightly.

Ichinose Honami stood to the side, watching the black smoke gradually dissipate, but she hesitated to speak.

She understood the subtext in Ryuen's words all too well.

There were only 20 Evil Spirits in this mission in total.

Yet, there were nine people here.

On average, each person only had a share of a little over two.

If they followed the principle of "equal distribution," things were indeed still peaceful for now.

But the problem was...

What about the last two remaining?

Class A had the advantage in numbers, so they were naturally as steady as a mountain.

She and Shiranami were not people keen on fighting for rankings; as long as they could ensure everyone survived, that was enough.

However...

Ichinose's gaze swept over the determined girl with long black hair, and then to Ryuen Kakeru, whose gloomy eyes seemed to be calculating something.

To break this stalemate, a new variable would have to be introduced.

For instance, that hidden monster.

But...

Is it really worth risking everything for a ranking?

Ichinose sighed in her heart.

Just hunting these 20 ordinary Evil Spirits, as long as one didn't do anything reckless, could be cleared almost without injury.

But if they split up for the sake of those two extra heads, or for that unknown hidden monster... was it worth it?

Seeming to sense Ichinose's anxiety, Shiranami Chihiro quietly took her hand, the warmth from her palm helping Ichinose regain her focus.

"It's okay, Ichinose," Shiranami whispered comfortingly. "I trust your judgment."

Ichinose managed a faint smile and gave a slight nod.

Less than thirty minutes had passed; there was still time.

For now, they could only take things one step at a time.

Just as Ichinose had feared.

Murphy's Law always seemed to manifest at the most inopportune moments.

As they pushed forward, once everyone had two heads on their tally, the group inevitably came to a halt at a fork in the road.

Only two red dots remained.

Furthermore, they were at opposite ends of the corridor.

"Two left."

Horikita Suzune was the first to break the silence.

She looked at the malevolent-looking Ryuen, her eyes devoid of any intention to retreat:

"There's no longer any issue of sneak attacks or coordination. In that case, from here on out... let's rely on our own abilities."

Rather than arguing over distribution plans here, it was better to let their strength do the talking.

Whoever grabbed them first, kept them.

"Heh, naturally."

Ryuen Kakeru grinned.

"But..."

Ichinose knew she had no more reason to dissuade them.

Yet, out of her own sense of responsibility, she still tried her best to warn them:

"Although the X-GUN only shows two red dots, don't forget, there is still a hidden target in this exam."

"So, to be safe, it would be better if everyone didn't spread out too much."

These words did not garner any attention from Horikita or Ryuen.

Horikita Suzune didn't even turn her head, looking directly at Su Wei:

"How about we go for the nearest one?"

Although Su Wei wasn't competing for points, the blade in his hand capable of harming spirits, along with the composure he had previously displayed, was the security Horikita needed most right now.

Seeing this, Ryuen Kakeru took the opportunity to select his target, saying magnanimously:

"Since ladies first, then to take care of the weak, we'll go for the farthest one."

Just like that, the group quickly split into two.

Sakayanagi and Kamuro followed Su Wei, while Ichinose, worried about Ryuen, took Shiranami and followed him.

Katsuragi Kohei thought for a moment and decided to follow Ichinose.

He could sense that Sakayanagi Arisu likely wouldn't welcome him.

Watching the backs of Ryuen and the others as they left, Su Wei clicked his tongue slightly.

You brat, you know how to pick... the Parasite really is over there.

In this dungeon with treacherous terrain, numerous targets, and a two-hour time limit, since the difficulty was already set, he naturally wouldn't go out of his way to make things harder.

So, he had simply placed the Parasite next to the Evil Spirit farthest from them, adding an air wall for good measure.

It would automatically trigger the event once someone approached.

Su Wei withdrew his gaze and followed Horikita and Sakayanagi toward the right-hand passage.

Before long, the last ordinary Evil Spirit appeared in everyone's field of vision.

But before the red-furred, ominous-looking Evil Spirit could charge over:

"Whoosh--"

A capture net shot out from the side, binding it firmly in place.

"It's yours, Horikita-san. I don't need it."

Sakayanagi Arisu put away her Y-GUN and turned to look at the somewhat distracted Su Wei, chuckling:

"What, does it feel like there's no challenge?"

Su Wei didn't reply.

Horikita Suzune was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Sakayanagi to be so generous.

"...Thank you."

She didn't stand on ceremony; after all, she needed these points too much to prove herself, and she wanted to advance too badly.

She raised the X-GUN, aiming at the Evil Spirit's head.

However, she didn't pull the trigger immediately, instead turning back to glance at Su Wei behind her.

"What is it?"

Sakayanagi Arisu keenly caught the movement and couldn't help but laugh:

"Ah... are you worried that once Ryuen and the others finish clearing the Evil Spirits, the game will end immediately?"

As she spoke, she nudged Kamuro Masumi with her elbow, "Look at her, how quickly she adapts. And you? You were actually trembling earlier even with me here!"

Kamuro Masumi's vision went black, and she nearly choked on her own breath.

No, which eye of yours saw me trembling?

"Fine, maybe a little... but that's just a physiological reaction, okay!"

"Besides, didn't Horikita Suzune look like she was about to cry at the very beginning? She was even more composed than I was, right!"

Just as Kamuro was frantically venting in her heart.

The combat blade in Su Wei's hand suddenly retracted, transforming into a sharp edge the length of a dagger.

He stepped forward and nimbly plunged it into the core of the Evil Spirit.

As the Evil Spirit dissipated, Su Wei turned to look at the bewildered Horikita Suzune and explained:

"Our phones have no signal during the trial, so naturally, we can't communicate."

"Rather than leaving someone here to guard and invite unnecessary trouble, it's better to take these points while Ryuen and the others are still on their way, then go find that hidden Boss."

"No matter what, the outcome won't be too bad. Either Class C or Class B will end up at the bottom."

Horikita Suzune agreed.

Indeed.

This was the most rational judgment.

Instead of playing petty games over such meager gains here, it was better to set their sights further ahead.

"...I understand."

Behind them, Sakayanagi Arisu paid no mind to those convoluted schemes.

She stared at the combat blade in Su Wei's hand that could extend and retract at will, her eyes gleaming slightly.

As expected...

The equipment provided by the Black Sphere isn't that simple.

If the combat blade can extend and deform, then what about this Y-GUN? Is its functional limit really just restraint?

Before she could figure anything out.