The Weird Art Female Teacher patted his shoulder and gave him a long, deep look, her voice more solemn than ever. "You've been a student... for a long time, haven't you?"
"Yes..." Ren Jianxiong lowered his eyes slightly. For all the Fanatics' lofty talk of "Glorious Evolution," the first slice of the cake always went to those at the top.
"I've been a teacher for a long time too... a long, long time..." The Weird Art Female Teacher spoke slowly, with something beguiling in her voice. "As the old saying goes, opportunity favors the prepared. But after preparing for so many years, I finally realized... opportunity only ever appears once or twice among them. Sometimes, it's only a glimmer."
"And now, that glimmer is right before us."
"Come on. Let's head over first."
Ren Jianxiong wrestled with himself, but his breathing grew increasingly rapid, and his penguin-like swollen body trembled slightly.
The Weird Art Female Teacher's words were more enticing than any empty promise. Besides, after spending so many years as a lackey, he knew all too well that opportunities... truly had to be seized for oneself.
So did resources.
The key to powerful capital was not capital, but first being "powerful."
Ren Jianxiong drew a deep breath and nodded firmly. "All right."
At the same time, almost the instant the ripple spread outward, the Night-Walking Species lurking within the Layers sensed the presence of "Ashes" and surged toward Group C Class 18.
"Rustle, rustle... rustle, rustle..."
From a distance, the densely packed Night-Walking Species within the surging fog looked like countless crawling creatures emerging from dark corners. They formed a writhing torrent, crawling along the Teaching Building's outer walls as though on level ground, surging toward the source of those Ashes...
May 10, Year X023, 13:59, Group