Chapter 159: What Kind of Approach Is This?

“Since you are all so eager for death… I shall grant your wish!”

“However, to simply destroy you like this would be far too merciful!”

The viridian spectral flames erupted, transforming into an infinite, deep abyss that swallowed all light. Phantylia’s final declaration echoed through the void, dripping with malicious delight.

“I’ve changed my mind!”

“I will make you… suffer repeatedly in the deepest despair, until you meet a miserable end!”

The darkness completely engulfed everyone’s vision, their perception, and even… their consciousness.

Then, just as suddenly, the world returned.

Bright light spilled in through clean glass windows, painting dusty motes dancing in the air. The sounds of slightly noisy conversations, the scrape of tables and chairs, the patter of feet running and playing in the corridor… Chen found himself slumped over a somewhat hard wooden desk, his cheek pressed against the cool tabletop.

He straightened up, blinking, and looked around with a blank expression.

It was a standard classroom. A blackboard, a podium, rows of desks and chairs. On the walls, motivational slogans and a “study corner” were posted with earnest care. Students milled about in small groups during the break, all wearing identical blue-and-white school uniforms that looked just a little bit dowdy.

“Holy crap…” Chen rubbed his eyes, cursing under his breath. “What the hell is this place? A school? How many years has it been since I graduated? Am I having a nightmare about cramming for finals?”

Then, the realization hit him like a physical blow—Phantylia!

Those final, venomous words from that green-fire thing! This had to be her doing.

‘Shouldn’t it be like in a game, where the boss gets bigger and stronger in the second phase, and we all work together to blast her with our Ultimate Skills?’he thought incredulously.’How did we end up getting pulled into some kind of Inner Illusion? Isn’t her scope of business a bit too broad?!’A stray thought surfaced. “Oh, right… that thing is some kind of Heliobus, isn’t it?”‘Specializing in messing with people’s minds, toying with memories and emotions… Tsk, so they really do have that ability.’Chen curled his lip, not feeling particularly panicked. He focused inward, trying to sense the lit icons within his mind. They were all still there, a comforting, familiar presence. Most, his self-awareness was crystal clear; there was no sign of the illusion’s influence, no hint of modified memories.’System-brand anti-addiction,’he mused.’The effect is outstanding.’

Just then, a vibrant and slightly charming girl’s voice sounded beside him.

“Hey! Chen! What are you dazing off for? Next is PE class; if we don’t go to the playground now, we’ll be late!”

Chen turned his head and saw a girl wearing the same school uniform. With rosy cheeks and a bright smile, she was standing by his desk, looking down at him.

That face… it was March 7th!

But something seemed… a bit off. The March 7th before him was still his lively, cute self, but she seemed… a bit fuller? Especially the curve stretching her school uniform shirt; it clearly surpassed the range of a normal high school boy’s chest. It had even reached a point of being somewhat burdensome, presenting a startling presence as she leaned over.

Chen’s eyes widened instantly.

He shot up from his seat, closing the distance to March 7th in a single step. His gaze fell directly on the part where his sense of incongruity was exploding, and he blurted out:

“Holy moly… Brother?! Your… your pectoral muscles… isn’t the development a bit too exaggerated?!”

He gestured wildly. “Did our school cafeteria add some nutritional supplements they shouldn’t have?! Is this scientific?!”

March 7th was stunned for a moment. Then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, her fair cheeks turned a brilliant, furious red that spread all the way to the roots of her ears. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest and took a sharp step back, stomping her foot in a mix of shame and annoyance.

“Chen! You—what nonsense are you talking about! What pectoral muscles!” she shrieked, her voice cracking. “And who’s your brother!”

“I am a cute and sunny beautiful girl! A beautiful girl! Do you understand!” Her cheeks puffed up with indignation.

“I don’t believe it,” Chen said decisively. He began walking a slow half-circle around March 7th, rubbing his chin with an expression of intense academic inquiry.

“This size, this proportion, this anti-gravity effect… there’s definitely a problem!” he declared. “Speak! Did you stuff your lunch in there?”

“What lunch! You must have slept yourself silly!” March 7th was both anxious and furious. She swiped a hand toward Chen’s head, but he nimbly dodged.

“Hurry up and go! To the playground! Class Monitor Dan Heng and Stelle and the others must have arrived!”

‘Class Monitor Dan Heng? Stelle is here too?’ Chen felt a surge of amusement. This illusion was quite thoughtful, even including his acquaintances.

As he followed the huffing March 7th out of the classroom, he continued his observations as the sole “awakened one.”

In the corridor, he saw more familiar faces. Ms. Welt had become Dean Welt, wearing thick glasses, clutching a thick stack of lesson plans, and wearing a solemn expression. She was currently lecturing several mischievous students. The students themselves looked exactly like miniature versions of the Antimatter Legion’s Voidrangers.

Dean Welt adjusted her glasses, a cold light flashing across the lenses. “Chasing and playing in the corridor during class time—your punishment is three days of general cleaning!”

Out on the playground, the sports representative, Jing Yuan, was lazily leaning against the horizontal bar, directing students to line up. She still had that striking white hair, but now it was tied back loosely. Dressed in a tracksuit, she remained petite, yet possessed a mysterious sense of leisure, an aura that screamed “everything is under control.” She even had a lollipop stick poking out of her mouth.

Seeing Chen and March 7th running over, she smiled and gave a small wave.

And at the start of the track, Class Monitor Dan Heng had already changed into her tracksuit and was diligently warming up. She wore the same cold expression, but her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and there were no dragon horns on her forehead. She was simply an honor student who looked serious and earnest, with a tall and well-proportioned figure.

Beside her, a transfer student named Stelle was trying to tie her sneaker laces with a completely bewildered look on her face. Her eyes were filled with a deep, existential confusion: ‘Who am I? Where am I? Why am I running?’

Everything looked so normal, so utterly mundane.

Except for the bug in the system that was Chen.

He walked right up to Class Monitor Dan Heng and spoke out of the blue. “Teacher Dan Heng, stop warming up. Hurry and transform. Use your newly unlocked Imbibitor Lunae skin… er, High Elder power, to bring down that fake sun in the sky so we can go out and beat up Phantylia.”

Dan Heng stopped her stretches and looked at him as if he were a complete fool. Her cold voice was tinged with genuine confusion. “Student Chen, do you have heatstroke? Do you need to go to the infirmary? Also, please don’t give your classmates strange nicknames.”

Chen was met with silence.

Undeterred, he wandered over to sports representative Jing Yuan and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “General, stop pretending. I know you remember.”

“Let’s join forces. You use the Lightning-Lord to smash a hole in this place, and I’ll… well, I’ll support you with my mind. What do you say? Shall we break this situation?”

Jing Yuan casually spat out the lollipop stick, her smile lazy and innocent. “Student Chen, dreams are a good thing to have, but the reality is that PE class requires testing the 800-meter and 1000-meter runs.”

“Run hard,” she added, her eyes full of the playful look of someone who had high hopes for his suffering. “If you fail, you’ll have to come for extra practice on the weekend.”

Just then, the sharp, shrill ring of the school bell cut through the air.

Sports representative Jing Yuan blew her whistle. “Alright, students, assemble!” she called out in her lazy drawl.

“Today we’ll start with a routine warm-up run, and then… we’ll play some interesting team collaboration and competitive mini-games.”

She paused, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“I hope everyone… can have fun.”

[Elysian’s Note: Having a good time with the story? Every single bit helps immensely: