Chapter 218

Chapter 218

Chapter 218

Jiang Tianming faced the incoming golden light alone, raising a hand as if to block it like a mantis against a chariot.

But as the audience thought him overconfident, the light vanished upon touching him, revealing a stunned Huangfu Mingzhe.

He looked at his fist, then at Jiang Tianming, repeating this thrice before asking in disbelief, “Where’s my skill?!”

Jiang Tianming, hands behind his back, analyzed calmly, “Maybe it vanished.”

“Of course I know it vanished! Why did it vanish?!” Huangfu Mingzhe, driven mad by the nonsense, snapped, “Why do you Endless folks love playing dumb?”

Wu Mingbai was one, I was one, and now Jiang Tianming. Huangfu Mingzhe thought, no wonder, they were Si Zhaohua's Academy—annoying as hell.

But he quickly calmed down, eyeing Jiang Tianming gravely, “An ability-nullifying power?”

Since Jiang Tianming used it openly, he wasn’t afraid of exposure. But he’d learned a valuable trait from me: when the opponent’s unsure, don’t confirm, keep them guessing.

Seeing their intent, Huangfu Mingzhe stopped asking. Bracing for battle, he fought on. Without support buffs, he didn’t last long, forced off by the five. But even against five, he took Jiang Tianming down with him, saving face.

With Huangfu Mingzhe off, only Endless remained. The referee announced, “Match concluded. ‘Endless Ability Academy’ wins!”

The Tri-School Competition’s final victory went to Endless, as expected.

Huangfu Mingzhe was undeniably strong, holding out 1v5 briefly. His solo attack power surpassed anyone in our protagonist squad.

He’s done for, I thought, pity in my eyes. Such a powerful Ability user wasn’t a random extra drawn by the author. At minimum, he’d play a big role in the upcoming event; at most, he’d get more appearances.

Given his personality, he’d likely relish being caught in danger. I couldn’t relate but respected it. If folks like him didn’t eagerly tackle danger, how could someone like me relax?

As I mused, Lei Ze’en entered, clapping with a smile, “Let’s go, champions! Time to collect your awards!”

The Tri-School Competition valued efficiency. Right after the final match, awards were prepared. Since Endless had locked in the win early, the organizers had medals ready, no last-minute prep needed.

With only three schools, there was no top-three ranking. Only the first-place Academy received medals under the spotlight.

Endless often took first, earning its hidden-top reputation. But since the three schools had similar resources, differing only in teaching methods, they weren’t guaranteed the top spot.

As we received our medals and bowed to the audience, Manga Consciousness pinged, “King of Abilities has updated. Please review.”

An expected update node—no surprise. I wasn’t rushing to check. It was just standard match content, viewable anytime. What I “looked forward to” was tomorrow’s entertainment match. I was curious what’d happen.

Though I didn’t want to compete, I knew my popularity. Yesterday, buying snacks, fans mobbed me for autographs. Their fervor told me I had no shortage of supporters.

Pretty normal, I thought narcissistically. A handsome, powerful guy like me—wouldn’t it be weirder to lack fans? As for the entertainment match, with great power comes great responsibility. Being this popular couldn’t be helped.

After the awards, we didn’t leave immediately. Next was the audience vote for tomorrow’s ten entertainment match contestants. Each audience seat had a number pad to select favored contestants.

All thirty competitors took the stage, their one-inch photos displayed on the big screen. The corner number was their ID—input it to vote. Each audience member got three votes.

Each photo started with a zero, representing votes. When the referee announced voting, numbers beside many photos surged rapidly.

Soon, gaps widened. Huangfu Mingzhe led, with high appearances, strength, and looks, his popularity unmatched.

Wu Jin followed closely. Though he’d only competed once, his recent stunning reveal put him at peak popularity, earning many votes.

Next, neck-and-neck, were me, Lan Subing, Si Zhaohua, and Jiang Tianming—all high-profile performers, expectedly selected.

The rest weren’t far apart, with no ties. The final ten included the high-vote leaders plus Wu Mingbai, Skydome’s shadow girl Qiao Mu, Houde’s [Synced Link] Ability user Li Bowen, and their Green-Haired Boy, Zuzong.

Yes, the Green-Haired Boy’s name was literally Zuzong. Seeing it, everyone gave the nonchalant boy odd looks.

That name… made to take advantage, huh?

During his matches, the host had called his name, but competitors, focused, barely noticed or thought it a homophone joke.

Only now, seeing “Zuzong” on the screen, did they realize his name was literally that—more shameless than a pun.

Ignoring the stares, Zuzong grinned, sidling up to me, “Classmate Su Bei, looking forward to tomorrow’s entertainment match!”

Not provocation—the entertainment match ignored Academy ties, or the numbers wouldn’t be uneven. Even if rules required teams, it’d be random, though likely free-for-all.

Zuzong approaching me was likely to try teaming up tomorrow. If not, at least to get me to go easy. As a Destiny Track user who’d shown strength, I’d left an impression.

Zuzong was also impressed by Huangfu Mingzhe, who’d beaten him fair and square in the [Arena]. Notably, Huangfu Mingzhe chose physical combat and won even with his eyes banned.

But Huangfu Mingzhe’s arrogance made Zuzong think approaching him was pointless—likely backfiring. Better to cozy up to me; it might pay off.

He wasn’t scared of others—his [Arena] let him win against anyone weaker in physical combat.

Oh, except Jiang Tianming.

Zuzong’s gaze landed on him. He was odd—nullifying Li Bowen’s link and Huangfu Mingzhe’s ultimate. A bit of thought suggested Jiang Tianming’s ability involved nullifying powers.

That was terrifying. He’d shown [Object Control], [Immortal-Binding Rope], [Frost Mage], and now possibly a nullifying ability. How many did he have?!

Before the competition, they’d learned Jiang Tianming had multiple abilities, assuming two at most. Now, it seemed closer to four.

But winning over one teammate was enough. With classmates helping, would they really kill poor, pitiful him?

Glancing at the overly familiar guy, I asked curiously, “What do your classmates usually call you?”

“My name, of course,” Zuzong replied matter-of-factly.

Surprised, I raised an eyebrow. People actually called such an exploitative name? His classmates were that chill?

Before I could say more, Li Bowen, the [Synced Link] support, cursed, “Bull! Don’t listen to him. We call him Sunzi!”

Calling Zuzong “Sunzi”—fitting. I laughed, “Guess I’ll follow suit. Don’t worry, Sunzi, I’ll take good care of you tomorrow.”

Zuzong: “…”

Choked by his teammate, he looked furious but didn’t dare speak. Everyone burst out laughing, shouts of “Sunzi” echoing, even from the audience.

The venue filled with cheerful vibes. I earned another resentful stare—probably the legendary “sacrifice for the greater good,” I thought.

After selecting the entertainment match lineup, we returned to the hotel to rest. The rules would be announced tomorrow morning, giving us a good night’s rest.

Endless Ability Academy held an early victory banquet, funded by filthy-rich Lei Ze’en, treating us to a lavish meal.

Lei Ze’en was truly loaded—his ability helped build teleportation arrays, earning him plenty of side cash. With low material desires, aside from gourmet food, he’d saved a fortune.

Meng Huai seemed low-desire too, but he hadn’t saved much. When Zhao Xiaoyu asked why, Ai Baozhu pointed at his plain-looking black T-shirt, “If I’m not mistaken, that’s 3,300.”

Then at his sneakers, “Those are 25,000.”

She shrugged, explanation done. It was clear—Meng Huai’s other clothes and accessories were likely pricey too. His lifestyle was probably high-end, with expensive items we couldn’t see.

Jiang Tianming was stunned, “Didn’t expect, Teacher, you’d…”

He couldn’t finish, his stereotype of Meng Huai as a rough, frugal guy shattered. Despite his tough exterior, Meng Huai was a refined spender.

Even I was surprised.

Knowing what shocked them, Meng Huai rolled his eyes, “Money’s for spending, isn’t it?”

Ai Baozhu agreed instantly, nodding, “Teacher’s right! Which brand’s clothes are best? Dad’s birthday’s coming—I want to pick a gift.”

Meng Huai paused, then said seriously, “Expensive ones.”

“Pfft!” Lei Ze’en laughed, slinging an arm around Meng Huai, telling Ai Baozhu, “Wrong guy to ask. He’s a fake refined guy—just spends, doesn’t know quality.”

Ai Baozhu: “…”

She paused, then switched topics, “Wonder what tomorrow’s entertainment match rules are. Can we find out early?”

Though she wasn’t competing, she was curious.

“You could, but no need,” Lei Ze’en nodded, then shook his head. “It’s an entertainment match—why so serious? Having fun matters most. Knowing the rules early kills the vibe.”

Fair point. Ai Baozhu nodded, dropping it.

After dinner, back at the hotel, we saw Feng Lan waiting at the entrance. Spotting us, he hurried over with big news, “Tomorrow’s entertainment match will have trouble.”

“What kind?” Lei Ze’en and Meng Huai’s expressions turned serious, pressing for details.

Feng Lan shook his head, “I’m not sure. I just saw the audience screaming and running in chaos.”

“The audience…” Lei Ze’en mused. “Targeting them? Many big shots are watching. If they’re taken, it’d give the culprits leverage and hurt the Ability Government’s reputation.”

I shook my head inwardly. Feng Lan’s [Prophecy] was correct, but his perspective misled them. No need to guess—the protagonist squad would be the ones in trouble, so the enemy likely targeted the arena’s contestants, not the audience.

If they assumed the audience was the target, they’d tighten audience security, neglecting the arena’s contestants.

Without a god’s-eye view, the teachers couldn’t see this. After briefing us, Meng Huai and Lei Ze’en left to discuss with the organizers, determined to keep the audience safe.

After they left, we returned to our dorms. Mo Xiaotian lay on his bed, glancing at me hesitantly before calling, “Big Bro Bei…”

I was checking King of Abilities on my phone. Raising an eyebrow, I kept scrolling, teasing, “Rare to hear you call me that. What’s up?”

“Big Bro Bei” was something only Mo Xiaotian occasionally used—no one else would.

“Will tomorrow’s entertainment match definitely happen?” Unexpectedly, he asked an odd question.

Surprised, I set down my phone and turned to him, “Why ask that?”

Tomorrow’s event was likely planned by “Black Flash,” targeting the entertainment match contestants. Was Mo Xiaotian’s question a pang of conscience, warning us not to join?

I wasn’t wrong. His reply confirmed my guess, “I just think…since Feng Lan said there’ll be trouble, and the entertainment match doesn’t count toward the Tri-School score, why not cancel it?”

“Such logical words from you,” I couldn’t help marveling. “You should suggest that to Teacher Meng. I’d 100% back you.”

I wholeheartedly supported his idea. If we could cancel that pesky entertainment match, Mo Xiaotian would deserve major credit. It didn’t affect scores—skipping it wouldn’t matter.

But Mo Xiaotian buried his head in his soft pillow, mumbling, “Nah, the teachers probably have their own plans.”

With his eyes closed, he didn’t see my face darken instantly, purple eyes clouded with gloom.

Why would Mo Xiaotian say that? Or rather, why would he oppose “Black Flash”’s actions?

From his past behavior, he supported “Black Flash” almost blindly, with a thin sense of right and wrong, raised by them to obey.

Yet now, he showed resistance!

How was that possible?

I didn’t mean he couldn’t resist “Black Flash,” but without a major moral conflict, he shouldn’t oppose their mission, like every time before.

His odd behavior suggested one possibility: this mission was different, maybe even against his principles.

With his near-nonexistent principles, what could “Black Flash” plan—related to us—that’d cross his line?

Sorry, I could only think of grim answers, like—“Black Flash” wants us dead.

All their past actions aimed to capture us, which Mo Xiaotian supported, perhaps even thinking we’d join them after brainwashing—a good thing.

He likely had some attachment to us classmates. I didn’t doubt he’d risk his life to save us in danger.

So, if “Black Flash”’s new goal was to kill us, his dejected reaction made sense.

It wasn’t the only possibility, but it was my first thought.

What now? I really wanted out of the entertainment match. As I’d said, the protagonist squad likely wouldn’t die before the finale, but I could. If “Black Flash” targeted me, I might actually die.

But after a brief gloom, my expression normalized. Closing my eyes, I reopened them with clarity.

I wasn’t the same as when the manga started. My strength and insight far surpassing my former self. After all my efforts to gain a full Destiny ability, fearing an early death would waste [Destiny Gear]’s power.

Whatever “Black Flash” planned, I could check my Destiny Compass to see if I’d die. If the large pointer was in the lower half, I’d shift it to the upper half. It’d cost massive Mental Energy, but saving my life was worth any cost.

Though I’d reasoned it out, I lost the mood to read the manga. Life-and-death matters made calming down hard.

The update wasn’t urgent—nothing special. I’d check it after tomorrow’s events, saving me from opening the manga and forum repeatedly.

The next morning at 8 a.m., we gathered at the venue. Contestants waited in the lounge for the host to announce the entertainment match rules.

“Didn’t expect they’d handle it like this,” Si Zhaohua said, looking through the lounge’s window at the empty audience seats. “But it’s a good method.”

Jiang Tianming nodded, “Having the audience watch on hotel big screens renders the culprits’ plans useless.”

“With strong Ability users guarding the hotel, there won’t be issues,” Lan Subing said, slightly pleased. “Thought they’d cancel the entertainment match.”

She was quite interested in today’s match. Though performing under scrutiny, the past few days’ matches had eased her fear.

Mainly, while on the arena, she barely noticed the audience. Otherwise, with her social anxiety, she’d never want to compete.