Sharp canines tore through her lips, blood dripping. She rose stiffly, like a rusted machine, joints unoiled.
1s
2s
3s…
Vine Entangle
Wrist-thick vines sprouted from tile cracks, swarming to bind the canine-toothed figure, locking her tightly. Her strength wasn't human, but thankfully, a 1st-ring spell wasn't made for normals either. Yu Yu exhaled briefly, chanting another spell.
Lightning Arrow
With ruthless force, Yu Yu fired the Lightning Arrow through her mouth, shattering her skull, spraying foul blood. The canine figure collapsed.
The knocking outside persisted, as if it'd knock until the end of time unless Yu Yu opened the door. But… it didn't seem intent on entering yet.
Yu Yu steadied her breathing, limbs weak, stripping her jacket to cover the door's glass, scanning the dorm at top speed.
Detect Evil
Nothing inside.
Outside, everywhere.
Yu Yu: "…"
Pinching her brow, she organized her thoughts. First, the previous corridor was brightly lit, indoors too, and the people, though eerie, were alive, with low malice. Second, she'd blasted the ceiling but felt a falling sensation when climbing, despite it being a ceiling. Third, this corridor and dorm were unlit, and the "student"…
Yu Yu glanced at the canine figure, skull split by Lightning Arrow.
No longer a student.
Its canines were less creepy than the first floor's monsters but forming fast—soon, it'd join them. Could she conclude this floor's living were mostly gone, with tons of monsters?
Also, the doorplates were reversed. Had she not been quick, with Candlelight on, she'd have fumbled outside.
631 was 136.
The knocking continued, yet it didn't enter. When she'd blasted upstairs, they'd gone berserk, breaking doors. Now…
These monsters seemed rule-bound, only breaking doors when enraged. The constant knocking was annoying. The vines would hold five minutes. Observing, Yu Yu confirmed it was dead. Thanks, Eternal Darkness. She'd deep-dive summoning later.
Teammates were great but not hers, not always there. If separated, she'd be beyond dead. Also… could summons farm?
Feed cows?
Cook?
Cough, kidding.
Eternal Darkness's food was trash—Yu Yu wouldn't trust a summon's cooking. Otherwise, that legend wouldn't have guided her to the end for instant noodles, scarfing her rice bowl greedily. Once she farmed in-game, she'd open diners across the Allen Peninsula.
Back to business, Yu Yu pondered her predicament. Rationally, she could do nothing unless the monsters left. But that didn't stop her from acting—like casting Thorn Wall to layer steel-like brambles by the door.
Or setting a Wet Field in the corridor, then freezing it with Frost Breath to cool the monsters down. Could they tap-tap with toes frozen in ice?
Bored, Yu Yu grew restless. Why wouldn't they leave?
This floor's monsters were so persistent. Were Zi Shu's group alive?
If she saw their canines, Yu Yu thought… well, teammates in the next life.
She'd tried.
Having heard the monsters' sound pollution up close, she felt no changes yet.
Maybe tied to Will?
What even was Will?
Yu Yu mused.
"Du, du, du, du…"
Yu Yu: "?"
Her taut nerves snapped, spine rigid, eyes electric.
Literally electric.
She began chanting Lightning Beam. The sound came from inside the dorm. Specifically, the bathroom.
Detect Evil showed no monsters inside… was the outside knocking a ruse, with one crawling through the bathroom window?
Too sinister.
Yu Yu cursed her carelessness.
"Du… du… du… du…"
Yu Yu was ready to stall, Lightning Beam's chant nearing completion.
Eat my palm thunder!
"Du… du… du… du…"
The doorknob turned.
Yu Yu aimed, eyes cold.
A stick poked out.
Yu Yu: "?"
Her near-cast Lightning Beam faltered, nearly misfiring.
The stick tapped the tiles. "Dong, dong, dong, dong…"
Yu Yu thought, tapping the desk thrice. "Dong, dong, dong."
Monsters tapped three times per cycle; this was four. She heard faint breathing, like someone exhaling in relief. They retracted the stick, waving a hand. Seeing the lively hand, Yu Yu held Lightning Beam, whispering, "Who?"
A head poked out. "Xiao Yu?"
Tentative.
Yu Yu lit up. "Name?"
They paused. "Yu Yu?"
"Your name."
"…Su Shu."
Yu Yu dispelled Lightning Beam. "Scared me! Why're you in the bathroom?"
Shu Tu emerged, eyes shrinking at the thorn-bound figure, hesitating.
Yu Yu: "Yup, fed it a Lightning Arrow."
Shu Tu: "Enough, let's go."
Yu Yu paused, shining Candlelight.
Inspecting Shu Tu's face, she said, "Open your mouth."
Shu Tu: "?"
Yu Yu: "Show me your teeth."
Shu Tu: "…"
Seeing Yu Yu's insistence, Shu Tu half-heartedly complied. Yu Yu pinched her face, rotating the Candlelight 360 degrees. No canines, no corruption, not fake… good.
Normal arm length, no tiptoeing.
Yu Yu truly relaxed. "How're you here?"
Shu Tu: "Move, we'll switch dorms. They'll break in soon."
Yu Yu: "Huh? How?"
Shu Tu: "Outside."
"Scared of heights?"
Yu Yu's bad feeling came true. "…Kinda."
Animated Rope," Shu Tu said ruthlessly. "Hurry, I'll hold you."
Yu Yu: "…Ugh."
Since gaming, every day was thrilling. Yu Yu was a lazybones—why else play spellcasters?
Shu Tu had opened the bathroom window, locking the door. Yu Yu climbed onto the toilet, poking her head out. Shu Tu, like an octopus, scaled to another window on the sheer wall, gripping effortlessly.
Yu Yu gaped.
Was Agility over 10 inhuman?
Was this humanly possible?
Shu Tu: "Hurry, don't zone out."
Yu Yu glanced down—endless gray fog.
It clearly looked like a flat floor from the inside, but now it seemed like it was hundreds of floors high. Although her legs were weak, Yu Yu still managed to climb out, holding on to the window sill tightly with her fingers, not daring to let go.
Shu Tu thought, jumping inside. "I'll hold you. Let go, I'll pull you."
Yu Yu refused, casting Light Body and Feather Fall, then releasing.
Shu Tu's surprised voice came. "You jumped? Why so light?"
Yu Yu felt like a feather, weightless, floating.
"Come out, climb fast. With Feather Fall, I'm super light. Swing me over."
Shu Tu climbed out, finding Yu Yu weightless on the rope. A bizarre sight appeared on the gray wall. A Spider-Man-like woman scaled, a rope tied to her waist, dragging a paper-thin Yu Yu. Yu Yu found Feather Fall amazing—weightless, even wall collisions felt like paper, no recoil.
Shu Tu's high Agility precisely delivered paper-Yu Yu to the chosen dorm. Before Feather Fall ended, Shu Tu lifted her inside like a chick.
Butt on the floor, Yu Yu asked, "Found Zi Shu and Fuyu?"
Shu Tu, panting, nodded toward the bathroom door.
Yu Yu: "Their dorm?"
Shu Tu: "Yup."
Yu Yu mused, "So, the ones outside are corrupted, not them?"
Shu Tu, recovered, glanced. "Where'd you come from? Didn't see you."
Yu Yu recalled her Spider-Man moves. "Upper floor. Not as bad as here."
Shu Tu: "Figured."
"Go one floor down. If nothing, we bail," Yu Yu said. "I'll start blasting."
Shu Tu nodded seriously. "Rest, then pick a dorm near 623, confirmed empty."
Yu Yu thought. "311, 301 were empty. Here, that's 113, 103. Checked?"
Shu Tu: "301 seemed clear."
After fifteen minutes, Shu Tu tied her with rope. "Hold tight."
Yu Yu recast Feather Fall, grumbling, "Be gentle, my face hit the sill."
Paper mode wasn't painful, but friction hurt!
Her pretty nose was nearly flattened. Shu Tu ignored her.
Moments later.
Yu Yu: "Count three-two-one, blast a path, jump, smash the door, hit the bathroom, and bolt."
"Good."
"Help, why're you so heavy!"
Zi Shu, expressionless: "Shut it, I'm not complaining."
Fuyu, grimacing: "How long we hanging?"
Zi Shu: "If you can kill the room's things with a hanger, we won't hang."
Fuyu: "But those two are us, not leaving. Hang forever?"
Zi Shu sighed. "Hang for now. Don't give up till the end."
She didn't know what she was waiting for, but waking to a monster nearly dragging her off the bed to bite her neck was real. Her strength couldn't match it. If it could climb ladders, she and Fuyu would've been done.
After calculations, they chose the bathroom window. Waking, they'd heard corridor tapping, screams, and flesh being gnawed.
The corridor was no exit.
But the result was clear—they didn't know where to go. Unsure which dorms had monsters or broken doors, after exhausting tries on dozens, they hung here. The bathroom's flimsy door couldn't stop the monsters' strength. Thinking back, they shuddered.
Waking to a near neck-bite was horrifying. Zi Shu nearly got dragged off. If they'd chosen Fuyu, she'd be gone. Zi Shu barely escaped.
"Will anyone save us?" Fuyu fretted.
Zi Shu paused. "A school incident, whole dorm trapped—won't be abandoned lightly."
But if losses were too high, rescue too hard, they'd be 'quarantined' like that class.
Muttering, "These monsters' only perk is a health bar, hittable, unlike some anomalies you can't touch."
Her sword was out of reach; she grabbed a hanger, not even a pole, or she might've fought.
Fuyu: "My hands ache. Can we switch? QAQ."
Hanging longer, she feared her wrists numbing, dropping them.
Zi Shu: "Fine."
Switching smoothly, Fuyu exhaled. "Will Yu's group save us?"
"No signal, ugh," she whimpered. "Should've set a code, like 'half-hour offline means trouble.'"
Zi Shu was blank.
She didn't know.
Barely acquainted, what could she promise?
She had strength and stamina but no agility. Fuyu had agility but no strength or stamina to carry her. After trying, they couldn't find a safe dorm to rest. Hungry, exhausted, minds numb, they didn't want to think.
So tired.
"Zi Shu, Wei Zi Shu."
"Hm?"
"My teeth itch a bit. You?"
Zi Shu's blank mind snapped taut, feeling a faint itch in her teeth.
"What's happening?" Fuyu panicked. "We're not growing teeth, are we?"
"That's too ugly, no way!"
Zi Shu's head ached from her noise. "Shut it, or you're next."
Fuyu quieted for a second. "We're done! Let's jump. I'd rather die than look like that, ugly as sin."
"Dogs look better."
Zi Shu breathed deeply, redirecting. "No zoning out. Talk something else."
Beyond physical fatigue, her mind felt waves of exhaustion, urging her to blank out. But that might be wrong. Tired now, but no tiredness later if they didn't make it.
Fuyu looked up, seeing only Zi Shu's pajamas. "Top student, wear shirt-and-pants pajamas next time."
Zi Shu: "?"
Fuyu: "You little dinosaur has a hole in your butt."
Zi Shu gritted her teeth, hissing, "I'm letting go?"
Her tone dripped threat.
Fuyu shut up.
Zi Shu: "I have studied many anomalies that have been propagated, all of which are those that do not prohibit description and are numbered below A."
"Rather than being abnormal, they are more like a virus, a virus that spreads in a variety of ways and is generally malignant," Zi Shu said. "It follows rules and has no intelligence. Everything is spread for the sake of spreading. Everything is spread for the sake of spreading.
"What's the point now?" Fuyu whined. "We're stuck."
Zi Shu ignored her. "Is there something to kill or control this virus?"
"I had no idea until I met Chang Yu."
"She's the only one who beat an anomaly with human power."
"Not smarts, but power."
Fuyu: "Huh? Not Will?"
Zi Shu: "Her Constitution's abysmal, so I say she used human power."
Fuyu was baffled.
Zi Shu muttered, "Our power's from Eternal Darkness, not ours. Even Yu, she is not considered to have defeated the abnormality, because she relied on her brain, which cannot be replicated."
Fuyu's eyes swirled.
Zi Shu: "If we crack Chang Yu's power source and spread it, we'll beat anomalies, reclaim peace."
Fuyu finally got a chance to interrupt, "Isn't that the will? I think the will is even more difficult to copy than Yu's brain, right?"
Zi Shu snapped, "Didn't you hear Chang Yu's passive? Guardians have a 'Group Will Aura.' See Yu Yu with a 'Group Intellect Aura'?"
"How'd I get a roommate this dumb?"
She said venomously "Even with an intellect aura, you'd just learn to dodge rain and not eat ground chicken poop."
Fuyu fumed. "Wei Zi Shu, you're done if we get out!"
Zi Shu snorted.
"Cough," a calm, mild voice came nearby. "That's too harsh for a roommate."
"Who?" Zi Shu's eyes flashed.
"Ohhh, Shu-Shen, save me!!!"
Yu Yu floated lightly. "You two seem fine?"
Fuyu: "Fine my foot, she's been roasting me!"
Yu Yu: "But rationally, intellect auras are nonsense."
"Maybe a spirit aura," she grinned. "Fuyu, look forward to it."
"Spirit aura? Pfft, why'd I want that?"
Fuyu raged. "Do I look like I need an intellect aura?"
"Pfft."
"Wei Zi Shu!!! I heard that!!!"
Soon, with Yu Yu's help, the four reached [301].
"North wind howls, snowflakes drift, I, Song Fu Yu, am alive, waaah…"
"Shut it."
Shu Tu: "Quiet."
Yu Yu: "Found them, let's go."
"Or, wanna see the next floor?"
Shu Tu coughed. "We're not equipped. Let's leave."
This floor was thrilling enough. Prepared, they nearly died. Next floor? Pass.
"How do we get out?" Zi Shu asked eagerly.
Yu Yu: "Firepower blasting."
"Good thing I learned heavy spells, or we'd be toast."
After prep, Yu Yu, under their shocked gazes, cast Flame Burst.
Blinding fire erupted in the dark, debris flying, shockwaves rattling the door, nearly bursting it.
"Go."
Yu Yu cast Feather Fall, letting agile Shu Tu carry her. Blasting ceilings meant falling; floors meant climbing. Fearing a slip, Yu Yu let Shu Tu haul her.
Paper-thin, weightless.
If time allowed, she'd give Zi Shu Feather Fall too, so both could be carried. Shu Tu and Fuyu's low strength could handle feathers. Shu Tu and Fuyu were lightning-fast. Yu Yu barely blinked, and they were up.
Key, open door.
Shu Tu: "Quick."
Fuyu yanked Zi Shu, slipping inside just in time. Shu Tu slammed the door. Why blast elsewhere? Monsters guarded the original hole. Otherwise, they'd have used it. They reached the less malignant second floor. Still dark, but manageable. Yu Yu recovered mental energy, Shu Tu stamina.
"We're out," Fuyu checked her teeth. "Hey, no itch!"
Stare.
Stare.
Stare.
"Why're you looking?"
Zi Shu sighed tiredly. "Maybe upstairs stops assimilation."
"Let's get out fast."
Yu Yu checked herself—nothing off.
Maybe she wasn't there long?
Things went smoothly, climbing to the brightly lit floor. Yu Yu's stone walls remained.
"Like another lifetime," Zi Shu adjusted to the light, sighing. "What now?"
They entered 326.
Fuyu found their sleeping selves in the bathroom. Tied by the toilet—harsh.
Yu Yu, unfazed: "Keep blasting floors."
"Look, someone's out!"
Yu Yu checked the sky—night, heavy fog.
Exchanging a glance with Shu Tu, she checked her phone.
Weird, only six hours passed?
8.27, 2:37:56, foggy.
"Finally out."
Hearing Fuyu, Yu Yu looked up, stunned. Good grief, they were surrounded by troops?
Someone approached, serious. "What's inside? Can the monsters be attacked?"
Yu Yu eyed a flat 'vehicle' under black cloth, shoulder-carried rocket-like things, and dense metal barrels on vehicles, shivering. They wouldn't blow up the building, would they?
Dazed but honest, Yu Yu said, "They can be attacked."
The man visibly relaxed.
Yu Yu continued, "It's like this… here, I brought the keys."
"Excuse me," the stern man asked sternly, "Can you guide us?"
Yu Yu paused, then nodded firmly. "Yes."
Then… Yu Yu saw how the Federation cleared anomalies. Their firepower dwarfed her small explosions. They just guided, literally. Even without Eternal Darkness, humans weren't powerless. They cleared to the third floor with a minor hiccup.
Monsters tried cutting their supplies. Heavy firepower crushed that hope. On the unvisited fourth floor, they met a lapis-colored mummy. Skin clung to bones, wrinkled, eyes pure black, hairless, insanely fast. It vanished the moment they saw it.
Likely the anomaly's source.
Watching the ghostly figure draw blood each appearance, Yu Yu held her breath.
Vine Entangle
Vines burst from the ground, frantically binding the mummy, holding it briefly. Instantly, countless firelights blanketed its spot, lasting three minutes. Battle over. The lapis mummy shattered, deader than dead. The commander glanced at Yu Yu, thoughts unreadable. Most of Building 8's students were saved, but some vanished forever.
Still, Yu Yu's group earned rewards.
Gold +100,000, Points +500.
If this were a game, that'd be the prompt. The process had flaws—she planned to save and run—but they completed it by chance. The task was tough for a few; many aimed to split rewards, but they moved too fast. The leader, decisive, stormed in after Yu Yu's report, slaughtering.
Anomaly purified (physically), task done.
Hitching the official convoy cut their rewards, but Yu Yu was thrilled.
100,000! She earned 5,000 monthly before—20 months' pay in one night, tax-free… wait?
Yu Yu leaned over. "Do we pay taxes?"
Zi Shu, on a sofa, far from the cat, said, "No."
"Reading the terms, look," she pointed. "App task income is tax-free."
Yu Yu, sprawled on another sofa, petting the cat, eyes gleaming. "Got it."
"They do have dairy cows, cheap!"
She splurged, ordering three adult cows.
Total: 40,000, 150 points.
Some items needed points, some didn't, but Yu Yu was set on cows.
"Planned high-temp sterilization?" Zi Shu asked.
Yu Yu: "Easy, induction cooker."
"Power outage?"
Yu Yu: "Burst Fireball sterilize?"
Shu Tu: "…"
Fuyu was asleep.
Yu Yu was still excitedly flipping through the app, thinking about what to order. Although many prices have gone up, the official prices are still cheaper than buying them yourself.
"What'd you buy?"
"Arrows," Shu Tu said quickly. "Finally, I can shoot freely."
She'd been stingy before.
Yu Yu ordered a weedwhacker and seeder. "I'm logging in, you?"
Zi Shu nudged Fuyu awake. "Yes, but I need a bath."
Fuyu, wiping drool, slumped. "So tired, never been this tired."
Her gaze hit the cat. "Can I pet?"
The glossy cat head, petted by Yu Yu, didn't mind, lounging by the sofa, tail flicking lazily.
Its temper was great.
"Go ahead," Shu Tu glanced. "Er'er has a good temper."
After learning Yu Yu brought cat food for Banban, she stopped calling the real cat Banban.
The one inside is called Banban, and the one outside is called Er'er.jpg
The cat, used to human feeding, cozied up when hungry. In hindsight, it first targeted Yu Yu for food. But the young cat underestimated human poverty—Yu Yu could barely feed herself.
Chang Yu returned, dangling keychains. "Here, pick a building!"
Zi Shu and Fuyu were floored. Rich-lady vibes?
In a daze, they grasped Chang Yu's wealth.
Fuyu pounced. "Rich lady, need a dog?"
Chang Yu: "?"
Shu Tu facepalmed.
Zi Shu: "She's good, get off, don't embarrass."
Fuyu, giggling, clung to Chang Yu, babbling about 'sugar mama' and 'dog,' the air lively.
As they played, Yu Yu tried bringing items in-game.
"I've got a knack."
Four ears perked.
Yu Yu: "Tied to mental energy."
"If you can't sustain your body, how'd you bring stuff in?"
"So, can you bring stuff out?"
Yu Yu mused, "Maybe worth a try."
"But probably nothing serious."
Food was the cheapest useful item. She'd tried phones—failed. Scales—failed, or she'd gift Senior one. Kitchen knife—failed. Useful items she could bring: spices, food.
Zi Shu: "Baby cream?"
"Nail clippers?"
"Books?"
Yu Yu realized, "Tried books, no go."
Zi Shu, chin in hand: "Puzzles?"
Shu Tu couldn't hold back. "Why puzzles?"
Fuyu teased, "Someone's bad but loves playing."
Zi Shu: "…"
She pivoted. "Some time left, let's try."
Action-driven, she yanked sofa-sprawled Yu Yu up, dragging her to the kitchen. Yu Yu couldn't resist, like a salty cracker, easily hauled.
"…Wei Zi Shu, you're too strong!"
Zi Shu: "Thanks."
Shu Tu, helpless: "I'm showering."
Chang Yu: "Just showered."
Fuyu: "Me too!"
In the game, after an hour of exploitation by Wei Zishu, Yu Yu succeeded three times in a rare hour.
The items… questionable.
Baby cream? Useful?
Would Senior need it?
Better bribe with food. Luckily, she snuck in instant noodles. The third item… new guest slippers. No way NPCs needed those. Yu Yu was speechless.
She'd rather have Shu Tu make radish-rib soup, carry it to the academy, and snag epic quests. They logged off in Moon Bay Town, cleared bags, and repaired gear at the smith. Selling excess gear eased their funds.
Next, Silver Moon City for quest turn-in.
About to hire a rickshaw, Shu Tu said, "No need. Tie it up with a rope and we'll take you away."
Yu Yu: "?"
She recalled something, face crumpling. No way? So undignified for a spellcaster… in-game, she needed some pride…
Zi Shu: "Great idea, saves money."
All agreed, forcing Yu Yu's consent. Moments later, two sped like wind, ropes dragging Zi Shu and Yu Yu. Onlookers, players, and NPCs gaped. This was a thing?
At the inner city gate, Yu Yu, dizzy, was set down.
Silver-armored guard: "…?"
We've seen it all. (Crossed out)
Not this.
Notably, Shu Tu's trio had Silver Moon access, while Chang Yu and Yu Yu entered without proof.
Ignoring the guard's subtle look, Yu Yu adjusted her clothes sternly. "Let's go."
The guard saluted.
They'd never seen such a shameless spellcaster, skimping via this method.
Yu Yu, until the gate closed, cracked. "Next time, another way. We're not that broke, right?"
Shu Tu, stifling laughter: "Fair… Captain."
Yu Yu froze, glancing slyly. "…Hm?"
Zi Shu: "Well said, Captain."
Fuyu, elbowed twice, caught on. "Captain, don't forget us when you're rich!"
Yu Yu was a bit pleased but hid it—Shu Tu and Zi Shu were surely mocking.
Just a captain, big deal?
Shu Tu had been one. Yu Yu strode ahead, robes billowing, head high.
Chang Yu, logged off in Silver Moon, was training in the Guardian Hall.
Yu Yu brushed her robe, entering the academy headquarters.
Sadly, Shu Tu's group couldn't follow.
"Senior, I passed the assessment."
The black-robed woman sipped afternoon tea, reading the Silver Moon Daily, lost in thought.
She always seemed… unprofessional?
Seeing Yu Yu, she snapped back.
Her tone slow, deliberate: "Moon Bay's governor was ambushed by outsiders, the town hall seized. Did you know?"
Yu Yu's vision went black.