Chapter 125

Translator: AkazaTL Proofreader/Editor: JWyck *** Chapter 125 Let’s count: Jiang Tianming displayed six Abilities. Two from the wanted criminals, one Black Laser from his mother, [Object Control] from the season one boss, the newly revealed Ability nullification, and one unknown. The last Ability’s source wasn’t shown in season one, so Su Bei guessed it was either acquired before season one or secretly in season two. The later plot was simpler. Lei Ze’en brought them back, and Meng Huai, knowing they learned the Nightmare Beasts’ origin, revealed more. Su Bei’s claim of saving the world was drawn, surprising him. Comments were full of “hahaha,” seemingly disbelieving. Poor him—he was sincere! After returning home, Jiang Tianming dealt with the dark red-haired boy from the orphanage, ending the manga with a satisfying face-slap. Reaching the last page, Su Bei sighed in relief, finishing the update. Next, he checked the forum for new content. Even as a manga character, he found this update’s information overwhelming. The forum was surely buzzing. As expected, it was lively, with several hot posts. “Jiang Takes Off, Wuhu!” “Nightmare Beasts Are Human Resentment; Ability Users Become High-Level Beasts???” “What Ability Did Jiang Tianming Use Against High-Level Beasts?” “...” Picking one with potential surprises, Su Bei clicked: “What Ability Did Jiang Tianming Use Against High-Level Beasts?” [FlowerGirl’sWorkNo.0: I traced Jiang Tianming’s other Abilities, but the last one’s source is unknown. I rewatched season one—no clue who he could’ve killed. Season two had no chance. Is this Ability something he always had but never used?] [No.1: Waiting for answers] [No.2: Waiting] [No.3: Waiting] [No.4: Nothing found. Author’s planting another foreshadow.] [No.5: Waiting for experts] [No.6: Season one didn’t need this Ability—still introducing Abilities.] [No.7 reply No.6: True, season one had fewer Ability Users.] [...] [No.34: I reviewed season two updates. The only chance for a kill was the team battle, but others were always with classmates—can’t kill off-screen, right? Team battle enemies were Illusions, said to be unkillable. So, he likely got it before season one.] [No.35: Probably nullification? Cliché but effective.] [No.36 reply No.35: Cliché, but I eat it up.] [No.37 reply No.34: I agree it’s pre-season one, but as a powerless orphan, who could he get it from? This Ability’s useless against normals, and Ability Users’ physiques aren’t easily killed by normals.] [No.38: Don’t assume he killed them. He said ‘died because of him’ triggers his Ability. The owner might’ve died saving him.] [...] This post confirmed Jiang Tianming’s nullification Ability was likely pre-season one. Its exact source would surface eventually. Next post: “Nightmare Beasts Are Human Resentment; Ability Users Become High-Level Beasts???” [OrangeIsleHeadNo.0: I thought about it—this setting feels off. Everyone has some resentment at death, right? With so many daily deaths globally, countless Nightmare Beasts form. Season one said Ability Users are rare, with only three schools nationwide. Can they really kill all Nightmare Beasts?] [No.1: Same question as OP.] [No.2: Didn’t realize until OP mentioned—seems true!] [No.3: I’d despair in this world. Nightmare Beasts are unkillable!] [No.4: Sudden difficulty spike.] [...] [No.32: Super Nightmare Beasts, super villains, super spies, evil-Ability protagonist—author, is this really a shonen manga?] [No.33: Nightmare Beasts are stronger than humans, no doubt. But Jiang’s team will find a way to eradicate them! Stronger villains make the heroes’ world-saving epic.] [No.34 reply No.33: Your ‘save the world’ reminds me of Su Bei’s line.] [No.35 reply No.34: Hahahaha, Su Bei’s full of nonsense. If he saves the world, my sister eats poop!] [OrangeIsleHeadNo.36 (OP) reply No.35: Can’t tell if you really think Su Bei won’t save or you’re sneaking shade (.)] [...] [No.51: Saving the world—shonen’s eternal theme.] [No.52: Guess how they’ll do it? I’ll play Prophet. Blind guess: seal the Nightmare Beast world, stop resentment from forming Beasts, or the common trope—peaceful coexistence... emmm, I think that’s unlikely.] [No.53: You covered all possibilities and call yourself a Prophet?] [No.54: Peaceful coexistence seems impossible—didn’t they say Nightmare Beasts have deep malice?] [No.55: Hope it’s the second. It’s permanent. The first feels like future trouble.] [No.56 reply No.55: If the first, bet author plans a next season.] [No.57: You’re the real Prophet!] [...] Reading, Su Bei’s eyes lit up. The post offered useful ideas. Solving the Nightmare Beast issue didn’t require eradication—sealing them in another world was viable. Though risky long-term, Su Bei didn’t care—issues a century later wouldn’t affect him, already dust. The post was right: he wasn’t the world-saving type. Without his life at stake, he’d never bother. On solutions, No.52’s third option—coexistence—was theoretically possible. As Lan Subing said, Nightmare Beasts comforted their living kin, potentially leading to human acceptance. But only theoretically. Human attitudes aside, Nightmare Beasts’ inherent malice, felt vividly by Su Bei, wasn’t reconcilable. Sighing, Su Bei closed his eyes. A long battle—any method needed time. No rush. Worst case, he’d die, but the world would join him—no loss. After studying the manga and forum, he received Jiang Tianming’s transfer notification, clearly marked as the bounty for the criminals. He accepted it calmly, using the money for a pleasant vacation. On Sunday, he took a bus to a suburban foothill. The bus stopped there—the entire mountain ahead was Feng Family territory. Trekking through a forest, he reached the true foothill. Besides him, a few others and a uniformed attendant awaited. The attendant, in a tailored suit, bowed politely upon seeing Su Bei: “Hello, please show your invitation.” Though polite, his eyes held doubt—Su Bei’s casual attire didn’t suggest he carried an invitation. Before Su Bei could explain, Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai arrived together. These two were something, biking here. Su Bei wondered where they started—surely not the orphanage? Seeing Su Bei, they waved and approached. The attendant, realizing they were likely the family head’s invited classmates, became more respectful. He knew their Class S Endless Ability Academy status promised bright futures. Others didn’t. A suited man with a large beer belly approached, eyeing Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai’s simple clothes. Judging them poor and without invitation space, he mocked: “Where’d these kids come from? Picnicking here?” Su Bei, behind them, sighed softly. Protagonist group—trouble followed them. If he were alone, Su Bei bet the man wouldn’t have mocked. “They...” the attendant began, but Beer Belly turned, mocking him: “And you—don’t you know what day it is? Hurry and shoo these nobodies, or I’ll have you fired. No professionalism.” The attendant’s expression shifted, nodding apologetically to Jiang Tianming’s group, then said calmly: “Sorry, you don’t have the right to fire me.” Su Bei chuckled—Beer Belly was getting played. The attendant could’ve clarified their identities but chose to mess with him, likely guessing who they were. Beer Belly puffed out his gut, sneering: “Firing you is easy. Know what I brought your masters? One word from me, and you’re not just out of here—you’ll never work again!” The attendant glanced at Su Bei’s group, regretting slightly. Though he knew they were strong, he wasn’t sure they’d back him. No—he had to shift Beer Belly’s focus to them. Only conflict would divert the issue. An idea struck: “Sir, please don’t interrupt my work. I need to escort these gentlemen inside.” As expected, Beer Belly’s attention returned to Jiang Tianming’s group. He scoffed: “Them? No invitations, dressed like that. Escort them in, and you’ll be fired without me saying a word.” He turned to Jiang Tianming’s group: “And you lot—still here? Don’t you get what this place is? You belong here? Scram!” “Who’re you telling to scram?” Feng Lan’s voice rang out. Su Bei, unsurprised, raised a brow, seeing Feng Lan approach in a costly white suit, his usually soft hair styled back, fresh. A lyric popped into Su Bei’s head—“Comb your hair like an adult.” Suppressing a laugh, he nearly chuckled at his own thought. As he mused, Feng Lan reached them. Beer Belly knew Feng Lan—or at least his iconic white hair, even if he hadn’t met the Feng Family head. “Master Feng, why’re you here?” He switched to a fawning smile, pointing at Jiang Tianming’s group. “I saw intruders and wanted to help shoo them.” “Who said they’re intruders?” Feng Lan remained calm, unclear if he was mocking or stating a fact. Beer Belly, no fool, realized his mistake, laughing awkwardly: “Ha, the flood submerged the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family! I knew these young men, with their dragon-and-phoenix aura, aren’t ordinary. Just thought they wandered here by mistake, so I urged them to leave.” “Guess I get to enjoy bullying with power?” Jiang Tianming blinked, snitching without hesitation: “He said we don’t belong here.” Feng Lan, equally unhesitant, told Beer Belly: “Then the Feng Family doesn’t deserve your esteemed visit. Please leave.” Seeing Beer Belly’s ashen face, Su Bei sighed sincerely: “Such a clichéd face-slap plot. Author, you’re out of ideas.” After Beer Belly’s panic, pleas, threats, Feng Lan’s firmness, guards’ intervention, and a scuffle, it settled. Feng Lan, Wu Mingbai, and Jiang Tianming drove off Beer Belly, then noticed Su Bei missing. Scanning, they found him on a chair nearby, watching silently. Jiang Tianming, exasperated by his spectator hobby, approached: “Seen enough?” “Never enough,” Su Bei stood, leisurely saying, “But for you, I’ll pause temporarily.” “Thanks a lot!” Wu Mingbai rolled his eyes, dropping his sunny facade among friends. Feng Lan walked to Su Bei: “Long time no see. How was your winter break?” “Such formal pleasantries,” Su Bei teased but answered, “It was... eventful.” Eventful indeed—wanted criminals, High-Level Nightmare Beasts, major secrets. No break was more thrilling. Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai, who shared this break, understood his pause, exchanging knowing smiles. They chatted while climbing the mountain. Feng Lan had offered a car, as the mountain’s paths were tough, but his family lived here and had solutions. Jiang Tianming’s group declined—as Ability Users, climbing was trivial. It’d been a while; enjoying the scenery was nice. The mountain wasn’t easily climbed. Feng Lan explained: “An enshrined elder cast a formation. Only those with a token and following the set route avoid getting lost. Family members memorize the route; tokens are for those descending.” Their homeland’s security was tight, using dual measures to prevent outsider intrusion. At the peak, a massive ancient castle and its estate appeared. Grand yet unpolished, it exuded historical weight, clearly not newly built. Su Bei wondered if Si Zhaohua’s home was similar. Several maid-dressed attendants greeted at the entrance, bowing uniformly: “Welcome.” Feng Lan led them to the third floor. The corridor wasn’t dark, well-lit not by electric lights or torches but by something else. Not just Su Bei—others noticed the corridor’s unique, glowing, flowing yellow-flame lights. “Ability product?” Jiang Tianming asked, looking up curiously. Feng Lan nodded: “Yes, a fire Ability User’s solid flame, not easily extinguished.” Such flames used as lights had more benefits than he mentioned. The Ability world resembled a magical one—mundane things became extraordinary with Abilities. Sometimes, Su Bei lamented his tough fate but never regretted being an Ability User. Without it, how could he see such a mystical world? A mundane, safe life versus a thrilling, risky one was always a hard, choiceless choice. Amid wandering thoughts, they followed him into a mid-corridor room. Clearly a lavish reception room, Zhou Renjie and others were already there. With the three, ten classmates were present. “You’re here! Long time no see!” Mo Xiaotian greeted first, bouncing excitedly toward them. Su Bei, with sharp reflexes, dodged the bear hug. Feng Lan, faster with [Prophecy], foresaw Mo Xiaotian’s move and sidestepped. Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai, behind, weren’t so lucky. Blocked, they couldn’t react, getting tackled. Without their strong physiques, they’d have hit the ground. “Mo Xiaotian!” Wu Mingbai’s veins bulged, righting Mo Xiaotian and giving him a hard knuckle. Mo Xiaotian clutched his head, giggling, unoffended, repeating excitedly: “Long time no see!” Seeing him, Su Bei felt a wave of emotion. The Mo Xiaotian who had been at his house recently was very different from the one standing before him now. He had been silly both times, but his alignment had changed drastically. Tentatively, Su Bei asked: “Mo Xiaotian, why’s your face pale?” “Huh? No way,” Mo Xiaotian touched his face, unsure. “Maybe from blood loss earlier, not fully recovered?” “Blood loss?” Everyone’s eyes widened, shocked. Those not with Mo Xiaotian in the Different Space wondered if he’d faced danger. Mo Xiaotian nodded casually, honest and unsecretive: “Someone broke into my house. Grandpa caught and trapped him, but he threatened my life, forcing Grandpa to let him go.” His face showed clear frustration: “If I were stronger, Grandpa wouldn’t have been held back by me.” “Why’d someone target your house?” Jiang Tianming frowned. “Enemies? Better move. If you can’t find a safe place soon, tell the teachers. The school might let you stay in nearby housing temporarily.” Note : Write a Review on Novel Updates for a Bonus Chapter.