Chapter 164

Chapter 164 The Support Track was indeed quite different from the two tracks Su Bei had previously attended. The first distinction was its internal division into two factions: the Healing Faction and the Buff Faction. These two types of abilities produced entirely different effects in combat, so despite being under the same support category, the skills they needed to learn were vastly different. Coupled with the fact that support-type Ability Users were relatively rare, the entire Support Track was split into four classes: two healing classes and two buff classes. Lan Subing was in Buff Class 1. The class atmosphere was relatively harmonious, lacking the martial intensity of the Special Track or Attack Track. During arena matches, the focus was primarily on teaching pure combat techniques, and the quality of combat training was noticeably better than in the Special Track, even rivaling the Attack Track. The Support Track students’ combat skills were also quite impressive. The strongest in their class, in terms of pure combat technique, could match Jiang Tianming and easily outclass the Special Track. The reason they emphasized combat skills was clear: without abilities to protect themselves, they had to diligently study combat. For most of them, this universally accessible attack method was their only means of offense and defense, so they had to master it. This way, if danger arose, they could at least hold their own for a while, rather than relying solely on teammates. Beyond that, regular classes focused on the timing of ability usage, maximizing buff effects, and general Buff Faction techniques like field control. While much of this was irrelevant to Su Bei and Elvis, a small portion was applicable. After all, both Su Bei and Elvis could function as control-type Ability Users. “In the Control Track, they teach this stuff in more detail,” Elvis whispered to Su Bei during class, having switched classes multiple times. “Here, only those set on becoming control-focused supports get more refined training in specialized courses.” Su Bei nodded in understanding. No wonder Elvis rarely came to the Support Track. Compared to the Control Track, it was indeed less useful for non-support Ability Users. That said, the Buff Class wasn’t meant to cater to other ability types in the first place. Elvis was just nitpicking. “What are you thinking?” Elvis asked warily, noticing Su Bei’s odd glance. Su Bei smiled innocently, “Just wondering when you’ll face Lan Subing in the arena.” Though he didn’t buy the excuse, Elvis' attention shifted, “I’ll observe a bit more. She hasn’t used her ability much.” Support Track courses were generally “peaceful,” rarely involving arena matches, which was one reason Lan Subing had kept her ability under wraps. Another key reason was her quiet nature. Even when using her ability, she spoke softly. Unless someone was close, they couldn’t hear her, naturally mistaking her [Word Spirit] for an ordinary ability. The next two days were calm, with no incidents. Su Bei enjoyed two days of slacking in the Support Class. Except for combat classes, where he paid attention to learn new techniques not taught at his academy, he could slack off in others. This was great for Su Bei but less so for Elvis. If he enjoyed slacking, he wouldn’t have avoided the Support Track for so long. He was only here for Lan Subing. Fortunately, this would end soon, as he’d decided when to challenge her. After school, Jiang Tianming and the others got good news: Wu Mingbai’s ability had unsealed. Since his ability was [Earth Element] and he’d fused with an earth-element Ability Essence, it hadn’t transformed entirely like Zhao Xiaoyu’s. It was still [Earth Element], but fundamentally different. Wu Mingbai said he felt he could exhale dust with every breath, sensing the dust in the air, the earth’s heartbeat, and even the faint call of the stars. It was a qualitative leap from quantitative growth. The exact extent would only be clear after seeing him spar back at school. Happy times were fleeting. By Monday noon, Elvis issued an arena challenge to Lan Subing. He also told Su Bei that after this, they’d transfer to the Control Track. The Control Track had much to learn, so slacking wouldn’t be an option. Su Bei sighed, dutifully waiting after school to watch their match. The arena was, as usual, packed. Both chose the wooden stakes map. If they could use terrain, it’d be fine, but since they couldn’t, no terrain was the best terrain. Unlike everyone else’s matches, they didn’t start with probing. Knowing each other’s ability traits, they raced to activate their abilities. Lan Subing declared, “Ability Suppression.” Simultaneously, Elvis swiftly attempted to initiate time reversal. Though his ability lacked obvious effects, his hand-sealing motion was clear. Seeing their actions, Su Bei, below the arena, first understood, then couldn’t help but chuckle. What an unconventional match—truly interesting. Their strategies were flawless. If Lan Subing’s ability activated first, Elvis, without his ability, couldn’t match her in combat. In Class S, Lan Subing’s combat skills ranked top six, making quick work of Elvis. They’d sparred in combat class a few days ago, and Lan Subing had won. But if Elvis activated his ability first, any [Word Spirit] Lan Subing applied would be ineffective, nullifying her ability. Without her ability, Lan Subing stood no chance against an empowered Elvis. So, this wasn’t a contest of combat prowess but of speed. This approach wasn’t about taking shortcuts but necessity. For Lan Subing, once Elvis used his ability, hers would struggle to take effect. To win, she had to act this way. Elvis, knowing Lan Subing would use her ability this way—her only path to victory—had to match her speed to avoid being sealed. Jiang Tianming, also grasping the situation, twitched his mouth, “No wonder Subing said at lunch this match would be decided quickly...” This method indeed needed only one move to settle. He’d prepared for a grand ability clash, but it made sense—there was no other way. “Who used their ability first?” Ai Baozhu watched anxiously. She’d only heard Lan Subing’s voice and couldn’t tell if Elvis had used his, making the outcome unclear. Si Zhaohua comforted her, “Don’t worry. With their approach, win or lose, it’s fine.” He was right. Losing was only shameful if both fought seriously and one was clearly inferior. But this pure speed contest, especially verbal speed, lacked representativeness. As they spoke, the match concluded. Lan Subing approached Elvis, hesitated, then overcame her social anxiety to ask earnestly, “How about a draw?” Her words told the four who knew her that she’d won. If she hadn’t, she’d never suggest a draw. Her willingness to propose a draw despite winning wasn’t about disregarding academy honor. Like Si Zhaohua, she saw their method made the result unrepresentative, so a draw was a goodwill gesture. Elvis understood this too, so he declined, stepping back, “No need. You won.” The referee loudly declared, “Lan Subing wins!” The crowd below was silent. Except for Su Bei’s group, no one expected this highly anticipated match to end so dramatically, with both sharing the same sentiment. As Elvis predicted, his loss didn’t stir much. It wasn’t a proper match, and Alpha Ability Academy’s martial culture didn’t recognize it. They didn’t deny Lan Subing’s victory but wouldn’t admire her for it or think Elvis was overrated. Lan Subing didn’t care. Her task was done. This match was irrelevant, so Jiang Tianming’s result—win, lose, or draw—wouldn’t matter. Indeed, she’d taken Su Bei’s earlier words to heart. If Jiang Tianming knew, he’d probably call Su Bei “heinous.” As Lan Subing left the arena and the group walked back, Si Zhaohua looked at Jiang Tianming, “You’re the last one.” Reminded, Su Bei shared, “Next Monday, we’ll transfer to Control Track Class 1.” “So soon?” Lan Subing looked surprised, teasing, “Hit and run, huh?” Su Bei grinned, teasing back, “What else? Kneel and kowtow to you? Or lead the class to ostracize you like elementary kids? Should I pick a side? Support you or be a pragmatist?” Lan Subing: “...” Lan Subing: “Shut up.”1 On Saturday and Sunday, the group went out. Unlike Endless Ability Academy, Mus Country didn’t hide Ability Users from the public, so ability schools weren’t built in remote mountains but in city centers. As a prestigious international school, Alpha Ability Academy was in the capital’s heart, a bustling location with nearby commercial streets. Su Bei wasn’t keen on shopping. After visiting a clothing store in the mall, he parked himself at a nearby fast-food joint, “You guys keep shopping. I’ll wait here.” Jiang Tianming promptly joined him, “I’m a bit hungry too. You go ahead. I’ll catch up after eating.” His words sounded nice, but whether he’d actually join Ai Baozhu’s group later was anyone’s guess. With the two uninterested in shopping, the other three had no choice. So, Su Bei and Jiang Tianming stayed at the fast-food place, while Ai Baozhu’s trio continued shopping. After they left, Jiang Tianming, who’d said he’d order food, showed no intention of doing so. They looked at the menu and sighed in unison. Though they’d only been in Mus Country for two weeks, they already missed their home country’s cuisine. It wasn’t that the food here was bad, but it got tiresome. Nightmare Beast meat at home could be cooked in various styles, but here, it was just grilled. Su Bei wanted to ask if they’d never heard of stir-frying. “By the way, be careful when you join the Control Track,” Jiang Tianming, bored, shared some insider info from his time there. “They love pranks.” This surprised Su Bei. In the comics he’d read, the Special Track was the prank-loving one, while the Control Track was full of calm types like Jiang Tianming. “What kind of pranks?” Su Bei asked, intrigued. With his ability, pranks would be a breeze. Jiang Tianming recalled his first days, “Chairs pulled out, notes stuck on your back, teeth suddenly turning red, uncontrollable movements—unpreventable stuff. Not deadly, but embarrassing.” That could be troublesome. If a prank embarrassed him and made it into the comic, it’d slightly ruin his image. Deadly pranks didn’t worry Su Bei—he could check his Destiny Compass and fix any major pointer issues. But as Jiang Tianming said, these pranks were hard to guard against. He’d either need a permanent anti-prank solution or prepare to spin a “Old Thief deliberately ruined Su Bei’s image” narrative on the forums. No need to plan too far ahead. For now, he’d focus on countering pranks tomorrow. Su Bei looked at Jiang Tianming, “They don’t prank you anymore? Why? Because you beat Kayla?” If he couldn’t dodge every prank, making everyone avoid pranking him would solve it. “Sort of,” Jiang Tianming mused, giving a vague answer. “Mainly, I showed them I’m not just strong but also great at pranks.” His strength came from beating Kayla, as Su Bei noted. His prank prowess was shown by counter-pranking everyone who targeted him. His surface ability, [Object Control], was perfect for pranks. Most Control Track abilities were prank-friendly, which explained the track’s prank culture. Jiang Tianming’s words inspired Su Bei. To stop pranks, he relied on strength and counter-pranks. Su Bei had already showcased his strength against Elvis, so no one would doubt it. Now, he needed the latter—a prank show of force to deter others. But how to prank an entire class? He couldn’t adjust everyone’s pointers. Even small pointers for over 20 people would drain significant Mental Energy. Plus, small pointers were short-lived, and “bad luck” varied by person. Mass destiny alteration, tweaking large pointers—both pointed to one method. Su Bei’s lips curved slightly, “When do they start pranking? Right when I enter the Control Track?” “Not quite,” Jiang Tianming shook his head. “Probably only after you’re in class. Otherwise, the homeroom teacher would get mad.” Their homeroom teacher didn’t stop the class' prank culture, as it was the track’s hallmark, and he couldn’t or wouldn’t change it. But he had one rule: pranks were only for classmates, preventing overzealous pranks from causing inter-class conflicts. So, until Su Bei was officially introduced in class, the students likely wouldn’t target him. Su Bei trusted Jiang Tianming’s judgment. If he said so, it was probably true. Pranks starting after he joined class suited his plans perfectly. Noticing Su Bei’s relaxed expression, Jiang Tianming looked suspicious, “I feel like you’re plotting something bad.” Su Bei feigned innocence, claiming it was slander. When Ai Baozhu’s group returned, it was 7 p.m., so dinner was at the mall. They’d come prepared, choosing a well-reviewed restaurant run by someone from their country. Among exchange students, good reviews meant great flavor. A proper pickled fish dish soothed their stomachs and palates, ravaged by foreign food. The fish was tender, boneless, spicy, salty, and fragrant, with crisp, tangy pickled vegetables. The sour broth alone could pair with two bowls of rice. The five ate contentedly, then left the restaurant to return to school. The relaxing weekend ended. On Monday, Su Bei and Jiang Tianming headed to the Control Track. Located at the school’s rear, Su Bei hadn’t visited often. On the surface, it was unremarkable, lacking the corridor decorations of other tracks. But it was undeniably unique—no other track had a prank habit. Arriving at the new class, Su Bei glanced at the back. Elvis hadn’t arrived, and except for those two seats, the rest were filled. Clearly, they were here for Su Bei. Perfect—more people, easier to act. Su Bei activated his ability, checking their Destiny Compasses. As expected, since they were in the same class and had just arrived, their large pointers were aligned, making his plan easier. With many people, forming a circle was ideal, but a straight line could also affect everyone’s destiny. Their large pointers were on “studying,” not a whole point but one Su Bei had probed using Dream Bubble. Near “studying” were “going out,” “sickness,” and “eating.” “Eating” was a reward, so not an option. “Going out” felt like pranking the teacher, not students, so it was out. Sickness it was. Su Bei adjusted two outliers’ large pointers to align everyone’s into a near-straight line. Preparations complete, he walked to the back row under everyone’s gaze and sat. Just then, the homeroom teacher and Elvis entered. Elvis sat beside Su Bei. Before he could speak, the teacher called, “Su Bei, it’s your first day in Control Track Class 1. Come up and introduce yourself.” Su Bei raised an eyebrow, calmly stepping to the podium, “I’m Su Bei, ability [Destiny Gear]. I heard the Control Track loves pranks, so I prepared a welcome gift.” He snapped his fingers. Kayla’s pointer shifted to “sickness,” and the others’ followed suit. Destiny struck. The next second, Kayla clutched her stomach, crying out, “Ah! My stomach hurts!” Her cry triggered a chain reaction, others grimacing and clutching their stomachs. Seeing this, the teacher frowned, glaring at the culprit, “Su Bei, what did you do?” “I think you should call a doctor first,” Su Bei suggested innocently. He wasn’t worried about Kayla’s group. Their small pointers were safe, ensuring no serious illness. Mass sickness had limited causes, and since it wasn’t severe, it was likely collective diarrhea or a flu. His words reminded the teacher, who, too busy to question Su Bei further, called the infirmary. Soon, three school nurses arrived—one questioned the teacher, while the others checked the students. As Alpha Ability Academy’s nurses, even without abilities, their medical skills were top-notch, all licensed. They quickly relaxed, the lead nurse saying, “It’s fine. They just ate something bad. A trip to the bathroom will fix it.” The teacher and nurse sighed in relief. Realizing this was Su Bei’s prank, they found it wryly amusing. Though he’d made the class suffer, it was within prank boundaries. The class often used laxatives on peers, so they couldn’t punish Su Bei. The teacher looked at the seemingly obedient blond boy, hesitating before saying, “Next time you pull a prank this big, report it to me first.” — Wyck-note1: About damn time.