Chapter 188

Chapter 188 After the briefing, with no objections, Meng Huai started simple synergy training. Trust was key, so the first exercise was trustfalls. Simple for Ability users’ physiques—no one would fail to catch their partner. It tested the faller’s trust in the catcher. Of S-Class' fifteen—now fourteen—some trusted each other deeply, like Jiang Tianming’s trio, Ai Baozhu and Si Zhaohua, or Mo Xiaotian with everyone. Others lacked such trust. In danger, they’d entrust their backs rationally, but not fully. Despite knowing the catcher wouldn’t fail, many still tensed instinctively, showing incomplete trust. It was human nature, but in battle, slight hesitations could be exploited, necessitating training. The main trainees were the ten primary and reserve competitors, with the other four joining but held to lower standards. Teamwork targeted massive Nightmare Beast hordes, where precision wasn’t critical. But Jiang Tianming’s group faced top human rivals, requiring rigorous training. The following days focused on this. When Meng Huai deemed them ready, he arranged a spar with a second-year S-Class team. Not because Jiang Tianming’s group was team-battle-ready, but to expose flaws for both teacher and students. S-Class Ability users were undeniably strong. The five introduced their Abilities: [Cataclysm], [Extreme Ice], [Void], [Earth Armor], [Death Gaze], covering Special, Attack, Support, Defense, and Control Tracks. They’d represented "Alpha Ability Academy" in last year’s first-year tri-school competition. The reserve team, led by Qi Huang, faced them first. After brief discussion, to avoid seeming like bullies, the seniors fielded only four, excluding the [Earth Armor] user. Without a defender, unless a team was all-out offensive, it signaled disdain for the opponents’ attack power. Qi Huang’s team knew this rule; it sparked their anger. As prodigies, they couldn’t stand being underestimated, especially four against five—it signaled blatant disrespect. The seniors exuded upperclassman ease, one even smiling and nodding at the juniors, relaxed, showing no pressure. Their choice wasn’t entirely as Qi Huang thought. Knowing Wu Mingbai’s [Earth Element] Ability, purely elemental, countered derived Abilities like [Earth Armor], they avoided it to prevent complications. That was the real reason, though it carried some condescension. Seeing this, Su Bei knew Qi Huang’s team would lose. Had the seniors taunted them, they might’ve been face-slapped fodder. Their silence ensured no such trope. He’d hoped Wu Mingbai’s team could at least hold out a bit to force out the seniors’ Abilities. Others were less modest, expecting victory. Yet, Qi Huang’s team not only lost but had two members knocked out almost instantly. The [Cataclysm] user conjured an earthquake, while the [Extreme Ice] user unleashed an "Ice Age," creating an icy rift valley on the arena. Qi Huang’s team reacted fast—Qi Huang’s [Flame Phoenix] took flight, Mo Xiaotian used Air Cubes to lift himself, and Wu Mingbai summoned a stone foothold. Li Shu and Wu Jin, with mental-based Abilities, had no chance to act. Unassisted, they fell. Wu Mingbai tried helping but was too late—by the time he filled the rift, they were gone. Losing two at the start wasn’t the worst. The real issue, clear to all, was their lack of teamwork or intent to aid allies. Suddenly, Mo Xiaotian’s Air Cube vanished. Unprepared, he fell, and a sharp ice pillar struck while he was immobile, eliminating him. Outside, Mo Xiaotian, draped in a prepared blanket, shivered beside Li Shu and Wu Jin, their faces grim—partly from cold, partly from the swift defeat. Even the less competitive Wu Jin couldn’t stay calm. Knowing his Ability’s limits, facing them head-on stung. The icy chasm was brutal. Freezing, Mo Xiaotian still asked curiously: "My Ability vanished—was it that black-haired senior’s Ability?" He meant the [Void] user, the only Ability likely to nullify his. Meng Huai nodded, explaining: "She can make items turn to nothing through touch or other means." "Wow!" Mo Xiaotian exclaimed. "That sounds so badass! But only items? What about living things?" "Possible," Meng Huai said, unsurprised he’d ask. "But it takes massive Mental Energy and specific conditions." Mo Xiaotian nodded, enthused: "I was too slow. I want to spar her again. They’re not leaving after this, right?" "No, they’ll assist your team battle training, but only for team matches. For a 1v1, you’ll need to negotiate." Meng Huai refocused on the match, where Qi Huang and Wu Mingbai, overwhelmed, were swiftly defeated. The [Extreme Ice] blue-haired senior said flatly: "Too weak." No mockery, just a fact, which stung even more. Only a year older, yet they crushed the team—not through Ability suppression but superior info and coordination. The crushing loss silenced Qi Huang’s team. Not broken, they chose to bide their time and regroup. Missing the expected new-old student banter, Meng Huai tsked, turning to Jiang Tianming’s five: "The reserve team’s wiped out. Your turn—want to face the seniors?" He didn’t critique the reserves’ errors yet, planning to let everyone take a hit first. Jiang Tianming’s group exchanged glances, nodding. After watching the reserves, they doubted their victory, but losing cost nothing and revealed flaws. "Can we discuss tactics first?" Jiang Tianming asked. Unfamiliar with the seniors’ Abilities—like the cheating [Void]—rushing in like the reserves risked a quick KO. Meng Huai nodded, sneering: "Finally using your brains. Ten minutes." Ignoring his jab, they huddled. Jiang Tianming spoke first: "Our teamwork and experience are likely inferior. We need a one-shot win strategy." "If we could one-shot them, we wouldn’t be worrying," Lan Subing said softly. Spot-on. Jiang Tianming coughed: "Sometimes a surprise attack can clinch it." "Let’s first counter their opening move. Only Zhaohua can fly," Ai Baozhu said glumly, dreading the fall—seeing the reserves’ shivering confirmed it was bad. A real issue. Si Zhaohua frowned: "I could fly with all four of you, but we’d be sitting ducks for ranged attacks." The more he carried, the slower he’d be. The blue-haired senior’s quick ice pillar showed fast Ability deployment—Si Zhaohua doubted he could dodge with passengers, though alone, he might be able to. "I think I can handle it," Jiang Tianming raised his hand, having formed a plan. "If I control arena objects to build a bridge first, everyone should be able to find footing, right?" The arena, a five-meter-high platform, had scattered boards and stones as obstacles. Meng Huai said "Endless Ability Academy" planned to upgrade it for varied maps after their last review. Upgrades took time, so they made do with these scraps. Jiang Tianming could control boards and stones. If timed right, he’d keep everyone from falling. Trusting his reflexes, they moved to planning how to beat the seniors after stabilizing themselves. Si Zhaohua noticed Su Bei’s silence, suspecting slacking: "Su Bei, any ideas?" Snapped back, Su Bei blurted nonsense: "How about I surrender first? They’ll lower their guard, making your sneak attack easier. Smart, right? I’m thinking of you!" The other four: "..." Jiang Tianming grinned without humor: "Why not pitch that to Teacher Meng? He’d be touched by your sacrifice." No way. Su Bei coughed, thinking fast, saying seriously: "If you keep me in play for a bit, I can get them off the stage." He hadn’t mastered his instant-cast skill book—otherwise, a brief moment would suffice to oust them. The "Destiny Compass" had an "Exit" point, perfect for arena battles. Even with the book, learning a skill took a week. One day short, he could only speed up fate shifts, not instant-cast. He needed time on the stage. His words thrilled the four. They trusted Su Bei’s track record—Destiny Abilities could do anything. "If I protect just us two, we can hold even under siege," Ai Baozhu said confidently. Lan Subing considered her role: "I’ll try to lock down the [Void] senior, so she doesn’t nullify your Ability." "I’ll face them head-on," Si Zhaohua said tersely. His Ability only protected himself, but drawing enemy focus acted as defense. Jiang Tianming’s task was set: prevent falls into [Cataclysm]’s rifts. He’d also stall one opponent. He asked crucially: "How long do we need to hold on?" The seniors were strong—straight fights meant loss, hence the need for tricks. If Su Bei’s Ability took too long, it’d be useless. "Five minutes," Su Bei replied. After shifting pointers, changes typically hit within five minutes. If they lost sooner, it could count as the pointers’ effect—opponents left the stage post-victory. If they held on, the altered seniors would be forced off by fate. Five minutes wasn’t long—if they couldn’t last, they might as well forfeit. Hearing this, they relaxed. But before smiles formed, Su Bei smirked: "Thing is, I’m not that keen on winning." He could win with his Ability, but why? Winning a practice match offered no gain and might disrupt Meng Huai’s plans—not worth it. Knowing Su Bei’s nature, the four didn’t even get mad, swiftly brainstorming to sway him. Ai Baozhu offered: "Money? Mental Crystals?" "Nope," Su Bei rejected. He lacked neither. "A day off tomorrow?" Jiang Tianming suggested. "I’ll get you a day’s leave, no fallout." Su Bei’s eyes lit up: "Deal." Meanwhile, the brown-haired senior observed his juniors, smiling to his team: "What tricks do you think they’re cooking up?" "Their Abilities are solid," the [Cataclysm] yellow-haired girl listed, pointing. "Angel, Word Spirit, Destiny, special defense, multi-Ability user. Our academy’s thriving, snagging such talents." "No trick will work," the blue-haired [Extreme Ice] youth said coldly, arms crossed. The black-haired [Void] girl nodded coolly, agreeing. The yellow-haired girl stood, shaking her head: "They’re done. Let’s fight." The five took the stage, Meng Huai refereeing. As the match began, the yellow-haired girl repeated her tactic, teaming up with [Extreme Ice] to craft an icy rift valley. Clearly underestimating them—using the same move against two teams showed little respect. But this suited Jiang Tianming’s group, who’d feared a new move catching them off guard. Per their plan, Jiang Tianming activated [Object Control], using boards to plug rifts and shifting stones to teammates’ feet as footholds. Prepared, his reflexes were lightning-fast, keeping all teammates on the field. This drew the seniors’ notice. The [Void] black-haired girl sped toward Jiang Tianming, aiming to eliminate him first. Before she reached him, a voice rang: "‘Freeze.’" As she was stalled, the blue-haired senior fired ice pillars at all five, but Si Zhaohua’s feathers shattered them in mid-air, causing hail to rain down. Si Zhaohua flew to him, blocking his view: "Your opponent’s me." "Hmph, you’re not worthy," the senior sneered, engaging in rapid combat. Ai Baozhu noticed the silver-haired senior’s eyes glow eerily, targeting Su Bei—likely the [Death Gaze] user Meng Huai mentioned. Fearing disruption, Ai Baozhu activated [Gorgeous Domain], enveloping them in a pink space, elegantly fanning her pink feather fan: "Staring’s quite rude, you know~" Before Jiang Tianming stood the brown-haired boy, grinning amiably: "Guess it’s us two. Let’s see if you can break my defense." His body sprouted diamond armor, as did his teammates’. Though diamond, the armor was thin, not hindering movement, and stunningly beautiful—defying [Earth Armor]’s gruff stereotype. Last were the [Cataclysm] yellow-haired girl and Su Bei. She smiled: "I’m not great at physical combat. You?" "Not great either," Su Bei said sincerely. She nodded, seemingly convinced, suggesting kindly: "Since we’re both Special Track and bad at fighting, why not slack off here? Sound good?" She seemed earnest, but her Ability, [Cataclysm], was likely spent, unusable soon. She was trading her depleted Ability for Su Bei’s usable one—a clear ploy. Yet Su Bei agreed: "Sure, sit here. This stone’s perfect for spectating." Beside him was a tall stone at the arena’s edge—ideal for watching without getting caught in the fray. His quick agreement made her wary, suspecting a trick—perhaps luring her to drop her guard for a quick elimination. But it didn’t matter; her Ability was used, so elimination wasn’t a loss. After hesitating, she sat beside him. The others on stage and Meng Huai below were livid. Mid-match, these two just sat like buddies? Show some respect! The infuriating duo chatted idly. The yellow-haired senior envied Su Bei’s profile: "Your skin’s flawless and so fair. Bet you don’t even use skincare, right?" Su Bei nodded. He didn’t own face wash, using soap. Some were just naturally radiant—like himself and the protagonist group. This manga’s protagonists all had perfect skin. Even chubby Zhou Renjie and rugged Mu Tieren had smooth complexions.