Chapter 82

Chapter 82

What are these people really up to?

Albert stood silently, watching players charge into battle, get severely injured by the creatures, and then dragged back for treatment, repeating this cycle until they either passed out completely or were killed, refusing to stop until then.

Warm blood splattered onto Albert, passing through his semi-transparent body before hitting the ground.

Do these people not feel fear?

Is it because they believe they can't die in this dream, so they act recklessly?

No, in this memory, the longer one stays here, the more their memories blur, and the fear of death doesn't diminish at all. There's no guarantee they'll wake up mentally intact in reality after being killed here.

Or is it because they've been brainwashed by the god they believe in, that they act so fervently?

Albert looked towards the red-haired young man on the edge of the battlefield, who was supporting the players with his gun. Although his marksmanship wasn't as good as Albert's, he was doing his best.

This thought had just surfaced in his mind when he shook his head, dismissing it.

Albert knew better than anyone what those brainwashed by faith looked like. He himself had once been part of such a fanatical organization. The devotees whose minds were completely numbed and dominated, devoted entirely to their deity... such people...

...would never display such a radiant demeanor.

"Crack—"

Thanks to the efforts of the teachers and students, the bulletproof glass of the auditorium was finally shattered. The trapped Mida University students heaved a sigh of relief, and someone immediately shouted, "Get the injured out first!"

The others sprang into action, prioritizing the injured players, especially those just brought down from the battlefield.

Players lying on the ground waiting for treatment to continue fighting: ...?

Not Crazy had barely relaxed for two seconds when she felt herself being lifted. She seemed to be carried away.

Opening her eyes, she found herself on an improvised stretcher, with Mida University students forming a human conveyor belt, passing her along to the window and then out of the auditorium.

Not Crazy: "? What are you doing? Just bandage me up, I can still fight."

Run group players, even with just a sliver of health left, as long as they weren't unconscious, could still fight for a few more rounds after first aid and medical attention.

Who would leave the battlefield just because they're injured!

"No, you can't!" the Mida student said seriously, "You've already sacrificed enough. We can't keep you here. Don't worry, you'll be among the first to be evacuated from the most dangerous area."

The players: ? But we haven't finished fighting the creatures.

"No, no, you're too kind. You should go first," a player waved off, "You're all students with bright futures ahead."

"No! You should go first. You've already sacrificed too much for us!" the Mida student insisted loudly, with his classmates nodding in agreement, none raising any objection.

The player earnestly replied, "No, no, no, we really don't want to go. You go ahead, don't worry about us. We have too many injured." Anyway, they could leave after receiving first aid.

The students' eyes filled with tears: "How can you say that? If you don't go, we won't go either!"

"Exactly! Let's fight these monsters to the end!"

"I was planning to become an investigator after graduation anyway. Protecting the public is our duty."

Inside the livestream:

[Man, are they trying to make me die of laughter? What is this bizarre situation? orz]

[I want to laugh, cry, and feel inspired all at the same time, damn it.]

[Right? The atmosphere at Mida University is so great, everyone there is so amazing qwq, ahhh I'm totally in love with this Mida University.]

[I'm torn. I know the players are staying to fight the monsters, and it makes me proud and pumped, but I'm also moved by the students' gratitude, even though they misunderstand and think the players can actually die.]

[This must be what being human is all about (collapses).]

[Anyway, I just want to say one thing - when will Mida University send me my admission letter!?]

[When will Mida University send me my admission letter!?]

[When will Mida University send me my admission letter!?]

[When will Mida University send me my admission letter!?]

[I'm different, I can go pick it up myself qwq, please, official folks, give me a chance at Mida!]

[Sobbing, just thinking about how in the original timeline, these lovely professors and students would have died here makes me feel terrible. Why does this scenario have to be a reenactment?]

[Hey, the person above, don't remind me of that. I just got fired up and now I'm emo again.]

[Yes, this is a reenactment script. If there were no players originally, this auditorium would have been a graveyard for many students and professors...]

As the players and students continued their dispute, the players, caught between laughter and tears, and still engaged in fighting the creatures, could only watch helplessly as the students evacuated the bewildered injured.

At that moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

A Grade C anomaly, the Death Scythe, which had been distracted by the players to another corner of the auditorium, suddenly looked towards a specific corner of the room. Not just it, but the other two Grade D anomalies as well, all ignoring the players provoking them and moving in the same direction.

"That direction is—Professor Aldus?!"

Meanwhile, Aldus's incantation was entering its final phase. Perhaps sensing the threat, the anomalies abandoned their original prey and surged towards Professor Aldus.

Druid: "Everyone, pay attention. The anomalies are coming. Find a way to divert them!"

Cosmic Machine: "Understood!"

Cosmic Machine and his friends fearlessly approached the Death Scythe, especially getting close enough to see its skeletal face under the hood, then collectively made taunting faces.

However, the Death Scythe, which usually attacked these players first, now ignored them unless they blocked its path, only swinging its scythe to kill those in its way while steadfastly moving towards Professor Aldus.

Druid was extremely anxious, knowing that the players could only delay the anomalies for a few seconds, even at the cost of their lives.

"Professor Alexis, what kind of spell is Professor Aldus casting that's completely changed the behavior of the anomalies!?"

"It's a variation of an ancient summoning spell," Alexis said gravely. "The original version communicates with the closest deity, sacrificing everything around to invite a divine descent. Aldus modified it to sacrifice all the magic and spirit in the vicinity instead of seeking a deity's descent, aiming for a mere gaze to reduce the cost."

"Magic and spirit...?"

"Yes. We all have some magic in us, linked to our willpower and mental strength. Draining it all at once is exhausting but not lethal. This way, the magic transformed by the ritual track will also be consumed..."

"And the anomalies will die." At this moment, another voice spoke up. Alexis turned to see the red-haired youth, Lann, smiling lightly, "Am I right, professor?"

Alexis looked at him intently: "Correct. Our research shows that anomalies are composed differently from humans. They don’t belong to our dimension and are presumably beings of the dream world. But for some reason, they started migrating to our reality long ago... cough cough, that's another story. If you're interested, you can attend my class. Anyway, what's clear now is that anomalies are made of something like 'spirit.' They are colorless and formless in our reality, almost invisible to the naked eye."

Lann recalled extracting something from the anomalies. So that's it. No wonder the anomalies withered away when he did that. By analogy, it was like directly extracting blood and flesh from humans.

"They must have felt the threat, so now they're desperately trying to kill Aldus."

"Let's hurry and stop Professor Aldus!" Druid said urgently. "The windows are already broken. If we just hold out for a few more minutes, all the students and professors can evacuate. There’s no need for Aldus to use that spell."

"It's too late. Once the spell is successfully cast, it can't be stopped without causing greater consequences." Alexis shook his head, his gaze complex as he looked at his old friend. Perhaps from the moment Aldus started the incantation, he never intended to survive.

"You should leave now," Alexis urged, walking towards Aldus. "While the anomalies are completely drawn to Aldus, you must quickly leave the auditorium."

"Professor!"

"We won't leave!"

"Stop this nonsense!" Alexis glared at Druid, "This is no longer your concern. Get out of here, your volunteer work is over! Don't think you can play the savior. Is sacrificing yourself fun? Once you're dead, you have nothing left!"

Druid opened his mouth to speak, but then Lan interjected calmly, "But Professor, your students haven't left either."

Alexis: ?

He turned sharply, only to see that after evacuating all the injured from the scene, the Mida University students hadn't followed suit. Instead, they had gathered in front of Aldus, spontaneously forming a human wall.

The outermost layer of the human wall was still the players, but they were unable to withstand the Grim Reaper's Scythe's onslaught. With each swing of its massive blade, several players were cleaved in half, their entrails spilling out. Alexis's eyes instantly reddened with fury:

"What are you doing? The window is open, why aren't you leaving!"

The old man was practically jumping up and down in place.

Lan's calm voice rose from behind, "Because if they leave, their professor will die, as will those covering the rear. If the creatures escape, others still on campus might die too. But if we let the professor's spell succeed here, perhaps the sacrifice will be less."

There was something he left unsaid, though: the auditorium was now permeated with an atmosphere of goodness.

Starting from the professors, and catalyzed by the players, perhaps not every student was selflessly noble at first. Some were fearful, timid, and desperately wanted to survive.

But as one noble act followed another, such selflessness became an example, infecting the hearts of everyone present.

"The kinder a person is, the more they are moved."

His voice softened, and with a wry smile, he said, "You've taught a group of very good students."

Even he, in this moment, felt a strong urge to change this predetermined fate.

But how to do it, he had no idea yet.

"What do you mean I have a group of good students?" the old man looked at the red-haired young man strangely, "Aren't you also a student of Mida University, my student as well?"

Lan was taken aback, and before he could respond, the old man had already dashed towards the fray: "You want to kill my students? You'll have to get past me first. Anyone with a gun or a stick, hand it over!"

A player holding a wooden stick tossed it to Alexis, who leaped up to catch it, shouting, "Don't attack from the front! Come from behind or the side, watch out for the scythe's path, try to get in close. It's hard to fight this weapon in close combat!"

"Easier said than done, how are we supposed to get close?!" a player named Bystander A cried out desperately, teeth clenched as he and another player approached the Grim Reaper's Scythe from behind. The creature, without turning, seemed to have eyes on the back as its scythe, carrying the aura of death, swung towards them.

[Dodge: Successful]

Bystander A successfully dodged, but the other player wasn't so lucky. His head flew up high, blood splattering from his neck onto Bystander A's face, his heart pounding like a drum:

'System, request to burn luck, invest in agility!'

[Agility: Failed]

[Burning Luck in progress, Luck -21]

[Agility: Successful]

After failing an agility check and losing 21 luck points, a player, referred to as Passerby A, rolled and crawled desperately, miraculously reaching the feet of the Death Scythe before it could swing its blade again, clinging to its leg in an attempt to disrupt its balance.

[Strength Contest: The disparity is too great; a difficult success is required]

[Strength: Failed]

Miracles don't happen twice. Passerby A thought despairingly, as the Death Scythe, unfazed by the player's push and pull, repositioned itself, the blade of its scythe already touching Passerby A's back.

Just then, the little old man had leaped high, taking advantage of Passerby A's distraction. He extended his cane with a clever twist, striking the anomaly's shoulder.

The Death Scythe, which had been steady until then, wobbled, and the surrounding players, sensing an opportunity, swarmed it.

Maybe it could work!

Suddenly, a loud shout from other players nearby diverted attention. Before the players attacking the Death Scythe could react, they were sent flying from behind.

Player: ?

Unbeknownst to them, another Grade D anomaly, a Giant Ogre, had crazily charged over, swinging its massive club, knocking players aside, relieving the Death Scythe of the encirclement. Players, shocked and spitting blood, exclaimed, "Do anomalies have intelligence?"

How could they cooperate so effectively?

With no players to interfere, the Death Scythe steadied itself. No miracles this time, its blade reaped the lives of several players. The little old man, eyes red with effort, desperately struck at the anomaly with his cane, only to be pushed away suddenly by players behind him.

In his place, a player's arm was severed. Alexis's body crashed to the side. The elderly man's frail body, having exerted beyond its limits, couldn't even stand up anymore.

"It’s impossible, how can a Grade D anomaly possess such intelligence?"

The Death Scythe continued its march towards Aldus, with players in front still no match for it. Lann watched this unfold, his reflection in his eyes, his mind wavering, murmuring, "Could it be because reality has already fixed that Mida's faculty and students will die in the auditorium, making this scene unchangeable no matter what?"

Lann hadn't entirely dismissed Albert's words. He had his own understanding of the so-called 'fate' in the dream world. Previously, he proved that details of the story here could be changed; perhaps only the 'ending' in reality is immutable.

For instance, in reality, Albert’s future doesn't involve him doubting the Inspection Bureau and will continue undercover with the foreigners. Thus, no matter how many details are altered in this dream sequence, it would still lead to the same outcome, albeit through a different process.

So, it was essential to discern which outcomes were already anchored and which processes could still be changed, then try to alter these processes without affecting the original outcomes.

Although Lann himself wasn't sure what the point was, he couldn't bear to let so many dear people die in front of him.

He had decided, even if it meant exposing his identity and being ejected from this node, he would save the teachers and students here.

At that moment, Lann suddenly felt something odd; the voice that usually dampened his spirits had vanished.

Huh, where was Albert?

"Aaaahhhhhhhhh!"

The volunteers in front had fallen, the players had split up, and some had been severely injured and taken out by Mida University students. Few players were left standing, and the human wall they had formed to protect the students was thinning. The students, seeing the sharp, terrifying scythe approaching, screamed instinctively, but didn't move, just closing their eyes and crying.

Bang— Bang—

Bullets blazing with golden flames continuously pierced the anomaly's body, trying to stop the Death Scythe's advance. An invisible, ethereal figure stood in front of the Mida students, furiously firing at the Death Scythe.

But the bullets passed right through the anomaly, causing no harm, as this was not a 'node,' but rather a memory already occurred in the 'past.'

Lann watched as Albert roared in an attempt to intercept the anomaly, his eyes devoid of the previous indifference and numbness, instead blazing with fire.

It was as if the previous indifference and numbness were just a mask Albert had forcibly put on.

"So it's true..." Lann murmured softly, "The kinder the heart, the harder it is to bear this scene."

But the cruel truth was, Albert knew he could do nothing, as this scene was already part of the past.

And Albert was an adult living in a lost future.

He was just roaring at the ghosts of the past.

The red-haired youth walked towards the anomaly, ready to intervene even if it meant being forcibly ejected from this memory. At that moment, Aldus, who had his eyes closed and was muttering incantations, suddenly opened his eyes.

Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, the result of a backlash from omitting part of the spell, a wave of extreme weakness washing over him.

He was not oblivious to the outside world; he simply couldn't be interrupted during the spell, or all would be in vain.

In any region, summoning spells have strict requirements for the casting process and incantations. Some even necessitate actions or dances to appease the deity, along with rituals. Aldus had deeply studied these divine rituals. Simply put, these seemingly superfluous actions are actually meant to minimize the deity's displeasure and preserve the caster's safety.

Aldus's spell was an extension of regular summoning rituals, hence the lengthy preparation time. Angering a deity could lead to unpredictable consequences.

But indeed, he couldn't bear to watch his students die before him.

If the deity was to mete out punishment, let it be on him alone.

Under the forcibly expedited spell, everyone present – students, teachers, and players – collapsed bewilderedly, feeling as if they had been awake for three straight nights, unable to open their eyes, their brains sending out signals of extreme fatigue.

This was the sensation of having one's magic drained in an instant. All the magic in the auditorium was sacrificed, leaving the Grade D and C anomalies motionless. Their bodies began to disintegrate, their spirit forcefully extracted by the spell's effect, much like the anomalies previously attacked by Lann with his staff, withering away until nothing but a thin skin remained.

The students weakly smiled, some closing their eyes in relief. But Aldus and Alexis did not; they both knew this was not the end, certainly not a conclusion worth celebrating. Alexis looked at his old friend with sadness, while Aldus returned his gaze calmly, a content smile on his lips.

"Don't worry, my friend. Death is but another long journey," Aldus said.

"You're pleased with yourself," Alexis remarked. "Damn it, you heroically turn the tide and die so heroically, I'm jealous."

Aldus smiled, gazing peacefully into the void, awaiting the deity's gaze and the unknown punishment to come.

One second passed... Two seconds passed... Nothing happened.

Alexis: ?

Aldus: ?

Aldous felt a gaze upon him and swiftly turned around, only to find a red-haired youth staring at him.

Lann: For some reason, I felt I should look over there.

Also, his MP (magic power) seems to be full 🙂