Chapter 82
Sun Town Middle School's exploration range wasn't far. They didn't venture too far near the cross-sea bridge, nor did they cross the line. Instead, they approached the bases of other teams, adopting a relatively conservative approach. In fact, the four teams on Island 4 all played a relatively steady style, so the competition wasn't fierce, and everyone was developing steadily.
On the overall points table in the gymnasium, people could clearly see that among the twenty participating teams, Sun Town ranked seventeenth in points. Although it was relatively behind, it was not the last. This discovery made Jas and Renee excitedly high-five each other.
However, the style of other islands is completely different. For example, Island 1, due to Dihua's complete equipment, has been harvesting crystal fragments at a whirlwind from the very beginning, and ranks first with the advantage of being the first in the gap.
The strong always attract attention, and everyone from the audience to the commentators is discussing their next plan.
Some people think that they will proceed steadily and continue to expand their territory; some people think that they will directly attack other strongholds on Island 1 and eliminate them directly; some people think that they will set their sights on other islands and conquer them one by one.
As a result, Dihua's players adopted a strategy that was beyond everyone's expectations - they left five players to guard the home and sent four players to the remaining four islands. The audience and commentators did not understand the purpose of their operation for a while.
"The only thing we know is that this strategy is like playing a game of Go. You place the pieces on the periphery first, but we don't know how you will eventually surround and kill your opponent," said the host.
As luck would have it, the person they sent to the 4th island was Sebastian, who had a B-level olfactory tracking ability. Ango had never met this person, but Renee and Jas had known him for a long time.
"Actually, we're not afraid. Rather than a scout, we should be more wary of Huiying," said Leni.
"I just don't know what Dihua is going to do," Jas said. "Besides... we're guarding the gates of the 4 islands. If they really attack, we'll be the first to suffer."
"Teacher An, what do you think?" Leni turned around and asked Ango.
Ango was concerned about something else... No matter what Dihua's strategy was, she knew clearly that Sebastian, like Hewel, was a pagan. At this critical juncture, she believed that Sebastian would definitely take some retaliatory actions, but she didn't know what they were.
Ango wasn't worried, however. They were numerous, and the students at Sun Town Middle School were equipped with various transformation and enhancement systems, so they weren't worried about Sebastian causing any trouble alone. Furthermore, Tang Yu still had a summoning feather from the Flame Bird, providing a backup even if something unexpected happened.
"How strong is Sebastian?" Ango asked Renee.
"Well... he was actually a very good student. He was first-rate in physical skills and spearmanship, and his combat skills were also very good." Renee looked at Jas. "He was the strongest student in the school at the time."
Jas also sighed: "So we were all very depressed when he left, but now think about it, it's not worth it for him... Oh, it suddenly occurred to me that if Hewel was a pagan, he and Schneider..."
He seemed to have thought of something terrible, and his expression was a mixture of fear and suspicion. He looked at the other two leading teachers as if seeking confirmation, and then muttered to himself, "No way, I must be overthinking it."
Ango naturally knew his suspicion, but this suspicion had been verified as early as when she competed with Hai Weil.
Ango said bluntly, "It's very likely. Considering that they are Haiweier's favorite students... I think Dihua considered using him for a long time. It's just that the rules of this competition are very suitable for his abilities, so they let him play."
What she guessed was the truth.
At this moment, Silver Bee was closely following the scout named Sebastian, watching him land on Island 4, lurking in the dense jungle, and gradually approaching Point A.
Ace strode ahead, bold and cautious.
Wearing a shielding helmet, he stood deep in the dark crystal ore cave. He saw a string of glowing crystal clusters hanging from the dome, casting a reddish-purple halo in the water in the cave, and called out to his teammates behind him to come forward.
Because this cavern was rich in minerals, the air was filled with fine, shimmering dust—crystalline dust. Entering this cavern without any protective measures would feel like drinking low-quality liquor with every breath. Vision would waver, ears would ring, and steps would feel unsteady. Having encountered the fervent flower on the train, he knew this feeling well.
In the distance, the clinking sound of teammates carrying crystal bags could be heard. Through the goggles, Ace suddenly frowned.
Suddenly, he took off his helmet and put it on Tang Yu's head without saying a word while she was holding the bag. At this moment, she had no helmet to wear, and she staggered under the influence of the crystal dust, and almost dropped the crystal bag in her arms.
Tang Yu was slightly stunned. Her voice came through the helmet: "You are the scout, the most dangerous... I don't need..."
"Wear it!" Ace's voice was a little hazy under the influence of the crystal dust, but his eyes were still clear and sharp. "You're shaking like a top. In the end, we all rely on your ability to transport the crystal back to the base. If you fall, it will be troublesome."
Tang Yu had nothing to refute.
Due to the excessive amount of crystal dust, the images transmitted by the silver bee are a bit blurry. This blur is like a filter, allowing the audience to feel the emotions surging secretly.
"Ahem... I didn't expect this contestant to be so gentlemanly as to give an important mission item to the team's female commander." The host's voice was tinged with teasing. "I wonder if Miss Tang Yu was touched."
Renee also opened her eyes wide, with a look of surprise and joy: "This...this can't be what I thought."
Ango rested his hand on his chin, his index finger supporting his cheek, and said seriously, "As for them... I'm not sure, but they're quite a match."
"There are many forks in the road ahead. I'll go explore them. You should be careful and stay awake." After giving these instructions, Ace walked forward on his own without mentioning the danger of exposing himself to the crystal dust and the deepest part of the cave.
Without the filtering effect of his helmet, the pervasive crystal dust instantly enveloped him. The world seemed to be covered in a layer of frosted glass, and Ace felt like he was stepping on cotton. To ease the discomfort, Ace activated "Elemental Decomposition" to try to dilute the raging crystal dust in the space. It worked, and when he took another deep breath, the crystal dust's interference with him had lessened.
Even with this intoxication, Ace felt that his five senses were magnified - he knew that this was also the effect of the fanatical crystal - the tiny cracking sounds of the distant crystal clusters, the sound of the disturbed air flow, and even the tiny tremors from the ground could not escape Ace's keen senses.
In this drunken haze, Ace walked further and further away, completely unaware that the distance between him and his teammates had already passed several forks in the road. His toes landed on the crystal dust-covered ground. A faint light flashed beneath his feet, and the fine crystal dust broke apart. A weak but precise air current dragged him silently downhill for several meters. Ace instinctively pressed against the surrounding rock wall, and the minerals on the rock surface were quickly stripped away, turning into a fine dust that covered his skin and combat uniform, forming a natural camouflage.
Ace felt his consciousness gradually becoming paralyzed, his breathing slowly slowed down, as if he had fallen asleep, and merged with the rock wall.
At this moment, Ace's keen hearing suddenly caught something unusual - there was a sound coming from the deeper and more winding depths of the mine along the rock wall. He pinched his arm to regain his consciousness, then held his breath and pressed his ear against the rock wall. He pressed a finger against the wall, and the decomposition force field penetrated deep into the rock. He locked onto a small vein rich in quartz, and with a slight movement of his mind, a passage was opened.
The sound also changed its path. The originally vague sound was suddenly amplified and suddenly became clear, following the modified rock wall and into Ace's ears.
"Well, I told you they would definitely let you play." It was a woman's voice.
"With Haiweier dead and no one cooperating, our mission will be much more difficult."
Ace forced his drunken eyes open—Haiweier? The voice on the other side was Sebastian! But how did he get to the Four Islands? Wasn't Dihua on the One Island? And who was the woman he was talking to? A student of Dihua? But the woman's voice was mature, not like a student's.
"As long as you do what you are supposed to do, we will take care of the rest. Once we are done..." The woman sneered, "You will have power, fame, wealth, everything."
"I understand," Sebastian said. "I will go to every stronghold. As long as the magic circle succeeds..."
At this moment, the audience in the audience had no idea what Ace had heard or seen.
In the mine, the images sent by the Silver Bees were already blurry, and as time went on, more and more filming robots were damaged, and new Silver Bees kept coming out of the warehouse and heading to the competition venue.
"What is Ace doing?" Jas was obviously very anxious. "Is he really going to fall asleep?"
"If the people behind us had gone the wrong way, we might not have been able to find him." Renee clutched the corner of her clothes, her voice tense. "By the way, where's Sebastian? Why is there no footage of him? Where's his camera robot?"
"Just now, when he entered the mine, his robot was disturbed by the falling crystal and was scrapped. The new Silver Bee hasn't found him yet." Jas replied, "Based on the direction he's going, there's a chance he'll run into Ace and the others."
At this moment, a clear female voice was heard from the mine: "Ace, where are you? Don't run so fast, we can't keep up."
Ace woke up instantly. He reached into the inside pocket of his clothes and took out a lifting system. In just two seconds, the upper limit of his ability was unlocked. He placed his palm on the rock wall, and the wall on the other side instantly collapsed and turned into a fine powder like dust. The woman and Sebastian did not expect that there was someone on the wall. They turned back in shock, but only saw thick smoke.
Ace yelled, "I'm here!"
Tang Yu and others came over after hearing the noise. When the smoke cleared, people could only see Sebastian standing there wearing a helmet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
