Out of tune (2)
After choosing "Quit Now," she did not return to reality as she had imagined.
The vision and hearing sacrificed after using [Greed] gradually returned to her body. Freed from the forcibly modified data, her body suddenly felt very relaxed.
But she was still in complete darkness, with a huge interface floating in front of her. The interface window had a familiar and intricate border, which was the interface of "Secret Love" in her terminal.
Shu Ningmiao's attention was initially drawn to the sudden appearance of Prometheus and Achini, and only now did she begin to ponder what was amiss.
It was only because the game system of "Secret Love" was linked to the combat simulation system that she was able to use her superpowers?
These two systems can actually communicate with each other.
Shu Ningmiao stared at the screen in front of her, where a notification popped up.
"A save point has been detected. Would you like to save?"
Here… She raised her hand and touched from her ear all the way to the top of her head, but she couldn’t find the shape of the helmet. She should still be in a virtual world. She didn’t know where she was, but it looked a lot like the place where she first put on the helmet and entered.
A vacuum where data has not yet been fully loaded.
"Why not use it?" Shu Ningmiao selected "Confirm." The screen jumped to the save point interface, and the window asked her again whether she wanted to save her current progress to the only save slot.
She wasn't sure of the pattern of save points appearing, or when the next save point would appear, so she decided to save first and figure it out later.
If this game's "save" function is the same as the "save" function in other games she has played, if she encounters any insurmountable difficulties later, can she use the "save" function to go back to a previous point?
Going back in time.
Just thinking about this possibility made her unconsciously hold her breath. This is something that no current superpower can do, and it can't even be described as exceeding the limit.
If she could transcend time, there would be so many things she could do, and the limitations of save points and save slots wouldn't be a problem.
She no longer needs to worry about her own death.
As long as she can reload her save file before she dies, no matter how many times she has to start over, she will definitely be able to find the reason behind her death.
The reason why game players are called "players" is because no matter how many times they fail, they have the opportunity to start over. As long as the game doesn't end, they are destined to win one day.
The screen in front of me beeped, and the blank save slot was overwritten with new data.
The new save file's location is marked in the bottom right corner: Chapter Two, Act One.
The chapter in which she dies is Chapter Five. Although it seems like there's still some time to go, time keeps rolling forward, and sooner or later it will crush her.
Shu Ningmiao took a deep breath, really wanting to try loading the save file right away to have a backup plan.
But after careful consideration, she still didn't immediately load the save file. Loading the save file in this pitch-black place would be pointless without any reference points.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. She had to consider what other consequences using "save and load" might cause, and what price she would have to pay.
Let's use it only when we need it.
She exited the save game and reloaded, returning to the familiar main interface, and opened the character information.
I was really curious about what caused her sudden appearance of "jealousy." Why did the notification say that she "currently stole the superpower 'Light'"? Isn't that the female lead's superpower?
Under her character information, the ability section lists two states side by side—[Pride] and [Jealousy], but no [Anger]. This is probably because her anger comes and goes quickly, and she is currently focused on the game and has no time to care about anything else.
Clicking on the small question mark next to the status reveals that the ability details, which originally only had two statuses, have now been expanded to four lines. The two extra statuses are undoubtedly the new statuses [Jealousy] and [Greed] that just appeared before her eyes.
Details of the superpower
[Jealousy]: Steals the abilities of those who meet the criteria for jealousy. Up to 75% of their power can be used. Only one ability can be stolen at a time. Once stolen, it cannot be reversed. Cooldown time is 48 hours. (Currently stealing the ability 'Light')
[Greed]: Sacrifice a part of your perception, ability, or state to concentrate it in a designated part. This can be stacked but cannot be transferred.
The Greed status was similar to what she saw in the notification overview. Shu Ningmiao's attention was mainly focused on the [Jealousy] status. Even now, the status still showed that 'Light' was stolen. When exactly was it stolen?
Shu Ningmiao recalled all her memories after entering the combat simulation, and remembered that after dealing with Alan's body, she did have the thought, "If only she had superpowers like Erici."
If this meets the condition of "jealousy", then as long as she has the idea of wanting the other person's superpower, she can steal 75% of the other person's superpower.
But it's not that simple; there seem to be other hidden conditions.
Shu Ningmiao thought to herself that she wanted Wei Shengqianheng's special ability, but the status suffix hadn't changed.
Therefore, to steal someone else's superpower, you must first understand that person's superpower.
Shu Ningmiao knew the principles behind Ai Ruiji's superpowers, had observed her using them several times, and even knew the limits of her powers because Alan knew them, which is why she was able to steal them so easily.
There's also the restriction that you can only steal one ability at a time, and once it's overwritten, it can't be reversed. This probably means that if she's stealing Erici's "Light" ability and wants to steal another person's ability, she must first overwrite the "Light" ability.
After being covered, during the 72-hour cooling period, it cannot be converted back into the stolen ability, nor can it steal other abilities again.
Even so, it far exceeds the strength of ordinary superpowers. As long as she maintains her desire for superpowers, she can steal other people's superpowers.
Regardless of what the remaining three unlocked states are, the [Jealousy] state alone is enough for her to handle many situations.
Watching the halo slowly erupt from her fingertips, Shu Ningmiao's mood suddenly became much clearer and brighter, and the previous gloom was swept away.
No one will feel discouraged by the power they have gained.
She gathered all her thoughts and, just like when she first entered the simulated combat, reached out and touched the black space in front of her. She walked forward along the boundary of the barrier until she reached a darkness into which she could sink her hand.
She stepped into the black curtain and instantly felt a splitting headache, as if the blood vessels in her head were throbbing. A wave of nausea surged from her chest, as if she had been tossed around in the air, and she couldn't help but want to vomit.
The pain gripped her hair, and her scalp stung as if needles were pricking it.
Shu Ningmiao's shoulders twitched in pain, and she trembled as she covered her head, only to touch the metal surface.
Her fingertips brushed against the helmet on her head; the metal frame inside pressed against her brow bone, causing a dull ache that instantly brought her back to reality.
Shu Ningmiao quickly pulled off her helmet and threw it hard on the ground. She took a deep breath and felt her headache ease considerably.
The helmet, which had rolled to the ground, emitted crackling electrical sparks from its internal metal contacts, sending a chill down Shu Ningmiao's spine.
Who invented this thing? It looks so unsafe.
Would the National Research Center just give them a half-finished product to use? ... She would never trust these unreliable high-tech gadgets again.
Shu Ningmiao's heart was filled with resentment.
The scene didn't give her time to think it over. Shu Ningmiao looked up and saw the chaotic training ground, which was completely different from the one before she entered the combat simulation. The air was filled with the sound of alarm sirens and roars, and the students around her were still sitting in their original positions, not yet out of the combat simulation.
Sure enough, something happened outside.
After observing for a moment, Shu Ningmiao roughly understood the situation. A spectacular fire was spreading around the training ground, with scorching heat waves. The flames, which were almost as tall as a dozen-story building, blocked the rescue efforts from the outside.
People wearing black cloaks with red linings kept falling from the fire, roughly estimated to be more than twenty, their target being the officials on the high platform.
Some of the teachers inside were protecting the students, while others were protecting the officials.
Strange, Cornunos clearly has its own guards, and the security bureau also sent people today, so why is the teacher the main fighting force here?
Shu Ningmiao didn't understand, but since the organization that launched the attack was Prometheus, who had blown up the overpass, their main purpose should not have been to kill students, but to promote themselves.
First of all, the students who are still within the system are definitely facing the brainwashing theories of Prometheus members, just like her.
Despite the huge commotion Prometheus has caused outside, he hasn't attacked the students yet, only entangled with the teachers and officials. This is partly to prevent the teachers and researchers from hindering their intrusion into the combat simulation, and partly... they just want to make the situation as big as possible.
If Prometheus wants to make a name for himself in Pine, he must create something so great that even the Pine government cannot cover it up. Otherwise, no matter how many Pandora springs he blows up, they will only be silently wiped away, just like last time.
The Cornunos String Light Academy, as the "center of the world" and the focus of global attention, is their best choice.
Shu Ningmiao is now certain that there are definitely members of the Cornunos Academy within the school; it would be impossible for outsiders to achieve this level of expertise alone.
Faced with a training ground shrouded in billowing black smoke, a teacher focused on dealing with the Prometheus members, and an increasingly chaotic scene.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to her, Shu Ningmiao quickly picked up the helmet that she had smashed on the ground, cut off the power supply with her hand, and put it back on.
She sat back in her original spot, pretending she had never woken up, and observed her surroundings through the transparent part of her helmet.
Since Prometheus's men didn't attack the students, she'd better not attract too much attention.
Shu Ningmiao had absolutely no intention of joining in to help.
Weston was still standing on the platform. He had a very good grasp of Pandora. He didn't even need to release his powers. He blocked most of the attacks just by using basic "control".
Shu Ningmiao observed his skillful movements for a while and secretly memorized them.
She was surprised that basic "control" could be so effective; she needed to focus on training it in the future.
Yelüqi and some other class instructors stood in front of all the students. Prometheus's men did not attack him, and he single-handedly stopped four or five of them.
But... Yelüqi's movements seem to be getting slower and slower.
Shu Ningmiao stared intently at the tall man's close combat and noticed that he was struggling more and more, wondering what was affecting him.
If he were a former envoy, he shouldn't be struggling so much against these few people. Shu Ningmiao thought of her brother's words: Yelü Qi had retired because of a serious health problem... What exactly was the problem that left him without the stamina to even deal with a few people?
Besides Weston, the only other fighter on the platform was the man in the suit who had silenced the student earlier; Shu Ningmiao remembered Weston calling him Yu Lu.
His superpower seemed to be related to sound. Shu Ningmiao saw several Prometheus members who fought him in close combat covering their ears in pain from time to time. In addition, his physical skills were also quite good.
Even with a mildly aggressive superpower combined with physical skills, its destructive power should not be underestimated.
The other leaders on the platform were all ordinary people who had not yet awakened their superpowers, especially their principal, Alor Belial. It would be hard for most people to believe that the principal of a school famous for its superpower academy did not have any special abilities at all—except for his immense wealth.
Sometimes money is a kind of superpower.
After all, nobody wants him to die here.
Shu Ningmiao watched as Alo Beria was protected behind the police officer named Yu Lu, while the other officers all looked terrified, especially the researcher in the white coat.
One after another, Prometheus members fell from the high platform, their bodies churning the white sand in the training ground, with dust floating in the air.
"These members aren't very strong," Shu Ningmiao thought. "Weston can take on three people with just his basic 'control' skills. Their rushing up is like moths to a flame."
No, Shu Ningmiao's expression hardened; they really were "moths drawn to a flame."
Shu Ningmiao observed several waves of attacks but did not see any member use any special abilities. Was it because they didn't have time to use them?
No, these people... are really just ordinary people.
Their sudden appearance is likely due to the superpowers of the people behind the organization, or the use of superpowered items.
Speaking of supernatural items, Shu Ningmiao recalled the strange pendant she had gotten from Su Ni.
Su Ni said that the function of this superpowered item was to numb the pain in the body, which she found ridiculous at the time.
But now that I think about it, Chris said that all the members of Prometheus had this pendant.
Ordinary people can also use superpowered items.
If an ordinary person used this item, they wouldn't back down even when facing someone with superpowers.
Losing pain also means losing the ability to perceive danger.
Why would they throw their lives away like this?
Shu Ningmiao felt confused for the first time.
These people are merely dry branches and firewood burning in the flames; the real danger to Prometheus lies with those with supernatural abilities like Achini.
People can't stand being nagged. Just as Shu Ningmiao was thinking about the lunatic she encountered in the combat simulation, she felt the air around her suddenly become much hotter, and the flames on the outer wall twisted and shot into the sky.
The twisted and tangled flames in the sky actually condensed into a half-human shape.
Shu Ningmiao had just seen that familiar figure.
Although the phantom formed by the flames had no human features, its fiery red hair resembled Achini more than Achini himself. Shu Ningmiao coldly observed the phantom from behind her helmet, not wanting to miss a single detail.
Yu Lu held the terminal between his head and shoulder, his brows furrowed so deeply they could almost trap a fly: "The airflow above the flames is too chaotic; the helicopter can't get in."
Principal Alo Beria sat at the very back, his voice deep and his face somber: "Where is the Envoy?"
"We were notified two hours ago that two Pandora geysers had exploded. If everything is alright here, they will go and deal with Pandora first."
At the time, he did not know that Kornunos would have such a big problem. Pandora's Well was obviously more important, so he did not raise any objections.
“Damn it!” Alo Beria clutched his blond hair tightly. “They did this on purpose…”
The fiery figure stretched out its arms towards them, hovering above the center of Cornunos. The shadow was so large that it could be seen not only by the entire Cornunos school, but probably by the entire Upper Sky District.
Is this their ultimate goal?
A voice, both real and ethereal, echoed throughout the school: "Hello everyone—"
It was indeed him; it was Achini's voice.
Shu Ningmiao's slender fingers gripping the helmet left several indentations along the edge.
“On behalf of Prometheus, I extend my sincerest greetings to everyone.” The figure in the flames bowed slightly: “We request a dialogue with the Joint Council.”
Alo Belial waved to block Yu Lu, walked to the front of the platform, and roared, "Release the students first."
“Of course.” A broken laugh came from the Naruto. “We are not here to hurt anyone. They will soon return to reality and it will not delay your practice of your abilities.”
Yu Lu stepped out from behind Alo Beria, pressed the terminal to his ear, and nodded slightly: "The United Council refuses to communicate with terrorists."
Achini remained silent for a moment, seemingly thinking about something, before finally speaking.
"Time is running out." He sighed regretfully. "It seems I can only give everyone a brief greeting today."
“Prometheus will save Pine from destruction.” The figure of flames burned even more fiercely, turning the entire sky crimson, like a gaping maw of hell bursting from the heavens: “But Pine—must relinquish Pandora, relinquish the superhumans to obtain it—.”
"save--"
His voice trailed off as if suppressed by something, suddenly changing tone. The sound that resounded through the sky slowly lengthened and grew softer and softer. The giant flame that had been hovering above Kornunos was cleaved in mid-air.
The figure and the flames vanished simultaneously, and a figure drifted down from the cold light that pierced the flames, accompanied by a gust of wind, and landed heavily on the sand in the center of the training field with a thud.
The fiery clouds vanished instantly under his sword, and dawn broke.
The giant sword held horizontally in the man's hand reflected his face, which was mostly covered by black metal.
He didn't speak, and another melodious sigh echoed from the air.
"well--"
The sound came from the surrounding sea of fire.
Some people walked out of the scorching flames as if they were strolling in a park, their long blue robes with gold trim fluttering with the shockwaves, their voices sounding like hums from their noses, tinged with disdain.
“A fool’s time can be measured by a clock.” The man placed his long fingers on his chest, the ring on his finger flashing brightly. “A wise man has no clock.” [1]
He bowed gracefully, like an actor taking a bow on stage, and an invisible halo unfolded from beneath his feet, quickly spreading throughout the entire Kornunos.
Such a vast range of supernatural power, capable of covering the entirety of Kornunos.
Shu Ningmiao remained huddled inside the helmet. The students around her didn't move, and she showed no intention of moving either, secretly observing the person's superpower with her eyes wide open.
The area covered by the light circle disappeared as if swallowed up, and the chaotic scene instantly returned to half of its normal state, without even leaving a trace of smoke from the burning.
Without the cover of flames, and with no more Prometheus members appearing, the remaining remnants were silently dealt with by the man wielding the giant sword at some unknown time.
"The farce ends here." The man spoke in a flamboyant tone, shaking his ring-encrusted fingers: "Prometheus."
Yelü Qi walked past him, paused for a moment upon hearing this, and said, "They're talking about Prometheus, aren't they?"
Weston crossed his arms and looked at the well-dressed man from the high platform, frowning involuntarily.
“He’s the envoy who was supposed to come today, Zhao.” Yu Lu dialed the terminal to clean up the mess, while noticing Weston’s expression: “That’s always been his style.”
No wonder the usually procrastinating Joint Parliament so decisively rejected negotiations this time.
Weston raised his chin: "Isn't there one more?"
The other person didn't say a word. After dealing with the remaining members of the gang, he walked silently into the students like a silent ghost. Weston adjusted his glasses and zoomed in, but he could only see that the person's face was mostly covered by a black mask, and he couldn't see his features.
"Ah." Yu Lu let out a short "ah," his mind blanking slightly. The operative should only have come one person. He squinted and looked: "Isn't that..."
Alo Beria stepped down from the platform and looked at the still unresponsive students, saying with a heavy heart, "What should we do with these students? Why haven't they woken up yet?"
Zhao twirled the ring on his finger, a grin on his face, but his words were anything but pleasant: "You guys are really clever. Why didn't you just cut off the power when you were hacked? What if they were after these students? Those ten minutes or so would have been enough to kill them a thousand times over in the combat system."
One of the education bureau officials said, "We are just worried about the students' safety; forcibly withdrawing them is risky..."
"Which is more important, the damage caused by a forced withdrawal or your life?"
"Didn't you consider this issue when you designed your research center?" Zhao turned to the researcher. "Or is it that without that genius, you can't even do this simple thing?"
The researcher clenched his teeth, his face turning red.
He raised his hand, and one of the rings on his finger flashed. A burst of sparks erupted on the control panel, and the screen went completely black.
Zhao smiled and said, "Aren't you worried about the students? Now take all their helmets off. I really can't believe the research center's system is so weak. People can come and go as they please. If you cause trouble like this again, I guarantee that no one will come to clean up your mess."
The people at the research center felt a little embarrassed and turned away, pretending to be very busy.
Shu Ningmiao's ear tips trembled slightly as she listened intently to their conversation under her helmet, trying to guess what kind of superpower this meticulously dressed user possessed.
It's a range-based, area-of-effect ability, but it's not limited to his own area—he just cut off the power to the main control of the combat simulation system from a great distance.
Suddenly, a large shadow blocked her view. Before Shu Ningmiao could turn her gaze back, she felt a void above her head.
Her helmet is missing!
Long, slender fingers cupped her face on both sides, forcing her to tilt her head back, her cheeks flushed slightly from being squeezed by the clasped hands.
Shu Changyan could barely maintain a frightening calm on the surface, but his eyebrows and eyes under the mask looked completely different from usual, and were particularly gloomy.
All his worries, such as hesitation and fear, were instantly overwhelmed by a wave of anxiety. Shu Changyan took a deep breath, his throat feeling as cold as if it were in a frozen wasteland, with a pain akin to being cut by a knife. He maintained this pain as if to torture himself, in order to stay rational and clear-headed.
Shu Changyan knelt on one knee in front of her and lowered his head. His fingertips trembled as he lifted Shu Ningmiao's helmet, afraid of seeing the bloodstains on her pale face.
Beneath his helmet, his cheeks, cupped in his hands, were flushed a pinkish hue from being squeezed out. His stiff movements caused his mouth to open slightly, revealing his faintly visible canine teeth.
Shu Ningmiao's bright, rich, and expressive eyes only contained his completely obscured reflection.
She blinked blankly at his actions, her mind clear, not at all like someone who had just woken up from the system.
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