Chapter 20

“Next, I will announce the detailed rules of the third stage of the ability competition.”

A lean man stood atop the platform, exuding an innate authority as he surveyed the nine teams of youths below. Ten teams had advanced, but the crown prince’s team had always been willful, and no one dared criticize them.

“Each team will be assigned to a separate area of the lower district. Your task is to eliminate Aberrant Realms and earn points.”

Despite his slender frame, the man possessed a hoarse, resonant voice as he proclaimed the rules.

“The Association has provided you with sensors used by knight corps. They will alert you to Aberrant Realm descent locations. Once a team locks onto a newly descended realm, the knight corps responsible for that area will withdraw.”

“This means that from the moment you lock an Aberrant Realm, you bear full responsibility. At that point, you are equivalent to the knight corps guarding the lower district.”

The youths below grew solemn. Most lacked experience handling Aberrant Realms independently. Even during the second stage, they had operated under the supervision of the knight corps.

In both difficulty and danger, the third stage surpassed the previous ones by several levels.

“For the sake of contestant safety, distress signals are permitted. However, activating one will forfeit the points for that realm.”

Some contestants sighed in relief, only for their expressions to tighten once more at the next announcement.

“Additionally, after one team locks an Aberrant Realm, other teams may still enter it. Only the team that destroys the core will receive the points.”

“Damn it!”

One contestant cursed aloud, and unrest rippled through the others.

“Destroying an Aberrant Realm is already difficult. Now we have to deal with other teams too?”

“This is hell difficulty. Fighting monsters while guarding against kill stealing.”

“Why did I have to be born in this year’s competition? Someone stuff me back into my mother’s womb.”

Pei Xi exchanged glances with his teammates. Everyone looked grim, except Zhao Mei, who remained calm, attentively watching the man on the platform. Seeing the gloomy faces below, the man burst into laughter.

“Be ready to fight at any time. Aberrant Realms are fond of descending at night.”

“Honor and the dragon bones will belong to the brave. On behalf of the lower district, the new city lord, Chen Xue, welcomes you.”

✧✧✧✧✧

The ten teams were evenly distributed across the eastern sector of the lower district.

Among the empire’s three major districts, the lower district had the largest population and territory, divided into east, west, north, and south. The eastern sector was the most developed.

This year, its per capita income had reached half that of the middle district, a testament to its prosperity.

“They should have assigned the competition to the western sector,” Lu Qi remarked dryly. “Let those upper district young masters experience the authentic scent of livestock farming.”

Roy smiled meaningfully. “Even the eastern sector will be overwhelming for them. They won’t adapt quickly to this population density.”

“Crowds make things lively. I never felt anything was wrong growing up,” Kyle said, scratching his head.

Seventy percent of the empire’s population lived in the lower district. For those raised there, it felt entirely normal.

“Zhao Mei, do you think it’ll be hard to adjust?” Pei Xi asked.

Everyone turned to the black-haired, green-eyed youth.

“I don’t mind. I like crowded places. Though staying in the lower district long term is new to me.”

He glanced casually at Roy. “What about you? How long did it take you to adjust?”

Roy stiffened and looked away. “What are you talking about? Pei Xi and I grew up here like everyone else.”

“Oh? You just seem very familiar with the upper district.”

Pei Xi coughed lightly. “We all met at Cloud Soarers Academy. Speaking of which, Zhao Mei, you didn’t know, did you? Kyle is the principal’s son.”

The topic shifted clumsily. Ye Zheng followed along and turned to Kyle.

Kyle smiled awkwardly. “My dad’s academy was almost shut down. Luckily, everyone broke through in the competition. Now enrollment is overflowing.”

The group chatted as they walked. Passersby recognized them and offered enthusiastic encouragement. Some even thrust baskets of fruit and flowers into Pei Xi’s arms before running off. Amid the warmth, Ye Zheng quietly observed the streets.

The protest slogans were gone. The angry crowds had vanished. The lower district buzzed with hope centered on the competition and the dragon bones.

They needed only to believe in the Cloud Soarers. As long as the team won, Aberrant Realms would no longer descend upon the lower district.

Ye Zheng looked at the hopeful youths beside her and wondered whether they had ever considered the consequences of failure.

The consequences of carrying expectations too heavy to bear.

✧✧✧✧✧

The organizers arranged accommodations in the lower district. After warm greetings from the staff, the Cloud Soarers retired to their rooms.

The competition would officially begin tomorrow.

Ye Zheng sat on the bed without removing Zhao Mei’s disguise. This was not territory she controlled. She could not afford mistakes.

She opened the manga app.

“Finally, new plot.”

The danger and importance of the third stage were undeniable. The forces entangled within it were vast and complex. Everything felt like a stifling, overcast day, leaving her restless.

Her sole comfort lay in the hidden advantages she possessed. Perhaps future spoilers would offer clues. On the forums, this was called a golden finger.

She scrolled downward, past Sykes announcing the rules, past the cemetery scene with Pei Xi, until unfamiliar panels appeared.

The screen’s glow reflected in her eyes as she read the impending original plot.

In the manga, Pei Xi and the others walked along empty streets when a low black shadow flashed past. Black butterflies poured forth, instantly surrounding the team.

They resisted with their abilities. After several pages, Pei Xi’s expression shifted.

“I know now,” he shouted. “What these black shadows really are.”

Scrolling further revealed nothing but blank space.

Ye Zheng frowned. “That’s it? Why is there so little?”

【Because this already contains enough information. Any more would exceed the limit.】

The system replied calmly.

“You said I can only see plot related to myself, but these few pages of manga seem to have no scenes involving me at all.”

『Look carefully. On the first page, top left corner—when the black butterflies appear, you show a panicked expression.』

『Second page, bottom right corner—you tug at Pei Xi’s sleeve, revealing an expression of admiration.』

『Third page, fourth page… no you. Final page—you look in surprise toward Pei Xi, who has figured out the mystery.』

A faint crack appeared on Ye Zheng’s porcelain-smooth, delicate face. It sounded as though she was no different from a camera recording the competition.