NOVGO.NET Chapter 288 : Chapter 288
Chapter 288
Hearing this, the other Nightmare Beasts fell silent. Though it was the truth, saying it so bluntly made them lose face. They were all intelligent—why did their plans keep failing? The Mermaid Nightmare Beast sighed, not bothering to argue: “You’re right. Let’s keep searching for the humans’ defenses. Breaking their hidden forces will make our plan smoother.”
From their words, Su Bei clearly heard that the Nightmare Beasts had a plan—one that could bypass Sesbia’s defenses, putting the competitors in danger.
But what kind of plan could ignore defenses? Sesbia wasn’t foolish. Hosting a world competition, especially with Nightmare Beasts causing trouble every year, they’d surely be well-prepared.
Patiently waiting, after a period of silence, the Brain Nightmare Beast spoke again: “I checked, no issues. Just kill that Jiram.”
Hearing an unfamiliar name, Su Bei raised an eyebrow. Who was Jiram? It sounded deeply tied to the Nightmare Beasts’ plan. If he could identify this person, he might deduce part of their scheme.
“Something feels off?” Suddenly, from the tent’s corner, a Nightmare Beast made a sound humans could hardly produce. It felt like it came from heaven, briefly disorienting even Su Bei’s high Mental Energy.
He turned sharply and saw, in the corner, a black angel-like Nightmare Beast.
Not the typical human angel with two pairs of wings, but a massive eye surrounded by intersecting rings—an alien angel.
Even the pure white angels described in the Bible were eerie at first glance, let alone this pitch-black one. Seeing it, an unsettling feeling arose, and Su Bei shivered.
Fortunately, he’d shielded himself with Mental Energy, so his gaze went unnoticed. The Angel Nightmare Beast continued in its ethereal voice: “I feel the success rate dropping.”
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t sense the success rate of this plan?” the Mermaid Nightmare Beast asked, confused. Humans weren’t pushovers; knowing about Angel Nightmare Beasts, they’d devised countermeasures.
Whenever major events occurred, the Angel Nightmare Beast was useless. Its best ability was detecting success rates, but when it couldn’t, it was pointless.
Facing the question, the Angel Nightmare Beast replied calmly: “I can’t sense the exact rate, but I can feel its fluctuations. Since just now, it’s been steadily dropping.”
Su Bei’s heart tightened. Others might not know, but he did—the drop was likely due to his eavesdropping.
But he found it odd. Logically, the Nightmare Beasts’ success rate should be zero with the protagonist group here—they could never fully succeed. So how could it drop further? Did success rates have decimals?
“You’re misunderstanding,” Manga Consciousness’ voice suddenly rang, sounding long-absent. Though he often heard manga update notifications, this was different from normal conversation.
“Long time no see,” Su Bei greeted briefly in his mind, then cut to the chase: “What do you mean?”
Manga Consciousness explained: “From the manga’s macro perspective, Jiang Tianming and the others are destined to win. But no character in the manga, except you, can perceive this, so the Angel Nightmare Beast’s success rate ignores that.”
It was complex, but Su Bei got it. It made sense. If the Angel Nightmare Beast calculated Jiang Tianming’s success rate, it’d always be 100%, eventually noticing something off.
Long ago, Manga Consciousness said manga characters couldn’t detect the manga world, and Su Bei couldn’t reveal it, leaving no flaws in the story.
“What’s the success rate it can sense then?” Su Bei asked curiously. Though human interference blocked it, he was intrigued.
No need to hide this—Su Bei knew the outcome was failure, so Manga Consciousness answered: “Initially, it sensed 80%. Now, probably 40%.”
Su Bei was slightly surprised: “My eavesdropping caused that big a change?”
From near success to near failure—he hadn’t realized his impact was so significant.
“Of course. If you reveal this, the organizers will respond,” Manga Consciousness said matter-of-factly. “But the Angel Nightmare Beast doesn’t know that even if you do, the plot will proceed, just with minor detours.”
The author had designed the plot. Even if Su Bei exposed the plan, the author would ensure it unfolded, or the design would be for nothing.
Soon, Su Bei had no mood to ponder further. While chatting with Manga Consciousness, the Nightmare Beasts had pieced together part of the truth behind the success rate drop.
The unexplained death of a Nightmare Beast outside, followed by the Angel Nightmare Beast’s detection, led the Brain Nightmare Beast to a conclusion, stated as a question but with certainty: “Could a human have snuck in?”
“Possible!” The Mermaid Nightmare Beast’s expression turned serious. “That beast’s death was odd. Now it seems like a human’s trick to infiltrate.”
Other Nightmare Beasts agreed, falling silent and scanning the tent with waves of Mental Energy. Unfortunately, Su Bei, with high Mental Energy and concealment skills, went undetected despite their sweeps.
“How’s there nothing?” The Brain Nightmare Beast’s voice finally showed confusion, unable to fathom its reasoning failing.
But it quickly regained confidence: “They must be using a tool to hide. I’m sure this human’s in our base.”
As the smartest, its judgment was trusted. The Screen Nightmare Beast suggested: “Hey, check the odds of finding this person.”
A good idea—it’d confirm the Brain Nightmare Beast’s theory and decide if they should keep searching.
But the Angel Nightmare Beast shook its body: “No, the priority is locking down the space to prevent their escape.”
The little information they’d revealed, especially about Jiram, could let humans devise countermeasures. Letting a human who knew their plot escape wasn’t good.
Though Sesbia’s government and competitors likely expected trouble, suspecting and confirming their gathering here were different. They didn’t want to expose the Nightmare Beast world’s current state.
“Right, I’ll lock this area,” the Mermaid Nightmare Beast stood with a swish, stepped out, then returned. “Maybe you should check first? What if no human’s here or they’ve left?”
It made sense. The Angel Nightmare Beast’s massive eye closed, emitting black light.
Soon, it reopened, giving the answer: “50% chance they’re still here. They can’t leave immediately. Lock the space!”
Hearing this, Su Bei finally smiled. He’d waited to ensure they believed he was still here, preventing them from altering plans and making his risky trip pointless.
Since they’d concluded, he didn’t need to stay. The Nightmare Realm Gate had a long cooldown, but he had other ways back.
Su Bei pulled out a teleportation item from Lei Ze’en, perfect for returning to school from the Nightmare Beast world.
Tearing the paper, Su Bei felt a pull, and moments later, he appeared on Endless Ability Academy’s playground.
It was summer break, so the playground was empty, sparing him explanations for his sudden appearance. This was expected—he wouldn’t have used this method otherwise.
But Su Bei, focused on not being seen, forgot that using Lei Ze’en’s item would alert the teachers.
Before reaching the school gate, his phone pinged. It was Lei Ze’en: “Aren’t you at the world competition? Why’re you back? Stay put, I’m coming!”
He’d forgotten this. Su Bei’s lips twitched, and he headed to the classroom, which was unlocked. He sent Lei Ze’en his location and waited.
Soon, Lei Ze’en entered, followed by Meng Huai.
Seeing Su Bei sitting obediently, they sighed in relief, then approached with complex expressions.
Lei Ze’en sat beside him, while Meng Huai turned a chair to face him, asking leisurely: “So, why’re you back?”
He couldn’t tell the truth—revealing the Nightmare Beasts’ plan before the event started was impossible. The author would ensure it unfolded, and if he spoke, all three might face danger to keep the plan secret.
Su Bei wasn’t overly worried for the teachers’ safety but disliked pointless sacrifices. Speaking would change nothing, risk his involvement, and possibly knock him out of the plot—not worth it.
He’d prepared an excuse while waiting: “I left something at school. Since I don’t need to compete these days, I came to get it.”
“What?” Meng Huai didn’t buy it.
Su Bei didn’t expect blind belief. He took a book from his Storage Ring: “Here, my usual study notes. You’ve seen it?”
It was Destiny’s notebook, disguised by Manga Consciousness as a math workbook, flawless to manga world residents.
Meng Huai and Lei Ze’en had seen him read it during breaks. Meng Huai once asked about it, learning Su Bei planned to attend a regular school after graduating, so the book left an impression.
“Had to get it now? My item’s not super valuable, but it’s a decent life-saver. You used it for this?” Lei Ze’en asked skeptically.
Not arrogance—as a renowned array master, his teleportation arrays were highly sought. Used timely, they could escape any danger. Su Bei wasn’t clueless, and with no matches, he could’ve flown back. Why use the item?
And study now? The competition lasted two weeks—couldn’t he study later?
“There’s an early school exam I want to try,” Su Bei said, showing a pre-searched webpage with a school’s admission info, offering entry via a summer exam.
“You…” Lei Ze’en trailed off. He knew Su Bei planned to attend a regular school for a normal degree after getting his Ability license, but preparing this early was surprising.
Such a lack of attachment to the Ability world, planning so far ahead. But they didn’t think Su Bei would truly leave the Ability world post-graduation—that’d be a waste.
While they spoke, Meng Huai checked the classroom’s surveillance, confirming Su Bei took the notebook from his desk, stored it, and waited.
They exchanged glances, puzzled. Was Su Bei’s return really fine?
“I’ll call Teacher Li,” Meng Huai said, dialing to confirm Su Bei didn’t need to compete.
Su Bei hadn’t lied. Meng Huai hung up: “Teacher Li said you’re touring?”
“Touring back home isn’t touring?” Su Bei shrugged, confident.
Finding no flaws, Meng Huai gave up: “Since you’ve got the book, get back. Don’t let me see you in the country before the competition ends.”
He stood: “Come on, we’ll take you to the airport.”
Back in Sesbia past 9 p.m., Su Bei’s phone, off during the flight, lit up with messages from Jiang Tianming and others.
[StreetlampPlan: Su Bei, you went touring???]
[MingbaiNotMingbai: Your freedom is astonishing.]
[DeathComes: Where’d you tour?]
[FlamingWutong: Is this why you didn’t want to compete? Epic!]
[Si: ?]
Su Bei replied uniformly, saying he was back, then checked the competition’s website for Jiram’s info.
As a key organizer, Jiram’s profile popped up. A master of Illusion, his Ability, [True Illusion], was similar to Li Shu’s.
Given this, the competition’s second phase likely involved Illusions, possibly battles in an Illusion like their first-semester final.
What did the Nightmare Beasts want with Jiram? Killing an Illusion Ability User would only make the Illusion vanish, not harm competitors. So, their goal wasn’t death but control.
Control Jiram to create danger in the Illusion? It was Su Bei’s best guess. If so, he wasn’t worried. High Mental Energy countered Illusion Abilities. Even if Jiram had high Mental Energy, Su Bei’s preparation made fooling him hard.
He didn’t know where they’d create danger. Too bad they reacted fast, locking the space, or he could’ve gathered more intel.
For unknown dangers, he preferred ones targeting individuals, not widespread ones affecting others. Self-preservation was his priority.
Since the Nightmare Beasts’ trouble was in the second phase, Mu Yunfan and others would likely face issues by the day after tomorrow, allowing the protagonist group to compete.
Poor them—supporting protagonists meant attracting trouble.
Knowing Su Bei was back, Jiang Tianming and others gathered in his and Si Zhaohua’s room.
“So what’d you do all day?” Qi Huang asked, puzzled. “If touring, why not wait till individual battles end? You’ve got a whole day—why return today?”
Su Bei was helpless. He’d planned to stay in the Nightmare Beast world two days, leaving when trouble brewed.
Who knew an eerie Angel Nightmare Beast could check success rates, detect his intrusion, and start searching?
“I went back to school for something,” Su Bei repeated his excuse, earning complex looks.
Wu Mingbai’s lips twitched: “You’re in a rush.”
“Feels like rushing to be a 996 corporate slave,” Lan Subing said sincerely. “Consider my family’s company after graduation?”
Even without his Ability, Su Bei’s grades were top-notch. Continuing, joining her company wouldn’t be hard. She was recruiting early.
Su Bei shook his head: “No plans for corporate life.”
Lan Subing looked disappointed, but no one sympathized. Even Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai, closest to her, avoided eye contact, wary of her capitalist side, fearing a 996 trap.
“Which school’s the exam for?” Si Zhaohua asked curiously from the bed. “I’m also planning to attend a regular school after graduating. If it’s good, maybe we’ll be classmates again.”
The Si Family didn’t mandate regular schooling but didn’t oppose it. Their business spanned widely, requiring normal-world interactions. As heir, Si Zhaohua would benefit from it.
“Us too,” Jiang Tianming said for the trio. “Ability world resources are enough to live on, but I need to go to college. No degree, no peace.”
As former normals, their college obsession outstripped Ability natives.
Qi Huang, born in the Ability world, had little interest but, seeing her friends’ plans, considered: “Might as well. Wherever I go, I’ll be the best!”
Facing their curious gazes, Su Bei said helplessly: “The school’s not great—just a backup. I haven’t decided on a high school, but as long as the faculty’s decent, getting into a good college won’t be hard.”
He didn’t want to mislead anyone. The school was a made-up excuse—he knew nothing about it and couldn’t recommend it.
Si Zhaohua didn’t think he was lying to avoid the same school, nodding: “Let us know when you pick one.”