NOVGO.NET Chapter 294 : Chapter 294
Chapter 294
After both teams left, Su Bei didn’t go against their expectations and leisurely headed toward the roller coaster. Not having to queue at a theme park was truly refreshing. Passing through winding corridors and stairs, he unexpectedly spotted a clown.
Stunned for a second, he suddenly realized. No wonder he hadn’t seen the clowns Jiram mentioned—they were inside the attractions!
Su Bei chuckled softly. He’d stumbled upon this by chance. Those focused on the competition would likely struggle to find clowns, as he doubted they’d wander into rides for fun.
He sent a message via the point watch’s team chat about clowns being in attractions, then approached the clown. From a distance, the clown exuded a cheerful vibe, but up close, it grew increasingly eerie.
White painted face, bright red sausage lips, odd star-shaped eyes… no wonder clowns were horror movie staples.
Activating his Ability, Su Bei checked the clown’s head—a Destiny Compass! Good news. Before entering the Illusion, he’d worried that Illusion beasts and attackable creatures might lack Destiny Compasses, forcing him to rely solely on Gear attacks.
But it made sense. Even in games, player-controlled characters had Destiny Compasses, so Illusion creatures should too.
However, this meant he couldn’t distinguish Jiram’s Illusion-created beasts from real Nightmare Beasts. He could kill every beast he saw, ensuring safety regardless of their nature.
But accurately identifying real Nightmare Beasts would help him deduce their plan. He knew they had schemes inside and outside the competition but not their specifics.
“Dear little friend, Mr. Clown is at your service!” Before the pondering Su Bei could speak, the clown greeted him in a slightly comical, grandiose male voice, brimming with enthusiasm.
Su Bei blinked, skipping questions about ride functionality and asking seriously: “If I take a task here, can my teammates do it?”
“Of course! Since you’re the first to talk to me, I’ll share a little tidbit,” the clown said cheerfully. “Points from tasks won’t decrease for any reason.”
Su Bei’s brow twitched. Points could decrease via voluntary transfer or halving upon death. Task points being immune meant they couldn’t be transferred and wouldn’t drop on death. Compared to beast or competitor eliminations, task points were superior. Were tasks limited, and could points be transferred? If both were true, a bloodbath loomed.
With that in mind, he said without hesitation: “I want a task.”
“Ambitious little friend, show me your watch,” the clown said, grinning widely, grabbing Su Bei’s wrist and tapping it on a nearby machine.
A “beep” sounded, and a task appeared on his watch:
“Task: Ride the roller coaster once and eliminate one Nightmare Beast during the ride. (0/3)
Reward: 10 points, 1 chance to display the first-place position.”
Ten points wasn’t much but couldn’t be taken. Normally, a High-Level Nightmare Beast kill also gave 10 points, making this decent.
Plus, the late-game tracking item was quite valuable.
“What’s the number after the task?” Su Bei asked, referring to “(0/3).”
The clown dutifully answered: “You have three chances to complete the task. If you ride three times without success, the task fails, and your team can’t take it again.”
So it wasn’t repeatable. Su Bei nodded thoughtfully, asking: “Can I take it again if I complete it? How many teams can do this task?”
For competition-related questions, the clown answered honestly: “Your team can’t retake it after completion. Each task is limited to ten teams.”
Then it was a race. Whoever learned clowns were in attractions first could seize the advantage, earning more fixed points. Su Bei was the luckiest.
He smiled: “I’m starting the task.”
The clown led him to the roller coaster, secured his safety belt, and started the ride.
This showed the benefit of fearlessness. Unafraid of heights, ghosts, or bugs, Su Bei calmly scanned for beasts even on a speeding roller coaster.
Due to the ride’s height, eliminating a beast mid-ride required ranged Abilities unless targeting track-bound beasts.
But after one ride, Su Bei saw no beasts. He spotted some on the ground from above, but they were too far for precise Gear attacks.
Was this task only for ranged Ability Users? Possible—a team of five could include one. Organizers didn’t mandate the task-taker complete it.
Still, Su Bei wanted to try again. If needed, he’d call the others for the third try—four on the ride, someone would succeed.
Before retrying, he considered where beasts might hide.
They weren’t visible, so they were either Mid- or High-Level with hiding Abilities or tucked in obscure corners.
From boarding to soaring and descending, the ride stayed on the track. He’d spread his Mental Energy during the ride, covering the track, and saw no beasts or Destiny Compasses.
The beast must be in an unexpected spot, invisible to the naked eye, hiding its Compass.
Where on the ride could that be?
Two possibilities flashed: inside the track’s hollow pipes or within the roller coaster itself.
If the first, he was out of luck. He couldn’t cut steel tracks, and even if he could, doing so mid-ride was suicidal.
If the second—Su Bei boarded again, not letting the clown start immediately. He inspected the car.
Soon, he found what he sought, satisfaction in his eyes: “Start it.”
As the ride began, Su Bei, in the front, opened a drawer under the steering wheel. A Mid-Level bird Nightmare Beast leapt out, attacking.
In mid-air, such beasts had an edge, especially on a roller coaster, rattling most Ability Users. But Su Bei was unfazed, firing a “Destiny Gear,” killing it instantly.
Checking his watch, the task auto-completed. Ten points credited, shown both on the main screen and in parentheses, distinguishing fixed points.
The “first-place position display” became a button on the watch, ready to use.
Task done, he relaxed, enjoying the ride. Though not afraid of heights, the adrenaline rush was thrilling.
Safe thrills were the best.
Off the ride, he sent all info to the team chat. Jiang Tianming’s group, knowing he’d completed it, waited for his update.
The chat exploded:
[Lan Subing: So our priority is clown tasks?]
[Si Zhaohua: With limited tasks, the sooner, the better. Later, big academies might guard task spots.]
[Jiang Tianming: And charge “entry fees.”]
[Wu Mingbai: After they complete tasks, eliminate them.]
[Si Zhaohua replying to Wu Mingbai: If they do that, “fees” will be steep to squeeze opponents.]
[Lan Subing replying to Si Zhaohua: Definitely. All points are equal, but fixed points don’t drop, so guarded tasks will cost way more than ten regular points.]
[Su Bei: You three are together—why not talk in person?]
[Su Bei: Planning for other academies? Wait till they check your chat logs.]
[Si Zhaohua: …]
[Lan Subing: …]
[Wu Mingbai: …]
[Jiang Tianming: …]
[Jiang Tianming: Forgot. Any way to clear logs?]
[Su Bei: …Top right.]
After the ride, Su Bei didn’t continue. The park was vast—lingering on one ride was wasteful.
But exiting, he was blocked by a team. Their leader smirked: “Saw you riding alone from afar. Spill—what task did you take?”
“Ever consider I just wanted to play?” Su Bei said, eyeing their unfamiliar badge, exasperated.
Though their second- and third-years were out, and only first-years competed, as Endless Ability Academy students, they were still a cut above. Being threatened by an obscure academy was absurd.
Fifty-plus academies were in the second round. Before it started, Teacher Li introduced many, showing badges of forty to avoid clashing with strong ones early.
She highlighted thirty academies. In such a broad sweep, unmentioned ones were the weakest of the weak.
This team’s badge was unfamiliar.
Though planning to play weak early, that didn’t mean groveling to everyone. Acting meek against tigers was fine, but against mice?
The team didn’t sense Su Bei’s killing intent, still acting arrogant: “Who’d believe that? You’re playing us for fools! Your main team’s done—quit already. You can’t win, and great Endless doesn’t need this victory, right?”
His last line dripped with sarcasm, barely hiding jealousy. Su Bei understood—he was targeting him out of envy for Endless’ strength.
But knowing Endless’ power, why think their first-year alternates were weak?
“Boss, stop talking. Who knows when his teammates show? Eliminate him,” a teammate urged, fearing more people meant losing to first-years, a disgrace.
The captain agreed, nodding: “Fine, let me—”
Before he finished, a Gear shot from Su Bei’s hand, slicing his neck.
Blood gushed. The captain, pale, clutched his neck, panicking: “Quick! Heal!”
Teams had healers. A chubby boy conjured a herb, rubbing its juice on the captain’s neck, stopping the bleeding.
Only then did they look at Su Bei, who seemed unbothered, as if he’d done nothing extreme: “I don’t mind elimination, but by you? Too embarrassing.”
He’d used a “Destiny Gear,” expecting a defense, but overestimated—a waste of a skill.
He didn’t kill to avoid desperate retaliation. Though he could take all five, it’d be too flashy. Beating one was fine.
“You!” The captain, one hand on his neck, glared in shock and anger.
Su Bei grew impatient: “Keep going?”
No way. Su Bei was done, but they wanted to play. Their academy was weak, barely in the top 50%. Not aiming for top ten, at least top thirty. Early losses meant quitting.
They thought Su Bei, a lone first-year, was easy pickings, planning to use Endless’ name for clout.
One flat attack shut them up. Whether Su Bei was strong, he could handle them easily.
A pointless provocation risking quick elimination would get them chewed out by their teacher.
With no intent to talk, they turned to leave, crestfallen. A familiar voice rang: “Did I say you could go?”
Su Bei recognized it, raising an eyebrow. Turning, he saw the familiar black-and-white cat-like figure: “Elvis?”
Elvis’ dual-colored eyes glanced at him, then at the others: “Bullying the weak? Now you’re the weak ones.”
His team swarmed, swiftly knocking them down, a Wood Element user binding them with vines.
“Weakling” Su Bei found it amusing, asking: “What’re you doing here?”
“Why can’t I be?” Elvis huffed, meaningfully: “You’re quite patient.”
He knew Su Bei’s strength. This team, despite reaching the second round, was weak—beaten fast. Su Bei could take all five easily.
Su Bei casually fired five Gears, each slicing a neck: “Less patient now?”
But his brow furrowed suddenly.
Noticing, Elvis asked: “Found something?”
Su Bei thought, not answering: “I’m off to play. Let them go—no need for early eliminations, especially such weak ones.”
He wasn’t being merciful but sensed something big. Though unconfirmed, he had to stop Elvis.
His persuasion, echoing the buzz-cut captain’s earlier logic, worked on Alpha’s team. Their captain looked at Elvis: “Let’s go find clowns.”
Elvis didn’t answer, staring at Su Bei. He was sure Su Bei found something but knew he wouldn’t get answers: “Tell me what you found, and we’ll let you go.”
Though friends off-field, in the match, he had to prioritize his team.
Su Bei, unfazed by threats, shrugged: “If you’re not afraid of losses, don’t let me go.”
Barefoot against shod, his persona didn’t mind elimination. He could act tough. Those who knew his strength understood he’d take others down. Those who didn’t—Destiny was easy to show off.
The threat worked. The captain coughed, signaling Elvis not to provoke Su Bei. She didn’t know his strength but knew Elvis’ respect meant he was formidable.
Hearing the cough, Elvis looked away, ignoring Su Bei: “Let’s go.”
After they left, Su Bei’s face darkened. He found a quiet corner, cleared the beasts, and summoned a Gear, slicing his arm.
Pain hit, blood seeping from the wound.
Frowning harder, the injury felt too real, making him doubt—this wasn’t an Illusion.
The overly real sensation from cutting his skin earlier sparked suspicion.
As mentioned, his high Mental Energy countered Illusion Abilities. Li Shu’s Illusions barely fooled him, and even Jiram’s mastery made him feel immersed. But knowing it was an Illusion, with high Mental Energy, he could pierce the veil slightly.
Yet, focusing all his Mental Energy on his arm, he saw no falsity in the wound.
Before entering, the host said everything was a mental Illusion—their bodies stayed put, unharmed.
So why was this wound, undetectable as fake, so real?
Was Jiram’s Illusion beyond normal, or was the Illusion flawed?
If the latter… Su Bei shivered. Their task was to eliminate all opponents. If their real bodies were here, eliminating meant killing.
He recalled the Gourd Nightmare Beast’s words: to avoid harm, win the match.
It fit his guess—losers died, only winners survived. But winners weren’t unscathed—killing so many Ability Users would leave psychological scars or drown them in blame from victims’ loved ones.
What a vicious plan!