Chapter 82 - Final Preparations Part 4
The dim light of the chamber cast long shadows across the stone walls, creating an oppressive, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Adam sat cross-legged on the floor, his breathing still labored. Beside him, Shu looked equally worn, his face pale and drawn. The faint glow of the two ‘Jade Sage Pills’ in their hands reflected the strain etched into their features. The second disciple Xian’s expression remained calm but focused as she knelt in front of them, her voice steady and firm.
“These will stabilize your internal energy and speed up your recovery.”
She said, holding her hands out to them.
“Take them and rest.”
Adam hesitated for a moment, eyeing the pill. Its surface shimmered faintly, as though it held a world of energy within. With a glance at Shu, who nodded silently, Adam pressed the pill to his lips and swallowed. A cooling sensation spread through his throat, followed by an almost immediate warmth that began to ease the ache in his chest. Shu followed suit, his expression resigned but hopeful.
As the pills began to take effect, both men relaxed slightly, their once-ragged breathing now slow and steady. The room remained quiet, save for the faint hum of energy emanating from the pills working their magic. Adam winced as he adjusted his position, the lingering pain in his ribs a reminder of the brutal fight they had just endured. Yet, even as his body began to heal, his mind remained heavy with the memories of the dungeon.
Near them, Li and Drake watched in silence, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity, or at least that was the case for the blond. Finally, Li broke the silence, leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees.
“What happened down there?”
His tone was calm but edged with urgency.
“You two look like you were thrown to the wolves.”
Adam coughed a little, though there was no humor in it.
“Wolves would’ve been easier.”
Drake tilted his head, his brows furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Adam exchanged a glance with Shu, as if silently debating where to begin.
“It was an enormous mythical tiger, the one they had chained. Somehow, it broke free.”
Adam finally said, his voice low. Drake’s confusion deepened.
“How does a creature just ‘break free’?”
Nikolai, who had been quietly observing from the corner of the room, stepped forward, his arms crossed.
“Even I heard those chains across the dungeon passages, they just fell, right?”
Adam nodded, while Li leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful.
“So how the hell did you stop it?”
Adam exhaled deeply, his hand brushing absently against the gauntlet strapped to his arm.
“We didn’t stop it—not completely. We fought it, throwing everything we had. And even then, it wasn’t enough.”
Nikolai nodded grimly.
“We… Oh, okay, THEY, were barely holding on. And then Adam…”
He hesitated, his gaze flickering toward his companion.
“I created a skill, something I’d never done before. I didn’t have a choice.”
Adam said, his voice quieter now. Li’s eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued.
“What kind of skill?”
Adam took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking.
“It was called [Soulcrusher Virus]. It directly attacks the target’s internal energy, memory, and soul.”
Drake frowned, notoriously impressed.
“You came up with that on the spot?”
Adam nodded, but his expression was far from triumphant. His gaze shifted to Abbess, who stood silently nearby, her face unreadable. He felt a pang of unease as he remembered the functionality of his skill—how it mirrored the technique that had once altered her memories. For a moment, he expected her to speak, to reprimand him, or at least react. But the woman remained still, her only movement a slight shift closer to Adam, as if silently reassuring him of her presence.
“And Emir?”
Li asked, gesturing toward the boy, who sat quietly in the corner, cradling the glowing cube that pulsed faintly in his hands. Adam’s expression softened slightly.
“He managed to absorb the tiger’s energy into the cube. Without him, we wouldn’t be here. It seems he even managed to destroy the beast's most powerful skill.”
The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of Adam’s words settled over them. Then Drake, his arms crossed and his expression pensive, spoke up.
“The way you’re describing this… it sounds a lot like what happened to us in the Shaolin temple. You know, the way we were ‘mysteriously’ freed.”
He said slowly. Li raised an eyebrow, but Drake shrugged, offering a nervous smile.
“I’m just saying, it feels deliberate. Almost like someone wanted that tiger to break free.”
Adam’s jaw tightened as he turned to Shu, his voice sharp.
“If that’s true… this was part of Park Zhen plan, right?”
Shu blinked, startled by the question.
“I don’t know, my orders were just to escort you to the dungeon.”
He said, his voice defensive. However, Xian, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward.
“But I knew.”
She said, her tone calm but firm.
“This was intentional. That’s why our master told me to send Nikolai after you.”
Shu groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Of course he did…”
He muttered under his breath. Adam’s eyes narrowed.
“Does he do this kind of thing often?”
Shu let out a bitter laugh, his frustration spilling over. He gestured vaguely as he spoke, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
“You have no idea… Throwing disciples into impossible situations is basically his trademark. One time, he threw Luo off from the top of Mount Hua and told him the fall would give him five minutes to figure out how to survive the impact. Another time, he locked Xian in a temple full of deadly traps and blocked the only exit. And then there was the time he took me into a rebel stronghold, disabled my Ki with a meridian block technique, told me that I could do it, and shouted that there were intruders before vanishing.”
Adam and Li exchanged horrified glances, their expressions a mixture of shock and pity. Xian and Luo’s faces turned visibly pale as the memories of their training resurfaced, their eyes clouded with the weight of past trauma.
Drake, however, had a strange glint in his eyes, one that seemed to defy the tension in the room. His lips curved into a faint smile, the kind that made it hard to tell whether he was serious or teasing. He leaned forward slightly, his arms resting on his knees, as if he were savoring the words he was about to speak.
“That… sounds exhilarating.”
He said, his tone unnervingly calm. The room fell silent, the weight of his statement hanging in the air like a challenge no one had expected. Every head turned to look at him, their expressions unified in disbelief, though each carried its own nuance. Adam’s brows knit together in a mixture of shock and mild concern, as though he were reevaluating everything he thought he knew about his friend. Li’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out, his sharp wit temporarily silenced by the absurdity of what he’d just heard. Shu let out an audible groan, dragging a hand down his face as if physically trying to wipe away the moment.
Even Xian, who rarely let emotions slip through her disciplined demeanor, raised an eyebrow, her lips pressing into a tight line.
“You can’t be serious.”
She finally said, her voice tinged with incredulity. Drake shrugged, his faint smile widening into something more confident.
“Why not? It’s the kind of thing that pushes you beyond your limits, right? Forces you to grow?”
His eyes gleamed with a strange excitement, the kind that spoke of someone who had faced chaos and found a way to thrive within it.
“Sure, it seems dangerous. Maybe even insane. But isn’t that where you find out who you really are?”
Shu groaned again, louder this time, and threw his hands up in exasperation.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s exactly the kind of logic our master wants you to buy into! Next thing you know, he’ll have you climbing a death mark mountain with no provisions because ‘adversity builds strength’... We respect him more than anyone in the world, but he doesn't know how to go easy on a disciple.”
Drake leaned back, his smile softening but not disappearing.
“Maybe… But if it works…”
Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to process the unexpected twist in the conversation.
The hours passed, and the group practiced a little more, this time mercifully free from life-threatening dangers. Their movements were steadier, their techniques more refined, as they worked to shake off the tension of their earlier ordeal. The exhaustion they felt was tempered by a shared determination, a quiet acknowledgment of the progress they had made.
Eventually, the session came to an end, and they returned to the resting room, where the atmosphere settled into a rare moment of calm. The quiet was broken abruptly by a powerful flash of light, accompanied by a deafening explosion that reverberated through the walls. Startled, Adam spun around, his instincts primed for danger. His breath caught in his throat as the space before them warped, the sudden brightness momentarily blinding him.
In the blink of an eye, the missing group of Kazue, Gregor, Katya, Sebastian, Chloe, and Park Zhen, materialized
At the first sight of the Don, Adam’s first instinct was to let loose the torrent of frustration and anger he had been holding back. His fists clenched as he stepped forward, ready to demand answers from Park Zhen. But before he could utter a word, his gaze shifted to the rest of the group, and his words faltered.
Kazue stood with an almost ridiculous grin stretched across her face, her expression one of unbridled joy. Her entire body was coated in dried mud and dirt, giving her the appearance of a mischievous child who had spent hours playing in the muck without a care in the world. Next to her, Gregor and Katya were equally filthy, their exhaustion so palpable that they had collapsed onto the floor, panting as though every ounce of energy had been drained from their bodies.
Sebastian stood nearby, notably clean despite the bandages wrapped around his hands. His posture was steady, his expression calm, as if the chaos of the day had barely fazed him. Chloe knelt beside him, carefully adjusting one of his hand bandages, her pristine clothing and methodical movements a stark contrast to the disheveled state of the others.
Even Park Zhen wasn’t immune to the dirt. His usually impeccable appearance was marred by streaks of earth and dust clinging to his clothes. His face, devoid of its customary smirk, bore a cold, unreadable expression that radiated displeasure.
Kazue broke the silence with a triumphant shout, raising her arms in exaggerated excitement.
“That was the most fun I’ve had in ages! I didn’t know fieldwork could be so rewarding!”
She exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. Her declaration hung in the air, met with nothing but groans from her exhausted companions. Gregor muttered something unintelligible, his head leaning back against the wall as he tried to catch his breath. Katya shot Kazue a tired glare but lacked the energy to say anything.
Adam, Li, Drake, and Emir exchanged baffled glances, their confusion growing by the second. It was Drake who finally broke the silence, his voice curious yet cautious.
“What happened? Why are you all like this?”
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Kazue turned to face him, her smile somehow growing even wider.
“We finished the preparations for the plan of action! There are still a few details to iron out, but the hardest part is done, and everything’s set up perfectly.”
She announced proudly and then paused for dramatic effect, her hands on her hips as she looked back at the others.
“Right, team?”
The only response she received was another round of groans. Park Zhen finally stepped forward, his voice sharp and authoritative.
“Get ready, once I’ve cleaned up, I’ll brief you on the final part of the plan. We’ll refine the details, and that’s what you’ll be reviewing on your last day here.”
He commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Adam’s frustration boiled over, and he raised his voice, his words sharp and biting.
“Wait! You can’t just—”
But Park Zhen didn’t stop. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved another one of the teleportation spheres. With a quick press, the device activated, engulfing him in a blinding flash of light. When the brightness faded, he was gone, leaving the rest of them standing in stunned silence.
For a moment, no one spoke. The room felt heavy, the combined weight of exhaustion, frustration, and unanswered questions settling over them like a thick fog. Adam’s fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to rein in his temper.
The boy let out a long, weary sigh, knowing there would be another moment to confront Park Zhen, but now wasn’t the time. The important thing was to catch up with the others and exchange ideas before the plan was finalized. He turned to walk toward the rest of the group, but as he did, he suddenly felt a light tap on his forehead.
Before he could react, Kazue’s finger had touched him, and Adam froze, his eyes widening in confusion. He hadn’t even noticed her move that close to him.
"What are you doing?"
Adam asked, slightly irritated but mostly confused. Kazue’s smile was mischievous, almost as if she were enjoying some private joke.
"I just wanted to see how compatible we are."
She said, her voice light with amusement.
"Eh?"
Adam’s voice was flat, his confusion mounting. But before he could ask more questions, something odd happened. A system window appeared in the air between them, glowing faintly as it displayed a message that made Adam even more confused.
[Skill [Synchrony] is analyzing the compatibility between user 'Kazue Rima' and user 'Adam Scholar'] [Analyzing...] [Compatibility: 93%]
Adam blinked, trying to process what was happening.
"What is this?"
He muttered to himself, eyes still locked on the screen. He turned his gaze back to Kazue, who was looking at the results with wide eyes.
"Whoa, 93%! That's pretty high, huh?"
Kazue said, clearly impressed by the number. Before Adam could respond, a loud, exasperated voice broke the moment.
“WHAT?!”
Katya’s shout echoed through the room, despite her exhausted state. She had been slumped against the wall, trying to catch her breath, but now she was on her feet, her hands raised in mock horror.
“You mean to tell me, this—this person—has that kind of compatibility with you?! And I—!”
Katya’s frustration was palpable, her face flushed, but her body was so drained that, before she could finish her protest, she suddenly collapsed onto the ground with a deep, exhausted groan. She lay there, panting and gasping for air as if the weight of her emotions had simply overwhelmed her.
Adam could only watch as Katya struggled to regain her breath, her protests cut short by her physical exhaustion. He looked down at Kazue, still a bit lost.
"So, what does this mean? What is this skill of yours?"
Kazue shrugged, her eyes bright with curiosity and a hint of uncertainty.
"To be honest, I don’t really know, this skill formed when I made the blood pact with Katya. We were working on the plan earlier, and I got this system notification saying my affinity values with the team had changed. So after a bit of testing I figured I could use it to check how compatible I am with everyone else. I’ve done it with all the team members, and the results were... well, interesting."
She said, her tone lowering slightly before pausing for a bit and reading off the results out loud, as if recalling the numbers from memory.
"Gregor—11%, Sebastian—23%, Chloe—40%, Falk—1%, Park Zhen—1%, and Katya—68%... Katya also got the same skill, but she refuse to use it…"
She said, each name rolling off her tongue with a faint sense of amusement. Katya, still lying on the ground, shot her friend a half-hearted glare.
"I told you, I only care about our affinity, Kazue."
She muttered, her voice hoarse from the effort of speaking while gasping for air. Kazue chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Well... you can see how that turned out, she can be a little possessive friend, don’t you think? I know she don’t really mean it."
She said, trying to brush off the awkwardness. Adam’s mind raced as he processed the results. He had used his ‘Cursed Eyes’ to check the skill the day before, and it hadn’t changed since the first time he saw it. It still indicated that the skill created a stat called "Affinity", which fluctuated based on various factors. However, this was all very subjective. The numbers didn’t seem to make much sense to him—particularly the high compatibility between Kazue and himself. He couldn't fathom why two such different people would have such a high number.
Kazue didn’t stop there, though. She repeated the process with the others who had been missing, getting their compatibility readings. Li was 21%, Nikolai 11%, and Emir 2%. Even with Park Zhen’s disciples and the others, Kazue was curious to see how the Skill would react. To her surprise, the results were high for some of them:
"Shu Rong—45%, Xian Yuelin—40%, Luo Zhenhai—9%, Shen Jianfeng—1%, Abbess Xinhui—1%."
Kazue read aloud, raising an eyebrow.
"It’s strange, right? These are people I’ve barely spoken to. It’s not like it’s based on how well I know them."
Adam frowned, rubbing his temples as he tried to make sense of it.
"It doesn’t seem like it follows any kind of logical pattern. I wonder what’s it really based on?"
Kazue could only shrug again.
"I wish I knew. All I can say is it’s been kind of fun to mess with. I did it with everyone so far. The numbers are just curious, I guess."
But the most shocking moment came when Kazue turned to Drake. She raised an eyebrow at him, a hint of mischief in her smile.
"Well, might as well check this with you, too."
She said, her voice almost playful. Drake raised his hands, a little hesitant.
"Sure, let’s see what this thing does."
Kazue touched his forehead lightly, and the familiar system window popped up once again, only this time, the result was completely unexpected.
[Skill [Synchrony] is analyzing the compatibility between user 'Kazue Rima' and user 'Drake Shaw'] [Analyzing...] [Compatibility: 99%] [Just a little push to be the perfect match!]
Everyone froze. The air in the room seemed to grow still, the shock of the result reverberating through the group. Adam’s eyes widened, and for a moment, no one spoke. Both Kazue and Drake stared at each other, completely bewildered by the sudden revelation. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and neither of them could fully process what had just happened. The girl's face flushed with a light blush, though it wasn’t entirely from the system's compatibility analysis. It was more from the final phrase the system had included—something that sounded oddly like it was trying to pair them up, which felt absurd. Was the system... trying to suggest they be a couple? She quickly shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. That was impossible, right?
Drake, on the other hand, seemed more confused than embarrassed. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation. His mind was still processing the 99% compatibility rating, and just when he thought he might be able to come to terms with it, another system window appeared beside him. It wasn’t from the same skill, though—this one was connected to his title, with a barrage of messages from his viewers in another world.
⌠Otherworldly Fanbase: Some of your fans are fawning over your “dense” personality! You have been tipped 400 points.⌡ ⌠Otherworldly Fanbase: One of your new fans almost fainted with a gasp! You have been tipped “Merit - Rank: D”.⌡ ⌠Fanbase Count: [4 members] *+1 new member*⌡
“Dense?...”
Asked Drake without understanding anything, but glad that it seemed to have a positive effect on his fanbase. Kazue on other hand, feeling a little flustered by the whole exchange, began to fan herself with her hands, clearly trying to calm her rising temperature. She could feel her heart pounding, though she wasn’t entirely sure if it was from embarrassment or just the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Katya, who had been silently enduring all of this, finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She let out another loud, frustrated scream.
"I can’t stand this anymore!"
She shouted, her voice full of indignation. With an exaggerated motion, she attempted to push herself off the ground, clearly intending to stand up. However, her legs immediately gave out under her, and she collapsed back to the floor with a thud. In her fall, she raised one arm weakly, as if protesting from the ground.
Kazue couldn’t help but giggle a little at Katya’s antics, though she quickly stifled it. She knew that Katya was probably more upset than she let on, but the way she’d tried to get up only to fall back down was almost too much to ignore. Kazue glanced at Adam, who was still trying to understand the situation, but he was mostly silent for the moment.
The boy, for his part, watched the scene with a mixture of confusion and slight concern. He could see that something about this [Synchrony] skill was causing more confusion than expected. But at the moment, it wasn’t the right time to dig deeper into the skill or its results. There were more important things at hand.
Clearing his throat, Adam spoke up.
"Alright, enough with the compatibility test for now."
He said, his voice firm but calm. He needed to take control of the situation before things spiraled any further.
"We can go over all this later, but right now, what’s important is to share the information we’ve gathered and discuss the next steps in the plan."
His words seemed to snap everyone back to reality, and for a brief moment, the tension in the room eased. Kazue, still a little flushed, nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I suppose we should focus on that."
She said, trying to shake off her earlier embarrassment. Drake, still not entirely sure what had just happened but grateful for the shift in focus, nodded as well.
"Right, the plan."
He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Kazue again, still trying to make sense of everything. Katya, now lying flat on her back on the floor, sighed dramatically.
"Fine, fine… But I’m not letting this go, Kazue. Not until I get some answers."
She muttered weakly, though it was clear she was still upset. Kazue rolled her eyes but smiled at Katya’s stubbornness.
"Sure, we’ll talk later. Let’s just get this over with first."
Adam, seeing that everyone was finally starting to shift their focus, crossed his arms and looked at the group.
"We need to share everything we’ve learned, and figure out how we can make the most of it. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us."
Kazue looked at him, a bit more serious now, and said.
"Right... So, what have we actually managed to accomplish so far?"
––––
Hours passed as the first group finally had enough time to rest, the sharp panting gradually subsiding into calmer breaths. Adam listened attentively to everything they had to say about the terrain and their strategy against Sung Ja-In. They explained the plan, which, to be honest, seemed a bit far-fetched for a real battle. Kazue’s idea was somewhat logical in certain aspects, but the more Adam thought about it, the more unrealistic it seemed. Still, it was clear they had spent a lot of time and energy preparing it, so there wasn’t much room to object.
Adam’s thoughts were interrupted when he finally began recounting their own harrowing experience. He mentioned the incident with the tiger, and as he spoke, Kazue’s face contorted in disbelief. She gasped and looked up to the ceiling, her voice filled with exasperation.
“How could they treat a poor animal like that?!”
The girl cried out, clearly upset. Nikolai’s expression darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
“That ‘poor animal’ nearly killed all of us.”
He said, his voice low and serious, trying to make Kazue see reason. But Kazue didn’t seem to hear him. She was still caught up in her own feelings.
“I have to see how they left that poor creature!”
Kazue said, determination in her voice. Adam’s eyes widened, alarmed. He knew what Kazue wasn’t considering—though the tiger had been subdued, and Abbess had placed it back in chains, it was still a dangerous beast. It could be a threat if not handled properly. Adam opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Kazue jumped to her feet, her gaze fixed on the door, her body already moving toward it.
“I’m going to see for myself!”
She declared, already halfway to the exit, heading in the direction of the dungeon, though she had no idea where it was. Katya groaned in frustration but quickly followed.
“Wait, Kazue! I’ll go with you!”
With a sigh, Xian, who had been silent until then, also stood up, brushing off his robes.
“I’ll go with them, it’s better if they don’t get lost.”
He said, his voice calm but firm. Adam watched them go, his thoughts a mix of concern and confusion. He wanted to stop them, but Kazue was stubborn when she set her mind to something, and the last thing he wanted was to hold her back. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a bad idea...
Even more hours passed, and there was still no sign of the girls. Adam began to grow increasingly worried. Where were they? Had something happened to them? He couldn’t shake the anxiety gnawing at him. Meanwhile, he and the others remained in the room, waiting for some kind of update.
Then, as if out of nowhere, a flash of light cut through the stillness. It was Park Zhen, appearing out of nowhere, his figure materializing in the center of the room in a brief flash. He was completely clean, his clothes changed to a fresh, formal outfit. His calm, composed demeanor was almost eerie as he approached the group.
“We’ll have our final meeting now.”
Park Zhen said, his voice smooth and deliberate.
“I must return to my palace soon to avoid raising suspicion. You will use tomorrow, the last day you have, to finalize the details of the plan.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, his eyes scanning the room.
“From what I was able to gather when I returned, everything is proceeding according to plan. Lord Varek will be in Sung Ja-In’s palace on the scheduled day.”
As he spoke, his eyes landed on Jianfeng, still in the same spot where Park Zhen had left him earlier. A sigh of resignation escaped him.
“It seems you’ve made no progress with this one. A shame, but it means the battle will be even more difficult than anticipated.”
He observed, his tone laced with false politeness. His words hung in the air for a moment, the tension thick as the group absorbed the news. Adam’s brow furrowed as he processed what Park Zhen had just said. The challenge ahead was indeed daunting, and any additional difficulty could be disastrous. But just as the boy was about to speak, he felt a sharp spike of irritation welling up inside him. His instincts told him this was the right moment to make a suggestion, something that could shift the odds in their favor.
Adam smirked, his tone suddenly taking on an edge of mockery.
“I have an idea, we could try weakening Lord Varek even further during the battle. If we manage that, we might just be able to neutralize him—given enough time.”
As he spoke, Adam’s tongue flicked out to wet his lips, an involuntary movement that betrayed his growing eagerness. The thought of taking down someone like Lord Varek was intoxicating, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to entertain the idea of succeeding.
Park Zhen’s serene expression didn’t waver, but there was a slight narrowing of his eyes, a hint of curiosity hidden beneath the smooth surface of his composure.
“Is that so? I’d be interested to hear your plan.”
His tone remained polite, but there was an unmistakable challenge in his words.