Chapter 13: K-Head

It began to rain.

Jiang Tang stood silently before the ruins of the church, looking up at the gloomy sky as raindrops traced down her delicate face.

Around her lay a scattering of dead mutants, their green blood diluted by the rain, flowing past her feet.

The anti-aircraft gun transformed into points of light, reassembling into a card.

“Acid rain, huh?” Jiang Tang expressionlessly wiped her face.

The rain was slightly corrosive, burning the exposed skin.

Her fair skin quickly turned red, itching and stinging—not deadly, but maddeningly uncomfortable.

She lacked the skill to shield herself from the rain...

After searching through the ruins, she finally found a straight-handled black umbrella. With a click, she opened it, stepped over the corpses scattered on the ground, and headed toward the coastline.

【The mutant onslaught is imminent. Prepare for combat!】

The broadcast ended, and the sky was completely swallowed by thick black clouds.

Far off, the sea churned, surging with an overwhelming wave of black water.

A golden light flickered in Jiang Tang’s eyes as she extended her gaze to the horizon, spotting countless mutants riding the tidal waves.

If her guess was right, the town’s residents were evolving deep divers, while the real deep divers lived in the sea.

To score points, one had to venture into the ocean.

Jiang Tang walked toward the shore.

Elsewhere, three unfortunate students, now sacrificial prey, watched the mutants gathered around the well. Knowing death was inevitable, they calmed themselves and began chatting casually.

“Did you see the safe zone collapse?”

The instance usually marked a time-limited safe zone invulnerable to mutants.

Once the safe zone failed, it signaled the mutant onslaught was coming. The mutants’ strength would surge dramatically, with advanced types appearing more frequently.

“Yeah, I saw it. Don’t know which godly player did it.”

“After the exam, I’m opening a box.”

“Count me in.”

“Me too.”

Suddenly, the once calm black water in the well bubbled and rippled as if something was about to break the surface.

One boy closed his eyes in despair. “Guys, after the exam, don’t run off—let’s grab a meal!”

“Bro, I know a barbecue place that’s good. First hundred customers get 20% off.”

“Hey, why’s it quiet now?”

The only girl among them looked down just in time to see a huge scaly arm burst from the water with a splash, dragging all three of them into the depths.

The entire event took only seconds; the water’s surface calmed again as if nothing had happened.

Until a man wearing a top hat, a mask, and holding a cane raised his arm and shouted, “Dagon!”

Instantly, the surrounding residents emitted a chorus of clicking sounds.

Human features were rapidly transforming into those of various marine creatures, their bodies grotesquely contorting beyond human limits, becoming hunched or supple.

In a mere instant, the humans had become mutants.

From her vantage point, Jiang Tang watched the entire scene under her umbrella, deep in thought.

Were these originally mutants, or had some force transformed humans into mutants?

The instances were based on real mutant battles, implying that somewhere in this vast galaxy, such a place truly existed.

“Forget it, no time to think. Points matter most.”

Jiang Tang patted the massive anti-aircraft gun beside her.

Whoever used this thing knew how satisfying it was!

She leveled the barrel and fired.

With a thunderous roar, brilliant muzzle flashes tore through the eerie calm of the town.

In one word: exhilarating!

The firearms summoned by cards required no consideration of ammo; as long as one had enough mental energy, the firepower was limitless.

After three days of intense training in the simulator, Jiang Tang had finally developed the muscle memory to recite the Clear Mind Mantra while fighting.

The gunfire illuminated her cold, elegant face; the smell of charred flesh mingled with the salty, wet scent of rain.

“I really want some grilled seafood...” Jiang Tang sighed, increasing the firepower again.

Sheng Huai’an, who had just emerged from the sewer and was immediately bombarded, blinked in confusion.

Who had smuggled a cannon into the exam?

Though protected by divine power, the noise was unbearable, exploding right next to him!

His head spun and ears rang.

Frowning, he climbed out of the sewer and immediately pinpointed the mutant wearing the top hat.

That was definitely an A-rank!

He drew back his arm like pulling a bow; a radiant golden longbow appeared in his hand, a pure-gold arrow aimed at the fleeing A-rank mutant.

In the dim rain, he stood out unmistakably.

Jiang Tang instantly spotted Sheng Huai’an, then followed the arrow’s trajectory to the unique mutant.

Who didn’t want points?

The moment Sheng Huai’an released the arrow, a scorching divine power, radiating the might of the sun, surged out in a straight line. The low-level mutant stood no chance, instantly vaporizing into steam with the rain.

At the same time, Jiang Tang silently vanished from the rooftop, leaving only her umbrella lying abandoned.

When she reappeared, she had already caught up with the arrow at lightning speed.

“Take this!” Jiang Tang swung her long staff with both hands, deflecting Sheng Huai’an’s arrow.

The arrow faltered slightly; seizing the moment, she accelerated, leapt up, and struck down the mutant with a decisive blow!

A +10 prompt sounded.

【Your current rank: 1】

【Your score: 62】

Behind her, Sheng Huai’an roared, “You’re asking for death!”

In the blink of an eye, searing heat closed in, nearly burning Jiang Tang’s clothes to ashes and evaporating every drop of rain from her body.

Is this the top student?

Jiang Tang dared not linger in battle. Gathering her energy, she leapt and dodged the attack, disappearing into the rain.

Of course, before fleeing, she glanced back, gave Sheng Huai’an the middle finger, and cursed, “Is that all you’ve got?”

Sheng Huai’an’s enraged expression delighted her so much that even the mutants seemed less threatening by comparison.

After putting distance between herself and her pursuer, Jiang Tang finally stopped to steady her rapid breathing.

“So strong...” she murmured.

Unbeknownst to her, outside the exam arena, a group of teachers watched her moves in stunned silence.

“Wh-what? She stole Sheng Huai’an’s monster!?”

“She deflected Sheng Huai’an’s arrow with her bare body? That’s Apollo’s divine weapon!”

“Sheng Huai’an is channeling the power of Heracles, a demigod hero! Even if he’s only using a third of his strength, there’s no way a girl could deflect his arrow!”

Such a bold underachiever was a rare sight; all the teachers gathered around Old Sun.

“Old Sun, what’s up with Jiang Tang in your class? Is she playing possum?”

“I’ve only seen this kind of ‘underdog rising’ in online novels!”

“Which time river is she resonating with? Spill the secret!”

Old Sun appeared calm but was just as baffled inside.

He had given Jiang Tang the top student’s data so she could avoid confrontation and develop steadily, but she charged straight at Sheng Huai’an, leaving even him at a loss.

The homeroom teacher of Class A sneered, “Jiang Tang is Old Sun’s trump card. Why would he tell us? He’s keeping it so secretive—does he plan to have Jiang Tang compete in the Thousand Schools League?”

Old Sun replied calmly, “Yeah, if Sheng Huai’an can’t handle it, shouldn’t he be replaced?”

The Class A teacher’s face flushed red and pale in turns.

Their Nebula Academy was the weakest among the four prestigious schools. They had hoped Sheng Huai’an could reclaim first place, but with rivals like Song Linchuan from the Dawn Light Academy, Tanaka Mitsuhiro from Carlos Academy, and even Blake from the archrival Star Academy, their advantage had vanished.

In the last two preseason competitions, Sheng Huai’an only placed fourth and fifth once each.

Old Sun’s words struck the heart of the Class A teacher.

As he fumed, the name Jiang Tang came up again.

“Jiang Tang is facing off against Arthur!”