Chapter 4: Just One Slide Tackle from Me

Chen Ran’s abnormality instantly tensed Cao Yu’s body, sharpening his focus as he prepared for battle.

As he stepped back, he glanced with the corner of his eye toward the ice coffin in the center of the hall—and noticed Du Ruo’s corpse was missing.

At that moment, Chen Ran, still wearing a chilling smile, suddenly grew taller, her hair shortened, her face twisted, skin pale as a corpse, purple-red bruises appearing... She transformed into Du Ruo, her face adorned with peaceful mortuary makeup, but grinning unnervingly, radiating an eerie aura.

In the next instant, Du Ruo’s stiff body lunged directly at the retreating Cao Yu.

Her grotesque mouth opened wide, as if viewing Cao Yu as prey, ready to leap forward, tear, and devour him.

Cao Yu remained calm, responding steadily. His right hand formed a blade shape, gathering power, eyes fixated on Du Ruo’s head, secretly activating the “Immortal Severing Curse.”

The moment Du Ruo landed nearby, he would strike down—vertically.

Suddenly, Cao Yu considered a possibility and quickly withdrew the “Immortal Severing Curse.”

He then pulled out a toy pistol obtained from Bald Teacher.

[E-grade Artifact: Wind Blower Gun]

[As a master of weapon development, Dr. Gun longed to create a firearm with infinite ammunition. One day, inspired by the omnipresent wind, he invented a pistol that uses air as ammunition.]

[Effect 1: Gale Bullet. Consumes a small amount of mental energy to generate and fire a gale bullet, pushing back the target.]

[Effect 2: Storm Bullet. Consumes a large amount of mental energy; holding the trigger for 10 seconds generates a storm bullet that repels all targets in a wide area.]

“Wind Blower Gun,” Cao Yu murmured.

Artifacts differ from innate abilities; they cannot be wielded at will. Activation requires establishing a connection—done by calling out its name.

At that moment, Du Ruo, mouth still agape in that terrifying grin, had already jumped in front of Cao Yu.

He squeezed the trigger, firing a gale bullet.

A visible gust burst forth from the gun, knocking the newly landed Du Ruo away.

Cao Yu seized the opportunity to create distance.

The commotion was significant.

Yet, everyone else in the hall merely turned their heads toward Cao Yu in unison, their expressions calm—so calm they resembled the dead.

These cold stares silently deepened the fear within.

‘Illogical. If I were Du Ruo’s ghost, capable of possessing and controlling others, and wanted to attack Cao Yu, I’d strike him by surprise or possess him directly to self-harm or commit suicide. I wouldn’t first call out to him, possess Chen Ran to scare him, then have others watch him like corpses... unless I’m playing games.’

While retreating, Cao Yu calmly pondered.

He aimed and fired another shot at Du Ruo as she landed again.

Bang... Du Ruo was blasted back once more.

Cao Yu continued thinking:

‘Even if I were playing around, after seeing Cao Yu hold this magical artifact and being knocked back twice, I’d give up on Chen Ran and possess him directly.’

He then ran toward the exit of the farewell hall—not to abandon his friend Chen Ran and flee, but to test his suspicion.

He was not possessed by Du Ruo during this.

Crossing the doorway, he... found himself back inside the hall.

A ghostly loop?

There are two possibilities for such a loop—either the ghost altered the spatial structure, or mentally manipulated the victim’s vision and sense of direction.

‘I am Du Ruo, capable of controlling space, yet this little lackey named Cao Yu knocked me back twice, losing face... does that make sense?’

Cao Yu abandoned his “position switching” theory.

He reached a conclusion—everything is fake! All of it!

What he saw was an illusion.

Illusions cannot kill directly.

But they can kill indirectly.

For example, by guiding and controlling two people into mutual slaughter.

This possibility was why he had just withdrawn the “Immortal Severing Curse” and switched to the “Wind Blower Gun” to fight back Du Ruo.

After all, he wasn’t sure if beneath Du Ruo’s “illusory skin” was his good friend Chen Ran.

Now the key was how to break the deadlock.

Cao Yu’s mind raced, replaying all experiences since entering this scenario.

All the strangeness began with a faint call of “An Xin.”

He first heard a weak whisper, then the call exploded in his ears, followed by Chen Ran calling his name in Du Ruo’s voice, before her mouth split to the ear and she transformed further into Du Ruo.

‘First auditory illusion, then visual, progressing step by step... why the gradual progression?’

Cao Yu, ever the skeptic, analyzed Du Ruo’s behavioral logic combined with his own state, quickly forming a hypothesis—the illusion deepens progressively to stimulate and intensify his fear.

Illusion and fear... are these connected?

Only one way to find out!

Cao Yu immediately began self-hypnosis.

The Fourth Institute’s training included two techniques for controlling fear.

The first: self-harm, using intense pain to divert attention.

The second: psychological suggestion and self-hypnosis to weaken or eliminate fear. This method was difficult and few mastered it.

After all, just saying you’re not afraid doesn’t make it true.

‘I have a cheat, destiny’s chosen, number eleven, to slaughter all corners. You mere wandering spirits and weaklings have only succeeded in frightening me twice, which is your lifetime glory. Dare to come closer and the world will turn upside down!’

Cao Yu’s eyes blazed with defiance, his heart surged with rebellion, as if a celestial emperor descended to annihilate all foes.

At that moment, Du Ruo, thrown to the ground, rose again and lunged.

Cao Yu looked closer... that wasn’t Du Ruo at all, but Chen Ran, wielding a massive staff taller than herself—an artifact her family had supplied, which Cao Yu had seen before in the classroom.

He was right!

‘You dare harm my friend and torment my mind; you’ve chosen your death. Heaven and earth, I will kill you!’

Cao Yu’s eyes gleamed fiercely, reinforcing his self-suggestion to resist further attacks.

Seeing Chen Ran raise the massive staff to strike, he abandoned the “Wind Blower Gun” counterattack.

He needed to inflict intense pain on Chen Ran to divert her attention, suppress her fear, and snap her out of the illusion.

Obviously, the gale bullet couldn’t do that.

For pain, a groin kick works wonders—effective for all.

But such an act could ruin their friendship...

Cao Yu charged at Chen Ran, then leaned back, dropping to one knee in a sliding tackle to evade her staff’s horizontal strike and close in on her legs.

Through her pants, he grabbed the flesh on the inside of her thigh, squeezing and twisting fiercely, as if trying to tear it off.

The sudden pain made Chen Ran scream.

Fortunately, the pain successfully diverted her attention, temporarily freeing her from the illusion. She looked toward Cao Yu, their eyes meeting.

“...”

Chen Ran was stunned for a few seconds.

Then she quickly understood:

“Everything just now... was an illusion!”

She glanced around to find the hall in chaos. Most people, gripped by terror, shouted and fought each other. They were also under the illusion, scratching faces with nails, biting flesh, blood filling the air.

A few unaffected rushed toward the hall’s exit but were blocked by those still hallucinating.

‘Some are affected; some aren’t. What’s the difference?’

Chen Ran felt she had grasped the key.

Cao Yu stood and spoke rapidly:

“The medium spreading the illusion is fear. Go wake the others.”

With that, he dashed to the center of the hall.

Those still fighting had blood flowing from wounds, which floated upward, flowing toward the ice coffin surrounded by fresh flowers, falling inside to cover Du Ruo’s corpse, slowly merging.

Yes, Du Ruo had never left the coffin.

Her corpse soaked in blood was slowly sitting up.

A resurrection!

Chen Ran saw this, her hairs standing on end, fear surging.

Soon, the illusion deepened with her growing dread—she saw Cao Yu disappear, Du Ruo reappear, mouth wide and ferocious, lunging at her.

She dodged quickly.

Who knew if this was a true illusion or someone beneath the illusion trying to attack her... she couldn’t tell, really couldn’t.

The medium of illusion was fear... recalling Cao Yu’s words and the Fourth Institute’s training, she bit her tongue sharply; the sudden pain jolted her awake from the illusion.

Meanwhile, Cao Yu remained unaffected.

His self-hypnosis never ceased, maintaining the invincible belief of “the pinnacle player commands the world; as long as I, Cao Yu, exist, heaven reigns.”

He charged toward the ice coffin.

Du Ruo was resurrecting.

No one knew what would happen once she absorbed enough blood.

Better to destroy the corpse first!