Chapter 89

Deep in the rear mountain, at the exit of a cave about six meters high, a dark green barrier lay over it like a thin sheet of paper.

The interior of the cave was illuminated by the fluorescence emitted from the barrier, as the fluorescence gradually dimmed.

Suddenly, a huge black shadow that almost blocked the entire cavern burst out and slammed into the barrier...

「saii！！」

When a sharp, piercing hiss suddenly came from the rear mountain, all the emotionally charged trainees froze like wound-down springs.

They would never forget that sound, nor that night, even to their death.

Three seconds later, the crowd burst into screams and scattered in flight.

「Monster.. 」

「It rushed out!! 」

No one argued anymore whether Deng Lian had been framed, and no one spoke of wondering what had happened to the academy.

They only wanted to flee, only wanted to survive.

Even though they knew they could not escape the pursuit, driven by instinct they wanted to flee this square.

Even without seeing the source of the sound, it did nothing to lessen their inner fear.

「Don't stop me! 」

「You Awakened Ones, are you crazy!! 」

「We're all gathered here, and the monster will devour us in one bite! 」

On the podium, Lin An stood at the speaking spot, indifferently watching the chaotic, frenzied scene before him.

The crowd was packed; countless people tried to flee from the edges of the square, anywhere would do as long as they weren't staying here.

The pre-arranged Awakened Ones wore blank expressions, their hands flashing with various skills aimed at those trying to escape.

Compared to ordinary people who easily lose reason, they, who wielded power, clearly knew that fleeing was useless.

As long as Lin An hasn't left, he remains their last hope.

Even if everyone thought Lin An, as a psychic, probably couldn't stop the monster, he was still their final sliver of hope.

「Brother Lin, why not let the ordinary people evacuate first. 」

An Jing Tian could not bear to look at the panicked crowd, the trampling and crowding; many weak students and girls were knocked to the ground, countless feet stepping over their bodies.

「Staying here serves no purpose. 」

「Later, when we battle that monster, we might need to estimate possible friendly fire on them. 」

Jing Tian, on the other hand, had full confidence in Lin An, knowing that Lin An was fundamentally not a psychic Awakened One.

Although we don't know where Brother Lin suddenly got this new attack method, the fact that Lin An stays here shows he has full confidence.

「Look. 」

Lin An's simple words startled.

The earth trembled slightly; in the distance, it seemed as if a colossal beast leapt up and then fell again.

「I want them to witness everything that happens tonight. 」

「I want them to remember forever what happened tonight, I want them to never forget tonight's scene even to their death. 」

「Dying a few people in battle is acceptable. 」

「I want those who survive to at least not harbor any rebellious thoughts in the time to come. 」

Lin An walked slowly toward the platform with his hands behind his back, gazing at the black shadow that flickered in the distance of the night.

When the sharp howl drew near enough to pierce the crowd's eardrums, everyone stopped fleeing.

It's already... too late.

The Awakened Ones maintaining order all looked toward Lin An on the platform; the leadership below, the principal and teachers, clenched their fists and stared at his back.

With the earth's final tremor.

The monster has arrived.

Lin An faced away from the crowd; a pale blue mist rose in his eyes, and his powerful psychic force swiftly spread.

When the Judgment Eye's information returned, unlike the pallid faces of the crowd, the corners of his mouth began to turn up slightly.

As expected, it's you...

Sand Worm【Boduoyi】.

「Beep, detected a Second-Level Demonic Beast—Sand Worm (Second-Level High Grade)」

「Biological traits: gigantism, burrowing, flesh regeneration, tracking, scent adhesion, mental resistance. 」

「Weak points: interior of mouthparts, fourth pair of sickle limbs on the head, abdominal core (white area)」

Not far away, a colossal sand worm about six meters tall, like half a building, burst from the ground, its body half-curved, covered in thick, soil‑yellow, wrinkled hide.

On its massive body, numerous tiny sickle limbs were distributed along both sides like those of a centipede.

It had no head; instead, a pouch‑like mouth opened, with sharp teeth exposed from the mouthparts extending into the abdomen.

Just looking at its appearance was enough to nauseate, making everyone's hearts tremble.

Its sickle limbs, mismatched with its huge body, waved as if sensing something, yet it did not launch an attack right away.

The crowd behind trembled in fear, many collapsing to the ground, clutching their mouths tightly.

「Lin Dui, this thing is truly disgusting... 」

「What is it waiting for? 」

Lin An gave a silent smile; after the Judgment Eye was strengthened to level two, the newly added weakness markers were crystal clear.

「It's judging, deciding where to start eating. 」

Sand Worm【Boduoyi】, in a past life it was also somewhat famous.

Its fame did not come from strength, but because this demonic beast is a rare one that has been tamed.

Its appearance resembled an enlarged worm; the sand worm Bo Duo Yi, relying on its sharp mouthparts and innate ability, could freely travel underground.

Its fully penetrating esophagus lets it, while moving underground, function like a shield machine—the earth‑boring tool used in subway construction—not only opening passages but also expelling excess sand and stone from its tail.

Thus, in the Doomsday Game, the sand worm Bo Duo Yi is also dubbed a near‑perfect 'engineering construction' Demonic Beast.

However, the Past Life Academy only managed to subdue it after the first year, and at this stage the sand worm's strength is indeed beyond what they can resist.

Unexpectedly, the sand worm that aroused envy in countless Safe Zones almost wiped out the entire Past Life Academy.

"From which side should we eat?"

Zhang Tie rubbed his forehead, not quite grasping Lin An's meaning.

"Do you still remember what Deng Lian said? The sand worm is immune to mental damage, so he believed we could not possibly block it."

"Ah? Lin Dui, isn't that right? Is he lying to us? I don't think that kid is faking it."

Lin An stood with his hands behind his back, his expression somewhat odd.

"He didn't deceive us, but the sand worm's immunity to mental damage isn't a special talent or a sign of strong mental power."

"It's simply because of this worm."

"It simply has no brain."

"saii!"

Not far off, the huge sand worm seemed to have locked onto its target; after a piercing screech, its massive body suddenly vaulted into the air, then plunged into the hard ground as easily as diving into water.

The next second.

"Boom!"

Sand and stone erupted from the ground; the sand worm that had burrowed into the surface burst out again, its tooth‑filled maw lunging at Deng Lian, bound to the flagpole and trembling all over.

"No!!!"

His voice cut off abruptly, leaving no corpse.