Chapter 129: What's the point of fighting? Isn't construction fun? (Revised)

Under Ying Duo's gaze, Luo Jinyou tried to inject energy into the device; a wave of energy rippled outward from the disc at the device's center, directly eliminating all sound in Ying Duo's vicinity.

The sound of Ying Duo activating the 【Modification】 skill vanished completely, making the space unusually quiet; Luo Jinyou could even hear his own breathing clearly.

Luo Jinyou had gone numb; he looked at the inconspicuous little gadget in his hand, then at Ying Duo.

"What else do you have on you?"

"Is this guy's space a bottomless pit?"

Too bad Luo Jinyou doesn't know that in another world there's a magical creature called Doraemon.

Ying Duo didn't answer his question, instead ordering Luo Jinyou to place the device in a corner, ensuring no sound would leak out and give away their position to the enemy.

With a few devices, they constructed a small space of absolute silence.

After finishing all that, Ying Duo ignored Luo Jinyou, lowered his head, and threw himself wholeheartedly into the work at hand.

Luo Jinyou watched Ying Duo's focused profile, then glanced around at the space piled with materials, the steady-glowing ore lamp overhead, and the strange devices on the rock wall that kept them hidden……

Although the situation remained dire, teammates had scattered in flight, and powerful enemies lurked outside, eyes gleaming……

But just being with this guy, how does the whole scene feel so off?

While others are fighting for their lives, they're living in peaceful times, right?

Luo Jinyou sighed, rubbed his forehead, and adeptly gave up thinking.

Just as Luo Jinyou was getting used to this cramped, quiet environment, Ying Duo halted the rapid assembly of materials in his hands, lifted his head, and glanced around at the makeshift "earth pit" that barely fit two people.

He extended a finger and tapped the nearby earth wall, producing a dull "knock knock" sound.

Then Ying Duo turned to Luo Jinyou, gazing at him with eyes that remained calm and unrippled under the lamp light and his hair's green glow, and made a demand as a matter of course.

"This place is a bit small; expand it a bit."

Luo Jinyou silently regarded Ying Duo, then looked around at the earth walls he had reinforced with Aberrant Arts, which were so tough even turning around was difficult.

Then he glanced at the ever-growing pile of parts beside Ying Duo, nearly enough to bury him.

Are they playing hide-and-seek? This isn't a construction and renovation game.

Luo Jinyou's mouth twitched a few times as he looked at Ying Duo's utterly serious, non-joking gaze, and at the device already taking shape……

He drew a deep breath and resignedly closed his eyes.

Fine, you're awesome, you call the shots.

He silently placed his palms on the side walls, and the little remaining earth-type energy in his body began to flow slowly.

"Huuum……"

In the low hum, the surrounding earth walls began to retreat backward like living things, and the top layer of soil lifted slightly, though not too conspicuously.

Loose soil and pebbles rustled down, but under Luo Jinyou's precise control, not a speck of dust floated onto Ying Duo, who was focused on assembling.

After a few minutes, the makeshift "earth pit" that had barely concealed them turned into an "underground safe house."

Although it was only about half the size of their dormitory, it still couldn't allow free movement, but the floor was level, and Luo Jinyou even used spare stones to build a simple workbench for Ying Duo.

Ying Duo took in the renewed environment, gave Luo Jinyou a satisfied thumbs-up, then kept his head down, spreading parts across most of the workbench, and his assembly speed noticeably increased.

Luo Jinyou watched the space instantly fill up again, wearily leaned against the wall, and began silently restoring his energy.

He came to realize his role was that of an emotionless construction automaton, plus the team's chief—and only—civil engineer.

What's the point of fighting? Let's do construction instead.

——————————————

At the same time, on the other end of the mountains and forests, relying on Luo Jinyou's cover, the few Security Team members and Manufacturing Department students who had managed to escape successfully regrouped.

Yet the mood was bleak; Shen Zexi was nowhere to be seen, and Luo Jinyou likely suffered grave losses while covering their retreat.

Moreover, the explosion that had just erupted from the stronghold was like the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Their numbers were now few, their wounds many, and even more deadly, half of the materials they carried had been lost in the frantic flight.

"It's over...... this time it's really over."

A Security Team member sat on the ground, head bowed, his voice full of despair.

"The stronghold's gone, the materials are gone—what the hell can we still build?"

"Are we just supposed to wait for them to hunt us down one by one and 'kill' us? This is so infuriating!" another Security Team member pounded the ground in frustration.

Defeat seemed inevitable; no matter how they struggled, they could see no chance of victory.

At that moment, the Security Team member who had been kicked away by Qi Hengyu rose to his feet, scanned the circle of dejected comrades and the few visibly panicked Manufacturing Department students, and spoke in a low voice.

"Brothers, it looks like failing the assessment is unavoidable, but we can't just end in disgrace, betraying Luo classmate's trust in us!"

Luo Jinyou, to cover them, stood alone against Qi Hengyu.

Keep in mind, Luo Jinyou is only fourteen years old!

Although rumors say he's an aloof genius who was specially admitted by the school, that doesn't change the fact that he's younger than all of them.

So how can they indulge in self-pity here?

"Manufacturing Department students, your mission evaluation depends mainly on survival time and production contribution."

He turned his gaze to the few anxious Manufacturing Department students, his tone firm.

"All we can do now is protect you with all our might, letting you survive as long as possible! Even if we can't build the mission devices, producing components while staying alive longer can still earn points."

Hearing this, the Manufacturing Department students exchanged glances, their eyes showing both emotion and hesitation.

One bespectacled male student pushed up his glasses and spoke hesitantly.

"But...... we have too few parts on hand, and they're all scattered......"

Another Manufacturing Department student looked at the few scattered parts and energy cores on the ground, then recalled how, during a previous class, a classmate's energy circuit conflict had triggered a small-scale explosion that nearly blew him out of the competition……

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck his mind.

"Wait! Few parts...... unstable energy cores......"

He abruptly lifted his head, a flash of determination crossing his eyes.

"We can't make large devices, but can we study that Ying Duo? Turn these parts and the energy Core into Explosives? Or some attack equipment?"

"The Manufacturing Department stands out as more distinctive compared to other classes of Mitra Academy; the entrance assessment is not combat but a written exam."

"Because the students of the Manufacturing Department awaken Aberrant Arts from childhood, they begin studying the related knowledge."

"They grew up in Tianmian City, receiving the best education and resources, dealing with various Rune devices from a young age, which enables them to pass the written exam and enter Mitra Academy."