Chapter 238: Self‑imposed Cocoon

244. Chapter 244: Self‑imposed Cocoon

Damn it!

He's sick, right?

Obviously he had the strength to kill the opponent outright, so why go around such a big circle?

Three-point Witch Wei Na had her defenses shattered by Lin Ke's sneaky move, and she burst out angrily cursing.

Heh...

The Shadow City Leader's gloomy male, seeing the liveliness and not thinking it a big deal, acted even more enthusiastically than Sandra, speaking up first to mock,

Only someone like you, whose mind is filled with nothing but fucking and killing, would think that the pretty boy you imagine would end up like the real pretty boys you've trampled—simple‑minded, heedless of the situation, and killing indiscriminately.

The White Tower Alliance Leader, the 'Scholar', interjected at this moment and praised softly:

A perfect wizard must be rational and seek to maximize profit. If one kills merely for the sake of killing, it not only brings no help but actually harms profit—so why kill?

Saying this, the 'Scholar' stared straight into Wei Na's eyes and earnestly advised:

The two most primal desires of humanity are lust and the urge to destroy; in you they are amplified to near the extreme. If you continue to indulge like this, you will no longer be a wizard, nor even human, but a beast driven by desire, knowing only mating and reproduction, devoid of your own thought.

Sincerity is the ultimate killer move.

The 'Scholar' spoke these words without the slightest sarcasm; in fact, they dealt the greatest damage to Three-point Witch Wei Na.

Just a few simple sentences made her confront her truest, ugliest self, and also showed her the outcome she could not accept, the most unbearable ending.

For a moment, she even forgot the Shadow City Leader's direct insult calling her 'trash goods'.

The spectator room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Nobody wanted to speak.

Including Sandra, who had almost won the bet, and Lan Ni. Tai Le, whose thoughts were becoming ever more subtle.

The competition world.

The second hour passed.

The four remaining teams once again learned the positions of the other teams.

Looking at the map projected by the special stopwatch‑style equipment, the older cousin abruptly broke free from the 'Soul Labyrinth' state.

Seeing that the safe zone was just one step away beneath his feet, the rear guard suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Looking around, goodness, three Lucys had already stepped out of the safe zone.

Fortunately, two outer members supported a badly injured companion, fell behind, and remained inside the safe zone.

Phew! Just one step away.

The older cousin had just felt that relief when he hadn't yet had time to issue a warning for the outer members to stop.

A white column of light suddenly descended from the sky, directly taking away the Lucys and three outer members.

At the moment the light column engulfed them, the older cousin suddenly recalled his younger brother Huo Ke, whom he had personally locked in a cave, and two teammates who refused to obey the Lucy family's commands.

'Spinning a cocoon to bind oneself'—that's him, right?

A sudden regret welled up in the older cousin's heart.

A team that loses five or more members is automatically eliminated.

Such are the rules, leaving no room for resistance.

On the other side.

Lin Ke, according to the map, had already flown at supersonic speed and quickly found 'Free to Do Anything'.

Tsk...

Seeing the condition of 'Free to Do Anything', Lin Ke couldn't help but click his tongue.

Awful!

It's truly awful!

Each one was bruised and injured, with fractures considered minor.

Even Mo Li was covered in black smoke from being burned by fire.

His face was dark and grim, he lay helpless on the ground, only his chest rising and falling as he breathed.

Beside Mo Li was Tiffany Colonna, who had never seen the mad‑dog fighting style, and thus was forcibly taken down by the slightly weaker Mo Li.

Never seen anything so reckless.

In order to cast a spell that requires getting closer to aim, they actually dared to charge straight into the fiercest attack, ignoring injuries, and thrust forward to the proper distance.

Moreover, it wasn't just Mo Li Kidman; everyone else in 'Free to Do Anything', including Betty with her embarrassed, shy smile on her face, did the same.

Perhaps it's precisely because they lacked that fighting spirit, the daring to fight despite casualties.

Although Tiffany's team was clearly stronger by a notch, they still fought ten against nine, held an absolute advantage, yet ended up mutually destroyed.

Looking back on the battle, Tiffany regretted that she should never have agreed to Mo Li Kidman's friendly sparring proposal—using only magic, no magical devices.

Madman! You're all madmen!

Sensing Lin Ke's arrival, Tiffany gritted her teeth, rose, tidied her appearance, and complained to Lin Ke.

No madness, no survival.

Lin Ke replied calmly, 'We have only ourselves, at most counting companions; we can only survive by becoming madmen, and live better that way.'

Tiffany heard this and was left speechless.

As a descendant of a pure‑blood family on the western coast, Tiffany is at a material disadvantage only when facing the offspring of the great families of the academy's main branch.

The teams of several other organizations have all forfeited, and it's because of you, right?

Turning her thoughts, Tiffany switched the topic and asked like this:

Perhaps.

Lin Ke chuckled, 'If it's really because of me, wouldn't the academy then give me another reward?'

"Maybe."

Di Fu Ni returned the original words, then took out a stopwatch-style special equipment, choosing to surrender and admit defeat to Linke Grand's team.

Without hesitation, neat and efficient.

Ten white beams of light fell down, taking Di Fu Ni and her team away.

"How is it? Can you still go on?"

Lin Ke walked over to the exhausted Mo Li after quickly defeating one opponent and then gritting his teeth to take down Di Fu Ni, and asked with concern.

He hadn't just been chatting with Di Fu Ni; after arriving at the scene, he kept throwing various healing and recovery spells at Mo Li.

Under Lin Ke's nourishment, Mo Li's complexion gradually flushed, gaining vitality.

Her breathing became much smoother, and her chest rose and fell with greater strength.

He bent down, reached out and lifted Mo Li; Lin Ke wanted to let Mo Li stand, so her breathing would be smoother and more conducive to recovery.

As a result, Mo Li acted coquettishly, diving straight into Lin Ke's arms, limp as if she had no bones, soft and slack, needing his strong embrace to stay upright.

Lin Ke swayed a few times, but couldn't get Mo Li to stand on her own, so he gave up in resignation.

He could only use a minor cleansing spell, summoning a breeze to clean the black smoke off Mo Li.

"Everyone get up, recover a bit; maybe another battle awaits."

Glancing at the scattered Benevolent Brother Group and Social Anxiety Group lying on the ground, Lin Ke's tone lacked variation, sounding icy.

"Come on, these guys really think they can hide their condition from Lin Ke's perception?"

Mo Li was indeed exhausted to the point of weakness, after all she had forced herself to take down two opponents.

Especially since one of those opponents was Di Fu Ni. Ke Long Na.

But the Benevolent Brother Group and Social Anxiety Group weren't exhausted to that extent.

Even if they were indeed injured, it wasn't to the point of being unable to get up from the ground.

Each one put on that act, fearing Lin Ke's questioning.

The elder sister, for the team's victory, all ended up like this; you guys ask yourselves, have you fulfilled your duties as juniors?

At this moment, hearing the change in Lin Ke's tone, none dared to play dead; they all got up, readied themselves, and prepared to set off again.

However, there's no need to play another friendly match.

The team composed of senior first-rank wizards, less than a minute after Di Fu Ni's team was sent out of bounds, chose to surrender and admit defeat.

Twenty white beams of light fell down together.

The competition world's competition area instantly became empty of anyone.

In just two hours, the team match ended.

According to the original schedule, the safe zone was supposed to shrink nine times.

In terms of time, when designing the format, they thought the team match would be decided within 8 to 10 hours. Now such a large deviation truly is because Lin Ke, as a first-rank wizard, is overpowered.

The cause is definitely not an unreasonable competition setup.

As for this, not only the remaining four team leaders felt speechless.

Even Shan Duo La's mood wasn't simply the joy of winning the team match; there were also other complex considerations.

Compared to how they will later face Linke Grand's attitude.

No wonder, when I proposed recruiting Linke Grand, my third uncle, who holds both the principalships of the local elementary and advanced academies, gave a meaningful smile and said bluntly, "You can't recruit him."

Judging by today's performance, such a level of genius is indeed beyond her ability to recruit.

He has surely already been targeted.

I don't know whether it's the third uncle or the other two uncles.

Shan Duo La's contemplation didn't last long; she was soon startled awake.

"Will the individual match still be held?"

The leader of Meisuo La Da University received the notice of the team match's end, immediately returned to the spectator room, and asked directly.

Moreover, the question he asked seemed somewhat strange.

"I don't know."

The leader of Dark Shadow City, a gloomy man, instantly understood the intention, spreading his hands,

"If that Linke Grand with silver-framed glasses and pale face still participates in the individual match, what difference would it make whether the individual match is held or not?"

He's already secured first place, not to mention he'll at least kill four people.

Is it that your Meisuo La Da University first-rank wizard's life is cheap, or that my Dark Shadow City first-rank wizard's life isn't worth anything?

The White Tower Alliance's "Scholar" at this point put aside the "Specimen Expert" demeanor, became serious and proper, and said solemnly: "I think we could consider restricting Linke Grand's participation. That way, the individual match would continue, and it would be fair."

"Agreed!"

The leader of the Flaming Metal Merchant Guild, the three-point wizard Vena, said even more excessively: "Linke Grand must be restrained and subjected to the most rigorous examination to verify whether he is truly a first-rank wizard and whether he cheated in the team match."

The four wizard organizations were in complete agreement regarding this matter concerning the Ruowosuosi Academy.

Without prior discussion, they directly joined forces to put pressure on Shan Duo La.

"Hmph."

Shan Duo La let out a cold laugh,

"You can't afford to lose, is that it?"

You four families, which of your organizations doesn't have a history longer than my Ruowosuosi Academy, and would have produced or seen fewer geniuses?

Linke Grand's performance indeed exceeds that of the vast majority of first-rank wizards, but it's neither unreasonable nor unique.

Our Ruowosuosi Academy has historically produced several such individuals, let alone the West Coast, let alone the entire wizard world."

Saying this, Shan Duo La even stood up, pointing at the noses of the four leaders and began to scold them angrily:

"You all pretend to understand while acting clueless, really thinking I don't know what deceitful thoughts you harbor in your hearts?"

Isn't it just trying to squeeze Linke Grand out of the individual competition's participant list?

Stop spouting nonsense.

Aren't you embarrassed saying that yourself?

Have some shame.

The four team leaders still ought to have some shame, without sophistry denying what Shan Duo La said.

They merely chose to reveal their hand when cornered.

And the one who revealed this dagger is still the long-time ally of the Rui Wo Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy, Mesopotamia University.

All I heard was the Mesopotamia University team leader declaring with a firm attitude:

"If you insist on having Linke Grand participate in the individual competition, Mesopotamia University will continue to forfeit."

Then file a complaint with the Michel Great Sage Tower, applying to have this match's result declared invalid.

Apply for the distribution of educational resources for the next fifteen years, to be decided separately.

"I agree! Shadow City and Mesopotamia University will advance and retreat together."

The Shadow City team leader, a gloomy man, took the lead in relaying and voiced his stance.

"White Tower Alliance, present."

"\"Scholar\" Youyou opened the heavy tome and spoke.

"How could such a lively affair lack my Blaze and Metal Merchant Society? We'll get involved too."

Three-point Witch Vina decided to add a log, letting this fire burn even brighter.

A greater pressure than before instantly fell upon Shandora's shoulders.

The Michel Great Sage Tower is the force most eager to suppress the Revo Si Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy.

If it gets dragged into this matter, the situation will undoubtedly be very disadvantageous for the Revo Si Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy.

Throughout the academy, everyone is busy gathering resources for the promotion of Great Sage Si Thought, a critical juncture; the allocation of "educational resources" from the Supreme Council is quite important.

Lan Ni. Tai Le watched Shandora besieged, and couldn't help but break into a sweat for her.

Not out of so-called loyalty, but as an observer, she discovered a blind spot.

If Shandora fails to notice this, leading to an improper response, it's very likely to cause losses to the academy's and Linke Grand's interests.

No matter how you look at it, Lan Ni. Tai Le still doesn't want to see this situation arise.

Just as Lan Ni. Tai Le was considering whether to risk reminding Shandora, the door was knocked.

"Come in."

The Mesopotamia University team leader shouted loudly.

The door pushed open, and who entered was precisely that team leader's attendant.

"What's up?"

The Mesopotamia University team leader glanced at the attendant, then asked loudly, seeming somewhat deliberate.

"Report, urgent matter from the institute office."

"Read."

"Yes."

The attendant swallowed, barely keeping his voice steady under several oppressive gazes, and read: "The Lukia family has all defected to our side; please be sure to guarantee the safety of the participating Lukia, and do not let them fall into the clutches of the Revo Si Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy."

Before the contents of this urgent memo were even finished reading, they caused an uproar.

Three-point Witch Vina burst out laughing.

She lost the bet and needed to record a video smearing Shadow City's gloom, to sweep it all away.

It's been years since the West Coast saw a whole family defect en masse.

And it happened between the Revo Si Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy and Mesopotamia University, these long-time allies.

It's utterly absurd!

The Shadow City team leader, the gloomy man, furrowed his brows, sensing something amiss.

Just say defect and you defect?

Too easy, right?

There's definitely more to it.

The White Tower Alliance's "Scholar" snapped shut the heavy tome, closed his eyes, and recalled several scenes and dialogues from the team match.

"Also decide life and death."

"Someone has to make a sacrifice; why can't it be me?"

"This isn't your concern; come out and fight, life and death at your own risk."

As it turns out, that Lukia's true intention was indeed guessed by Linke Grand.

He knows he's no match for Linke Grand, yet he desperately seeks battle, truly seeking death.

This is one of the tokens of allegiance the Lukia family gave to Mesopotamia University.

Wanting to defect naturally requires making a clean break.

Whether or not they can kill the Revo Si Suo Si Xue Yuan Academy's super genius, at least they've made their stance clear, even unwilling to sacrifice their own junior genius.

To gain Mesopotamia University's trust, this level of sacrifice is certainly insufficient.

In other aspects, there is definitely something bigger happening simultaneously.

Inside the colosseum-style building.

Linke Grand returned from the competition world to his room and found that his Portable Smart Brain had a message blocked for over an hour, from the Selin Witch:

"The Lukia family leaked the coordinates of the fairy world, and the Pa Luo Legion is trapped in a heavy siege by abyssal demons."

"Kill every Lukia!"