Chapter Four: The Reincarnators

A long system notification sounded in Liu Mengchao’s ears.

Within the vast and boundless Main God Space, Liu Mengchao stood quietly in place, waiting for Bai Ya’s signal.

“Scanning... scanning...
Main God Space, confirmed.
Main God alive.
Scanning... scanning...
Authorization confirmed, confirming Main God Space Executor...”

A long series of identity-verifying voices echoed incessantly by Liu Mengchao’s ears. Just as he was growing impatient and wanted to ask Bai Ya why the Main God Space hadn’t started yet, the system’s report arrived at last.

“Now reporting system status.
Current Main God Game participants: 5
By Main God authorization, Executor is responsible for configuring the space.
Prize pool: 160,000 reward points
Tree of Causality: 30 centimeters, Source: Days at School
Number of leaves: zero.
World in use: Apocalypse Academy
No linkage detected with plot characters, prize pool deduction: 100,000.
Would you like to initiate?”

“Initiate!”

“Remaining prize pool: 60,000 points.
Scanning, protagonist hidden bloodline, descendant of the Precursor.
Strengthening available: Assassin.
Current status: Strengthened.
Query: Would you like to equip hidden blades? Note: Each blade costs 2,000 points, both hands can be equipped.”

Isn’t that stating the obvious? An Assassin without hidden blades is no different from a fool.

“Equip!”

The moment Liu Mengchao uttered the command, he noticed a pair of hidden blades had appeared at his wrists, one on each side, tucked into his sleeves.

Liu Mengchao raised his arm, gazing at his cuffs. With a deft flick of his wrist, a sharp blade with a muted metallic gleam sprang forth with a crisp sound.

The hidden blade’s appearance was so sudden, yet the ornate, hollowed blade spoke silently of its glorious past—killing without a trace.

He lifted his other arm, repeated the motion, and the second hidden blade shot out.

The two luxurious, intricate blades met before him, producing a clear, ringing note.

Between the clashing blades, a flash of white light radiated, rippling out like water from Liu Mengchao’s center.

When Liu Mengchao came to his senses again, he found himself at the opening scene of Apocalypse Academy. Not far away, the other Reincarnators lay scattered.

The rooftop.

“One, two, three, four, five…” Liu Mengchao counted the unconscious Reincarnators, a smile playing on his lips. “And, well, it’s been a while, Makoto Ito.”

“Ding...
Countdown, twenty seconds.
Executor, please prepare to issue the initial mission.”

The Main God Space’s countdown ticked softly in Liu Mengchao’s ears.

With an easy running start, Liu Mengchao’s feet alternated, tapping twice against the rooftop wall. With his right hand, he pushed off and settled atop the highest point of the roof, gazing down upon the Reincarnators below.

Only now did the countdown begin in earnest.

Fifteen...

Fourteen...

Empowered by the Assassin’s Creed bloodline, Liu Mengchao perched atop the water tank in just five seconds, fingers interlaced, silently watching his prey.

“Ding...
Participant detected:
Name: Chen Mo.
Gender: Male.
Occupation: Retired Special Forces.
Potential assessment...”

Chen Mo, the retired Special Forces soldier, was tall and lean, his skin tanned from years of training.

Facing this strange environment, Chen Mo immediately surveyed his surroundings with alertness. Spotting Liu Mengchao above, he gave a slight nod and lowered his guard.

“This newcomer has potential,” Liu Mengchao observed, studying the soldier he’d just met.

“Ding...
Participant detected:
Name: Xu Zhengdong
Gender: Male
Occupation: Teacher.
Potential assessment: 4/10.”

Xu Zhengdong, the teacher, seemed exceedingly amiable, turning his head slightly. Not until he spotted Chen Mo beside him did he speak, “Where am I?”

“Where?” Chen Mo shook his head, gesturing subtly toward Liu Mengchao’s position.

“Playing dumb?” Liu Mengchao narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the teacher’s face. Unlike the Special Forces man, when Chen Mo signaled him, the teacher’s expression was off.

Surprise, a fleeting expression, rarely lasts longer than a second on the human face. Perhaps this esteemed teacher hadn’t read enough books.

Liu Mengchao noticed the surprise on his face lingered for over ten seconds.

“It’s far too fake,” Liu Mengchao smiled, nodding at the unnerved teacher.

Oh heavens, another fake smile. Liu Mengchao nearly burst out laughing.

The teacher curled his lips, striving to seem genuinely pleased at seeing a companion.

But he’d overlooked something, a detail Liu Mengchao had underlined in books and reminded himself of constantly.

“No one can voluntarily contract all the fibers of the orbicularis oculi, though some of the muscle can be moved at will.”

“What a phony smile,” Liu Mengchao shook his head at the teacher’s forced amiability. “Clever, but not very well-read.”

“Ding... ding...”

The system chimed twice in succession.

“Name: Ye Yutian.
Gender: Male.
Occupation: Student.
Potential: 3/10.
Name: Makoto Ito.
Gender: Male.
Occupation: Student.
Potential: 2/10.”

“Liu Mengchao!”

Makoto Ito shouted excitedly the moment he opened his eyes.

Yet, the man beside him, Ye Yutian, was louder still.

“How can there be a scumbag like Makoto Ito here?”

Scumbag Ito.

At the mention of that name, Liu Mengchao chuckled. In his eyes, Makoto Ito’s upper eyelids shot up, his lower lids tensed, and his eyes widened—a microexpression of anger.

“I’m... Makoto Ito,” he managed.

Had Ye Yutian known Liu Mengchao’s earlier remarks about fake smiles, he’d have realized that Makoto Ito was suppressing his anger and feigning a smile in return.

“As expected, the more people present, the more easily emotions stir.”

Liu Mengchao raised his right hand in a gesture for silence, and everyone’s gaze turned to the last two Reincarnators.

Two girls.

Black stockings, gray suits, and black-rimmed glasses.

“Ding...
Name: Li Xin.
Gender: Female.
Occupation: PR Manager.
Potential: 1/10.”

Li Xin flicked her dyed brown hair and smiled at those around her, showing no curiosity about their situation.

So, even the quality of Reincarnators is rising?

“What is this place, anyway?” Ye Yutian, less patient, demanded. Wearing EVISU jeans, he glared fiercely at Makoto Ito before fixing his gaze on Liu Mengchao.

“No rush.”

Before Liu Mengchao could reply, Chen Mo intervened, stopping Ye Yutian. Though Chen Mo tried to make himself seem more authoritative, Liu Mengchao caught the rapid blinking that betrayed his real thoughts.

Pride.

“So, you enjoy being a leader, Mr. Retired Special Forces,” Liu Mengchao thought, smiling as he listened to Chen Mo calm Ye Yutian.

“One more hasn’t woken up. I suggest we wait for her before discussing a strategy.”

A strategy for your own fate, that is.

Liu Mengchao closed his eyes, waiting for the final Reincarnator’s information.

“Ding!”

Suddenly, Liu Mengchao’s eyes snapped open.

“Name: Qi Xiaoxiao.
Gender: Female.
Occupation: Bodyguard.
Potential: 0/10.”

Qi Xiaoxiao—your chest is still as flat as ever.

————————————————————————————————————

EVISU jeans were sold in an old classmate’s online shop, imported from Hong Kong. He once kindly asked if I wanted a pair at a discount... But even with the discount, who can afford over ten thousand per pair...

This afternoon I’m meeting a long-lost friend, worried I’ll have no time to update, so I posted in advance... Also testing scheduled updates as R18 suggested…

Finally, bowing in thanks to Tianxing Xinshi, Xingkong Wuyu, Happy Kitten, and MAGI Mu for their rewards~