Yu Yu couldn't help but feel a pang of helplessness regarding Chang Yu's situation.
She had never met Chang Yu's parents, nor could she claim any real familiarity with them. Their decisions were beyond her influence, and as for the present… well, all she could say was that fate was unpredictable.
At this moment, Yu Yu sat in a Federation vehicle, the hum of the engine a steady backdrop.
Chang Yu was in no state to travel, so Yu Yu had asked Shu Tu to stay behind and offer some comfort. Truth be told, Yu Yu was terrible at consoling others—a skill Shu Tu excelled at, much to her own chagrin.
As for the arrangements following Chang Yu's parents' passing, Yu Yu didn't find them particularly daunting. But ultimately, it depended on Chang Yu's wishes, so for now, Yu Yu held off on taking any action.
"Something's out there, Yu Yu," Fuyu said suddenly.
The Federation driver slammed on the brakes.
Yu Yu had just reached for her phone when Fuyu's words made her look up.
Well, isn't this convenient? They were on a bridge, of all places.
In the real world, Yu Yu had no staff or robes. She gripped her phone, her only conduit for casting.
Eye of the Mage
A faint blue orb of mana rose into the sky, hovering high above. With a slight adjustment, it granted her a panoramic view of everything within a three-kilometer radius.
Yu Yu acclimated to the spell's perspective. "Which direction?"
Fuyu's senses were vague but sharp. "Straight ahead. It's getting closer."
Yu Yu refocused the Eye of the Mage, zooming in.
The higher precision revealed the source clearly.
Fuyu's voice tightened. "A malicious aura. It's triggering my instincts."
Yu Yu's tone was calm. "A… writhing bus."
The driver's voice remained steady despite the tension. "Miss Yu, we didn't bring heavy weaponry this time. Should we retreat? Or request backup from the authorities?"
Zi Shu, idly running her fingers along her longsword, spoke up. "Can that anomaly be attacked?"
It was midday, the sun blazing overhead. The morning mist had only just cleared when the Federation sent vehicles to pick them up. Yu Yu's group occupied the middle car of a three-vehicle convoy, with Yu Bai in the lead vehicle.
Yu Yu calculated the speeds involved. "Not ideal. It's moving fast—too fast for us to retreat in time."
Before she finished speaking, the driver decisively turned the vehicle around, one hand on the wheel, the other dialing for backup. His composure never wavered.
Yu Yu leaned against the window, hands in her pockets, her pale, delicate face betraying no emotion. The bus came into view, its grotesque form slithering closer. The driver's lips tightened as he pushed the vehicle to its limits.
Summon Fire Elemental
A creature of molten lava and flame-wreathed joints materialized beside the convoy. The driver's eyes widened, his foot slamming harder on the gas. In the scorching sunlight, the fire elemental burned fiercer than ever, its burly form radiating power. The moment it appeared, it spat a burst of sparks.
From her seat, Yu Yu tracked everything through the Eye of the Mage. The moving vehicle didn't hinder her control. The fire elemental hurled a massive fireball, intercepting the writhing bus.
Simultaneously, a towering earthen figure emerged on the bridge. Its yellow eyes gleamed as it raised a massive stone arm and slammed it into the ground. With a heave, jagged earthen spikes erupted like a forest of spears, forcing the bus to a halt.
The two elemental creatures, immune to the anomaly's corruption, didn't hesitate. They charged forward, engaging the bus head-on. The onlookers in the convoy were speechless.
Yu Yu's voice cut through the silence. "Stop the car."
They had crossed the bridge by now. Yu Yu glanced at her phone. "Any farther, and I won't be able to maintain the spells."
The driver promptly pulled over. Yu Yu stepped out, taking a moment to breathe the open air. Zi Shu followed closely, positioning herself nearby, her posture subtly vigilant. Fuyu vanished into the air the moment she exited the vehicle. The occupants of the other vehicles disembarked as well.
Yu Bai jogged over, her voice frantic. "What's happening? What's going on?"
Yu Yu replied calmly, "We ran into a minor anomaly."
Yu Bai's face paled. "Minor? We didn't bring any weapons!"
Zi Shu, cradling her newly purchased sword, gave her a sidelong glance.
Fuyu materialized beside Yu Bai, slinging an arm around her neck. "What, scared? Yu Yu's right here. You think we're short on firepower?"
Yu Yu spared them a glance. "It's a bit far. Let's move closer."
The driver stepped in front of her. "It's too dangerous to approach. The contamination—"
Yu Yu's Eye of the Mage showed her everything. "No need to worry. If I don't act soon, my fire elemental will burn that bus to ash."
The driver blinked, stunned. "...What?"
Without another word, Yu Yu started walking. Zi Shu fell into step beside her.
Yu Bai stomped her foot, shooting glances at the others before hurrying to catch up. "Hey, slow down! Wait for me!"
The Federation soldiers exchanged bewildered looks.
As they neared the bus, Yu Bai's jaw dropped. "Is it… actually getting demolished?"
The fire elemental's fists, hard as stone and wreathed in flames, had pummeled the bus into a wreck. Holes riddled its surface, the interior scorched as if kissed by an inferno.
The rear was in even worse shape. The earth elemental's raw power had nearly flattened it. If Yu Yu had arrived any later, the bus would likely have been reduced to scrap.
Yu Bai's lips trembled. "These are… your summons?"
Yu Yu nodded. "Mm."
Yu Bai hesitated. "Then…"
Yu Yu glanced skyward. "A helicopter. Federation backup?"
Yu Bai craned her neck. "Where? Where?"
Fuyu, chewing gum and blowing a bubble, smirked. "Don't bother. Yu Yu's spells are top-tier now. She's more versatile than our entire squad. It's probably still miles out."
As if on cue, Yu Bai spotted a distant speck, accompanied by the faint thrum of rotor blades.
Yu Yu shrugged. "It's not that impressive. The range on this spell isn't even that great."
At least, not without upgrades. It was still fairly modest.
Her senior had once said the Eye of the Mage wasn't suited for her own use. But Yu Yu found it incredibly practical—a perfect fit for someone like her, who craved control and situational awareness. It was like having a tactical map, revealing the entire battlefield.
She wondered which veteran specialized in evocation. Perhaps she could trade for a model with extended range and lower mana cost…
She'd have to ask Senior Meng about it later.
Speaking of which, she hadn't logged in today or told the others. The Grand Archon rarely let her venture out, so they probably wouldn't notice her absence for a while. If she couldn't log in tonight, she'd leave a message for Senior Meng on the official site.
By the time the Federation helicopter arrived, the two elementals stood triumphantly over the wreckage of the writhing bus. The scene was… unsettling, to say the least.
Though it resembled a bus, it had the grotesque anatomy of a living creature—viscera, blood, a twitching metal shell, tumor-like headlights, and wheels with a slick, unnatural texture.
Clearly, this wasn't a high-tier anomaly.
Yu Yu, hands still in her pockets, remained unfazed. "How do you handle these things?"
Yu Bai, her eyes gleaming with envy as she admired the imposing elementals, explained, "Specialized teams will clean it up. Even dead anomalies leave contamination. It's a long process—decontamination, then incineration or burial."
Yu Yu nodded, dismissing the elementals with a wave. "Let's keep moving, then."
Yu Bai hesitated. "Why don't we take the helicopter? It's safer. Aerial anomalies are rare."
Yu Yu considered it. "Fair enough."
At the Federation rendezvous point, Qian Qing parked the car and stepped out, scanning the area. As expected, the players gathered were familiar faces.
"Shang Wei terminated her contract. Why?" Wang Mao asked, staring at his phone, utterly baffled. "Su Rongyu's so ambitious. Why would she let Shang Wei go?"
"When we worked with her before, Shang Wei already hinted at wanting out," Qian Qing said, his voice calm and surprisingly clear in person. "If it's her, this outcome isn't surprising."
"Oh, right. You mentioned she's a schemer," Wang Mao muttered.
"President, stop talking. We're already late. Register," Qian Qing urged.
Wang Mao glanced around. "That Crimson you mentioned—will she show up this time?"
Qian Qing finished signing his name. "No idea. Maybe."
Wang Mao spotted three women leaning against a corner and waved enthusiastically. They didn't so much as glance at him.
Wang Mao frowned. "Why are they so rude?"
Qian Qing's expression was impassive. "By any rational standard, they've been at odds with Destiny for years. You shouldn't have greeted them."
"Besides, in Azure Waves, only Shu Tu has a decent personality. The others are eccentric, and now that Shu Tu's left the team, it's normal for them to ignore you."
Wang Mao pouted as he registered. "That was back then. We had to compete. Now we don't."
"Clinging to old grudges is pointless," he said loudly. "If you ask me, they just lack perspective."
Players' senses were sharp, and many turned to look.
The trio—Xiang Qin, Shang Wei, and Zhong Ye—clearly heard him.
Zhong Ye sneered. "Who's that? Oh, just a stray dog. No wonder it's barking so loud."
Shang Wei's eyes half-closed. "Cut the mutt some slack. It's been days since it last yapped—must be dying to make noise."
Xiang Qin let out a soft scoff, her disdain palpable without a single word.
"You—" Wang Mao started.
A deafening roar interrupted him as a helicopter appeared overhead. Qian Qing sighed, almost wistful. "I heard Crimson's team is in Rong City. Looks like they didn't make it this time."
Shang Wei gazed at the helicopter, sharing his disappointment.
Even the officials were here… "The seniors aren't joining?"
Zhong Ye's shoulders slumped. "The captain's not coming?"
"Damn!"
A chorus of exclamations erupted from the players. Above a nearby clearing, the helicopter hovered, its ladder not yet deployed. Someone leaped from it, vanishing upon landing. The players recognized the figure instantly.
A rogue, and one who stealthed the moment they hit the ground. Before the shock subsided, another figure jumped, gracefully clutching a sword.
Yu Bai lowered the rope ladder. "You first, or me?"
Yu Yu cast Feather Fall on herself. "You go."
Yu Bai didn't question it, starting her descent. "It's a bit high, but as long as you don't look down—holy crap!"
Yu Yu glided past her effortlessly. Feather Fall was second nature to her.
To the Federation staff and players watching, the scene was striking: a black-clad woman with pale, refined features and a serene expression, landing with natural grace, hands still in her pockets. She exuded an effortless, almost careless confidence.
Yu Bai, still dangling midair, twisted to gawk.
Damn, talk about style.
The players were stunned.
Wang Mao's face fell. "We drove ourselves here."
"Me too."
"Same."
"I even arrived two hours early to avoid being late."
Shang Wei: "…"
Xiang Qin: "…"
Zhong Ye: "…"
"Why the hell does she get a helicopter?!"
The players invited by the Federation were elites, each with a spark of pride. But now, they felt utterly outdone.
Why did she get a helicopter?!
So unfair! She's stealing the spotlight!
The Federation staff, meanwhile, looked on with envy. Only players could pull off such a stunt—anyone else would've broken half their bones jumping like that.
Yu Yu's expression remained neutral, as if nothing was amiss.
She just hadn't felt like climbing the ladder.
Yu Bai finally reached the ground, inwardly seething with jealousy but focused on the task. She hurried to Yu Yu's side, guiding her forward while explaining, "This was discovered by the military by chance…"
She rattled off details, oblivious to the other players' growing confusion.
Why aren't you briefing us?
Why are you only talking to her?
Yu Yu listened passively, following Yu Bai's lead.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it.
Yu Bai paused. "What's up?"
Yu Yu skimmed the message, counting the zeros in the amount. "Nothing. Just got paid."
She pocketed the phone and nodded for Yu Bai to continue.
Yu Bai: "…"
The players: "…"
Oh, right.
4.5 billion.
Clutches chest and collapses.jpg
Yu Bai was used to being upstaged by now and quickly resumed her briefing. The other players, however, were still reeling, as if hit by a freight train. Yu Yu was no stranger to them. Some were her old rivals; others knew her by reputation. Crimson's meteoric rise and rapid fall had long been a cautionary tale.
But now…
A few players stole glances at Xiang Qin's trio.
Your team should've been the ones soaring. Look at Yu Yu's crew—they arrived by helicopter, didn't they?
What about you?
Shang Wei, Xiang Qin, and Zhong Ye kept their faces carefully blank, betraying nothing.
Then came the final blow.
A uniformed staff member clapped for attention. "I'll now brief you on the mission."
The players froze.
They glanced at Yu Bai's group, already disappearing into the distance, then back at the staff member on the platform.
Stone-faced.jpg: ,,..