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The New Shanghai High campus buzzed with pre-exam frenzy on July 7, 2045, but Lin Hao's mind was a storm of Abyssal Energy and dragon roars. The *Crimson Fang Core*, *Abyssal Orb*, *Wraith Crown Shard*, *Titan Heart Shard*, *Behemoth Core Shard*, and *Overlord's Core* in his apron's hidden pocket pulsed like a warning siren, their glow casting eerie shadows in his dorm. The hidden screen from the Abyssal Rift—showing a Level 30 *Abyssal Dragon* stirring beneath the Global College Combat Exam arena—haunted him. An X message, "Weaver, the Abyss never sleeps," hinted at a true mastermind still pulling strings. With the exams just eight days away (July 15, 2045), Lin Hao's Level 21 *World Weaver* skills faced a trial by fire.
[Sassy, a dragon *during* the exams?] Lin Hao thought, gripping his *Blazing Weaver's Cleaver* like it could slice through his panic. [I'm not ready for a Level 30 boss!]
[Hidden Quest Update: Madame Zhao was a puppet. The true mastermind controls a Level 30 Abyssal Dragon, set to strike at the exams. Next step: Investigate the exam arena's underground to disrupt their plan. Reward: 2,000 EXP, Legendary Skill Enhancer. Penalty: New Shanghai's Fall,] Sassy, his sharp-witted [System], replied. [That dragon's got 15,000 HP and Abyssal Energy to spare. Use Forge of the World (Level 3), Thread of Fate (Level 5), Seasoning Slash (Level 5), and Cook the World in a Pot (Level 5) with some serious flair. You're the Spatula Hero, kid—get to the arena before it's game over.]
Lin Hao's jaw tightened, a spark of defiance flaring. "If they want a dragon showdown, I'll serve one with a side of chaos." He texted Squad Firestorm: "Exam arena, midnight. Dragon-sized problem. Bring everything." Su Yan's reply was a fire emoji and "You're gonna owe me, Spatula Boy."
Under the cover of night, Lin Hao met the squad at the exam arena—a colossal, rune-lit stadium where the Global College Combat Exams would decide their futures. Su Yan's *Blaze Sorceress* aura flickered, Wang Lei's *Ironclad Knight* shield gleamed, Zhou Mei's *Wind Archer* bow was ready, and Liu Tao's *Shadow Assassin* daggers glinted. The arena's underground access hummed with Abyssal Energy, and Lin Hao's orbs pulsed in sync.
"Spatula Boy," Su Yan hissed, her fireballs casting long shadows, "a dragon? Seriously? What's the plan?"
Lin Hao held up the *Overlord's Core*, its glow matching the arena's underbelly. "The mastermind's using the dragon to crash the exams. We find their setup underground, disrupt it, and maybe live to study. My orbs are key."
Zhou Mei smirked, nocking an arrow. "You had me at 'maybe live.'"
Wang Lei grunted. "Don't mess this up."
Liu Tao's voice slithered from the shadows. "Go."
[Sassy: Level 22 Abyssal Guardians block the underground—4,000 HP each, weak to disruption. Use Thread of Fate to scout, and Forge something bold. The mastermind's close.]
Lin Hao activated *Thread of Fate (Level 5)*, weaving golden threads into a shimmering web that snaked into the arena's underground tunnels. The threads pulsed, revealing four *Abyssal Guardians*—hulking, rune-covered golems with glowing fists—patrolling a cavern below.
[Scout successful! Guardians detected. Hit them with chaos, Spatula Boy.]
Lin Hao whispered the intel, then activated *Forge of the World (Level 3)*, summoning a glowing anvil. He tossed in a *Harbinger Wing* and *Abyssal Crystal*, weaving *Thread of Fate* to bind them. The anvil flared, crafting a *Starfire Weaver's Cloak*—a shimmering cape that boosted evasion by 35% and had a 30% chance to disrupt Abyssal Energy.
[Item Crafted: Starfire Weaver's Cloak – +35% evasion, +30% skill synergy. Special Effect: Abyssal Flicker.]
Lin Hao donned the cloak, its glow trailing like a comet. He used *Seasoning Slash (Level 5)*, hurling a *Glimmering Spice Jar* cloud at the Guardians, creating a *Disruptive Starfire Haze* that scrambled their runes for 1,000 HP damage each.
[Debuff applied: Rune Scramble – Guardian accuracy reduced by 90% for 40 seconds.]
Su Yan's fireballs melted a Guardian's arm, Wang Lei's shield bashed another, Zhou Mei's arrows pierced their cores, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced their joints. Lin Hao activated *Cook the World in a Pot (Level 5)*, tossing in a *Titan Heart Shard*, *Minotaur Horn*, and *Bookworm Scales*, weaving *Thread of Fate* for extra potency. The wok produced *Guardian-Shattering Goulash*—a radiant, spicy stew that surged through the cavern, dealing 1,800 HP damage per Guardian and binding them with glowing threads.
[Combo Success! Damage dealt: 1,800 HP per Guardian! Debuff applied: Goulash Bind – Guardians immobile for 20 seconds. Squad HP restored by 25%.]
The Guardians crumbled, dropping *Guardian Runes* and *Abyssal Shards*. X posts from students hacking arena cams flooded with #SpatulaHeroSmashesGolems. The squad pushed deeper, reaching a vast chamber where a massive *Abyssal Core* pulsed, linked to the dragon's silhouette above. A cloaked figure—the true mastermind—stood by the core, their face hidden.
"Weaver," their voice boomed, "you're too late. The dragon wakes at the exams." They raised a staff, summoning a Level 23 *Abyssal Phantom*—a ghostly warrior with dual blades.
[Sassy: Phantom's got 5,000 HP, and the mastermind's Level 21. Disrupt the core to weaken them both, and protect the squad.]
Lin Hao's heart raced. "Not on my watch!" He activated *Thread of Fate*, weaving a golden net around the Phantom's blades, slowing its attacks by 60%. He used *Seasoning Slash* to hurl a *Tainted Crystal* cloud, blinding the Phantom with a *Blinding Abyss Haze* for 800 HP damage.
Su Yan's fireballs scorched the Phantom, Wang Lei's shield blocked its blades, Zhou Mei's arrows pierced its core, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced its form. Lin Hao swung his *Blazing Weaver's Cleaver*, triggering Abyssal Sever for 1,200 HP damage. He then activated *Cook the World in a Pot*, tossing in a *Behemoth Core Shard*, *Wraith Crown Shard*, and *Glimmering Spice Jar*, weaving *Thread of Fate*. The wok produced *Phantom-Banishing Bisque*—a glowing, spicy soup that splashed the core, dealing 2,000 HP damage to the Phantom and disrupting the core's energy.
[Combo Success! Damage dealt: 2,000 HP! Debuff applied: Core Disruption – Phantom's energy weakened by 40%. Squad HP restored by 30%.]
The Phantom dissolved, dropping a *Phantom Blade Shard*. The mastermind snarled, firing a staff beam, but Lin Hao's *Starfire Weaver's Cloak* let him dodge, its Abyssal Flicker weakening the beam. He used *Forge of the World* to craft a *Starfire Wok Grenade* from *Guardian Rune* and *Abyssal Shard*, hurling it at the core. It exploded, shutting down the core and knocking the mastermind back.
[Core Disabled! 2,000 EXP gained! Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 23! Skill Upgraded: Seasoning Slash (Level 6) – Damage increased to 250-500, debuff duration increased by 15 seconds.]
The mastermind vanished into a rift, their voice echoing: "The dragon rises at the exams, Weaver!" The chamber stabilized, but the dragon's silhouette above pulsed stronger. Su Yan grabbed Lin Hao. "You're a maniac, Spatula Boy. Exams are in a week—train or die."
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**Cliffhanger**:
In his dorm, Lin Hao's [System] pinged. [Hidden Quest Update: The core's disruption delayed the dragon, but the mastermind will strike at the exams. Next step: Train with Squad Firestorm to face the Level 30 Abyssal Dragon.] An X message read: "Weaver, your orbs are mine at the arena." A tremor shook the campus, and Lin Hao gripped his *Blazing Weaver's Cleaver*, heart pounding. "Sassy, I need to level up fast!"
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