EBE Chapter 808 Challenge Dungeon 63
Chapter 808 Challenge Dungeon 63
The next day, at 6:50 a.m.
Yun Chu pushed open the dormitory door, and the corridor was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant—this was a regular morning routine at the school, where the cleaning staff would appear on time and use mops dipped in diluted Lysol to scrub every inch of the floor until it shone.
She wore a faded school uniform, her ponytail neatly tied, and her gray eyes appeared particularly pale in the morning light. She walked down the stairs with unhurried steps.
A small group of people were gathered around the bulletin board in the lobby on the first floor.
It's a player.
Their expressions varied; some were anxious, some were ashen, and others whispered amongst themselves, trying to appear calm. As Yun Chu passed by, snippets of their conversation drifted to her ears:
"...Is it really impossible to get an application form?"
"The dean's office is locked, we can't get in..."
"I heard someone got their hands on four of them, and the transaction happened last night over at the playground..."
"Who? Who is it?!"
Yun Chu continued walking without stopping, passing by the edge of the crowd without attracting any attention.
When she entered the classroom, there were still ten minutes before morning self-study.
The classroom was already mostly occupied by NPC students. Some were catching up on sleep at their desks, some were flipping through books, and some were whispering about topics related to the exam—everything was so normal it was almost eerie.
Yun Chu sat down in her seat.
Gu Tian, who sat at the table in front of her, didn't turn around, but her back stiffened noticeably for a moment. After a few seconds, she turned her head slightly, glanced at Yun Chu quickly out of the corner of her eye, and then quickly looked away.
Yun Chu ignored it.
She opened her Chinese textbook, her gaze falling on the title of the first lesson, just like any student preparing for morning self-study.
At 7:00 AM sharp, the bell rang for morning self-study.
Footsteps came from the corridor, hurried and heavy.
Xia Wanqi rushed into the classroom, followed by Tai Lele and Zhou Muyang.
He looked terrible.
Although the item restored his health, the deep-seated fatigue couldn't be completely erased. Dark circles were faintly visible under his eyes, his lips were pressed into a straight line, and he exuded suppressed anger.
He paused as he passed Yun Chu's seat.
Their gaze swept over.
Yun Chu lowered her head, focused on her textbook, her profile was quiet and gentle, and her eyelashes cast a light shadow in the morning light.
Xia Wanqi withdrew his gaze and walked to his seat.
After he sat down, his gaze began to sweep across the classroom, scanning each face one by one—the NPCs who were engrossed in their books, and the players who were talking in hushed tones.
Tai Lele leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "What? Did you find something?"
Xia Wanqi shook his head and remained silent.
His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.
Last night, that thing—that monster in a blue and white school uniform with constantly changing facial features—suddenly appeared in his dormitory.
It didn't attack him; it just stood there and watched him.
All night long.
He tried using attack tools, but they passed right through the monster's body and had no effect; he tried to escape the dormitory, but the door and windows wouldn't open; he tried closing his eyes, but that cold gaze pierced through his eyelids and went straight into his mind.
All night long.
No matter where he hid, it followed; no matter what he cursed, it just watched; that ever-changing face would occasionally freeze into a distorted smile, the corners of its mouth stretching to its ears, revealing a black hole-like mouth.
It didn't disappear until 5 a.m.
Xia Wanqi doesn't know how he got through that night.
He was an S-class skill holder, a reborn individual, and someone destined to reach the top in this world—but last night, for the first time, he felt fear, a real fear that seeped from his very bones.
What's even more terrifying is that he doesn't know who did it.
Who is it? Who can control such a thing? Is it a special NPC in the dungeon? Or... a player?
His gaze swept across the classroom once again.
Those unfamiliar faces, those figures with their heads down.
He recalled being brutally beaten with a sack over his head last night. That person had the ability to become invisible, to teleport, and possessed immense offensive power…
Is it the same person who controls the monster?
If so, is that person in this classroom right now?
Xia Wanqi felt a slight chill run down his spine.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
No, we can't panic. He's a reborn individual; he has an advantage. We must begin the investigation today, screening all the players—
The bell for morning self-study interrupted his thoughts.
The homeroom teacher entered the classroom as the bell rang. He glanced around and said excitedly, "Tomorrow is the school sports meet. I hope all the students can achieve good results..."
Inside the classroom, a male player looked dejected; he hadn't yet obtained the sports meet registration form.
It must be obtained before midnight today.
He only had less than five hours.
……
……
The moment the bell rang, the player practically rushed out of the classroom.
Before long, the lunch break bell rang, and Yun Chu went to the cafeteria for lunch.
Braised pork belly, stir-fried cabbage, rice that was a bit hard, and seaweed and egg drop soup that was bland and tasteless.
After she finished eating, she got up and walked towards the recycling area.
As she walked out of the cafeteria, she saw Xia Wanqi standing not far away, talking to several players.
His complexion was still terrible, but he had regained a semblance of composure. He smiled and spoke, while the players listened attentively, nodding occasionally.
Yun Chu looked away and walked past him.
Xia Wanqi's gaze lingered on her for a second before shifting away.
An NPC female student, not worth noting.
The afternoon classes passed in a dull manner.
History class, geography class, English class.
NPC teachers took turns lecturing on content that would never be tested, using flat, monotone voices. NPC students mechanically copied from the blackboard, occasionally exchanging a few whispered words.
The loudspeaker announced the start of the third period in the afternoon.
Attention all teachers and students. The school sports meet will be held promptly at 8:00 AM tomorrow on the playground. Please be prepared.
[To reiterate, the school sports meet will be held promptly at 8:00 AM tomorrow on the playground. All students, please be prepared.]
In each classroom, the players who had registration forms breathed a sigh of relief.
Those who didn't have it looked even more ashen.
At six o'clock in the evening, the school bell rang.
Yun Chu packed her schoolbag and left the classroom.
On her way back to the dormitory, she passed the playground.
The setting sun painted the lawn a golden-red hue, and several NPC students were still training, running, long jump, and shot put—a heartwarming and normal scene.
She stood at the edge of the playground and watched for a few seconds.
tomorrow.
The sports meet starts tomorrow.
Those who receive the Badge of Light may leave.
Those that don't exist...
She looked away and continued walking towards the dormitory.
Night gradually enveloped the campus.
A few lights were on in the dormitory building, and a few classrooms in the distant teaching building were still lit up—for evening self-study.
Yun Chu pushed open the dormitory door and locked it from the inside.
She didn't turn on the light.
In the darkness, she walked to the window and looked out at the grove of trees.
The night wind blew, and the leaves rustled.
Nothing came knocking at the door tonight.
That "thing" should still be with Xia Wanqi.
Yun Chu's lips curved into a smile as she turned around and lay down fully clothed.
Close your eyes.
good night.