Even Yu Yu, who prided herself on her composure, couldn't hold it together under the weight of so many stares.
She turned to Shu Tu, using her as a human shield. "I picked up a real-world mission…"
She whispered a rapid explanation, then added, "Does the Grand Archon need me for something?"
Her voice was low, but the silence around them was deafening. Yu Bai heard every word, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. She'd been wondering which NPC was contacting Yu Yu, only to learn it was the Grand Archon…
Good heavens. The Federation had pulled every string just to glimpse the Grand Archon, let alone speak with her. And yet…
The gap between people was infuriating.
If Yu Bai's guess was right, the Grand Archon was the one currently out-maneuvering the Federation. She was a formidable woman. Though they'd never seen her face, she'd already driven the Eternal Darkness task force to their wits' end, cursing her name in their sleep.
Yet, to this day, they only knew her by the title Yu Yu had casually dropped. If her colleagues saw this scene, Yu Bai could only shake her head at the thought.
But…
Healing…
Yu Bai's chest burned with excitement, itching to report back immediately. The higher-ups needed to shift their stance. Spellcasters were treasures. Summons, elementals, mass support spells—and now healing magic. What couldn't they do?
Shang Wei's eye twitched, but she bit her tongue.
Qian Qing's face was practically green.
They were all spellcasters. Why was the gap so vast?
He'd tried cozying up to NPCs too, but the results were… underwhelming.
Why was Yu Yu so favored?
The Grand Archon personally calling to ask why she wasn't online?
Qian Qing was jealous to the point of dissociation.
"Hm? What's that?" The Grand Archon's voice was thoughtful. "Alright, when will you log in?"
Yu Yu considered. "Soon."
She no longer needed a wristband to cast, but she carried it out of habit. She'd find a quiet spot to lie down and log in shortly.
Most players still relied on wristbands to channel their skills. Was she the only one building spell models from scratch?
The Grand Archon's tone was firm. "Come find me when you're online."
Yu Yu adopted a docile expression. "Got it."
Snapping back to reality, she realized everyone was still staring. She tugged Shu Tu's arm, hurrying outside. Shu Tu stifled a laugh but couldn't resist glancing at her arm, tracing the newly grown skin.
It was… miraculous.
What was the principle behind it?
Yu Yu's worry for her hometown kept her from focusing on the game. She logged in briefly to report the situation to the Grand Archon, then disconnected to await news.
Yu Bai noticed her stir and approached, her face grim. "Trouble."
"What's wrong?" Yu Yu's expression darkened, mirroring Yu Bai's gravity.
Yu Bai's voice was low. "Their reproduction rate is too fast. We can't evacuate people quickly enough to match their tunneling. And they're still heading for the Chongjiang…"
"We need to act fast. Every day we delay, they get closer to the river, and their numbers grow more terrifying." Yu Bai's brows knit tightly as she glanced at her phone, her expression sour. "They're nearing the Chongjiang now. Their digging speed and our evacuation rate are in a stalemate. We need at least three hours to break the balance. We're not evacuating fast enough. If we deploy heavy weapons now, some residents will still be within the danger zone. The more we try to contain, the faster they breed and dig…"
Yu Yu's face fell. "How did it come to this?"
Yu Bai's expression was bitter. "The higher-ups didn't expect this either. If we had a choice, we wouldn't let it happen. But letting them multiply for even one more day will escalate the damage exponentially…"
"Unless…"
Yu Yu pressed, "Unless?"
Yu Bai's tone was heavy. "The brass wants you to evacuate. You live too close to the river in case it breaches."
Yu Yu's voice was firm. "No other way?"
Yu Bai shook her head. "Not unless you can find a solution and convince them."
Yu Yu said nothing, lying back down. Her wristband glowed with a deep, mesmerizing blue.
Shu Tu, who hadn't logged in, was silent for a moment. "So, those people are just… abandoned?"
Yu Bai hesitated. "If we don't sacrifice them, more will die later."
She gestured a small circle with her hands. "Right now, we only need to hit this small area. The outer edges—those who can't evacuate in time—will take the hit. The Federation's weapons have been tested, with some margin built in…"
"What else can we do?" Her voice cracked, fraying. "People die every day now. Anomalies kill constantly. We're drowning in death reports faster than we can file them. What can we do?"
"We talk about sealing them, finding their source, but we don't have that tech." Yu Bai's eyes reddened as she spoke. "We're just patching a tattered cloth, holding on day by day. There's no hope in sight…"
She caught herself, forcing calm. "That's the reality. Better to kill than to let them loose. If the ants reach the surface, with our current capabilities, how many in the city will survive? And they're in the city center—we can't use wide-range weapons. Too weak, and they fail. Too strong, and we risk worse."
"With transport cut off, we can't even call for help. We're scavenging local armories."
"Truth is, the armories are stocked, but every shot depletes them. Resupply is nearly impossible. We're only getting weaker, while the anomalies grow stronger…"
Wei Shu Tu fell silent, then said softly, "You're doing your best." She added, "Hold on a bit longer. Things will turn around."
"Like when Yu Yu hits high-tier. With all her spells, we won't be this helpless…"
Yu Bai's despair eased slightly, tinged with envy. "You're right. Eternal Darkness is the only light in this darkness."
"I'm so jealous of you players…"
Wei Shu Tu grinned. "Didn't Yu Yu say the magic circle is planning to expand recruitment? Maybe you'll get picked next time."
Yu Bai's head snapped up. "What? Expand recruitment?"
Wei Shu Tu realized her mistake.
Oh no. Yu Yu hadn't told her?
She fumbled, "I don't know. She said it's possible, but she can't decide…"
Yu Bai's eyes lit up, though she huffed, "Why didn't she tell me?! This is huge!"
She whipped out her phone, typing furiously, her face alight with zeal.
Shu Tu: "…"
She tried to salvage it. "Maybe the info's unconfirmed. She didn't want to get your hopes up for nothing."
Yu Bai's fervor cooled slightly, her typing slowing—just a tad.
Shu Tu: "…"
Fuyu, slumped against her, was fast asleep, undisturbed by their talk.
Rogues, unlike warriors, lacked the endurance to stay alert.
As dusk settled, Shu Tu gazed at the sky beyond the tent, sighing softly.
"A barrier to contain them, a few Earthquake spells, and the ants?" Meng scoffed. "They'd drop like flies."
Yu Yu groaned, exasperated. "Senior Meng, give me something I can use."
If only I were a high-tier spellcaster!
In the castle, Yu Yu hadn't gone far after logging off. She'd parked herself by the fountain before diving back in.
Once online, she scrolled her contacts, quickly drawing a crowd of the Grand Archon's idle associates.
Like Meng. And Chang.
Meng mused, "Most third-ring spells are small-scale. They won't give you the effect you need."
Yu Yu's voice was desperate. "Is there really no way to save them?"
Chang exchanged a glance with Meng. "Not entirely."
Yu Yu latched onto the hope. "What's the way?"
Chang explained, "Spellcasters looking to cast above their tier have two options."
"First, you burn your potential, shrinking your mental sea and sacrificing advancement to forcibly cast a spell beyond your reach."
She shot a look at Meng.
Meng averted her gaze.
Yu Yu's fingers tightened. "That's serious, isn't it?"
Chang nodded. "Very. She was half-dead, barely pulled through."
Yu Yu caught the implication, confused. "Who?"
Meng cut in. "The other method—one you can use."
Yu Yu's eyes sparkled. "What is it?"
Meng smirked. "You've seen us do it."
Yu Yu racked her brain but came up blank.
Meng: "Group casting."
Yu Yu's face lit up, the memory clicking.
Meng continued, "The magic circle has lost much, but ritual magic remains intact. Group casting is its core foundation."
"It distributes mental strain—just the basics."
Yu Yu grabbed her hand. "Senior! Teach me!"
Meng chuckled. "Time's the issue."
"A fourth-ring spell isn't some grand technique, but learning the model and casting it in short order? Slim chance."
"And with the crisis, others can't learn it. You'd have to guide and harmonize their mental energies alone. The strain on you would be immense."
Yu Yu was resolute. "I don't care. I want to try."
Meng's lips quirked. "Alright. Group casting's on your curriculum anyway. This is just early."
"Do your best."
She shifted into teacher mode. "First, pick a spell. What do you want?"
When Meng focused, she was relentless.
Yu Yu asked timidly, "I can only cast one spell. Which can stall for over three hours?"
Chang chimed in, "Why not a Meteor Strike to flatten the ants?"
Yu Yu's smile vanished. "And trigger a geological disaster, flood the city, and send everyone to hell?"
Chang blinked. "Oh, right. City center. Tricky."
Meng pondered. "Sleep Domain or Greater Barrier.
"Greater Barrier's better, but the ants are underground. Your Mental might not cover the full subsurface range," she muttered. "If the barrier breaks, you won't have the Mental to sustain it."
"A one-shot spell's safer." She looked at Chang. "Sleep Domain?"
"She already knows Mass Sleep. It's a start."
Chang nodded. "Your call."
Meng dragged Yu Yu off for intensive training, while Chang went to report.
The Grand Archon didn't look up. "It's part of her training. Let her learn."
Chang hesitated. "Yu's talented, but it's her first ritual. I was thinking…"
The Grand Archon glanced at her. "Have Meng leave a slot in the ritual array. I'll lend some Mental to oversee. If she falters, I'll guide."
As the planes drew closer, their Mental could already seep into the next world. Once stabilized, that limit would rise.
Chang smiled. "Understood."
The Grand Archon mused, "I feel like my entire staff's been won over by that kid."
Something's off, isn't it?
That night, fog cloaked the city.
Yu Bai, dazed by Yu Yu's plan, reported it.
The Federation's response was blunt: Try it!
Whatever she needed, they'd provide.
Yu Yu: "Senior says a mere fourth-ring spell can be drawn with Mental alone. One-time use."
The spellcasters, dragged from their blankets in the dead of night, gaped. "…"
Pulled out of bed to watch Yu Yu show off? What did they do to deserve this?
A mere fourth-ring spell?!
Shang Wei, listening, was stunned. "You can cast together?"
Yu Yu nodded vigorously. "Senior demonstrated a Meteor Strike for me, then roped in Senior Chang and Senior Han to show me another—well, not a Meteor Strike, more like a meteor shower."
"The power difference was huge," she griped. "But since we were too close, Senior Qiong chewed us out and banned high-power spells in Silver Moon. Told us to take it to the sea…"
The crowd: "…"
Dissociation.jpg
So, three high-tier spellcasters danced around you to teach this, with codenames we've never even heard?!
Yu Bai's face glowed with admiration. "You're incredible, Yu Yu."
Yu Yu finished the final stroke of the array with precision, flashing a modest smile. "Oh, just average. I'm actually pretty weak."
If Senior Meng knew she was flexing in reality, she'd mock her mercilessly.
Shang Wei: "So why'd you drag us here?"
Yu Yu blinked innocently. "Human batteries."
"Just stand there and release your Mental. I'll handle the rest."
Yu Yu puffed up. "Group casting! Don't you want to try?"
Qian Qing's tone was flat. "No risks?"
Yu Yu frowned, sketching the array. "Forgot to ask. Senior, if the ritual fails, any danger?"
Meng: "?"
"Didn't you ask a dozen times this afternoon?"
She sighed. "No, no, no. A mere fourth-ring? With your Mental, you could cast it solo. Failure just means a few days of mental fatigue. Rest, and you're fine."
"What about the others?"
Meng grinned, catching on. "Tools just stand there. The main caster bears the pressure and risk."
"You're under heavy strain—casting and coordinating Mental. You ready?"
Yu Yu nodded solemnly. "I'm ready."
Meng: "Open the official site."
Yu Yu blinked. "Why?"
"Senior Xue heard about your group cast and tweaked the beta livestream. You're the first guinea pig."
Yu Yu was floored. "What? I'm streaming?"
What's worth streaming?
Yu Bai's eyes sparkled. A chance to interact with magic circle elites! She'd never even heard their voices!
Record ready!
Yu Yu relented. "Fine, fine. I'm ready. Watch me shine, Senior!"
Meng's voice was warm with amusement. "Go on, shine."
Yu Bai, ecstatic, was plotting how to record when Yu Yu tapped her.
"Hold my phone. Film me," Yu Yu instructed. "If I look off, film them. If I'm good, stick with me."
Qian Qing's face darkened. "Shameless."
Shang Wei sneered. "Your seniors are so clever."
Yu Yu ignored them.
If Rong City had more spellcasters, she wouldn't bother with these grumps.
Not mocking them back was her version of "coaxing."
Yu Yu barked, "I taught you how to release Mental. Can't even handle that? Go raise pigs!"
"Any questions?"
Besides Qian Qing and Shang Wei, the other three were thrilled.
Streaming! They'd heard it!
Jackpot!
Not only did they get to join a group cast and show off to the Federation, but they'd also appear before magic circle elites.
High-tier spellcasters were untouchable, seen only on stages.
Compared to their warmth with Yu Yu, they were a different species.
Yu Bai nervously set up the stream, activating the camera as prompted.
She handed her own phone to Shu Tu to record a second angle, audio and video.
But Shu Tu got orders from the Federation: You stream too.
A gaggle of Federation brass and staff crammed behind phones, itching to be on-site.
This was the magic circle and Federation's first real-world exchange (sort of).
Shu Tu wanted to snark: Streaming a stream? Matryoshka dolls?
Yu Yu positioned the five spellcasters at the pentagon's points, standing at the forefront. "Ugh, I'm nervous…"
On the official stream, account notifications pinged.
[Qiong] [Xue] [Dai] [Chong] [Chang] [Han] [Felix] [Feng Ye]…
Names flooded in, nearly thirty viewers in a blink.
Yu Yu glanced at the list and froze.
Why are you all so free?
"All the seniors are here? What if I flop?"
Feng Ye's voice crackled. "Quit yapping. Flop, and you're in for a lecture."
Qiong: "After that stunt you pulled, if you fail, report to the Enforcement Office. We'll discuss high-power spells outside Silver Moon."
Yu Yu cringed. "It's like that?"
Dai: "The kid's already on group casting? Intriguing. I'm excited~"
The voice was familiar, but Yu Yu couldn't place it.
Meng's calm, rich tone cut through. "Stay cool. Failure's fine. I'll just assign extra homework. No pressure."
Yu Yu wailed, "Extra? You mean multiplied! How is that no pressure?!"
Meng sounded surprised. "Multiplied? Would it?"
Her teasing tone made Yu Yu grit her teeth. "I'll succeed!!"
She turned, redirecting pressure. "Don't screw this up. Be good batteries."
Normally, Qian Qing would've snapped back.
But under the gaze of countless magic circle elites, he held his tongue.
Gotta impress the big shots.jpg
Yu Bai's hands trembled as voices poured from the phone.
These were magic circle elites?
Their voices… unexpectedly pleasant… no, surprisingly gentle!
Which one was the Grand Archon?
Feng Ye: "Is that Shu Tu? Steady your hand. It's shaky."
Xue: "Next time, we'll work on anti-shake."
Shu Tu was floored. Since when did these titans know her name?
She was secretly thrilled.
Yu Bai clamped her hands, muscles taut, refusing to shake.
On Shu Tu's end, Federation brass stared at their screens, desperate to leap through and chat with the magic circle.
Yu Yu rubbed her hands, then sighed. "No staff feels so weird."
Her hands felt awkward, itching for a cool pose but dismissing it as silly. She muttered, "Not even a pocket. I'm complaining to 0007. When will robes get pockets?"
Felix: "No need to bother Her Majesty with that. Just tell Senior Xue."
Yu Yu lit up. "Xue! You're here too?!"
Felix: "Shut it. Cast."
Yu Yu, docile again: "Oh."
She glanced at Yu Bai. "Keep people clear. I don't want my Mental leaking and knocking out bystanders."
Group casting was a marvel, slashing mental drain and simplifying models, even lowering casting difficulty.
Yu Yu suspected it was the magic circle's true strength.
Three high-tier spellcasters caused that much havoc. A hundred casting a fifth-ring spell? World-ending.
She'd unlocked a new skill, but lacked proper batteries.
Shame.
Seeing Yu Bai's tense nod, Yu Yu's expression turned solemn. "I'm starting."
On a platform carved overnight by the Federation, the six stood at hexagonal points, hands clasped at chest level in the game's chanting pose.
It felt goofy, so they skipped it in-game. Yet here, it fit perfectly.
The chant began, all six closing their eyes.
Clad in their own clothes, their garments fluttered in the night's biting wind.
Yu Yu, at the forefront, wore her white tee and black jacket.
The wind flipped her collar.
Eyes closed, her pale, refined face was etched with focus, her dark hair tied in a ponytail, whipping in the gusts.
Though silent, an immense force surged, pressing on Yu Bai until she stumbled back, gasping.
Feng Ye: "Yu's Mental is impressive."
Felix: "Hush."
Feng Ye "…"
That's how you treat your teacher, you little pup?!
The others held their breath, watching intently.
A casual fourth-ring spell, yet they were riveted, even nervous.
The few figures on the platform stood alone in the howling wind, seemingly isolated.
But unbeknownst to them, countless eyes watched, openly and in secret.
An invisible force swelled, overwhelming. Yu Bai, unable to see it, was pushed back further.
Mental energy poured forth, guided with precision by Yu Yu, each step meticulous.
It wasn't as hard as she'd feared.
In the frigid night, the black-clad woman, eyes closed, smiled faintly, pleased with the smooth progress.
In that moment, everyone caught it. :,,.