Eldritch Horror Theatre

Worldly affairs were truly hard to predict. Being too dedicated to one’s job wasn’t always a good thing.

As the only tutor who treated the Work Unit like his home, Professor Ah Kai had suffered the most during this incident.

And that was only because he’d gotten lucky and avoided taking a direct hit from those Spikes.

One look at the scene before them was enough to imagine the peril.

The once-magnificent Benevolent Curse Institute was now riddled from top to bottom with hideous, gaping holes. It was on the verge of going from merely desolate to thoroughly ruined.

Beyond this Nightmare of a scene, other traces had been left behind—countless Feathers lay scattered across the ground all around the building.

The Spikes that erupted from the Underground hadn’t just pierced the massive structure; the Feathers they had shattered into were entirely real.

Though, having taken physical form, they weren’t pure white, but a pale gray.

The one stuck to Professor Ah Kai was exactly the same.

”The inside is full of these things. It’s stuffed like a bird’s nest.””Besides that, they feel completely ordinary, without any Transcendent power. But on my way out, I noticed the Feathers stretching deep into the Underground. They probably have a lot to do with that commotion just now... Do you want to go down and take a look, Professor Fu?”

Noticing Fu Qian’s movements, Ah Kai briefly pushed aside his sorrow to share what he had seen.

”There’s no rush.”

Fu Qian simply shook his head. He twirled the Feather in his fingers, showing absolutely no intention of taking advantage of the sparse crowd to investigate early.

He had hurried over to spectate because the commotion was massive.

He wasn’t getting any more involved because the commotion was far too massive.

A shower of Meteors smashing down was only a surface-level spectacle.

As mentioned before, the far more crucial detail was where those Meteors struck.

With the Destiny Meteor of the Prison Angel Captain landing here, regardless of whether his previous speculations were true, what followed would inevitably be an incident involving the remnants of the Angelic Faith, the secrets of the Academy, the Conservative Faction of the Night Watchers, and perhaps even the Origin Council.

Indeed. Even though Professor Ah Kai was a young prodigy, the moment secrets tied to the Benevolent Curse Institute came up, the first person who came to Fu Qian’s mind was still their former Dean.

Nepheli.

This Tier 2 he had crossed paths with more than once had resolutely walked away after leaving behind a trail of stunning academic achievements, joining what could only be considered a top-tier illegal organization.

How much did she know about the Underground of the Benevolent Curse Institute? Or even the Prison Angel Captain?

Or even the Needle Witch?

Did that Night Watcher, whose methods operated as if all taboos were lifted, have any dealings with the Origin Council?

He didn’t know.

None of these questions had answers at the moment.

But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be raised.

This Meteor shower had undoubtedly pushed the chaos of the situation to a whole new level.

Numerous elements that never should have intersected had been boiled together into one messy stew. It was practically guaranteed that various factions would soon be dragged into this.

That being the case, why rush in now and draw suspicion?

”I’ll make sure no one barges in recklessly. You should try to contact the other tutors.”

Not only did Fu Qian hold off on exploring, but he also immediately directed Professor Ah Kai to check on the staff of the Benevolent Curse Institute, leaving himself to secure the perimeter and prevent any accidents.

”Alright...”

Clearly realizing the urgency of the situation, Ah Kai had no objections to this arrangement and hurried off at once.

At the same time, Fu Qian reached out to catch another fluttering Feather and compared the two.

It was virtually identical to the one stuck to Professor Ah Kai, as well as those from the Angel Dungeon of the Wasteland.

...

”Is everything alright?”

The first light of dawn spilled through the window, nearly reaching his hand. Sitting in his chair and admiring the bright morning, Fu Qian greeted Ji Liushuang as she walked through the door and casually asked the question. He had already made his appearance at the scene; insisting on staying there just to maintain order would only make him look overly theatrical.

Not long after Professor Ah Kai left, Fu Qian handed the crowd-control duties over to Ji Liushuang and retreated to the Laboratory to hold down the fort.

Ordinarily, a mere student’s words might not carry much weight. However, considering that absolutely everyone now knew exactly who she worked for, she would have no problem handling such a minor task.

”Yes.”

Despite all the commotion so early in the morning, Classmate Liushuang’s eyes were still bright and energetic as she gave a serious nod.

”Professor Ah Kai has confirmed it. None of the tutors were hurt.”

”And the area around the Benevolent Curse Institute has been completely cordoned off. No one is allowed inside.”

”Very good. Thanks for your hard work.”

Amid his verbal praise, Fu Qian gestured for her to take a seat and rest.

”Dean Li wanted to know if you were free...”

Ji Liushuang didn’t take the break, though. Instead, she shook her head and continued.

Oh?

”Has Dean Li advanced to the Demigod Realm?”

Fu Qian suddenly understood the hint of joy sparkling in Classmate Liushuang’s eyes.

”Yes. Dean Li arrived shortly after you left, and everyone was quite shocked.”

Classmate Liushuang’s tone grew noticeably lighter. Beneath the Meteor strike, the Academy hadn’t suffered any casualties—instead, they had gained another Demigod.

For her, this result clearly made all the busy morning’s work entirely worth it.

...

As expected of a swordsmanship family. Did his actions count as helping pass down some sort of alternative inheritance?

Fu Qian was equally pleased by the news Ji Liushuang had brought.

Li Weixuan had indeed proven himself, truly becoming the youngest officially recognized Demigod in many years.

And given that this gap in Rank had been filled in, him taking the Academy’s long-vacant position of Dean would be the natural next step, wouldn’t it?

Truly a cause for celebration.

The Meteor shower was magical indeed. The situation was truly getting more exciting by the minute.

”I briefed Dean Li on the situation, and he’s currently discussing it with Professor Ah Kai and the others.”

”Considering you were the first Demigod on the scene, Professor Fu, Dean Li really wants to hear your perspective. He said he’d love for you to come over and join the discussion if it’s convenient.”

Amid his musings, Ji Liushuang continued explaining the reasoning behind the invitation.

Oh?

Fu Qian cast a glance out the window.

Such a broad request made it obvious that his research assistant had kept her lips sealed. Aside from reporting his on-site leadership, she clearly hadn’t told Li Weixuan a word about the conversation they had shared right here earlier.

”What a shame. It’s not convenient.”

Still, Fu Qian smiled as he declined the invitation and handed her a piece of paper.

Shocked that Professor Fu would react this way, Ji Liushuang took the paper subconsciously and found a circular, Emblem-style pattern drawn on it.

Its lines were simple—it looked like a heart sliced right down the middle, with the separated halves resembling a pair of wings.

”I have a few things to take care of. Do me a favor and give this to Dean Li privately.”

Fu Qian offered an incredibly vague excuse.

”As for the situation over at the Benevolent Curse Institute... it reminds me of an Underground structure I once saw in the Wasteland.”

”Inside it, there was an Emblem just like this one, as well as the exact same gray Feathers.”