High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2344: Chapter 565: Belief

Buji Island.

A secluded bay of the Silent River.

An unmanned Ze Meng boat quietly moored on the shore, gently swaying with the water waves, without being tethered by ropes, yet unexpectedly not swept away by the current.

Beneath the boat, several tens of meters below the water’s surface.

Inside a huge air bubble, a few ’Ravens’ sit cross-legged, looking upwards. The membrane wall of the bubble reflects an open, quiet battlefield deep in the Silent Forest, with a bald hill in its center. At this moment, most of the soil layer outside the hill has been stripped away, revealing a structure inside resembling a delicate Pyramid.

The leading Raven slowly reminds his companions: ”...This time, the experiment is large-scale. The Professor ordered that the related data recording and collection must be precise, so I hope everyone present will not be distracted by certain unexpected situations, and stay focused on their task.”

”Aren’t we rescuing people?” Another Raven just said these few words when he received a sharp look from the leading Raven, causing his tone to weaken a bit: ”I mean...”

”Our task is to record data!” The leading Raven looked around, emphasizing each word: ”Even if the sun falls, the earth splits, the world ends, we must focus solely on our task—this is the kind of emotion a qualified researcher should possess. We must remain calm and objective from start to finish, to capture that fleeting accurate number during the experiment... Does everyone understand?”

”Understood!”

All the Ravens bowed their heads in unison, looking at the notepads held in their arms.

...

...

Several tens of miles away from the Ze Meng boat.

Amidst the crown of a lush locust tree.

There are also several Wizards cloaked in black robes and wearing Raven Masks, hiding among the thin branches like feathers, gazing in the direction of the Illegal Laboratory.

During the cold winter, the sparse leaves cannot conceal their noticeable figures, yet birds passing through the branches seem oblivious to them, fluttering their wings and chirping beside the two figures.

Among them, one small cyan bird’s call is unique because it speaks human language.

”...This mission is jointly executed by the First University and Trident Sword, under the code name ’Breaking Shell’, consisting of a special tactical subteam from the Assistant Team, a patrol subteam from the School Works Committee; two crisis support groups from Trident Sword, and three regular Hunting teams... Your mission objective is to prevent the ’Special Experiment Body’ from falling into the hands of the school or Trident Sword... Even if exposure is inevitable, do whatever it takes!”

”Got it!” The leading Raven replied quietly.

The cyan bird tilted its head, its pitch-black eyes revealing a hint of human emotion: ”Hesitant attitude? I hear a trace of doubt in your voice.”

The other Ravens simultaneously stiffened, though without turning around, they all perked their ears, becoming intensely vigilant.

The leading Raven gazed deep into the cyan bird’s eyes, touched his shoulder.

”Death transforms us into Angels, making wings grow from our shoulder blades, which once resembled the claws of the Raven.” He recited a passage every Raven is familiar with, but his tone lacked fervor and was very calm: ”We break through the bonds of rules, transform into Angels, pursuing eternal and noble truth...”

The cyan bird folded its wings, its gaze softened again, joining the other Ravens to gently recite the following words with the leading Raven:

”...I vow to follow in the footsteps of those true Knights of yore. In the wild lands sinking into slumber—pacing leisurely. My destiny will intertwine with captivating legends, pursuing my beliefs—this will be my life’s conduct.”

...

...

From the locust tree crown, again diagonally upward several tens of miles.

Between the sun and the earth.

A huge gray-white Raven spread its wings, steadily perched on a thick gray cloud. Its opened eyes reflect the bare hill stripped of its shell and nearby every Hunter’s figure.

Two Wizards wearing Raven Masks sit one behind the other, quietly on the gray-white Raven’s back, eyes closed, resembling stone carvings. The Wizard sitting in front has a slightly slender physique; his broad robe flutters against him, and some gray strands of hair fly chaotically in the cold wind at the edge of his black mask; occasionally, a few cyan birds move in and out from the sleeves of the Wizard sitting behind him, with the edge of a hood showing glimpses of the dark golden numbers ’Zero Three’.

”This time, the school even called back the Absolution Hunting Team.” Crow No.3 slightly moved his eyeballs under his eyelids, as if noticing something, murmuring softly.

As soon as he spoke, the fierce wind shattered the words.

The Raven in front of him slightly tilted his head: ”What?”

Crow No.3 quietly opened a slit of his eyes, hesitated several times, then said very quietly: ”Professor, didn’t you say you wanted them to join the Ravens?”

”That’s right.”

”So...”

”After the mission ends.”

The Raven’s back once again quieted down, but this silence did not last long before Crow No.3 couldn’t resist, shuffled forward a bit, cautiously asked: ”But Professor... I’ve heard that direct descendants of clan like Tianmen Zhang or Zhongshan Jiang have some special ’safety measures’ on them...”

”Just don’t touch them.”

”Huh?” Crow No.3 evidently didn’t keep up with the Professor’s conversation pace and froze for a moment.

”To control a Fire Dragon, there’s no need to control every scale on it.” The Professor still had his eyes closed, yet his voice was clear enough to reach Crow No.3’s ears: ”We only need to control its Reversed Scale, and it will truly become tame... Likewise, to tame a Hunting team, we only need to grasp the Reversed Scale in the team.”

Crow No.3 mulled this over several times in his mind, contemplating who might be the Absolution Hunting Team’s ’Reversed Scale’.

”Do you know why I’m taking you so high up?”

This question from the Professor prompted Crow No.3 to immediately straighten his spine, subconsciously sat up straighter, shook his head slightly, then realized the Professor had his back turned to him.

But the Professor seemed to see his action.

”On one hand, because this ’Cicada Sloughing’, which rearranges and orchestrates the plan to let the Ravens disappear from public view again, needs you to oversee from a higher position; on the other hand, if this experiment succeeds, I will attempt to complete the Big Wizard’s advancement ceremony before next semester starts; during this time, I hope you can take on more responsibility, compared to Ruiwen and Hu Yin, you handle things more prudently...”

”Wouldn’t it be too rushed?”

Crow No.3 unusually interrupted the Professor, his tone sans any joy in joining ’Ravens’, but with undeniable anxiety and seriousness: ”Our experiment just reached the second phase, requiring more data for comparison... You shouldn’t risk your mind on such matters!”

Once again, the Professor was silent for a long time.

”The school made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

He sighed gently, but his tone was very resolute: ”That offer allows us to venture further in exploring the truth... But accepting the offer requires becoming the Big Wizard... Just as I told you before, everyone is pursuing their beliefs... You can take risks and sacrifice, so can I.”