Lin Fan's eyes grew unnervingly strange as he stared at the six children.
Behind the scarlet glow was a bone-chilling coldness, the look of a predator sizing up lambs for slaughter, greed and expectation simmering in his expression.
Hu Liena trembled, her voice breaking as she stammered, "T-teacher… what are you going to do?"
Lin Fan's crimson gaze fell upon her, sharp and invasive. Overwhelmed, Hu Liena lowered her head.
Though terrified, Xie Yue quickly stepped in front of his sister, shielding her as the cracks spreading across the classroom floor deepened. His voice was taut with fear as he demanded, "What do you want? Who are you really?"
"Keh keh keh keh! Who else? I am your teacher."
Lin Fan's smile twisted into something sinister, his voice low and cold.
"And as your teacher… of course I want you to grow stronger. Don't be afraid. This is just… a little enhancement."
With a wave of his arm, the fissures widened.
The ground split open to reveal a dark abyss, a tunnel that descended into endless blackness.
From below, countless inhuman screeches echoed upward.
"Ahhh!"
The six children huddled together in the corner, pale and shaking.
The crack gaped like the maw of an abyss.
Crunch… crunch…
A hideous grinding noise rose from the depths, drawing closer.
Scrrrrk—scrrrrk!
Something sharp was tearing through stone, dragging itself toward the surface. The sound multiplied, spreading up the tunnel, accompanied by violent tremors that shook the classroom floor.
ROOOAR!!
A monstrous roar exploded from the darkness.
A massive black shape lunged upward, bursting out of the pit and landing before them.
Hu Liena screamed, her pretty face drained of all color.
Xie Yue held his ground in front of her, but his limbs trembled uncontrollably.
Before them stood a grotesque beast, spider-like in form. Its eight barbed legs pierced into the stone walls with terrifying strength.
Its entire body was encased in black, spike-covered armor, exuding malice and death.
And yet—its upper half was disturbingly human.
From the armored torso extended a clear, distorted human face, scarlet eyes glaring at the children with cold scrutiny.
From its head writhed clusters of tendril-like spines, twitching like hair in a phantom wind.
Two massive forelimbs waved lazily, as though picking which child to devour first.
Three of the weaker children collapsed onto the floor, mouths agape in silent terror, their voices strangled by fear.
Lin Fan, however, smiled faintly as his gaze fell on Yan.
Of all of them, Yan surprised him the most.
Where Xie Yue and Hu Liena cowered, Yan—though trembling—watched the monstrous Zerg unit with an unusual spark in his eyes.
He was afraid, yes, but beneath that fear burned willpower, a fiery resilience uniquely his own.
Lin Fan asked softly, "Why aren't you afraid?"
Yan froze, then said firmly, "If this monster was summoned by Teacher… then it won't hurt us. So I'm not that scared."
Lin Fan blinked, genuinely impressed.
This boy's heart and clarity… far more than what the so-called 'original fate' had allowed him. Why had such potential been wasted, reduced to a pathetic supporting role in Tang San's shadow?
He glanced at Xie Yue and Hu Liena again.
The siblings were talented, yes, with exceptional martial souls and even a fusion technique that could serve as a powerful trump card. But in spirit, they were weaker than Yan.
As for the other three children… Lin Fan's eyes flashed crimson.
"Not useless," he murmured.
In the Swarm, talent was the cheapest resource of all. Even the weakest body could be reforged into something useful.
With a wave of his hand, several thick tentacles shot out from the chasm, coiling around the three terrified children and dragging them screaming into the abyss.
"Ahhh! Let me go!"
"Help!"
Their cries vanished almost instantly, swallowed by the dark.
Hu Liena and the others stared at the empty pit, their minds blank with disbelief.
Three living people… gone, just like that.
Lin Fan said casually, "Don't worry. They aren't dead. I am your teacher, after all. Why would I kill my own students?"
Hu Liena shuddered violently, staring at Lin Fan's glowing red eyes—eyes that looked ready to devour her whole.
Xie Yue swallowed hard, his voice shaky. "Then… then where did they go?"
Lin Fan ignored him. Instead, he turned back to Yan.
"Do you want to grow stronger? To stand shoulder to shoulder with the so-called geniuses?"
Yan froze, staring up at him.
Something inside him stirred—like a door opening.
Then he nodded sharply. "I want to be stronger!"
"Good. Don't waste your talent."
Lin Fan's lips curved in satisfaction. With another gesture, the massive Zerg creature stirred.
Its abdomen split open into a gaping cavity. One claw seized Yan and stuffed him inside.
"Ahhh!"
Yan's scream was cut short, smothered within the beast's body.
The human face upon the monster twisted into a chilling grin as it turned toward Xie Yue and Hu Liena. Then, with a screech of stone, it crawled back into the darkness of the pit.
Hu Liena nearly fainted, clutching the wall for support. Her voice shook as she whispered, "Brother… h-he was eaten, wasn't he?"
Xie Yue scratched his head nervously, glancing at Lin Fan's expression. "…Probably not… I think."
Lin Fan's gaze swept over them, his voice cold and final:
"Now it's your turn. Accept the gift I offer."
Xie Yue waved his hands frantically.
"No need, Teacher! Nana and I are fine as we are! We don't need to get stronger!"
Lin Fan chuckled darkly.
"How could the Golden Generation be so weak? And to be beaten by some little Shrek Academy in the future? No… you will embrace evolution."
Scrrrrk!
Two more tentacles lashed out, wrapping around the siblings and yanking them into the pit.
Without hesitation, Lin Fan leapt down after them.
****
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