The moment Freddy appeared, everyone's blood ran cold.
What—how did he show up so suddenly!? Wasn't he supposed to appear only at night!?
Yujin was the first to feel a surge of doubt.
Could it be… from the moment they arrived in the classroom, they had already fallen into a dream? When did it happen?
Freddy looked at their bewildered faces and relished their fear. His figure flickered once on the podium.
Swish!
In the next instant, he appeared right in front of a dazed, chubby man.
Yujin remembered this fat man's surname was Ding. His profession was selling insurance.
Ding's mind was completely blank. He didn't even think to resist.
"Puchi!"
Freddy's razor claws pierced through the fat man's belly like the scythe of death. Blood and organs spilled out, painting a gruesome scene.
As he pulled his claws back, blood gushed like a fountain. Screams and cries erupted throughout the classroom.
The floor was quickly soaked red as blood spread like a sea, drowning the classroom in horror.
Freddy admired his masterpiece, the corners of his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Too much oil. Disgusting."
Yet despite his words, he stuck out his tongue and licked the blood from his claws, a gesture both vile and revolting.
Suddenly, a figure burst out from the crowd!
Yujin unleashed everything—Curse Mark, Second Stage. Kagune. Sharingan. Gene Lock. All at once!
Wings spread wide, his tail kagune's sharp hook lunged toward Freddy's charred, twisted face with deadly force!
Huh?
The expected impact never came.
In a daze, Yujin opened his eyes.
The golden light of dusk fell over him. Beside him, Nova was staring with a strange expression.
That fat man who had been killed moments ago was still trembling in his seat—alive and well.
Yujin instantly realized. He raised his hand, checking his wristwatch for the data.
Thirty seconds remained. The story's protective barrier hadn't activated yet.
On the podium, the old white woman continued rambling endlessly about the students she was teaching.
Everything just now… was all a dream?!
Yujin took off his sweat-soaked jacket and loosened his shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Nova waved her hand in front of him.
Yujin rubbed his forehead, recalling the strange events earlier. "Nothing. Just be careful."
Nova fell silent, as if she had guessed something.
As the last thirty seconds passed…
The protective barrier disappeared!
The cycle began!
Yujin immediately rushed out of the classroom, pulling out the communicator he had purchased from the Lord God for fifty reward points. He searched while calling out, "Are you with Da Qiang?"
At the police station, Zhang Jie took out his communicator. Seeing the message, he quickly typed a reply.
[Yes, we're together.]
"Where?"
[At the police station. Aren't you there? Can you move freely?]
Yujin, who was in the middle of violently forcing the classroom door open, paused. "Tell me your mission."
Returning to the classroom, Yujin found the newcomers still seated stiffly, unsure of what to do.
Seeing him return, they seemed to gain confidence. A woman named Zhou Juan stepped forward.
"C-Captain, what… what should we do?"
Yujin knew from their behavior that if he didn't act, most of the newcomers would be killed. By probability, Freddy would also find him again very soon.
"Follow me! To the hospital!"
In the hospital warehouse, the cycle members received from Nova a series of drugs that were either taken orally or injected, all designed to excite them.
Zheng Zha, who had spent his whole life following rules and routines, looked at the hospital staff lying unconscious on the floor—knocked out by Yujin—and felt an unexpected surge of excitement.
So… things could be done this way?
"This is yours."
Nova walked up to Zheng Zha and handed him a pile of syringes.
Zheng Zha took them and glanced at the few meager medicines beside the others, feeling a bit puzzled.
"Why are there so many for me?" he asked.
At the same time, Zhan Lan on the side also received an unusually large amount.
Nova explained, "Yujin said to give you extra. I don't know why either, just take them."
Zheng Zha scratched his head and accepted the syringes and pills.
He looked over at a female office worker crying quietly nearby. After a brief hesitation, he handed her two of the syringes.
The woman wiped her tears. "Thank you, big brother."
"No problem. Stay alive!" he replied.
The scene was truly touching.
But Yujin, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
Seriously, at a time like this, still trying to be Mr. Nice Guy.
"Cough, cough."
Yujin cleared his throat. "It's getting late. Your watches should have your home addresses. Take the medicine and go home."
The newcomers exchanged glances, all seeing panic and helplessness reflected in each other's eyes.
Like walking corpses, they slowly left the hospital one by one.
As the last ray of sunset disappeared, Elm Street fell into darkness.
Inside a bright room, Yujin had transformed into a chef, stir-frying green peppers with shredded pork over the gas stove.
"Dad, when did you learn to cook?"
A curious girl with wide, bright eyes asked.
She was Yujin's daughter, arranged by the Lord God.
Her name was Diana, a Chinese-American mix, seven years old, full of sunshine and energy.
"Last week. I learned it from a TV show," Yujin replied without turning around.
"You're amazing, hubby!"
A woman with golden hair and sparkling blue eyes hugged Yujin from behind, her wavy hair cascading down.
"My husband is the best in town!" she exclaimed.
Feeling the softness of two F-ranked masses behind him, Yujin pushed her slightly away. "I'm cooking, don't mess around."
This woman, gifted with both charm and figure, was Yujin's wife, arranged by the Lord God.
Her name was Winnie.
But Yujin wasn't lost in a world of tenderness.
If he tried to let the little head control the big head at a time like this, he wouldn't even know how he'd die.
After cooking four dishes in a row, Yujin's family gathered around the dining table.
Winnie took Diana's hand, then looked at Yujin and reached out her hand as well.
"Thank the Lord for the food granted to us."
Yujin sighed.
What Lord? Didn't he cook these dishes himself?
Still, he obediently closed his eyes and prayed.
When the prayer was over, they started eating.
Diana scooped some tomato scrambled eggs into her bowl, took a bite, and grimaced, furiously scraping her tongue with the spoon.
"Dad, why… why is this egg so bitter? Is it spoiled?"
Yujin awkwardly glanced at the medicine bottle in the trash. "Ahem, the seasoning was too much. Next time I'll use less! Hold your nose and eat it!"
Winnie poked some shredded pork with green peppers with her fork, but as soon as it touched her mouth, she spat it out.
"It's too bitter!"
Yujin's voice carried authority without anger. "Bitter or not, you have to eat it! We must finish all these dishes!"
"Ah! Dad, Diana can't do it!"
Yujin slammed his hand on the table. "Do you want to go to the amusement park?"
Before his little daughter could answer, he looked at his wife Winnie. "Do you want a gold necklace?"
Both women nodded at the same time.
"Then finish eating!"
With that, no matter how bitter it was, both women pinched their noses and started swallowing.
Meanwhile, the protective barrier around the police station finally disappeared.
Da Qiang kicked open the police station door and stomped in anger, staring at the dim surroundings and the streetlights flickering on and off.
"Damn it, Freddy! How could I possibly deal with something like this!"
Just as he finished speaking, a little girl in a black hoodie, Zhao Yingkong, slipped past him and moved forward.
Da Qiang shouted angrily, "Hey, where are you going?"
Zhao Yingkong didn't even bother responding and quickly walked out of everyone's sight.
****
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/aayume