# 172
Chapter 172: End of the Drill
Hmm?
This spider…
Lin Qiye’s brows twitched. The spider-boy, who had just scuttled into mid-air, felt his heart skip a beat.
I’m doomed!
There’s an ambush here too!?
Humans really are evil!!!
“Don’t come any closer…” the spider-boy began, but halfway through his sentence Lin Qiye’s eyes changed instantly.
His left eye turned ink-black, his right eye blazed like the sun. Two completely different divine authorities poured through his gaze and surged into the spider’s mind, a violent pain that felt as if his already-wounded soul were being ripped apart.
“AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!”
The sudden divine pressure shattered the spider-boy’s psyche; his body froze in mid-air. Unable to spit silk, he plummeted like a stone.
Lin Qiye grunted, his face paling. His mind had only just recovered, and forcing the dual-god authority so soon placed enormous strain on his psyche.
But this was no time for hesitation.
His pupils narrowed; a sphere of absolute darkness unfolded around him. With a crook of his finger, the two Straight Blades beside him began to vibrate fiercely.
Clang—!!
The twin blades flashed from their sheaths like black serpents, racing straight for the falling spider-boy.
Under the boost of the darkest God’s Ruins, the blades closed the distance in an instant and, just as the spider was about to drop beyond the fifty-metre range, plunged into his body.
The Straight Blades buried themselves deep in the spider’s carcass, carried outside the darkness, then crashed to the ground.
Lin Qiye rose slowly from the rooftop and looked down. The grey-white spider lay motionless, blood slowly staining the earth…
At the same time a warm current flowed out of nowhere into his body—the soul of the spider-boy he had just slain.
He drew a long breath and sat down as if drained, rubbing his temples while muttering:
“Strange, I actually heard the spider speak… So this is what happens when you overdraw your mental power?”
Shen Qingzhu and the others raced to the foot of Building Three. Seeing the spider corpse with two blades sticking from it, they stared in shock, then looked up at the rooftop.
The boy sat on the edge, shrugging. “You’re late.”
“…” Shen Qingzhu looked resigned.
They had planned for so long and chased the creature across half the training camp, only for Lin Qiye to steal the kill… Still, it was better this way—no casualties from a direct fight.
“You’re out here; does that mean Building Three is clear?” Shen Qingzhu asked.
“Cleared one.”
“One? There’s another?”
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you going to help?”
Lin Qiye shook his head. “I’m tired. Let the others handle the rest…”
Since this was only a drill and dying to a Mystery wouldn’t kill you for real, there was no need to force himself. Besides, the others deserved a chance to shine…
Just then Molly walked out of Building Three covered in blood, dragging a severed giant hand. Behind her came A Zi and the other girls, all blood-spattered, eyes blazing with martial spirit.
Molly tossed the limb to the ground. “Last one’s here.”
Lin Qiye blinked. “Why only a hand?”
“Couldn’t control the vibration frequency. Everything else turned to paste on the walls.” Molly’s face was deadpan.
“…”
He had planned to collect the corpse for a summoning ritual; now there was only a hand. So much for that idea.
Luckily, there was still one left.
Lin Qiye scooped up the fallen scabbards, leapt from the roof, tapped the wall once, and drifted to the ground.
He yanked the twin blades from the spider, ready to haul the body away, when the growl of engines rolled in.
Every recruit turned toward the road.
Camouflaged jeeps roared closer, engines snarling like beasts, dust billowing. In the haze the silhouettes of instructors could be seen.
The vehicles braked in line; the instructors stepped out. Head Instructor Yuan Gang, hands behind his back, strolled toward the recruits.
At the sight, everyone snapped to attention.
Yuan Gang’s gaze swept over them, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Excellent. I declare this Carnival Day drill concluded!”
The word “drill” stunned most of them—especially the girls trapped in Building Three who had watched comrades die before their eyes and had sworn revenge on the “Sound Hunter.” Never had they imagined it was only an exercise.
“I know what you’re thinking. Rest assured, everyone who ‘died’ today is perfectly safe.” Yuan Gang paused, admiration in his eyes. “It’s been a long time… since I’ve seen a Carnival Day this spectacular.”
He continued: “While you fought, every instructor scored your performance. Tomorrow morning the results will be posted on the notice board—check them yourselves.
All training for today and tomorrow is cancelled—get some rest.
Dismissed!”
Cheers erupted; the crowd broke ranks. Only Lin Qiye stayed silent at the back, dragging the spider corpse away…
“A-hem.”
At Yuan Gang’s cough Lin Qiye froze.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The head instructor walked up, voice low.
Lin Qiye pondered. “I… wanted braised spider claws.”
“All Mystery corpses from the drill are to be collected. No braised claws for you.” Yuan Gang shook his head.
Reluctantly Lin Qiye let go of the body, regret all over his face.
Just then another instructor approached with an odd expression and whispered something.
After a moment Yuan Gang turned and stared straight at Lin Qiye.
“Hand over the Cube’s corpse.”
“Hmm?” Lin Qiye blinked innocently. “The Cube? It didn’t leave a corpse.”
“No corpse?”
“Right. It’s just a cube. After I chopped it up it dissolved like sand—nothing left.” His face was the picture of sincerity.
Yuan Gang studied him, then finally shook his head and walked off.
“No corpse… then so be it.”