Chapter 5: Mission Release

The phone on the ground buzzed with Yu Zishan’s somewhat panicked voice.

The school wasn’t far from here, so she naturally felt the tremor coming from this side.

“I’m fine.”

Bai Nian picked up the phone; by now, the vibration had stopped.

“It’s a Disaster Gate.”

She explained.

Yu Zishan on the other end grew unusually serious upon hearing this, her expression turning grim.

“That’s a Dimensional Replica. Is your school locked down right now?”

“How do you know?”

Bai Nian was a bit surprised.

“Also, what exactly is a Dimensional Replica?”

None of this was taught in the books.

Before Yu Zishan could explain, the speakers in every classroom simultaneously broadcast an announcement.

“Students, please stay calm. Don’t panic.”

“When a large number of Awakened simultaneously awaken, it’s possible for a Regional Rank Disaster Gate to appear. This has only happened once in our school’s history.”

“The difficulty of a Regional Rank Disaster Gate is relatively high. The Barrier will not be lifted until it is cleared.”

“Our investigation shows this gate is a Multiversal Rank Level 1 Disaster. Please follow your teachers’ instructions.”

“All students awakened with Earth Rank Professions or higher, please report to the scene immediately.”

“Repeating: All students awakened with Earth Rank Professions or above, please come to the scene immediately!”

Bai Nian looked down through the broken window and saw that many teachers had already gathered around the Disaster Gate.

She had to admit, the school’s response was quite swift.

“You know what your teachers didn’t mention? The Dimensional Replica has a time limit, and there are only two possible endings: either you clear it or it becomes a disaster.”

Yu Zishan added.

Bai Nian already knew that Disaster Gates came in different types, but the school never explained the classifications in detail.

“How are they classified?”

she asked.

Yu Zishan had clearly heard the broadcast earlier.

Seeing Bai Nian didn’t react, she roughly guessed her profession rank.

She wisely chose not to bring that up and instead explained carefully.

“Disaster Gates are mainly divided into two categories: Open Rank and Regional Rank. Under those, there are further subdivisions like Multiversal Rank, Opposition Rank, Personal Rank, and so on.”

“The strength of these replicas depends solely on their rank, not their category. A Regional Rank Disaster Gate can cover an entire alliance; similarly, Open Rank replicas can trigger conflicts between multiple alliances.”

“Seriously, your school doesn’t even teach this?”

Yu Zishan complained.

“Nian Nian, you should just stay quietly in the classroom and wait for the others to deal with the Disaster Gate.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bai Nian answered distractedly, still lost in thought.

“Did you hear me?!”

Yu Zishan snapped.

Bai Nian quickly nodded like a pecking chick.

“Heard, heard.”

They chatted a bit more before hanging up.

Yu Zishan was a genius, and she had to focus on preparing for the Trial.

Bai Nian fixed her gaze outside the window.

By now, dozens of students had gathered around the Disaster Gate, and teachers were talking to them.

Soon, she saw Su Su standing at the front of the line, while other students began rearranging themselves.

No doubt, they were ranking themselves by profession and talent.

They planned to let the gifted enter first, to prevent the Disaster Gate from becoming stronger.

A zero-level Disaster Gate posed no threat to life, but a level one was another matter entirely.

The problem was, no one had completed their Trial to fully awaken yet.

Even Su Su wasn’t an ordinary person like Bai Nian now.

The school was clearly biased.

From the moment talent was revealed, the past three years of grades probably counted for nothing in the teachers’ eyes.

“Forget it, what does this have to do with me, a Hypnotist?”

Bai Nian sighed helplessly and stared out the window, zoning out.

[Today’s Random Task: All members survive and dispel the Disaster Gate.]

[Reward: Career Advancement]

[Punishment: Mall Streaking]

At that moment, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Bai Nian’s mind, snapping her back to reality.

System, you’re finally active!!

But the system ignored her and vanished again.

“Damn, how reliable is this thing?”

Bai Nian felt both excited and conflicted.

Never mind what that punishment was about—the reward alone was too good to refuse.

She understood now; this was meant to let her experience the highs and lows of life.

“How do I even get in?”

Bai Nian frowned, troubled.

Those teachers would never allow a student with a Yellow Rank talent inside.

But she had to try.

Her grades in class were good; maybe the teachers would agree.

She got up and left the classroom—not heading to the playground, but to the restroom, since nature called.

“Sigh, being a girl has its troubles. Can’t be too loud.”

When she reached the restroom, the first thing she heard was applause.

This was ridiculous…

With the teachers gone and graduation near, the students were indeed a bit unruly.

“Are you done yet…”

“Almost! Can’t you be louder?”

“…”

Then came deliberately loud shouting echoing through the bathroom.

Bai Nian couldn’t take it anymore and knocked on the stall beside her.

“Keep it down, I’m trying to poop!”

The entire restroom fell silent instantly, followed by some rustling sounds.

“You got my clothes dirty…”

a girl whispered in complaint.

Then Bai Nian heard two people fleeing as if running for their lives.

“I think I’ve got an idea.”

She muttered, a faint smile appearing on her face.

***

Outside in the plaza, a group of teachers surrounded the golden glowing portal of the Disaster Gate.

They kept a respectful distance from each other to prepare for any students’ failures.

Although most of the teachers had mundane professions, none hesitated at this moment.

The school’s Barrier perimeter was already locked down, with many professionals from the city gathered around.

They would not allow a disaster to erupt in the city.

Among the crowd, Bai Nian spotted her homeroom teacher and walked straight up to him.

“Bai Nian, this isn’t a place for you. Go back to the classroom!”

the homeroom teacher scolded.

“Teacher, someone died in the restroom.”

Bai Nian explained anxiously.

He paused.

“More than one or less than one?”

“More than one!”

“Tch, always causing trouble at a time like this.”

The homeroom teacher frowned and quickly looked toward the principal and several other leaders across the plaza.

Other teachers overheard Bai Nian’s words and exchanged glances—this wasn’t the first time.

But now, Bai Nian’s gaze was fixed seriously on the magnificent golden gate before her.

It was the first time she had seen a Disaster Gate up close.

It radiated a sacred golden energy, making it hard for ordinary people to associate it with disaster.

The towering gate was covered in countless intricate carvings.

The massive door was slightly ajar, revealing a narrow crack that pulsed with an even denser golden energy.

Where could it possibly lead?

With no information displayed, how did they even proceed…

Bai Nian stared at the Disaster Gate in confusion.

But the next second, she felt the patterns on the door come alive, twisting and warping.

A strong wave of dizziness swept over her.

She looked again, and now those carvings had transformed into strings of information.