96: Chapter 96 Class Showdown, Target: Lava Cavern!

Three days passed in a blink.

The entrance to the Lava Cavern was located at the foot of a dormant volcano on the outskirts of Tianqiong City. Even before getting close, the air was stripped of all moisture, and every breath seared the throat.

The place was perpetually shrouded in red mist, with ground temperatures never dropping below sixty degrees Celsius.

The Elite Class had already arrived.

The scene was professional and sci-fi-esque.

Thirty students, all clad uniformly in 'Vulcan Mark III' heat-resistant combat armor. The armor was streamlined, coated with silver heat-reflective paint, with small cooling circulation Systems mounted on their backs. Each held a polymer freeze gun and had concussion grenades—capable of blasting apart rock—strapped to their waists.

Lei Zhen stood at the forefront. Not only was he armored, but he also wore an especially flashy full-coverage tactical helmet, its screen displaying flickering environmental data.

"Temperature seventy-eight Celsius, humidity ten percent. All normal."

Lei Zhen's voice came through the loudspeaker, carrying a hint of mechanical coldness.

"Everyone, check your gear! We're making this quick! Get the crystal core within half an hour, leave those losers choking on our dust!!"

"Yes, Class Leader!!"

The Elite Class's Aura was formidable, their shouts perfectly synchronized.

Just then, a discordant, creaking sound drifted over from behind.

The sound of an old tricycle chain in desperate need of oil.

Lei Zhen turned around and froze.

Not just him. Everyone there to watch, including Iron Man, the instructor responsible for safety, stared with their jaws on the floor.

Gu Fan had arrived.

Not on foot. He was sitting on a modified flatbed cart, being pushed over.

The cart was spread with a bamboo mat. Gu Fan wore a pair of large floral shorts printed with palm trees, a loose tank top, and those same pink Hello Kitty slippers.

He wore sunglasses, had a huge sunshade over his head, and was happily digging into half an ice-cold watermelon with a spoon.

Behind him was a crew that could be mistaken for a moving company.

Xiao Fan, bare-chested, was carrying a double-door refrigerator on his back. The fridge was larger than he was, but his expression was deceptively relaxed—he was actually too exhausted to speak.

Lin Xue carried two air conditioner outdoor units on her back and held a bundle of electrical cables.

The most outrageous was Little Black.

This former S-rank assassin was now pushing a diesel generator. Hanging from his waist weren't grenades, but a string of... ice-cold cola.

"Make way, make way."

Gu Fan spat out a watermelon seed. Little Black, quick as lightning, caught it mid-air with a trash bag.

"Brother in the front dressed like a tin can, you're blocking the path."

Looking at Gu Fan's outfit through his tactical visor, Lei Zhen felt a vein throbbing at his temple.

This was an insult to his intelligence.

"You... are you here for a picnic?!"

Lei Zhen's voice trembled.

"This is an S-rank Forbidden Ground! A battlefield! You're wearing slippers?! Do you look down on me, or on the Fire Demonic Beasts in this cavern?!"

"Now, what kind of talk is that?"

Gu Fan took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of rather innocent-looking big eyes.

"On such a hot day, should I wear snow boots instead of slippers? Besides, we brought equipment too."

Gu Fan pointed at the refrigerator behind him.

"Fully loaded with ice and happy water, core strategic supplies. You wouldn't understand. This is high-tech."

"High-tech my ass!!"

Lei Zhen was about to explode with rage.

"Fine! Just fine! If you want to die, don't blame me for being ruthless! Once we're inside the cavern, if you get roasted, don't expect us to save you!"

Lei Zhen made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Move out!!"

As if provoked, the Elite Class members cranked their thrusters to maximum, charging into the red mist like a flock of angry turkeys.

Iron Man looked at Gu Fan's group, holding his forehead, his headache intensifying.

"Gu Fan..."

Iron Man sighed.

"I admit you have some skills, but it's really hot in there. That fridge of yours... even with the generator, it'll probably break down soon in this environment, right?"

"Don't worry, Instructor."

Gu Fan patted the fridge door.

"This was modified by Little Black. He said he used some 'absolute zero' Seal technique, but it's really just two talismans stuck on. It's sturdy."

"Let's go, let's go. Find a cool spot inside to rest a bit."

Gu Fan waved his hand grandly, and the Lying Flat Society group marched into the cavern in a grand procession.

The moment they entered the cave mouth.

A wave of heat hit them, like someone pointing a hairdryer at their faces on the highest setting.

The ground was scorching black rock, with wisps of sulfur smoke occasionally puffing from the cracks. In the distance, dark red lava rivers flowed, bubbling now and then, erupting in sprays of sparks.

The Elite Class was already fighting up ahead.

*Rat-tat-tat!* *Boom!*

Gunfire and thunderclaps mingled together.

Several lizards wreathed in flames were crawling out of the lava, scurrying away under the concentrated firepower.

"Maintain formation! Cooling Systems on full!"

Lei Zhen charged at the front, a thunderball exploding in his hand, blasting one fire lizard to pieces.

"This level of heat is just a tickle to our armor! Full speed ahead!!"

Even as he said this, Lei Zhen wasn't having an easy time.

The armor was heat-insulated, but sealed. Even with the cooling System, the stuffy heat was still irritating. Sweat streamed down his face, his skin feeling like it was covered in a damp, hot film.

"Class Leader! Look behind us!"

A squad member suddenly shouted.

Lei Zhen looked back and almost stumbled headfirst into the lava.

On a flat piece of ground not far from them.

Little Black swiftly cleared an area. The generator roared to life.

Two high-power air conditioners blasted cold air towards the center, creating a visible white mist barrier.

Gu Fan lay within that barrier, on that supposedly cloud-brocade heavenly-silk mat.

Not only was he not hot, he had even covered himself with a small blanket.

"Ah, is the air conditioning set too low? My feet are getting a bit cold."

Gu Fan curled his toes, then took a can of cola emitting white vapor from a small fridge beside him, pulling the tab with a *fizz*.

*Glug, glug.*

That sound, in the cavern where only the crackle of flames echoed, was exceptionally crisp, exceptionally tempting.

Several members of the Elite Class unconsciously swallowed.

They had water too, but it was recycled, filtered water, lukewarm and bland—nothing like the kick of ice-cold cola.

"Don't look! It's an illusion!!"

Lei Zhen roared.

"It's his trickery! How could there be a cooling effect in that environment?! He must be on the verge of heatstroke, just putting on a tough front!!"

No sooner had his roar faded.

A particularly large fire lizard, perhaps finding Gu Fan's spot too comfortable, or maybe just taking a dislike to Gu Fan, charged over with a furious roar.

"See! He's done for! Without armor, he's dead for sure!!" Lei Zhen gloated.

But then.

Just as the lizard reached the edge of the 'cold air zone'.

Little Black, who had been standing by like a waiter, moved.

He didn't use a blade or a gun.

He pulled out from behind his back... a toilet brush.

Yes, that legendary toilet brush that had skewered the drone.

*Swish—thwack!*

Little Black's wrist flicked with a bizarre arc, the brush head of the toilet brush landing precisely on the fire lizard's face.

The hit wasn't heavy, but it was intensely insulting.

Even more absurdly, the moment it was struck, the fire lizard actually showed an expression of extreme disgust. As if touched by something filthy—even though it was a fire-playing monster, it had standards of cleanliness.

"Hsss—!! (So dirty!!)"

The fire lizard shrieked, turned tail, and fled in panic, leaping straight back into the searing lava, frantically rubbing its face as if trying to wash off the unclean sensation.

Silence fell over the scene.

The Elite Class members forgot to fire their guns.

Using a toilet brush... to force an S-rank Demonic Beast to jump into the lava to commit suicide—no, to take a bath?

Are we really in the same dungeon?

"Keep eating, don't stop."

Gu Fan didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Little Black, that lizard splashed some sparks when it jumped down earlier. Remember to wipe the floor."

"Yes."

Little Black put away the toilet brush, pulled out a cloth, and began meticulously wiping the non-existent sparks.

Lei Zhen's hand holding the gun trembled.

His mental state shattered.