Chapter 28: Freedom of Choice, Responsibility for Consequences

————————In a dimly lit room.

Two figures.

Both wore wide black robes and masks, obscuring their forms and faces.

"How did things go?"

The figure standing on the elevated platform spoke.

The kneeling robed figure's shoulders trembled slightly: "Reporting to the Emissary, Vermilion Bird City... was too dangerous."

His hoarse voice carried lingering fear: "Those awakened ones searched like mad dogs. It took everything I had just to escape."

The Emissary remained silent for a moment before his masked gaze turned cold: "Are those freshmen from Vermilion Bird Academy still alive?"

"It was supposed to be foolproof."

The kneeling man clenched his fist: "But some Aberrant appeared out of nowhere and saved them all."

"Oh?"

The Emissary suddenly leaned forward: "You truly don't know who?"

The prostrate figure trembled more violently: "This subordinate... this subordinate only saw from afar that the guy was wearing an Ultraman mask."

Another brief silence.

The Emissary slowly straightened: "Enough, you may withdraw. But don't forget why we exist."

"Never dare to forget!"

The kneeling man suddenly looked up, his eyes beneath the mask glowing with unnatural red light: "Only by letting the Mist consume the entire world can we Aberrants achieve transcendence!"

"Hmm, you may go."

The Emissary waved his hand.

The kneeling figure slowly departed.

The Emissary removed his mask, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.

He murmured to himself: "Xiao Bin said before that Su Zhan was an Aberrant... This time an Aberrant came to the rescue. Could such coincidence truly exist in this world? Heh heh heh..."

——————————

Time passed quickly.

Before they knew it, it was Vermilion Bird Academy's opening day.

During this period.

The four freshmen including Su Zhan had gained some minor fame at the academy.

Because they had experienced the Mist incident.

Many people sought them out to inquire about details of the Mist.

In the Vermilion Bird Academy freshman group chat.

Liu Ziming's voice message: "Holy shit you can't even imagine! I got cornered in a dead end by five Snake-Tailed Beasts!

I countered with a Purple Thunder blast!

Zap! Instantly fried two!"

[Shocked emoji]

[Bro you're insane!]

Liu Ziming's voice message:

"When the remaining three pounced, I literally ripped a fire hydrant apart with my bare hands! High-pressure water jets plus Purple Thunder equals instant charcoal-grilled Snake-Tailed Beast!"

[Bro you're too cool!!!]

[Show us your Purple Thunder!]

Liu Ziming's voice message: "Hold on..."

Then sent a photo of purple lightning dancing across his palm.

Liu Ziming's voice message:

"See this? This Purple Thunder lit up the whole damn street like daylight..."

Liu Ziming was about to say more when—

"Knock knock knock..."

Someone was at the door.

Liu Ziming quickly sent a final message: "Guys class is starting soon, talk later."

He walked to the door and opened it.

Standing outside were Su Zhan and the other two.

"Rich boy Liu, if you're gonna brag at least do it privately."

Xu Hao teased with a laugh: "Now you're the celebrity of the freshman class, everyone knows you."

"Pfft—"

Liu Ziming waved his hand, showing no embarrassment or anger at being caught lying: "When you're out in the world, you create your own identity. If they actually believe such outrageous claims, that's their lack of brains."

Su Zhan raised an eyebrow slightly at this.

This was the first time he'd heard such ridiculous logic.

"Let's go."

Feng Jue urged: "Don't be late for first period."

"Go go go."

Xu Hao yanked Liu Ziming away from the mirror: "Heard today's a big lecture - if we're late we'll have to sit in the front row!"

In the vast lecture hall that could accommodate thousands.

The noisy chatter of freshmen echoed through the room.

The four had just taken their seats when—

Wang Mingyuan entered right as the bell rang.

"Silence."

His quiet command instantly hushed the entire hall.

Wang Mingyuan tapped the podium, activating a holographic projection of the "Vermilion Bird Academy Regulations":

"This year's freshman class totals 279, similar to previous years.

For your first lesson, let me explain our teaching system.

First, the academy implements a free course selection system.

Daily schedules will be posted on the intranet in advance—you choose which lectures to attend."

The hall immediately buzzed with discussion.

Liu Ziming secretly poked Xu Hao: "This is awesome! Can sleep in as late as we want!"

Xu Hao rolled his eyes: "Don't celebrate yet, there's definitely a 'but' coming."

"I know what you're thinking."

Wang Mingyuan braced his hands on the podium, scanning the freshmen with piercing eyes: "That this system seems too lax? Too irresponsible?"

He rapped the smart blackboard.

The projection transformed into a 3D model of Vermilion Bird Academy.

"Because the path of a true awakened is never forged through forced teaching!"

Wang Mingyuan tapped the board again.

The projection became a 3D meridian diagram with Life Soul energy flowing through it.

"Life Souls vary dramatically—like Su Zhan's SSS-ranked control focus versus Liu Ziming's assault focus."

He pointed at them: "Should they sit in the same classroom using identical textbooks?"

Low murmurs spread through the hall.

The hologram switched to a dense course catalog.

"The academy offers 37 specialized courses, 133 combat classes, and 83 training grounds of various environments."

Wang Mingyuan surveyed the room: "But the choice is yours. However, the academy does impose some limits."

"Second rule."

Wang Mingyuan's voice turned colder: "Assessments include finals and surprise evaluations—don't worry too much, you'll get one month's notice for surprise evaluations.

Fail an evaluation, repeat the year. Fail twice consecutively, expulsion."

The hall filled with sharp intakes of breath.

Su Zhan arched an eyebrow.

Just as expected.

Superficial freedom, but not absolute.

Without any pressure, complete student autonomy would truly be failing them.

Wang Mingyuan then displayed shocking red statistics:

"Last year, 13 were expelled for excessive leisure, 7 died on missions, while 24 made breakthroughs in desperate situations, and 7 killed Mist creatures above their level!

Vermilion Bird Academy doesn't cultivate obedient students—we forge warriors who carve paths through impossible odds!"

The projection froze on one phrase:

[Freedom of Choice, Responsibility for Consequences]

"Now."

Wang Mingyuan dismissed the hologram: "Any remaining doubts about this educational philosophy?"

The lecture hall fell utterly silent.

"Good. Third rule."

Wang Mingyuan continued: "No student may privately engage with Mist creature matters—all such activities must be reported. The academy provides Mist-related missions; if you want experience, no need to take unofficial jobs."

"One final matter."

Wang Mingyuan spoke gravely: "Two days ago, sudden Mist incidents occurred nationwide in Daxia—you all know this.

The nearest to us was in Vermilion Bird City, experienced by four of your classmates here."

All eyes turned to Su Zhan's group.

Clearly everyone knew.

"Two days ago marked Daxia's first recorded instance of Mist invading reality."

Wang Mingyuan's voice turned heavy: "And in just three days, the Mist has ignored borders, manifesting spatially to invade Daxia.

1,367 incidents the first day, 1,567 the second, and still occurring today."

The projection switched to a Daxia map densely covered in red dots.

"Most critically."

Wang Mingyuan said solemnly: "We've confirmed this isn't unique to Daxia."

The map expanded globally, peppered with blinking red markers.

"Every nation not yet consumed by Mist is experiencing these events."

The classroom air seemed to solidify.

"Each Mist space has three lethal characteristics."

Wang Mingyuan raised three fingers: "First, abnormal time flow—recorded minimum ratio 1:6, maximum... 1:86,400.

Meaning one real-world second equals a full day inside.

Fortunately, the longest observed duration inside is three days.

At the maximum ratio, three real-world seconds equal three Mist days.

Making rescue impossible."

"Second, current Mist creatures mostly don't exceed Dew Realm level."

Wang Mingyuan continued: "But energy curve projections indicate they'll grow progressively stronger."