https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-122-The-Student-Council-Bullies-Assemble-in-the-Shadow-World/12584060/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-124-Fred-Begins-His-Investigation/12584062/
Chapter 123: Shadow World: A Sinister Feast in the Cathedral
Chapter 123: Shadow World: A Sinister Feast in the Cathedral
In a chaotic darkness that seemed to stretch on forever, they were immersed, though in reality, only a little over ten minutes had passed.
Finally, like the first ray of dawn piercing through layers of darkness, their vision slowly returned, indicating that they had successfully entered the Shadow World.
Lanchi looked around, with Huperian on his left and Fred on his right, their faces as familiar as ever, unchanged.
His gaze swept across his companions' faces and then toward the floor-to-ceiling windows nearby.
The clear reflection confirmed that his own features remained the same.
The view outside was indistinct due to the thick fog that shrouded everything in a dreamy haze.
If not for the faint flickering of a few lights in the garden outside the window, they wouldn't have been able to tell if it were dawn or midnight.
The mist created an ethereal, mysterious atmosphere, as if the outdoors existed in a realm of enchantment.
Inside, both Lanchi and Fred were dressed formally.
Though their styles differed, their attire complemented their personalities perfectly.
Lanchi wore a classical beige suit with a brown vest, his hair neatly combed, giving him an even more gentle and cultured appearance than usual.
Fred, on the other hand, exuded a casual elegance in a black suit under a dark blue double-breasted overcoat, black hard-leather gloves, and half-tinted sunglasses that concealed half his gaze.
Huperian, meanwhile, wore a striking red ball gown reminiscent of a romantic poetess. Her elaborate makeup transformed her aura entirely, making her seem both elegant and endearingly lovely. A thin shawl draped over her shoulders warded off the chill.
Their attire confirmed that they were not in the Demon World, and this time, it didn't seem like they were in a test from Demon College, as they hadn't been forced into a room with a compulsory mechanism upon arrival. It appeared that everyone could move freely.
A subtle coolness permeated the air, not the bitter cold of winter but rather the crisp freshness one might experience while breathing atop a mountain peak.
The trio didn't immediately engage in conversation but instead immersed themselves in their surroundings, quietly taking in their environment.
Before them stood an enormous banquet hall with a domed ceiling easily over ten meters high, resembling an ancient cathedral.
Looking up, one could see a majestic pipe organ nearly five stories tall that dominated the entire back wall. Some pipes stood upright while others curved, some gleamed golden, and others were a simple wooden brown, arranged in various shapes and layers, exuding an indescribable sense of sacred solemnity.
The domed ceiling, crafted from stained glass, featured intricate golden carvings and crystal chandeliers. In the soft glow, it seemed like a galaxy of stars hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the magnificent dark stone-carved walls and the smooth marble floor below.
At the center of the grand hall stood a striking Baroque-style long table, its silver candelabras shimmering in the firelight. On either side of the table were twelve intricately carved brown oak dining chairs, arranged in perfect order, exuding an atmosphere of opulence and refinement.
Scattered throughout the vast, imposing banquet hall were several figures.
They stood in groups of two or three, silent and still as statues.
Neither the grandeur of the cathedral nor the arrival of dawn nor the biting cold could shake their stoic demeanor.
For this grand hall was not a place of harmony.
In this scene, a pungent scent of blood, intermingled with the tang of death and the metallic tang of iron, permeated the entire hall, so strong it completely masked any other fragrances that might have lingered.
At the far end of the hall, at the head of the long table, a body dressed in exquisite clothing slumped in a high-backed chair, head tilted to the side, eyes hollow and frozen with an expression of despair, regret, and pain.
From his chest to his abdomen, his flesh had been ripped open, revealing a gruesome texture of gore, from which a stream of crimson liquid poured forth, creating a tragic, bloody artwork on the floor.
The pooling blood blended with the marble floor's intricate patterns, flowing across the banquet hall and leaving crimson traces along the table's legs.
This sanguine hue, like an invisible blade, transformed the once-glittering hall of gold and silver into a bizarre and terrifying cage of murderous intent.
Soon, a prompt appeared before them.
Shadow World: A Sinister Feast in the Cathedral
Level: Fifth Order
In this deep autumn, the twelve of you have been invited by Sir Caligula to gather in this ancient castle perched on a cliff.
You all appear to have different social identities, but in truth, you are all members of a secret church, aiming to overthrow the bloody rule of the Blood Clan over humans.
However, the high priest, Caligula, has been brutally murdered on this very night.
Among your group of twelve, there is a traitor who has sided with the Blood Clan.
Total number of challengers: 12
Special identity challengers: 3
Special Identity - Detective (non-betrayer): Automatically selected as the challenger with the best chance of unraveling the mystery among the non-betrayers. Identified by a crucifix brooch gifted by Sir Caligula.
Special Identity - Blood Clan Affiliate (betrayer): Able to borrow the power of Count Palocas and Count Seburn, both Blood Lords, once per day when they are in a state of awakening.
Note: If the Blood Clan Affiliate dies, the Count-level Blood Lords will arrive at the castle within a day.
Mission Objective 1: Uncover the betrayer(s) 0/2
Mission Objective 2: Explore the secrets and dangers hidden within the ancient castle.
Mission Objective 3: Ensure at least 1 challenger survives until the 120-hour time limit ends.
The betrayers have a completely different mission objective, which only they can see. Non-betrayers will receive a professional identity, visible only to non-betrayers.
Should the challengers fail in their mission, a world-ending calamity will be triggered.
Time remaining: 119 hours and 59 minutes.
With bated breath, the students watched as the scene unfolded within the ancient castle in the Shadow World. The tension in the banquet hall was palpable, and their gazes sharpened as they realized the life-and-death stakes of this challenge.
The clock hands had just passed 5:30 am, marking the break of dawn, and the atmosphere among the challengers was fraught with suspicion and unease. They knew that in the coming days, they would be pitted against each other in a treacherous game of deception and murder, their survival hanging in the balance.
This was no ordinary Shadow World. The enemies they faced were not mere historical projections but fellow challengers, embodying historical figures, engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
And now, all eyes turned to the man chosen by the Shadow World, the one with the crucifix brooch—the detective.
His gray-white hair was slightly disheveled, and his tall, muscular frame exuded a wild, explosive power, reminiscent of a wolf. His sharp features were partially obscured by a pair of small sunglasses, and his eyes held a deep, cold intensity.
There was an air of uncontrollable madness and arrogance about him, and he looked every bit the part of a killer.
"...What?"
This was the detective?
In the late hours of the night, the Gera Memorial Square at Icrit College was illuminated by a soft, glowing light. The clock tower struck 5:30 am, but the square was already abuzz with activity.
Students, armed with blankets and picnic baskets, had gathered on the steps of the square, claiming the best spots to witness the upcoming spectacle. As the scene from Lance, Hyperion, and Fred's Shadow World appeared on the outdoor jumbo screen, the square erupted into a buzz of excitement.
"Fred is the detective?"
"But he's a powerhouse!"
Many students from the Knight's College knew of Fred's monstrous strength and endurance. Even the fifth-rank seniors wouldn't dare claim they could beat him in a head-on fight. During the third round of the entrance exams, he had stunned the examiners with his raw power, throwing the first punch that shook the Knight's College.
Aside from his quirky thinking, he was undoubtedly the strongest and most outstanding freshman in the history of the Knight's College.
But he didn't seem like detective material!
This fifth-rank Shadow World was already extremely dangerous for the challengers, who were at a disadvantage from the start. They could face powerful blood clan abilities at any moment, and even a sixth-rank challenger could meet a swift and unexpected end if they weren't careful.
For third and fourth-rank challengers, the difficulty was even more daunting.
The success of the mission hinged on the detective's ability to uncover the traitor.
Having a trustworthy detective was crucial to identifying the betrayer and preventing a dire situation. Should the detective falter or fail to uncover the truth in time, the traitors could quietly advance their hidden agenda, pushing everyone closer to disaster.
Moreover, the challengers couldn't afford to push the two traitors, who were blood clan affiliates, too hard. They had to maintain a delicate balance, gathering information and trying to expose them without driving them to desperation. If the traitors chose to bring about mutual destruction, the seventh-rank blood clan counts would arrive, unleashing their rage and dooming the challengers.
Even a seventh-rank powerhouse stood little chance against the immortality of the blood clan counts. A lone challenger wouldn't be able to withstand them, and even if they survived the night, they would face a brutal end as the sun set.
"This doesn't bode well. It would've been better if Lance was the detective... Why does it have to be Fred?"
"The detective has to be one of the non-traitors, right? I hope Lance isn't a blood clan affiliate."
Although the students immediately suspected Lance and Hyperion of being otherworldly beings, the fact that they had activated the 'Shadow World Recording Program' allowed the students to see through their perspectives and gather information.
Lance's identity was revealed as a 'Lawyer', with knowledge of the current nation's laws and regulations, accessible through his Shadow World panel. Hyperion, on the other hand, was an 'Actress', more likely to attract attacks, and her mission objectives were standard.
It was clear that none of the three were traitors. The betrayer lurked among the nine remaining challengers, their strengths unknown.
On the Gera Memorial Square, the students watched the dimly lit screen, their faces reflecting the light, their expressions grave. The thought of being in such a perilous Shadow World themselves sent shivers down their spines.
As night fell, they knew that any one of them could meet the same gruesome fate as the man sitting at the head of the table, his chest and abdomen laid bare—Caligula.
"These psychological games, where challengers and villains engage in deception and slaughter, often test one's mental fortitude," a senior remarked solemnly. "Sometimes, the pressure becomes too much, and people break down, even taking their own lives to escape."
As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the screen, taking in the detective, the lawyer, and the actress. His words trailed off as he recalled the recent "Civilization and Ethics" campaign on campus.
"But with these three bullies from the student council in the mix, I have a feeling things are about to get very interesting!"
(End of Chapter)
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