CR CH54

Chapter 54: S-Rank Ability

Click.

Returning from the Research Institute to the dorm, Jiang Tianji pushed open the door only to be met instantly by five pairs of expectant eyes.

“How did it go? How did it go?!” Huang Qi grabbed his arm and shook it eagerly.

“Bro, I just got back from outside!” Li Cheng gripped his hand tightly, practically trembling with excitement. “Everyone’s out there guessing who that Flash was, and I went through every single person in Z01 without ever guessing it was you!”

“Say something! Speak up!”

“…”

The overwhelming wave of enthusiasm was mixed with the kind of high expectations parents had for a rising prodigy—zero doubts, only blind faith.

Cornered by their intense stares, Jiang Tianji had no choice but to reach up and lightly tap the side of his neck.

Bzzzt—

The energy suppression collar materialized, and the floating information beside it flashed for a brief moment before vanishing.

Name: Jiang Tianji

ID: X0165

Energy Rank: S-Rank

In a split second, a primal roar erupted inside the dorm room, so wildly uninhibited that words could hardly do it justice.

Several of them yanked him around, hopping up and down like they had collectively hit the interstellar lottery—it was a frenzy akin to a wild tribal celebration.

In Jiang Tianji’s vision, Huang Qi’s face remained in a state of continuous motion blur, while the two refined members of the team abstained from this bizarre ritual, standing off to the side to watch the show.

Amidst the chaos, someone dragged him and bolted outside. Seeing the dorm corridor packed with people, Jiang Tianji instantly grabbed the doorframe to retreat back inside, only to be scooped up onto Feng Huo’s shoulder as he sprinted forward.

“HOLY—SHIT! MY BROTHER IS AN—S-RANK ABILITY USER!!”

“MY BROTHER IS—S-RANK—!”

Huang Qi and Li Cheng sprinted after him, shouting at the top of their lungs, their faces and gestures bursting with raw passion and pride.

Since most people had just finished dinner, everyone in their rooms poked their heads out to see what all the commotion was about.

On a rare day off with an exciting evening party to look forward to, everyone’s tolerance levels were exceptionally high. Seeing this hilarious setup, some stopped to watch the spectacle, while others blew whistles to stir up even more chaos.

“Badass! Giving us a good look!”

“Hahaha… Your brother’s about to be roasted alive…”

Someone shouted out with a laugh, and a crowd joined in the cheering, turning the hallway into a madhouse.

Though he hadn’t felt particularly surprised or thrilled initially, Jiang Tianji stopped resisting once infected by their unbridled joy.

Their racket was so loud it set the whole building buzzing. When Feng Huo carried Jiang Tianji down to the third floor, he ran headfirst into the bewildered dorm administrator and instantly spun around on his heel.

“Holy crap, retreat! RETREAT!”

“What’s wrong?! We haven’t even had our fill yet!”

“Enemy attack! Fall back, fast!”

The dorm administrator’s furious voice echoed through the open stairwell:

“Whichever dorm room you’re from, stand right there! Copy the dorm management rules ten times… And the one who shouted ‘enemy attack’! TWENTY TIMES!!”

…

The farce finally came to an end during the chase. As expected of a retired instructor, the administrator’s chops were as sharp as ever.

However, after asking about the backstory and hearing that an S-rank ability user had emerged, most of his anger dissolved. He happily shook Jiang Tianji’s hand, marveling and boasting for a good ten minutes.

Looking at the group of kids acting pitiful, he waved his hand to let it slide, but halfway through, he remembered the “enemy attack” line and couldn’t quite swallow his pride.

Under the group’s unhesitating, unanimous betrayal, Feng Huo was the sole recipient of punishment.

—Ten copies of the dorm management rules, to be submitted tomorrow.

“You guys are seriously terrible friends.”

Only a thin layer of dim twilight remained in the sky as the lights across the training grounds flickered on, illuminating a layer of energy on the ground that rippled in sync with any vibrations.

With the evening party approaching, the overall vibe was purely relaxed. Not far off, the barbecue grills and massive hot pots were already wafting alluring aromas, while more people carried tables and chairs to set up the venue. AI fairies floated in midair to match the festive mood, dancing in pairs. One particularly unique fairy swayed two soft pink ears back and forth, faintly sounding as if it were singing.

And right now, Feng Huo was crouching by the roadside, copying rules in utter frustration.

Watching his bizarre pen-holding posture and a handwriting style impossible for any normal person to replicate, Huang Qi let out a soft sigh.

“Bro, these drawings… I mean, your writing… even if I wanted to help you copy, I literally can’t.”

After trying and failing with a pen and paper, Li Cheng sighed as well: “For real? I already write pretty hideously, but I still can’t even touch your level.”

“Li Cheng,” Jiang Tianji began carefully, “if you have free time, you can borrow the first book on the Captain’s bookshelf.”

Li Cheng: “Is it good? What book is it?”

Ji Yandong closed his book and replied flatly: “How to Stop Talking Like a Pick-Up Artist.”

“Are you talking about me?” Li Cheng asked him.

Ji Yandong: “I’m talking about the book.”

Li Cheng paused, then whipped his head toward Jiang Tianji. But just before another round of banter could break out, Qi Xiuyi patted his shoulder.

“The officers are here.”

Not far away, a group of officers walked over chatting and laughing, along with a figure they hadn’t seen in a long time. Assistant Jiang blew a whistle, and that pink AI fairy spun in circles as it flew toward him—turns out it was Technician Jiang’s personal assistant.

Jiang Tianji’s gaze landed at the front of the group. Ling Kongmiao’s complexion looked much better than it had at noon, but a subtle flush still lingered upon closer inspection, and the color of his eyes was darker than usual.

Why did he come? Jiang Tianji’s brows knitted slightly.

“I heard Captain Ling was feeling unwell; didn’t expect him to show up after all.”

A voice suddenly came from behind. Jia Yun naturally picked up a piece of paper off the ground, read it carefully, burst into laughter, and casually tossed it back onto the dirt.

“Are you even human?”

Feng Huo snatched it up instantly, sparks flying from his eyes: “Where the hell did you come from?”

“None of your damn business.”

Jia Yun shot back carelessly before turning his head to look at Jiang Tianji.

“It’s you, right?” The question lacked context, but its target was crystal clear.

Jiang Tianji: “Is something wrong?”

Jia Yun didn’t waste words either, sending a sweep of red energy straight toward Jiang Tianji’s neck.

The unfamiliar aura felt unpleasant. A layer of dark green energy laced with fine lightning surged across Jiang Tianji’s neck down to his arm, instantly swallowing the opponent’s crimson energy.

The energy collar around his neck flashed a red warning twice, silently answering the question.

The noisy venue fell quiet for a split second. Jiang Tianji’s gaze bypassed Jia Yun’s spectator-like grin, landing precisely in one direction.

Amidst the crowd, he locked eyes with Liang Chong, who stood shrouded in the shadows of a corner, his expression unreadable.

“Don’t look for trouble where there is none.”

Noticing many instructors and teammates looking over out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Tianji offered him no pleasantries.

While his teammates stayed quiet, he sat down directly on the ground, taking a piece of paper to forge Feng Huo’s handwriting.

“Fine.”

Perhaps aware of how annoying he was being, Jia Yun achieved his goal and prepared to leave. He looked at Jiang Tianji, offering one last, subtly provocative question:

“Next time we draw each other in the ring, are you going to forfeit again?”

An elusive spark of battle intent flared in his eyes—the Alphas in the special division rarely had much else on their minds.

“Do you want me to forfeit?”

Seeming not to expect him to counter with a question, Jia Yun shrugged: “Where’s the fun in that?”

Jiang Tianji didn’t stop his pen.

“Alright, got it.”