The Devil's Cage

E Block, a certain activity room.

Similar to many other activity rooms, this one had no sign and the school did not recognize the activities either. It was just a place for students with the same hobby to gather.

However, compared to other merry and cheerful environments, this particular activity room was extremely depressing.

"I told you not to act recklessly!"

Amid the depressing atmosphere, a tall man whose body was to buff that his shirt couldn't conceal his muscles shouted loudly and angrily. Several veins popped up on his forehead as if they grew from it as he vented his anger.

"I'm sorry, Lude."

"We were just trying to avenge Cosco."

Two male students that were out of their uniforms and wearing the same casual clothes as Lude answered.

Unlike the intimidating, pressuring Lude, the two boys weren't just weak in terms of standings, but their looks were also normal, to the point that they would be easily forgotten in a crowd.

"Avenge him? But did you succeed? No! Instead, you sent in another guy!" Lude's angry voice grew fiercer.

Lude didn't mind taking revenge, but aside from the failure, Lude couldn't accept that they lost another man.

His small group had only five in total.

Other than the two boys before him, who were tasked with spreading rumours, the remaining members were irreplaceable.

Whether it was Cosco, the one who always met with the dispirited students who wished to leave the school, or Bernard, who was responsible for intel collecting, every one of them were handpicked by Lude.

Cosco's ability to change his looks at will and Bernard's position and cunning as a fox personality, both were the deciding factors in Lude's plan. Now, when his true plan was only beginning, he suffered such a heavy blow. How could Lude not be angry about it?

'Why Cosco and Bernard? Why not you two useless pieces of trash?'

Killing intents brew amid his rage.

He stared at the two useless men before his eyes and really wanted to kill them both to vent his anger, but he held himself back.

He had lost two capable men already. Should he kill the two before him, he would be a leader without followers. It was something that he couldn't accept since he handed most of the matters to his men to handle.

Moreover, the two boys before his eyes had a bigger use. Lude took a deep breath.

"I'll let you both off this time, but remember, it's only this time!" Lude said.

The two boys were relieved at being spared. Lude was also very satisfied when he saw the reverence that lingered on the boys' faces.

Although both of them were almost useless, compared to Cosco and Bernard, these two were easier to control.

"Now we need to lay low for a while. Not just because of 2567, but also the other enemy in the dark. I need you two to search for more news in the dark. What you need to do is all written here." Lude then threw a paper ball to them.

"Understood, Lude."

Both of them opened the paper ball to have a look before they went out the activity room.

Lude stood behind the class window to make sure both of them left safely. After he double-checked the place and made sure there weren't any enemies, which he worried about, Lude heaved a breath of relief.

"You people think you can rest easy by hiding in the dark? If the school has their eyes on me, you people will not escape either!"

Lude wasn't an idiot; after the incident yesterday, he knew what would come for him.

Or more precisely, he knew who was his biggest enemy.

It wasn't the First Seat 2567, nor was it the enemy in the dark, but Theorate itself.

As a student in his senior year and part of a professor's research lab, Lude knew how scary the school could be, therefore he needed to divert attention.

"Bite on the bait that I throw out! Bite it, take the bait! Then I'll have more plans to come!"

He had been planning for over two years now, yet before it even started, it was facing failure, which no one would be happy about, even Lude.

He'd try his best to recover as much as possible, hence he had to set up more things underneath his sleeve.

Lude then strode back to Derton Lab. After he greeted the two students on duty, he changed into his lab robe and entered the core.

Behind layers of glass and enveloped by mystical rune talisman charms, a golden chicken drumstick emanated an alluring scent.

Lude couldn't help but swallow his saliva when he saw the drumstick.

This was his goal! It was also what Derton Lab had been researching: a Proper Meal class food!

Lude was rather reserved in Professor Derton's research about using existing food to figure out the recipe behind it. He didn't think the research would bear fruit because if it was workable, Theorate and the other schools had no reason to continue.

Those so-called secrets would no longer be secrets, but it didn't stop his plan!

Whenever Lude thought about the potential benefits after he ate the Proper Meal class drumstick, his excitement would overflow, thus making many mistakes in his experiments and having to give excuses like falling sick to brush off the people around him.

"Just you wait! You will be mine very soon!"

As he left the lab, Lude turned around for one more glance at the Proper Meal class drumstick.

Then… his plan succeeded!

As if he gained help from the heavens, the enemy in the dark had taken the bait and the school was distracted by them, thus giving him precious time.

The only unexpected thing was the new First Seat 2567. The First Seat seemed to have noticed something and was currently on his tail.

It forced Lude to search for a chance to deliver the killing blow. The First Seat had displayed strength far surpassing common freshman, but to Lude, whose graduation was impending, it wasn't enough.

Whether it be in terms of true strength or battle experience, they were too far apart. Lude would eventually emerge as the final victor!

He grabbed the drumstick and opened his mouth for a bite of that golden, crispy, delicious treasure.

Kak!

His upper teeth collided with his lower teeth and produced a clear clunk followed by a numbing pain that woke him from his dizzy mind. Not only did he not taste the delicious drumstick, but a weird laugh echoed in his ears instead.

"Hehehehe, quite a plan you have there. It's just that you took it for granted."

Lude came back to his senses as the voice entered his ear.

He realized he was still standing behind the window in the activity room and had never left.

"An illusion! Sweet Wind! How could a freshman like you possess the Eat Technique?!"

Lude shouted out his inconceivable thoughts as he widened his eyes at 'Kieran'.

Then, something even more inconceivable happened: 'Kieran' turned into him!

The same face made Lude think that he was looking into a mirror.

Lude felt numb in his scalp and shouted, "YOU…"

Bang!

Before he could form a sentence, his head exploded.

Bloody Mary, the newly empowered Superior Demon, dodged the splatter of blood and brains.

"Although you took it for granted, it did have a chance to succeed, you know," Bloody Mary muttered.