After a night’s rest, Xin Ye decided to leave the forest’s edge and enter the central area.
“You might want to reconsider,” Mirror Image said, his tone noticeably more worried as they approached the blue barrier. “I can sense the mutants ahead... their numbers are overwhelming. You won’t be able to handle it.”
Xin Ye glanced at Chen Anyang. “What if he helps?”
“...Still no.”
Xin Ye fell into thought, then decided to ask his unreliable "cheat code." “What exactly did you stuff into the Unknown Area?”
Xun Yin bit his lip to stifle a laugh. 【I can’t give you the details, but I can tell you one thing: I stuffed *everything* in there.】
Xin Ye: “?”
What did "everything" even mean? He shouldn't have asked.
Xin Ye originally intended to approach the barrier for a closer look, but his sharp perception caught the sound of movement nearby. He signaled Mirror Image to retreat back into the shard and dragged Chen Anyang behind a nearby tree.
Three espers wearing the uniforms of the Mutation Investigation Department emerged from the forest—a team consisting of two men and one woman.
“Captain, is that... the central area?” The girl’s hair was a mess, her face etched with exhaustion. Her voice sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “We finally made it... If we go in early, we should get extra points, right?”
The leading young man paused, then nodded. “Yes. It might improve our overall evaluation.”
“Then what are we standing around for? Let’s get in there!” another man snapped impatiently, stepping forward to touch the barrier.
The moment his hand made contact, flecks of blue light swirled around his fingertips and sank beneath his skin.
The man let out a sharp cry. His right index finger began to turn purple, and the discoloration raced up his arm with terrifying speed.
The girl, already mentally unstable, spiraled further upon seeing her teammate poisoned. She scrambled away in a panic. “It’s the butterflies! I saw someone get poisoned like this back at the Battlefield Ruins—it’s the butterfly toxin!”
She kept muttering “butterflies” over and over, completely ignoring her suffering teammate.
The captain stepped forward and gripped her shoulder. “Calm down, Xiao Wen! Use your healing ability. Zhuang Ze can still be saved.”
Wen Xiaowen snapped out of it. “Right! I have my ability!”
She knelt beside the man, a ball of white light appearing in her palm. The light flowed onto the man’s poisoned right hand, and the purple hue quickly receded.
From their hiding spot, the inexperienced Chen Anyang turned and whispered to Xin Ye in awe, “So that’s a healing esper! I’ve never seen one before. No wonder a girl like her could make it out of the Battlefield Ruins and all the way here.”
“What does being a girl have to do with it? Plenty of women in the Seventh Department are ranked very high.” Xin Ye wasn't really paying attention to Chen Anyang’s point; Xun Yin was currently harassing him inside his head.
【How was that? I grabbed a team to test the waters for you,】 Xun Yin said, showing zero guilt for playing with people's lives—after all, he existed in a higher dimension. 【Aren't I good to you? Otherwise, you’d be the one poisoned right now.】
“As long as you’re happy,” Xin Ye muttered. Watching the lingering agony on the man’s face, he took a soft breath. “How do I get through the barrier without getting poisoned?”
【This barrier was built by the butterflies. Naturally, you can pass through safely if you’re carrying one,】 Xun Yin said, quite proud of his own logic. 【As for how to make a butterfly drop its aggression and follow you obediently, I can tell you that too.】
【Ordinary butterflies drink ordinary nectar, so mutant butterflies naturally want something a bit more... special.】
【No mutant butterfly can resist a fresh 'blood flower,' can they? Of course, only a living flower can attract those snobbish creatures. It’s like how I won’t pick up a cracker that’s been on the floor for more than three seconds.】
【See? The map is practically covered in 'entry passes.' I really am quite kind to the contestants, aren't I?】
Having obtained the information he needed, Xin Ye refocused on the trio. “I’ve got it.”
He saw another four-person team approach, their captain offering a collaboration to the first group. The way that man looked at the healing girl was far too blunt; one didn't need a brain to figure out what he was plotting.
“Let’s go,” Xin Ye poked the muscle on Chen Anyang’s arm. “I figured out how to get in. Follow me.”
Chen Anyang’s eyes lit up, and he nodded like a chick pecking at grain.
His teammates already knew he had been "taken hostage" by Xin Ye—a piece of information Xin Ye had allowed to be transmitted. Originally, both Chen Anyang and his team were worried his life would be miserable, but now it seemed those fears were entirely misplaced.
When you're following the top-ranked powerhouse, you just have to lie back and enjoy the ride.
***
**[The "You're Gonna Lose, Right?" Team]**
**Leng Xianye:** We can't get through the barrier. Someone here touched it and got poisoned.
**Xin Ye:** I saw someone catch a butterfly; it seems to be related to passing through. Want to try it?
**Lian Muyun:** Catch a butterfly? Does it have to be alive?
**Tang Qiuqiu:** I can actually use my ability to pounce on them!
**Xin Ye:** It has to be alive. You can use your own blood to attract them, but you’ll have to figure out your own way to carry them.
After sending the message, Xin Ye pulled out the dagger he had strapped back to his leg this morning.
The mirror shard began to grow hot. With Xin Ye’s permission, Mirror Image emerged and took the dagger from him. “There was scale powder on the blade yesterday, and you only gave it a rough wash. Don’t use this.”
“Then what should I use?” Xin Ye figured Mirror Image already had a substitute in mind, so he asked directly.
Mirror Image silently pulled the shard from Xin Ye’s pocket and pressed it into his hand.
Xin Ye gave a wry smile. “Fine, I’ll listen to you.”
He pulled off his combat glove and used the mirror shard to slice a small cut across the back of his left hand.
Mirror Image frowned. “You cut too deep.”
Xin Ye replied, “More blood means I might attract a big one. It’ll be easier on the eyes if it’s pretty.”
Chen Anyang, who had nothing to cut himself with, spoke up weakly, “Can I borrow that shard too?”
Mirror Image tossed the dagger onto the ground. “Take this. It’s been cleaned. It won't kill you.”
Chen Anyang: “?”
Under Mirror Image’s intimidating gaze, Chen Anyang took the dagger and made a small cut on his arm. Fortunately, Xin Ye had cleaned the blade thoroughly, and he didn't suffer any poisoning or discomfort.
“Talk about a scar healing and forgetting the pain,” Xin Ye remarked, watching a butterfly drawn to his blood. He used his right hand, protected by his discarded glove, to gently pinch the wings of the fluttering creature. “It definitely doesn't know how many of its kind I killed yesterday.”
Mirror Image stepped forward to bandage Xin Ye’s left hand to prevent more butterflies from swarming. “They’re just brainless bugs.”
Xin Ye fell silent for a moment, then shook his head slightly. “It’s better not to underestimate mutants.”
The one Xin Ye had caught was a Morpho butterfly with a metallic blue sheen, while Chen Anyang had attracted a common white butterfly with black edges. Once the butterfly settled, Chen Anyang hardened the skin of his hand using his ability, leaving only a thin layer of blood for the butterfly to feed on.
Xun Yin: 【So? Is the butterfly I picked for you pretty?】
Xin Ye: “I know you want me to say thank you, but I’m not going to.”
With their butterflies in hand, the two chose to circle around to a different side of the barrier to avoid running into other espers.
As they stood before the barrier again, Xin Ye felt as though the blue surface had become more translucent—though it might have been his imagination. The butterfly stayed still in his grip, its antennae twitching occasionally to show it was still alive.
Xin Ye hesitated to step forward. “So... we just walk through?”
Xun Yin, currently snacking on a different flavored cracker, replied: 【What else do you want? A fireworks display to celebrate your entry?】
Xin Ye: “...If I get disqualified, I’m coming for you.”
Xun Yin: 【You’re welcome anytime.】
Xin Ye shuffled forward two small steps, finally steeled his nerves, and leaned through the barrier with his eyes closed.
As he passed through the blue film, ripples spread across its surface. The temperature dropped slightly, and a somewhat uncomfortable chill washed over him, but it was quickly neutralized by a warm sensation.
It came from the butterfly in his hand.
Mirror Image followed Xin Ye through without issue. Chen Anyang, however, was so jumpy he nearly scared his butterfly away; luckily, the creature was obedient and flew right back to the back of his hand.
Xin Ye looked down at the butterfly. It wiggled its antennae as if in response.
He suddenly thought the butterfly was quite cute—certainly cuter than a certain someone constantly babbling in his head. He felt an urge to say thank you to it.
However, before he could speak, he was interrupted by a sudden mechanical voice.
“Congratulations to D-class esper Xin Ye of the 'You're Gonna Lose, Right?' Team for being the first contestant to enter the Unknown Area. Remaining participants, please keep up the effort!”
Xin Ye: “?”
The source of the voice was the top of the barrier, but it was loud enough to be heard across the entire competition map.
Simultaneously, a notification popped up on everyone's multi-function watches. Now, every single person left in the competition knew that Xin Ye was the first to cross the threshold.
Chen Anyang looked back at Xin Ye. “The 'You're Gonna Lose, Right?' Team... what a cool name!”
Xun Yin: 【No fireworks, but I gave you this instead. Are you satisfied, sir?】
Xin Ye felt like he desperately needed an oxygen tank.
Xun Yin: 【Though it’s unlikely, if you ever get eliminated, I can do a map-wide broadcast for that too...】
Xin Ye: “Thank you. Truly. Thank you.”
Xin Ye didn't say this to Xun Yin in his mind; he muttered it aloud with a sigh of exasperation.
Then, a girl’s voice replied to him.
“You’re very welcome. Your blood is delicious. I like it very much.”
Chen Anyang jumped at the sound. Xin Ye froze, quickly pinpointing the source of the voice.
It was the butterfly he was holding.
The butterfly on Chen Anyang’s hand also took flight, circling him as if he were a real flower.
Mirror Image drew his gun, aiming the muzzle at the butterfly. “Xin Ye, should I kill it?”
Xin Ye’s expression was grim, but his voice remained calm. “The barrier belongs to the butterflies. This is their territory. If you kill it here, you’re just asking to be swarmed by the rest of them.”
Xun Yin was enjoying the show, his typing speed never faltering: 【Good judgment. As expected of my current protagonist.】
Butterflies have vision, and a mutant’s view of the world is likely even clearer than a normal one's. It saw the gun pointed at it and felt the grip on its wings tighten, but it ignored these threats. It spoke again in its little girl’s voice, questioning Xin Ye.
“Could you please stop pinching me? It’s very ugly.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t release my scales to attack you. Let me rest on your shoulder, okay?”
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
温小雯 | Wen Xiaowen | A healing esper from the Mutation Investigation Department.
庄则 | Zhuang Ze | A member of Wen Xiaowen's team.
血花 | Blood flower | A metaphorical term used by Xun Yin for fresh blood.
闪蝶 | Morpho butterfly | A type of butterfly known for its metallic blue wings.
温和 | Gentle/Mild | Used to describe the sensation provided by the butterfly.
机械音 | Mechanical voice | The system announcement voice.
