Genius Chapter 25: Spirit Pet Egg

Chapter 25: Spirit Pet Egg

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

As soon as these words were spoken, the other three people at the same table fell silent instantly. At this moment, a huge countdown appeared in the air of the inn, and the voice of ApexMind made its final announcement.

[Countdown to the start of the activity——]

[30]

The countdown sounded like a death knell, and the other teams around were already in a stir. The gaze of all the players changed instantly, and the inn, which had been peaceful moments ago, turned into a battlefield filled with smoke, assessing and probing, scanning for suitable targets.

In such a tense atmosphere, ScarletFruit couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. He caught sight of the teams around them, noticing that the closest ones had their eyes on them, weapons already in hand, poised to attack, as if all the damage would rain down on them in the next second.

“Bro, you scared me with that joke,” ScarletFruit said, swallowing hard. “I’m not that young anymore, and my heart isn’t that great.”

“I was joking,” Su Mo replied, “I misspoke just now. It’s actually only 4 minutes and 26 seconds left.”

[23]

ClearWind nervously took a few steps back. “Bro, it’s just an hour. We can finish the game and then go offline to eat. Skipping one meal won’t kill us, but not fighting might.”

“True,” Su Mo explained very seriously. “I can stay online, but my family will disconnect my holographic port, and then it won’t be under my control.”

As soon as these words were spoken, ScarletFruit and ClearWind were dumbfounded.

ScarletFruit was stunned. “Bro, are you underage?”

“?” Su Mo said, “No, I’m 18 already.”

ClearWind covered his face. “What kind of overbearing parents are these, cutting off the network at the drop of a hat…”

[10]

“Oh no, 10 seconds left! Brother,” ScarletFruit nervously stepped back, squeezing behind Su Mo, “We’re gonna die. If they rush over, we’ll be doomed…”

ClearWind cursed, “Fruit, you stepped on my foot!”

ScarletFruit shrank his head. “I’m scared. Make some room, I want to get closer to bro.”

ClearWind said, “You’re a healer, why are you scared? Heal yourself.”

“Is this a matter of healing?!” ScarletFruit said, “With so many people, I’ll be done for with just one move from each.”

[3]

As the time jumped to the last three seconds, the players were already preparing to act, with two teams already surrounding the table where Su Mo and the others were sitting, eyeing them like hungry wolves.

[1]

The voice of ApexMind sounded somewhat pleased, “Congratulations to everyone on your success.”

In an instant, the other players in the Desert Inn all turned into attackable red names, various skill sounds and light effects suddenly appeared, and the noisy voices exploded. Yu Zhen grabbed ClearWind and pushed him onto the table, the unique defensive array of an array master instantly unfolded, “Use the item!”

The defense array absorbed all the attacks around, but cracks appeared within a second.

ClearWind stepped onto the table, hastily rummaging through his bag for items. Just as he pulled one out, a huge umbrella-shaped shield appeared above the four of them. The powerful defense force pushed away all the surrounding players, successfully protecting the table just as Yu Zhen’s array cracked.

ScarletFruit’s legs went weak with fright. “You scared me to death.”

Looking at the unfolding umbrella, Su Mo remarked unexpectedly, “This item is pretty good.”

ClearWind felt a bit proud. “Of course, it can negate all damage for half an hour.”

ScarletFruit looked at him enviously. “What’s this item called?”

“It’s called ‘Prison of the Earth,’ and it can only be used in quest scenarios,” ClearWind explained. “After use, you won’t receive any damage, but you also can’t use any skills or move. Cool, right?”

“…I’ve never thought being imprisoned could be nice,” ScarletFruit said.

The surrounding players, seeing themselves suddenly separated by this item, reluctantly gave up on their prey and turned to fight for the nearby tables. The entire inn turned into a chaotic battlefield where 220 people coexisted, each table enveloped in red light effects, turning green when successfully occupied by a team.

Su Mo glanced at the remaining time of the item. “I’m going offline to grab a meal, see you later.”

“Don’t go completely offline, hang in offline mode,” Yu Zhen reminded in time. “Completely logging out might get you kicked out of the quest activity.”

“Okay.” Su Mo stopped his hand from exiting the device, searched for a while, and then turned on offline mode. After that, he logged out without looking back.

“Brother is really ruthless,” ScarletFruit looked at the completely grayed-out icons in the team, “So is brother really underage?”

“You’re silly!” ClearWind glanced at him. “Celestial Horizon has anti-addiction measures for minors. If brother were really underage, he would have been kicked offline long ago.”

ScarletFruit: “Oh, right.”

The team suddenly quieted down, unable to do anything for half an hour due to the “Prison of the Earth.”

Yu Zhen sat at the table, poured himself a cup of tea from the fortunate teapot, and said briefly, “Let’s wait.”

He opened a private voice chat and sent a message to 25000.

ScarletFruit looked at his big brother, then at the raging battle outside, and finally picked up the teacup from the ground. “Bro, pour me a cup. I’ll have a sip to calm my nerves.”

“I’ll have one too.” ClearWind pulled out a long bench and sat down.

The three of them drank their tea with their own thoughts, while outside the prison, the battle grew fiercer, and inside became the only pure land in this battlefield. Various skills flew around and hit their umbrella prison, clearly participating in the fight, yet experiencing an indescribable heart-pounding sensation.

After finishing their tea, ScarletFruit’s mood calmed down. He was about to talk to someone to ease his mind when he saw ClearWind next to him raising his hand as if tinkering with something. He paused, “Wind, what are you doing?”

***

Su Mo managed to log off just in the nick of time. As he removed the interface, he saw Lele emerging from the kitchen with a nutrient pack in hand. After finishing the nutrient pack under Lele’s gaze, he took his medication. He rested for ten minutes before being allowed to play games again. When he logged back in, he heard ClearWind’s slightly excited voice in the voice channel—

“Guys, the warrior charged in! Mighty blow followed by a crazy slash, nice, direct hit, awesome!”

“The competition at table 2 has heated up. Now the healer in white pants has taken the high ground. He successfully healed the swordsman, and the swordsman is still fighting, amazing!”

“This defense show is incredible. The warrior controls the field with fierce blows, the healer supports the swordsman. Even with two teammates down, they successfully defended table 2!!!”

Su Mo: “…?”

What’s going on?

[The warrior at table 2 is a real newbie if he can hold out like this.]

[I’m worried about the livestreamer. Once the item’s time is up, you’re done, you know?]

[ClearWind is really lively today, I’m relieved.]

[My friend is also at this event. Seeing the livestreamer just watching the show, I have mixed feelings.]

Yu Zhen, who was drinking tea nearby, noticed Su Mo logging in. “You’re here?”

Su Mo walked over and sat down beside him. “What’s going on?”

ScarletFruit explained, “ClearWind said waiting idly was too irritating, so he decided to start a livestream to relax.”

Yu Zhen poured him a cup of tea.

“Thanks,” Su Mo said, scanning the field. It had only been 25 minutes, but there had been a dramatic change in the situation. The team that had been upstairs came down and immediately seized positions, engaging in fierce battles with the teams on the first floor. Almost all the players who had been around their table before logging out had vanished, replaced by new faces.

The teams inside the Desert Inn were very sensitive to the changes on the field.

“Look, the team under the shield is back to four members.”

“The one who just logged in is a summoner, really lucky. Where did they get that item?”

“They’re also low level, keep an eye on them. The item’s duration is so long.”

[Remaining players: 146. Available accommodations: 35/20]

With only 30 teams left on the field, most of the scattered teams from the Desert Inn had been defeated, leaving the entire inn in chaos except for the tables. Su Mo noticed that the attention of others had turned back to them, and the competition inside became more cautious. It seemed that the previous intense competition had led the teams who managed to secure tables to calm down and regroup, possibly waiting for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

Su Mo surveyed the situation and asked, “There are three teams.”

“How many can you control?” Yu Zhen inquired.

Su Mo pondered for a moment. “At most five people. The space here is too small, which benefits us but also our opponents.”

Yu Zhen paused briefly. “What’s your plan?”

Su Mo replied, “Not to defend.”

Listening to their conversation, ScarletFruit’s gaze shifted to the remaining time of “Prison of the Earth,” suddenly feeling worried about the next half-hour. “Bro, I’m just a squishy, can you protect me when the time comes?”

“No need for protection,” Su Mo looked at him. “Isn’t running away your strong suit?”

ScarletFruit: “Huh? R-Running away?”

“Bro, you’re online!” ClearWind, who had been immersed in the livestream, finally snapped out of it. “Wait, I’ll turn off the livestream.”

[livestreamer, what are you turning off!!!]

[[Deepwater Bomb] x10, play! Keep streaming for me!]

[You’re the only one streaming this event online. Aren’t you going to capitalize on this traffic?]

“Isn’t this worrying about exposing our strategy?” ClearWind looked at Su Mo. “Bro, there’s only 1 minute left for the item. What do we do now?” He raised his hand to turn off the livestream but suddenly heard the words of the eldest brother in the team.

Su Mo said, “Stick to the strategy, give up the position to them.”

ClearWind: “?”

In the livestream chat: ???????

Just as everyone was puzzled, the timer for “Prison of the Earth” reached zero. The huge umbrella shield instantly dissipated, immediately grabbing the attention of all the players nearby, especially the three teams closest to them. Almost at the moment when the defensive effect of “Prison of the Earth” disappeared, they acted. The three teams simultaneously unleashed the skills they had been saving up, all aiming towards the table.

At that moment, the four people who were sitting and drinking tea suddenly scattered. Their movements were fluid and coordinated, each fleeing in a different direction, completely orderly. The entire table was suddenly empty.

Skills missed their targets, and the nearest team, no longer hesitating, charged forward. Just as they were about to seize the table, a fierce competition erupted. Initially, only three teams planned to take the initiative, but seeing the suddenly vacant table, other teams who had been observing also joined in. The eruption was sudden, and the previously balanced battle instantly became chaotic.

Su Mo stepped on the table, utilizing his agility to jump onto a lantern in the air, then leveraged it to grab onto the railing of the second floor. He hung in the air, overseeing the battle below, and identified the positions of his three other teammates. “Find a good hiding spot. Don’t get hit by any skills.”

ScarletFruit hid under the counter of the bounty board, using the voice chat to ask, “Are we really giving up the position we defended for half an hour like this?”

“We are,” Su Mo replied shortly. “Do you see the other teams around us? There are three teams fully equipped on the left, but they haven’t joined the battle. Do you know why?”

“…Because they can’t beat us?” ScarletFruit guessed.

“Have you calculated? Occupying the table only takes ten seconds,” Su Mo said. “They’re waiting. First, they’ll use time to wear out the teams who recklessly seek victory, then they’ll use competition to wear out the teams fighting each other. By the end, the team that successfully stays behind will either be exhausted or have used up all their life-saving items. Then they’ll reap the benefits.”

ClearWind understood. “Oh! So you’re waiting for them to tire out, and then we strike?”

“Exactly,” Su Mo affirmed.

“Then should we hide now…?” ScarletFruit asked.

Yu Zhen interjected at the right moment, “Don’t fall asleep.”

“…When it comes to running away, I still have professional ethics,” ScarletFruit muttered.

ClearWind suddenly got excited. “Then can I continue the livestream?”

“Feel free,” Su Mo replied.

As time passed, more and more teams couldn’t resist the urge, and in the last twenty minutes, a fierce competition erupted once again. Some teams occupying tables couldn’t withstand the sudden intense attacks. By the time the challenge was close to ending in 15 minutes, nearly 8 teams had been eliminated, leaving only 27 teams on the field.

Su Mo’s gaze rested on the three teams farthest away. They were moving.

Ten minutes later, there were only 25 teams left.

Nearly six tables were still being fiercely contested.

8 minutes passed, and the three teams sprang into action. Su Mo had already identified their target for looting.

With 5 minutes remaining, Su Mo suddenly spoke over the voice chat, “ScarletFruit, find your position!”

ScarletFruit jolted, just emerging from under the counter, when a figure leaped from above, followed by a massive bear crashing down in the middle of their original tea seat, disrupting the team sitting there. In mid-air, two summoning totems instantly activated, accompanied by an array of damage buffs.

LunarFeline descended from above, causing chaos, while two strong controllers landed, catching everyone off guard. Su Mo swiftly approached the tea seat, followed closely by Soul Rabbit, unleashing intense damage. Solitary Wolf tackled the enemy’s healers, stunning them for 3 seconds. Su Mo commanded, “ClearWind, burst down the healer!”

“Got it!” ClearWind charged into the crowd with his sword, losing half his health instantly.

ScarletFruit, trembling with fear, asked, “Brother!! Can you activate damage reduction before charging into the crowd?”

ClearWind replied, “Oops, forgot. Doing it now.”

ScarletFruit was speechless.

Although only three people were taking action, they exerted the force of two teams. Especially with the summoner’s control, they were completely immobilized, even if they managed to break free, the summoner could summon another creature to control them in the next second.

“Damn it!”

“Don’t let them take the positions!”

“Use your ultimate, focus on clearing LunarFeline first.”

“We can’t clear it, damn summoner summoned another one!”

With Solitary Wolf’s assistance, ClearWind successfully ambushed and killed the opponent’s healer. Seizing the opportunity, Su Mo said, “ClearWind, I’ll cover you, go for the positions.”

Only four people remained seated at the tea table, while the outer ring turned red again. ClearWind swiftly broke through the crowd and grabbed a seat, only to be attacked by a warrior beside him. He realized it was the same incredibly strong warrior he had encountered earlier, “Fuck!” 

Yu Zhen activated a defensive array for ClearWind. “Grab it!”

Su Mo raised his hand to cast a control spell when Soul Rabbit suddenly stopped mid-combat, and at that moment, a notification popped up in front of him, [Your spirit pet egg is about to hatch, please take care.]

Su Mo was speechless, “Uh-oh…”

ScarletFruit exclaimed, “What’s wrong? Brother, don’t leave your sentence hanging like that!”

Su Mo struggled to explain, “My rabbit is about to give birth.”