Chapter 13: Hello, is this the police?

The compressed tank seemed to contain actual gas, perhaps some other flammable and explosive substance. In any case, Xu Tiange wielded her sledgehammer with the force of compressed gas, scattering volatile materials throughout the battle zone. When the rabbits charged again, she decisively triggered the ignition mechanism, sealing the corridor in a blaze of fire.

Though the rabbits were fierce, as if they knew martial arts, they were animals after all, covered in highly flammable fur. Some caught fire and shrieked in terror; others escaped the flames but shrieked just as loudly, bounding and darting away in a blur. They truly vanished in a puff of smoke.

“Form up and retreat! Maintain battle formation! Don’t scatter!” The flames still raged as Xu Tiange issued her orders in a clear, commanding voice.

She handed the gas-tank hammer to a bespectacled subordinate nearby. “Refill this for me, quick!”

“Wow, you’re so fierce and cool!” Alpha Princess clapped and cheered loudly, then eyed Ye Chao again, even more puzzled than before. “With such a cool young lady, how could she possibly like you? It makes no sense!”

“…,” Ye Chao was busy and ignored her.

Xu Tiange instructed everyone to hold their battle formation. What did that mean? Typically, a five-person squad consisted of two combat specialists, one scout with enhanced vision or senses, one support adept at concealment or purification, and a healer.

At school, aside from individual combat classes, teamwork was a major focus. The scout could anticipate danger, the support provided aid before, during, and after combat, while a good healer could directly restore wounds and maintain fighting strength. Even less skilled healers could at least supply ammunition.

Take Xu Tiange’s subordinate, who specialized in chemical compounds. He could use his ability to refill the gas Xu Tiange consumed, or replenish the synthetic gel in glue bottles.

Of course, abilities that simulated chemical substances usually lasted only briefly, but were enough for short-term battles.

With her impressive performance and concise, powerful commands, Xu Tiange resembled a general from ancient times, quickly calming the students after their initial setback. Everyone found their teammates, no longer running around like headless chickens. Those with scattered partners quickly formed provisional teams.

After all, this was core curriculum—they’d practiced countless times at school. Order was restored swiftly.

Suddenly, a voice drew everyone’s attention.

Yes, another voice. In this dim place with only a few faint electric bulbs, sound was all they could rely on.

“Hello, is this the police emergency line? I need to report something!” Ye Chao’s voice rang out.

Instantly, the lights focused on him.

“Police emergency? Are you joking? You think there’s a signal here?” someone scoffed.

Although the city wasn’t far, there were no signal towers in the wild, and the walls blocked any reception. There was simply no signal.

“There’s actually an emergency number?” Alpha Princess was surprised.

“Hello, this is the police emergency desk. What can I do for you?” A sweet, clear female voice came from the phone.

“Is it really the police? The call went through?!”

Yes, it did. It really connected.

Alpha Princess and the other students were speechless.

Everyone instantly quieted, not daring to speak loudly. Some tiptoed, afraid their only hope would disconnect, while a few wore strange expressions, lost in their thoughts.

“Hello, we’re students from Third Middle School, doing a teaching internship outside the city. Now we’ve encountered rampaging beastfolk and are trapped…” Ye Chao reported succinctly.

His abilities included repairing signals, connecting to other digital terminals to check the monitoring room in the logistics hall, and boosting phone signals to connect with those inside the city.

But halfway through, under the spotlight, he suddenly raised his phone and dropped to his knees with a thud.

○|￣|_

The students stared in silence.

“Does this ability really require kneeling?”

“That’s a first for me.”

“Learned something new.”

Ye Chao was speechless.

It wasn’t a spellcasting gesture. Rather, his brain, his ears, his thoughts—were suddenly overwhelmed by signals from every direction, above and below, as if the world itself was bombarding him.

Buzz… Whine… Static crackle…

Had he ever watched an old analog TV or used an analog radio, he would have recognized the snowy static noise when there were no broadcasts.

It was his first time realizing how many signals filled the world, how chaotic they were. For a moment, his mind felt like a tiny boat tossed in a stormy sea of static, lost and helpless.

“From now on, you must be good only to me; spoil me, never deceive me; fulfill every promise you make; every word you say must be sincere. No lies, no insults—care for me…” With arms folded in midair, Alpha Princess declared triumphantly.

Ye Chao’s bowed despair was, of course, her doing.

To be precise, the world was always flooded with signals. Only through her filtering could Ye Chao amplify and connect them effortlessly. When she stopped helping, Ye Chao naturally collapsed.

Ye Chao had no idea what Alpha Princess was saying, but he understood her threat.

Gritting his teeth, veins bulging, he struggled to keep his mind afloat amid the storm, a single clear thought unwavering: “One… one… underground… in the ruins!” He managed to recite the message, broken but determined.

“What? You’ve encountered rampaging beastfolk? Third Middle School students, teaching internship… Got it, your situation is noted—” The woman’s voice from the emergency line sounded shocked, then suddenly stalled. After a pause, she continued, “Your situation is recorded. Please tell us… your exact location… we will… as soon as…”

“Beeep… beeep…” Before she finished, the call cut off, replaced by the busy signal.

Ye Chao was surrounded by static, but the ordinary students didn’t know that—they only heard the call drop.

“Ah!” Several students cried out in despair, as if they’d lost their parents.

Well, their reaction was justified—after all, their own lives might be at stake.

Xu Tiange’s fire quickly died out. Two or three rabbits, not quite resigned, tried sneaking back. Just as they rounded the corner, a furious roar greeted them.

The rabbits froze in shock: …(⊙_⊙;)…

They quietly turned around and slipped away once more.

“Try again! Try again! Call again!” Several students crowded around Ye Chao, shouting frantically.

“Yes, try again! If you managed to connect once, you can do it again!” Among them was Fang Ju with his broad, persuasive face.

In times like these, a big presence seemed more reassuring.

Ye Chao scrambled to his feet and canceled his ability. The noise in his mind gradually faded. “I’ve used up my power—it won’t work again for a while…” he explained to his classmates, though his thoughts were elsewhere.

The call hadn’t dropped due to poor signal—since it was connected with his ability, no one knew better than him.

So…

He looked at Alpha Princess. “Sorry, I’ve let you down again.”

Alpha Princess was silent.