[Inside the Academy, Assessment Viewing Area]
"The holographic projection... gone?"
Outside the assessment arena, the people who were watching the battle through the projection screen suddenly found that the screen went dark, and all the images of the competition disappeared in an instant.
For a moment, a hubbub of voices arose. Both the examinees and the on - looking students were completely confused.
Instantly, the counselor of Yunmeng Class furrowed their brow and rapidly established contact with the college's senior management.
"Hello, this is the assessment site. The holographic projection system has suddenly failed, and we can't monitor the internal situation."
"We know," the voice of a senior staff member came from the communicator. The tone was calm but carried a barely perceptible sense of urgency. "Don't panic. The assessment is still in progress. Make sure not to alarm the other examinees. For the students who have woken up, soothe their emotions. For those who haven't, don't disturb them for the time being."
The counselor looked solemn. "Then... what about the students inside?"
"Special staff are arranged to deal with it," the senior said firmly. "Just keep order on the spot."
The communication was cut off, and the counselor's expression became even uglier.
...
On the floating arena, the members of Yunmeng Team 2 and Tianshen Team 4 formed a small circle, and the atmosphere was tense.
"... So, we can't withdraw voluntarily?" Shen Haotian tried to bring up the game menu but found that the [Withdraw Option] was actually grayed out.
"This is not right," Gu Changfeng frowned. "How could the assessment lock the withdrawal option?"
Hua Ruobing calmly scanned her surroundings and analyzed, "It appears that the system has slipped out of our control. This clearly isn't an assessment scenario set up by the college."
Chu Yao also showed a vigilant look. "So, what should we do now?"
Just as they were discussing, sudden footsteps came from the edge of the arena.
"Perhaps, I can explain."
A familiar voice sounded, and everyone suddenly turned around. They saw Xu Xingchen, with his five teammates, slowly walking out of the darkness, looking solemn.
"Xu Xingchen?" Lin Yuan slightly narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here?"
Xu Xingchen sighed. "This is the fifth time already."
Everyone was shocked. "The fifth time?"
Xu Xingchen nodded, his expression serious. "The black - robed people you saw in the game are not ordinary NPCs. They are consciousnesses from another world, or rather, another dimension."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed slightly.
"Consciousnesses from another world..." Chu Yao repeated, her eyes full of doubt.
"This doesn't sound like good news," Gu Changfeng said in a low voice.
Xu Xingchen went on, "Last time, the college seniors and we managed to jointly beat them, just barely buying this world a one-year break. However, a year passed, and they're back again... This time, the college has stepped back and left us to face them by ourselves."
"What will happen if we lose?" Lin Yuan asked.
Xu Xingchen was silent for a moment and then said slowly, "We... don't know."
"But it's certain that it won't be anything good."
Just then...
Rumble!
The air suddenly distorted, and a deep rumbling sound came from above.
Everyone looked up suddenly and saw a huge dice falling from the sky!
"Damn it!" Gu Changfeng exclaimed, rolling to the side with extremely fast reflexes, narrowly avoiding this sudden behemoth.
The dice landed steadily in the center of the arena, and the number "5" was clearly displayed on it!
Everyone stared at the dice, their eyes full of astonishment.
"What is this again?" Shen Haotian frowned.
Xu Xingchen stared at the dice and explained in a low voice, "The number on this dice... represents the respite time we can strive for."
"5?" Lin Yuan's eyes sharpened as he grasped the crucial point. "Does that mean if we win, our world gets five more years?"
Xu Xingchen nodded.
"What if we lose?" Chu Yao couldn't help asking.
Xu Xingchen's expression was gloomy. After a moment of silence, he slowly opened his mouth, "If we lose... there won't be a next time."
Everyone's hearts trembled.
But before they could continue to ask questions, a deep voice sounded in the air.
"Since the rules have been set, then... the game should begin."
The cold, ethereal voice echoed around the arena. As it sounded, the air grew extremely heavy, making breathing a struggle.
Twelve black shadows appeared silently around the arena.
They were dressed in black robes, their faces blurred, with a faint black mist permeating around them. The aura of each of them was so powerful that it was suffocating.
They stood still, like incarnations of the god of death. Just their presence made the air full of oppressive force.
"A dozen... black - robed people?" Lin Yuan said in a low voice, a glimmer of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
Twelve black-robed individuals stood in silence on the perimeter of the arena, as though anticipating a particular signal.
Finally, the one in the front took a step forward and slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and low, "The dice has been rolled, and the contract has taken effect."
"Your time depends on whether you win or lose."
"Game, start."
====================
[学院内,考核观战区]
"全息投影...消失了?"
考核场外,原本正透过投影屏幕观看战局的众人,突然发现画面一片黑暗,所有关于比赛的影像瞬间消失.
一时间,议论声四起,考生和旁观的学生们都不明所以.
云梦班的辅导员当即皱起眉头,迅速联系学院高层.
"喂,这里是考核现场,全息投影系统突然失效,无法监测内部情况."
"我们知道了." 高层人员的声音从通讯器里传出,语气沉稳,却带着一丝难以察觉的紧迫感,"不必惊慌,考核仍在进行,确保不要惊动其他考生.已经醒来的学生,安抚好他们的情绪,未醒来的,暂时不要打扰."
辅导员神色凝重:"那...里面的学生呢?"
"已经安排了专人处理." 高层的语气不容置疑,"你们维持现场秩序即可."
通讯被切断,辅导员的神色变得更加难看.
...
浮空的擂台上,云梦2队和天神4队的成员围成一个小圈,气氛紧张.
"...所以,我们无法主动退出?" 沈昊天试图调出游戏菜单,却发现 [退出选项] 竟然是灰色的.
"这就不对劲了." 顾长风皱眉道,"考核怎么可能会锁定退出?"
"系统似乎已经不受我们掌控." 华若冰冷静分析,目光扫视四周,"这不像是学院安排的考核场景."
楚瑶也露出警惕之色:"那现在怎么办?"
就在他们讨论的时候,突兀的脚步声从擂台边缘传来.
"或许,我可以解释."
熟悉的声音响起,众人猛然回头,只见许星辰带着他的五名队友,从黑暗中缓缓走出,脸色凝重.
"许星辰?" 林远微微眯起眼,"你怎么会在这里?"
许星辰叹了口气,道:"这已经是第五次了."
众人一愣:"第五次?"
许星辰点头,表情严肃:"你们在游戏里看到的黑衣人,并不是普通的NPC,而是来自另一个世界,或者说另一个维度的意识."
此话一出,所有人皆是神色微变.
"另一个世界的...意识?" 楚瑶重复了一遍,眼里满是疑惑.
"这听起来不像是什么好事." 顾长风低声道.
许星辰继续道:"上次,学院的前辈们和我们曾经联合打赢过他们,勉强让这个世界获得了一年的喘息时间.但一年之后,他们再次出现...这一次,学院并没有干涉,而是让我们自己面对."
"如果输了,会怎样?" 林远问.
许星辰沉默了片刻,缓缓道:"我们... 不知道."
"但可以肯定,不会是什么好事."
就在此时...
轰隆!
空气骤然扭曲,一阵低沉的轰鸣声从上空传来.
众人猛然抬头,便见到.
一个巨大的骰子,从天而降!
"卧槽!" 顾长风一声惊呼,反应极快地朝旁边翻滚,险之又险地避开这突如其来的庞然大物.
骰子稳稳地砸在擂台中央,上面赫然显示着 「5」!
所有人望着这枚骰子,眼神错愕.
"这又是什么?" 沈昊天皱眉道.
许星辰凝视着骰子,声音低沉地解释道:"这个骰子的数字...代表我们能争取到的喘息时间."
"5?" 林远敏锐地捕捉到重点,"也就是说,如果我们赢了,就能让我们的世界多存在五年?"
许星辰点了点头.
"那如果输了呢?" 楚瑶忍不住问.
许星辰神色晦暗,沉默了一瞬,才缓缓开口:"输了...就不再有下一次了."
众人心头一震.
但,还未等他们继续追问,一道低沉的声音在空气中响起.
"既然规则已经制定,那... 游戏就该开始了."
冰冷而空灵的声音回荡在整个擂台,伴随着这声音的降临,空气变得无比沉重,仿佛连呼吸都变得困难.
十二道黑影,无声无息地出现在擂台的四周.
他们身着黑袍,面孔模糊不清,身上弥漫着淡淡的黑雾,每个人的气息都强大得令人窒息.
他们站立不动,宛如死神的化身,仅仅只是存在在那里,就让空气充满了压迫感.
"十几位...黑衣人?" 林远低声道,眼中闪过一丝战意.
十二名黑衣人沉默地站在擂台边缘,仿佛在等待着某个信号.
终于,最前方的一人踏出一步,缓缓开口,声音沙哑低沉:"骰子已经掷下,契约已生效."
"你们的时间...取决于你们的胜负."
"游戏,开始."