The four girls rode the campus shuttle, dragonfly-smooth along stone paths, toward the back mountain.

Yanjing University kept a park like a still lake, shared by all campuses.

On holidays or lazy breaks, small groups and couples drifted in like swallows, playing under the trees.

“We’re here! Let’s go,” Beibei chirped, her voice skipping like pebbles across water.

At the park gate, Beibei tugged Tang Coco, hopped off like a sparrow, and sprinted toward the hill’s far side.

The hill’s view rippled like silk; autumn edged near, yet flowers and trees shone like rain-washed jade.

A clean path coiled upward like a pale ribbon, spiraling toward the summit.

“How far… we’re not there yet?” Tang Coco asked, her breath steady like a warm breeze.

They’d been jogging awhile, Abnormal stamina humming like a quiet engine.

“Almost, almost, right at the top,” Beibei laughed, sunlight-bright.

They turned a corner, then the girls climbed onto the summit like deer cresting a ridge.

“This…” Tang Coco stopped, the word hanging like mist.

At the peak stood a giant tree, a sky-pillar rooted in stone.

She couldn’t name it; she had never seen such a thing, like a dream carved from wood.

Its trunk was straight as a spear, about four meters thick, a silent giant in green.

Leaves and blossoms patched its crown like a painted sky—tender green leaves and petals of cherry-pink, blush, and yellow.

Red cloth strips hung like prayer ribbons, swaying in a thin breeze.

Only a few passing students drifted by like clouds, giving the tree a veil of mystery.

“What is this…”

“Hehe—pretty, right? It’s a Wish Tree, and it’s man-made,” Beibei said, delight fluttering like a butterfly.

“Man-made?” Tang Coco’s thoughts scattered like startled birds.

“Dense Anomalous Energy detected within this tree,” the System’s voice rang, cold as steel.

Her pulse tightened like a drum; she studied the tree with storm-bright eyes.

“Yeah,” Yuanyuan added, voice calm as tea, “rumor says an Abnormal created it when Yanjing University was founded.”

“To ordinary people, they say it’s some bored scientists’ experimental breed,” she said, irony thin as rain.

“I see…” Tang Coco nodded, thoughts weaving like smoke.

“System, scan this tree carefully,” she ordered, words crisp as frost.

“Understood,” the System replied, a blade in the mind.

“Come on, Sister Coco, make a wish,” Beibei laughed, tugging her hand like a playful stream.

Tang Coco stepped under the Wish Tree, staring up at the impossible crown like a skylight to heaven.

Emotion rose first, a knot pulling tight like a storm catch in her chest.

A wish… what wish? Revenge? That felt less like a wish, more like a mission carved in bone.

Wish… what counts as a wish? The question drifted like ash, refusing to fall.

Maybe… it’s enough if they stay safe. That thought settled like a feather.

She closed her eyes, palms pressed at her chest like a lotus bud.

“Sister Coco, what did you wish for?” Beibei leaned in, curiosity sparkling like dew.

“This…” Tang Coco hesitated, the word soft as fog.

“Beibei, didn’t we say you don’t ask that?” Chen Ying tapped her forehead like a falling raindrop.

“Uuuh… I was just curious,” Beibei pouted, cheeks puffed like peaches.

“Alright, let’s eat. My treat,” Tang Coco said, laughter warm as bell-chimes.

“Yay, there’s a really good Western place nearby. Let’s go,” Beibei sang, feet light as swallows.

On the way down, Chen Ying’s voice drifted in like a leaf. “Coco, what kind of Anomaly Power do you have?”

“Huh? Why ask so suddenly?” Tang Coco glanced over, a breeze of surprise.

“Because… there are two fire-types in class,” Chen Ying said, blush rising like sunset, “I’m one of them.”

“Ah…” Tang Coco scratched her cheek, embarrassment flitting like a moth.

“I didn’t expect he’d have me demonstrate. Don’t worry, I won’t actually hit you,” she said, tone steady as stone.

“My Anomaly Power… it’s summoning-type,” she added, quiet as dusk.

“Summoning-type…” the word rang like a temple bell.

“Sister Coco’s summoning-type? I heard summoners are especially welcomed by the national Anomaly organization,” the blonde little girl chimed, eyes bright as stars.

“It’s fine,” Tang Coco smiled, calm as a lake.

“Okay—enough talk. Let’s eat, I’m starving,” Yuanyuan huffed, lips pouting like a carp.

“Alright, let’s move,” Tang Coco said, steps easy as rain.

————————————

At noon, Ouyang Lingxue used the break to return to the Ouyang house, her pace swift as a swallow’s flight.

“Sir, the second miss is back. She’s waiting in the living room,” the steward said, voice smooth as tea.

“Xue’er? Got it. You may go,” Ouyang Lingtian replied, closing his book with a whisper like paper wind.

He headed for the living room, footsteps measured as a metronome.

“Xue’er! You’re finally back,” he greeted, smile warm as spring sun.

“Grandpa, have you been well?” Ouyang Lingxue asked, eyes gentle as willow shade.

“All well, except I miss my two adorable granddaughters,” he chuckled, affection thick as honey.

“Hehe—see, I came to visit you,” she teased, laughter light as chimes.

“Don’t think I don’t know you’re at Yanjing University as an exchange student,” he said, eyes clear as water.

“How’s Ninghai?” he asked, the name heavy as distant thunder.

“Mm, fine,” she answered, voice small as rain.

“Lately… a lot happened there,” she added, shadow falling like evening.

“Of course. Our Ouyang family watches such things,” Ouyang Lingtian said, tone steady as granite.

“I see…” she murmured, thoughts moving like clouds.

“What about Tang Coco?” he asked, the name landing like a pebble.

“Tang Coco!? Grandpa, you know her?” Ouyang Lingxue blinked, surprise sharp as a spark.

“Mm. We met once. She’s your classmate, isn’t she? Didn’t she tell you?” he said, eyes calm as moonlight.

“No,” she replied, the word thin as thread.

“Oh, maybe she forgot,” he said, a shrug light as wind.

“But, Grandpa, how did you meet her?” she pressed, curiosity curling like smoke.

“Did you forget what your grandpa does?” he smiled, the old pride steady as earth.

“I’m retired, but when tricky Abnormals show up, those folks still call me,” he said, tone iron-cool.

“So I met her,” he finished, simple as stone.

“How is she?” he asked, gaze sharp as a hawk.

“Very strong. Even… not weaker than Asura,” Ouyang Lingxue said, keeping the deeper truth folded like a fan.

“I know. Her Anomaly Power feels a bit like Asura’s,” he nodded, insight clear as glass.

“But I’m not asking about strength. If the person fails, strength is a blade without a hilt,” he said, words ringing like bronze.

“As a person… I think she’s good,” Ouyang Lingxue replied, conviction steady as a root.

“I talked with her briefly,” he said, memory drifting like incense, “she felt like mist—she spoke plenty, yet hid plenty.”

“Yeah… she’s very mysterious,” Ouyang Lingxue nodded, pursuit coiling like a snake, “I’m studying her.”

“Good. Be careful. Don’t let the other side see your weakness,” he said, warning sharp as frost.

A cold bead of sweat slid like rain; she knew the truth already.

“I understand,” she answered, voice low as dusk.

“Alright, enough of that. Xue’er, did you come back for something?” he asked, tone warm as embers.

“I just wanted to see you,” she said, affection soft as down.

“Ah, but your parents are out on a mission,” he sighed, the fact falling like a stone.

“It’s okay. I’m used to it,” she replied, eyes dim as a winter moon.

“Good child. You’re different from Yu’er,” he said, hope bright as a candle.

“I want you to make more friends. It helps you grow,” he continued, counsel like steady rain.

“Out there, true friends are umbrellas in a storm,” he said, metaphors gathering like clouds.

“Mm. I know,” she whispered, resolution firm as a knot.

————————————

In the afternoon, rain stitched Yanjing with silver threads, yet training went on like drums under a tarp.

“Why me… I’ll probably get hurt again,” a boy groaned, his sigh a wind through reeds.

He was the other fire-type Abnormal in class.

“What are you mumbling?” a sharp voice cracked like thunder.

“Homeroom teacher…” someone muttered, words scattering like sparrows.

“Here, call me Coach! How many times have I said that!” the man barked, voice iron-hard.

“Yes, Coach!” the class answered, chorus neat as marching feet.

“I know what you worry about,” the Coach said, gaze steady as a blade.

“Every demo, you hold back. You’re afraid of hurting yourself or others,” he continued, truth clear as rain.

“This time we got lucky. For this exchange, the school prepared a new product,” he said, smile small as a coin.

He lifted a black wristband, sleek as a raven feather.

“This is the fourth-gen single-use Defense Device,” he explained, tone crisp as frost.

“It triggers a three-second energy shield when a lethal hit is incoming, glass-strong around your body,” he said, hand slicing air like a line.

“So go attack. Show your combat skills. Once defense triggers, we call the match,” he finished, rule firm as stone.

“Is it really that strong?” someone asked, hope bright as a lamp.

“Coach, if a hit’s non-lethal, it won’t trigger, right? We’ll still get hurt,” the fire-type boy worried, voice thin as rain.

“You rabbit brats, can’t take a bit of pain!” the Coach snapped, thunder rolling again.

He sighed, the sound a curl of smoke. “Fine. Look who I brought.”

Everyone turned like sunflowers to light.

A girl in a white tee and pleated skirt stepped in, black hair flowing like midnight silk.

Her face was beautiful, her confidence quiet as moonlight on water.

“That’s… Teacher Xue Jing!” someone gasped, awe bright as sparks.

“It’s really her!” another chimed, excitement fluttering like wings.

“Xue Jing? Sounds familiar,” Tang Coco frowned, memory fog drifting like a low cloud.

“Coco, you wouldn’t know,” Beibei whispered, gossip sweet as honey.

“Teacher Xue Jing’s a famous beauty here, and very strong,” she added, pride ringing like a bell.

“Yeah. Teacher Xue Jing is an S-class Abnormal, and she’s a healer,” Chen Ying said, admiration clear as spring.

“She’s super popular,” Chen Ying added, the word a breeze through leaves.

“Oh…” Tang Coco nodded, curiosity climbing like ivy.

“Hello, students~” Xue Jing’s voice was soft and sweet, like sugar in warm tea.

“Hello, Teacher Xue Jing~” the class sang, joy bright as a lantern.

“Quiet!” the Coach snapped, order falling like a drumbeat. “If anyone gets hurt, Teacher Xue Jing will treat you.”

“Wow!” cheers burst like fireworks in drizzle.

“Coach! I’m not fire-type, but request a match!” a student yelled, eagerness sparking like flint.

“Me too! Me too!” another called, hands up like saplings.

“These rabbit brats…” the Coach muttered, a helpless smile crooked like a crescent moon.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Teacher Xue Jing,” he said, courtesy smooth as silk.

“It’s fine~” she answered, kindness warm as light.

“Alright! Chen Ying, get ready. You start,” the Coach ordered, voice sharp as a whistle.

“Okay,” Chen Ying nodded, resolve setting like clay.

She and Tang Coco stepped to the center, two leaves on a quiet pond.

“Coco… go easy,” Chen Ying whispered, nerves fluttering like moths.

“Uh…” Tang Coco wondered if she looked that scary, thought drifting like fog.

“Tang Coco, show us how to dodge a fire-type Abnormal’s attack,” the Coach said, instruction clear as glass.

“Chen Ying, attack,” he added, the cue crisp as a snap.

“Got it!” Chen Ying lifted her right hand, a fireball budding like a sunflower in bloom.

She threw; the shot was simple, something anyone could sidestep like a ripple.

Tang Coco slid left like a breeze through grass. “Too slow,” she said, head swaying like a willow.

Chen Ying tightened, focus burning like a coal.

Energy arrays floated around her like glowing halos, bright circles in rainlight.

Pillars of fire lanced toward Tang Coco like spears, heat snarling like a beast.

Chen Ying still failed; Tang Coco didn’t move more than half a meter, rooted like bamboo.

With leaf-light shifts, she let every strike pass like arrows through smoke.

“Wow! That’s awesome,” classmates cried, voices bursting like sparrows into sky.

“Watch closely! This is optimal evasion,” the Coach said, satisfaction full as a harvest moon.

“Huff—huff—” Chen Ying panted, breath rough as bellows in a forge.

...

Seeing Chen Ying’s stance waver like a reed in wind, Tang Coco chose to strike first and end the demo.

Alright, I’m coming in. Her voice cut like a clean blade.

At her words, blue particles swarmed before her like fireflies and fused into a black Mech, a single saber poised like a calm hawk.

Fwoooosh—

Suddenly, jets flared from the Mech’s back like comet tails.

It rushed toward Chen Ying on a sly arc, every attack slipping past like rain off bamboo.

The Mech slid to Chen Ying’s side like a stalking shadow.

She whipped a leg in a scything kick, wind hissing like grass.

But the black Mech spun fast like a storm vane, then set its long blade at her throat like a cold moon.

One beat—instant kill, like a guillotine dropping.

Enough! The homeroom teacher barked, his voice dropping like a gavel.

Wow! Coco, you’re awesome—like lightning out of a clear sky!

Beibei cheered, joy ringing like a silver bell.

Don’t lose heart. Tonight, when we’re back, I’ve got some advice to stoke your fire.

Tang Coco stepped to Chen Ying’s side, her words laying warm like a blanket.

Okay.

Next! Du Yu!

Got it!

The earlier youth called, then ran to where Chen Ying had stood, feet drumming like hooves.

Careful, beauty. I’m not like her! He grinned like a wolf.

As he spoke, flames unfurled in his hands like twin lotuses.

But they weren’t the same release-type Anomaly Power as Chen Ying’s.

He also lunged at Tang Coco like a charging boar.