Vortex Town, Fourth Center, Playground Area.

Eight students arrived on time, and Mr. Question Mark was already waiting there.

His outfit today was somewhat different. Although he still wore a burlap hood, the usual suit was replaced with a two-tone tracksuit and running shoes, making him genuinely look like a teacher.

Different from the high and formal feeling in the True Death Game,

Mr. Question Mark today lowered his status, engaging with the students in a casual manner:

"I remember when I was a student myself, the school would always organize morning runs.

But my health wasn't good, and I often lagged behind. To keep up with the class, I occasionally ran until I was exhausted and had to go to the infirmary.

However, after several persistent efforts, my weak body was actually able to keep up with the class, and my health gradually improved in the process.

So when Teacher Guo invited me to join, I firmly refused the teaching position and instead took on the role of dean, responsible for your activities between classes, including this important morning run."

Mr. Question Mark started pacing in place, seemingly warming up, intending to participate as well.

"Morning runs, in addition to training your physical stamina, activate your mental state for the day.

Considering that you will compete with the new students in two days, and considering that many of you have become too reliant on the system after coming to the Corner, forgetting the essential nature of the body.

I will use the morning run to help you re-embrace the 'weakness' of being human.

Therefore, I will set a special rule that you must meet during the run.

Today is the first morning run, so my requirements will be relatively simple.

You need to run a set number of laps within a fixed half-hour, and because each of you has different physical capabilities, the lap requirements will vary."

Mr. Question Mark snapped his fingers, and a green number appeared above everyone's heads.

Above Luo Di's head was [317]. After a quick calculation, he realized he'd need to run about ten and a half laps per minute to meet this requirement.

Most people were in the range of 200-400, with Lebeite and Wu Wen having the highest requirement of 400.

However, one student was different.

Katayama's was a single digit [9].

Despite this, Katayama still looked very distressed, as if running was something he feared most in life.

Luo Di glanced at the numbers above everyone's heads and made his own deduction:

"Everyone's lap requirement can be pinpointed to single digits, Mr. Question Mark must have some way of seeing our limits.

Luckily, last night's sleep left me mostly recovered, and I can feel the rhythm between my tongue and body—it's worth a try later."

Mr. Question Mark raised both hands to signal everyone to line up at the track:

"Please note! During the run, you can only use your physical strength and not rely on any external forces. Moreover, you must maintain a normal running posture and not interfere with others.

Of course, if you believe your skills are discreet enough not to be caught, you can try to use them—that's also a part of your ability.

Those who fail to meet the lap requirement will continue the same night run.

No more words! Morning run, start now!"

Swoosh!

Wu Wen and Lebeite almost sprinted out with the same exaggerated posture, having the highest lap requirement meant they were competing to some extent.

However,

Wu Wen seized the right moment, allowing a rotating force to spread from her feet, buzzing! Even the ground left strange marks beneath her, boosting her speed, taking the lead position.

Lebeite didn't panic. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes, maintaining his own running pace, ensuring his running form was perfect with no energy wasted.

The other participants also exhibited speeds far exceeding human limits, with only Katayama struggling to run, each step causing an increase in fluid secretion.

The mucus carrying pathogens uncontrollably dripped onto the track.

Other students, focused on running, had to slightly divert to avoid it, as getting infected would be a hassle. The entire running lineup was affected.

Katayama could only keep apologizing, feeling increasingly guilty, especially when Luo Di faced obstruction.

The rapid rise of guilt made him try to control his secretions, thinking of a solution he would never have considered before due to its complexity.

Katayama voluntarily stopped, moving to the edge of the track.

Perhaps it was because of his cooperation with Luo Di, he learned how to release the water within him, even without relying on Hell's heat.

He tried to use the vortex force across his entire body like wringing a towel, quickly expelling the moisture outside, albeit painfully.

Once fully dry, Katayama returned to a slender state, with black hair over his ears, appearing somewhat graceful.

Though running was still difficult, at least he wouldn't trouble others.

[Top Floor of the Teaching Building]

Teacher Guo, Gust, and Maximus were all there.

Teacher Guo, being the organizational leader, needed to see how Mr. Question Mark's activities turned out and whether they benefited the school's development.

The other two harbored their own motives.

As the morning run reached its latter half, even these elite students began to show signs of exhaustion.

Whenever any of them tried to activate their pituitary, Mr. Question Mark's sack-like head would appear behind them, watching them with a large question mark.

Teacher Guo couldn't help but applaud:

"Mr. Question Mark lives up to his name, immediately identifying the students' limits and setting simple yet perfect rules.

This morning run is very meaningful, allowing them to pick up the most basic things and re-evaluate the fundamental state of their bodies at this stage."

Gust, however, looked disdainful, concentrating more on Luo Di.

His expression shifted to one of delight when he noticed the frequency of Luo Di's mouth movements matched his running pace.

The morning run ended.

Dormo, Yu Ze, Hua Yuan, and Katayama didn't meet the requirements and would continue tonight. However, Mr. Question Mark could see at a glance that one of them had deliberately failed to meet the standard.

Everyone collapsed onto the lawn, panting heavily, as if more exhausted than from a great battle.

Mr. Question Mark understood that this morning run had achieved its purpose, and he knew someone was watching.

He deliberately turned toward the rooftop, exchanging glances with the teachers there, indicating that these students were quite good.

However, Gust seized the opportunity to give a strange look and perform a bizarre action, running his fingers across his tongue.

Mr. Question Mark was clearly disgusted, the question mark on his sack-like head tinged with color.

Since other teachers were also present, he chose not to confront Gust; instead, he turned his head away, trying to erase the unpleasant memory.

While the two were interacting at a distance,

a voice emerged from within Maximus's scarf, "The new recruits arriving the day after tomorrow, how strong are they? How were they selected?"

Teacher Guo answered, "Due to the absence of identity restrictions from their original organizations, many creatures have visited me here. I have compiled all their personal information.

I've been working overtime these days to sift through the data.

The selected students are either special, powerful, well-suited to stay here, or hold some unique significance.

In short, there are several remarkable people in this batch; it's going to be an exciting new recruit selection."

"Hmm, well done."

...

[Sunday]

Today, which should have been a rest day for the students, marks the most important new recruit enrollment.

The selected new recruits arrived at the outskirts of Vortex Town yesterday, temporarily residing in the surrounding areas, with some even sleeping on the roadside.

The Carnivorous Family also made a long journey to this place, gaining new recruit approval by touching ashes.

He was staying in an abandoned village five kilometers from Vortex Town, enjoying freshly cooked porridge with his family.

While eating, he seemed to catch a scent of something and quickly stood up to look out the window.

In the depths of the forest, a faint mist seemed to drift by, and just as he was about to carefully perceive it, footsteps sounded from outside the door.

The intruder didn't knock but instead climbed in through the broken window.

The little boy drinking porridge saw the visitor and shouted happily, "It's Sister Mia!"

Mia, with an axe slung over her shoulder, her face smeared with fresh blood, stood smiling at the family.

"Boss Hunter, it's really you! I thought you wouldn't deign to come to a place like this. I've already cleaned out some competitors. Want some meat? I've gathered quite a bit."

"No thanks."

"Huh! How strange, you're actually drinking porridge! Did something happen?"

Hunter didn't respond but looked back at the forest, the mist already dissipating. "Did you smell anything strange when you came over?"

"A strange smell? No, but there are indeed some good folks among the ones who came, though still far behind you, Boss."

"Is that so?"

"Boss, can I stick with you?"

"Sure."

"Yay! Finally, I have a companion. I wonder how Luo Di is doing now, and if he'll come here too?"

When he heard Luo Di's name, a glint of color flashed in Hunter's eyes. He remembered clearly the vortex pattern on Luo Di's right palm when he ambushed him.

"He might already be in there."

"Really? That's great! Boss, your relationship with Luo Di shouldn't be too bad, right? He's actually quite nice... Plus, he belongs to the Black Door Killer like me. Maybe there's a chance to become one of the Eight Evil People."

"Not bad."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.