---
Lin Hao's dorm room was starting to feel like the set of a post-apocalyptic cooking show gone wrong. The *Crimson Fang Core*, *Abyssal Orb*, and *Spectral Blade Shard* in his *Reinforced Apron*'s hidden pocket pulsed like they were auditioning for a sci-fi movie, their eerie glow casting jittery shadows across his walls. The anonymous X message—"Weaver, you can't hide. The surge is tomorrow"—burned in his mind, and it was 1:15 AM, June 8, 2045. With the Global College Combat Exams three months away, Lin Hao's reincarnated life was less about studying and more about not getting cooked by a traitor's monster surge.
[Sassy, a surge *tomorrow*?!] Lin Hao thought, gripping his glowing wok like it could fend off a city-wide apocalypse. His Level 14 stats were solid for a *World Weaver*, but a faculty traitor with Abyssal Energy powers was way above his pay grade.
[Hidden Quest Update: The traitor escaped, but the Spectral Blade Shard holds their energy signature. Next step: Track the traitor to the faculty lounge. Warning: They're watching you,] Sassy, his snarky [System], replied. [That X message means they're desperate. The faculty lounge is crawling with high-level wards and maybe monsters. Use your skills flexibly, and guess what? You're Level 14—new skill unlocks at Level 15. One more level, Spatula Boy!]
Lin Hao's eyes widened. "A new skill? That's my only good news today." He glanced at the *Monster Surge Document*, its warning about a faculty traitor making his stomach churn. The faculty lounge was his next lead, but sneaking in alone was suicide. He texted Squad Firestorm: "Emergency. Faculty lounge, 2 AM. Traitor's involved. Bring fireballs." Su Yan's reply was instant: "You're insane, Spatula Boy. We're in."
He slipped out of his dorm, wok in hand, apron tied tight. The campus was a ghost town, its glowing runes dim under the moonlight. The faculty lounge, a sleek building with holographic windows, hummed with Abyssal Energy. Lin Hao's orbs pulsed in response, and he felt like a walking target.
[Sassy: Trap alert! Level 13 Abyssal Sentinels guarding the lounge. HP: 1,800 each. Weak to disruption and spicy vibes. Get creative with Thread of Fate (Level 4), Seasoning Slash (Level 4), and Cook the World in a Pot (Level 4).]
Lin Hao crouched behind a statue, spotting three *Abyssal Sentinels*—robotic drones with glowing claws and eyes like red lasers—patrolling the lounge entrance. Squad Firestorm joined him, Su Yan's fiery aura barely contained, Wang Lei's shield raised, Zhou Mei's bow ready, and Liu Tao already half-invisible.
"Spatula Boy, this better be worth it," Su Yan whispered, her fireballs flickering. "What's the plan?"
Lin Hao grinned nervously. "Distract, disrupt, and dine. Follow my lead." He activated *Thread of Fate (Level 4)*, weaving golden threads into a glowing decoy—a shimmering figure that looked suspiciously like him holding a wok. He sent it sprinting toward the sentinels, and they chased, their claws slashing empty air.
[Distraction successful! Sentinels diverted for 20 seconds!]
"Nice trick," Zhou Mei whispered, nocking an arrow. Lin Hao used *Seasoning Slash (Level 4)*, hurling a cloud of *Dragonfire Pepper* and *Abyssal Shard* powder at the sentinels. The spices sparked, creating a *Disruptive Spice Cloud* that scrambled their sensors, making them spin in circles.
[Damage dealt: 500 HP per sentinel! Debuff applied: Sensor Scramble – Accuracy reduced by 70% for 25 seconds.]
The squad moved in. Su Yan's fireballs blasted a sentinel, Wang Lei's shield bashed another, Zhou Mei's arrows pierced their cores, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced their circuits. Lin Hao activated *Cook the World in a Pot (Level 4)*, tossing in a *Spectral Blade Shard*, *Mystic Herb Bundle*, and *Bookworm Scale*. He wove *Thread of Fate* into the mix, creating *Sentinel Sizzling Sabotage Stew*—a glowing broth that smelled like a spicy tech meltdown.
He poured the stew over the sentinels, and it sizzled through their circuits, dealing 1,000 HP damage each and shutting them down. The squad's minor wounds healed by 50%, and the stew's aroma boosted their attack speed.
[Combo Success! Damage dealt: 1,000 HP per sentinel! Squad HP restored by 50%. Debuff applied: Circuit Fry – Sentinels disabled!]
The students watching from a distance—because of course they'd followed—cheered, posting to X with #SpatulaHeroFriesDrones. Lin Hao's phone buzzed, but he was too busy kicking open the lounge door. Inside, holographic screens displayed Abyssal Energy readings, and a locked vault glowed with the same energy as his orbs.
[Sassy: That vault's got traitor intel. Use Cook the World to melt the ward, like you did in the principal's office.]
Before Lin Hao could act, a figure stepped from the shadows—Professor Liang, the alchemy teacher, his glasses glinting with Abyssal Energy. "Weaver," he sneered, holding an *Abyssal Orb*. "You're too late." He raised the orb, and the vault pulsed, summoning a Level 15 *Abyssal Wraith Lord*—a towering ghost with a crown of black flames.
"Sassy, the traitor's my *teacher*?!" Lin Hao yelped, dodging a fiery claw.
[Surprise! Liang's the bad guy. That wraith's got 2,500 HP. Mix your skills—disrupt its energy and protect the squad.]
Lin Hao activated *Thread of Fate (Level 4)*, weaving a golden barrier around the squad, boosting their defense by 25%. He then used *Seasoning Slash (Level 4)*, hurling a *Tainted Crystal* cloud at the wraith lord, blinding it. Su Yan's fireballs hit harder, Wang Lei's shield held firm, Zhou Mei's arrows pierced its core, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced its flames.
Lin Hao went all-in with *Cook the World in a Pot*, tossing in a *Minotaur Horn*, *Abyssal Shard*, and *Glimmering Spice Jar*. He wove *Thread of Fate* into the broth, creating *Wraith Lord Disruption Dumplings*—glowing, spicy dumplings that exploded on impact, dealing 1,200 HP damage and disrupting the wraith's energy. The squad's HP recovered by 60%, and their attacks glowed brighter.
[Combo Success! Damage dealt: 1,200 HP! Debuff applied: Energy Flicker – Wraith Lord's attacks weakened by 50%.]
The wraith lord collapsed, dropping a *Wraith Crown Shard*. Liang snarled, raising his orb, but Su Yan blasted him with a fireball, knocking him back. Lin Hao used *Thread of Fate* to bind Liang's hands, stopping him from activating the orb.
[Enemy defeated! Traitor subdued! 700 EXP gained! Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 15! New Skill Unlocked: Forge of the World (Level 1) – Craft weapons or armor with Life Class materials, enhancing their power. Cooldown: 1 hour.]
Su Yan grabbed Liang's orb, glaring at Lin Hao. "You've got explaining to do, Spatula Boy."
---
Cliffhanger
As the squad tied up Liang, the vault opened, revealing a map of New Shanghai's underground with a red marker labeled "Final Surge Point." The *Crimson Fang Core* in Lin Hao's apron burned hot, and his [System] pinged. [Hidden Quest Update: Liang was a pawn. The true mastermind is still out there, planning the surge for tomorrow. Next step: Stop the final surge at the marked point.] A distant roar echoed, and the lounge's screens flashed red, showing a Level 20 *Abyssal Titan* awakening. Lin Hao gripped his wok, heart pounding. "Sassy, my new skill better make a mean sword!"
[It will, Spatula Boy. Time to forge or be flattened.]
---