[Fate Coin used successfully!]


    [Obtained Mythic-grade unique item — Regret Elixir!]


    Even fate wants to grant me a second chance?


    Liam Luo, his face smeared with blood, forced a bitter smile. With his last ounce of strength, he poured the elixir down his throat.


    This time, every betrayer will perish!


    [Data interface initialized. Global apocalypse begins in 10 seconds. Prepare, players.]


    The icy voice echoed in everyone’s mind.


    Liam snapped his head up. The familiar classroom materialized before him.


    The elixir worked. He was back.


    Around him, classmates exchanged bewildered glances.


    "Hey, did you hear that weird voice?"


    "Holy shit, you heard it too? I thought I was hallucinating!"


    "Global apocalypse? I just finished my homework!"


    "HA! Who cares about homework? I awakened a Diamond-tier ability—Lightning Arrows! I’m unstoppable!"


    "Damn it… My talent’s Black Iron-tier—Scouting. Useless…"


    Liam turned toward the voice. By the window sat Anthony Xing, lamenting his misfortune.


    This guy dies in the first second of the apocalypse.


    Before Anthony could finish, glass shattered.


    A child-sized mantis monster lunged into the classroom. Its bladed arm flashed—slicing off half of Anthony’s skull.


    Silence. Then chaos.


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    "Monster…"


    "His head… it’s gone…"


    "IT’S COMING!"


    Students stampeded toward the door. Liam, however, crept toward the monster.


    Blade Mantis.


    The first-tier predator of the apocalypse: lethal but fragile. Strike its neck, and it crumbles.


    Liam grabbed a chair—but paused.


    A lightning bolt crackled past him, slamming into the mantis.


    Jason Zhao.


    The Diamond-tier "genius" had struck first. Jason’s fear morphed into arrogance. "Back off! Watch my Lightning Arrows!"


    But Jason didn’t know the mantis’ weakness. His wild attacks only enraged it. Sparks flew as the monster charged.


    Liam seized the chaos to reach Anthony’s corpse.


    [Soul Devourer]activated.


    [Devoured Lv.0 player soul. Divine Soul Points +1]


    [Stolen Ability: Scouting (Black Iron)]


    [Retain soul consciousness?]


    Liam chose ?**[Yes]**. Anthony’s consciousness might prove useful later as a soul guard.


    Across the room, Jason’s relentless barrage finally crippled the mantis. Liam approached its twitching body.


    [Devoured Lv.1 monster soul. Divine Soul Points +2]


    [Stolen Ability: Blade Arms (Bronze)]


    "Liam! What the hell are you doing?!" Ethan Ying, Jason’s lackey, snarled.


    Liam feigned humility. "Testing my ability. Scouting—Black Iron-tier."


    Ethan sneered. "Pathetic. Get lost!"


    Jason raised a hand. "Wait. What’s ‘Scouting’ good for?"


    "Locating monster cores."


    Jason’s eyes glinted. "Where?"


    "The head." Liam stepped back subtly.


    "Ethan—get the core."


    Ethan’s Silver-tier ?**[Sharp Claws]** tore into the mantis. He retrieved a gray-black core and handed it to Jason.


    "A Tier-1 core." Jason absorbed it, smirking. "We need more cores to level up."


    Ethan barked at the crowd: "Everyone hunt cores for Jason!"


    Protests erupted. "Why should we risk our lives for him?!"


    Jason’s palm crackled with lightning. "Because I have Diamond-tier power… and you don’t."