Chapter 114: Artificial Rampage
Before him stood a strikingly alluring woman with short, pale blue hair and eyes that shone with an intense brightness. Yet, to Zhao Nan, this radiance was little different from that of a wildcat in heat.
Kaminazuki Kaede, a third-year student at the academy, was not particularly strong in terms of power but had gained considerable fame within the school... or rather, notoriety for her seductive reputation. Quickly, Zhao Nan recalled the information his friend Xiong had gathered about this well-known figure inside the academy.
“Excuse me... is there something you need from me?” Zhao Nan lowered his head slightly, relaxing the muscles in his face as much as possible to appear shy and unassuming.
Kaede gently raised her hand, letting her fingers glide down her cheek to the edge of her lips, lightly nibbling on her nail as she said, “Ah... you’re just too adorable. You’re Zhao Nan, right? The new transfer from China...”
She moved slowly, her waist swaying with an enticing curve as she approached Zhao Nan. Reaching out, she lifted his chin slightly and breathed on him, “I’ve taken a liking to you. I’m going to give you a ‘baptism’! It’s an incredibly pleasurable experience!”
“Ah… that doesn’t sound quite right?” Zhao Nan said nervously. “After all, I’m not very familiar with you, senior.”
“Who cares about that? What matters is that I like you!”
Zhao Nan glanced behind Kaede to the three young men standing there. It was easy to discern the emotion of jealousy radiating from them. He smiled faintly and asked, “Senior, do you plan to perform this baptism here?”
“Of course not...” She traced a finger down her chin and slid it onto Zhao Nan’s chest, gently circling. “Naturally, somewhere private... like my room.”
...
These days were spent moving back and forth between the library and the digital reading room. Zhao Nan now understood the knowledge of the Stigmata and related matters far beyond what Xiong had explained superficially.
Pandora implanted mature Stigmata into the bodies of Controllers, enabling them to wield the power of the Ice Freeze Barrier. This much was true but only a surface-level understanding. In fact, Pandora had two distinct methods for implanting Stigmata.
The first involved directly transplanting the Stigmata’s core, leaving behind a residual “Stigmata Memory Body” within it. This method enabled the Controller’s Ice Freeze Barrier to be tremendously powerful, growing stronger alongside the Controller’s own development.
However, for Pandora, losing the Stigmata core meant a decrease in power, recoverable only through continuous training. The remaining “Stigmata Memory Body” would not grow further, its strength capped at the level prior to transplantation.
The second method entailed implanting only the “Stigmata Memory Body” into the Controller. While this allowed the use of the Ice Freeze Barrier, its power was mediocre, and the Controller could not enhance the barrier’s strength through growth. Additionally, the “Stigmata Memory Body” could be recalled at any time.
Though this caused a drop in Pandora’s power, it could be restored through training without hindering the Stigmata’s growth.
Both methods required a ritual called “Baptism,” during which both parties shared sensory experiences.
Typically, Pandora favored the first method. A strong Controller’s role outweighed the value of a single Stigmata core. The Ice Freeze Barrier’s power balanced out Nova’s force fields, and since Pandora’s mission was to eradicate Nova, the stronger the barrier, the better.
Of course, some Pandoras, like Kaminazuki Kaede, preferred the second method, deriving pleasure from toying with male Controllers.
With the curtains drawn, soft light filled the room where Zhao Nan reclined half-seated on a luxurious sofa—Kaede’s room.
Kaede stood before him, having shed her academy uniform to reveal a form-fitting, alluring violet lingerie set. In her palm rested a glass of red wine, gently swirling. Her figure was both exquisite and provocatively enticing, igniting a fiery passion in any man.
“Now... the baptism is about to begin...” Kaede lay against Zhao Nan’s side, her fingers tracing playfully over his body, her voice thick with seduction. “After the baptism, we can do even more wonderful things.”
The warm breath from her lips made Zhao Nan furrow his brow slightly.
But then, his expression softened. Slowly, he lifted his hand from her arm, moving it upward until it rested gently on her neck.
Kaede seemed to savor the touch, her gaze becoming hazy as she closed her eyes and laughed softly. “Your hands are so warm.”
Zhao Nan smiled lightly and leaned in. His lips brushed near her ear as he whispered, “Lost...”
Lost. Twice.
---
Zhao Nan’s palm, pressed against Kaede’s cheek, suddenly flickered with a dark light. As the glow faded, Kaede’s eyes opened—but now vacant and lifeless, as if her spirit had been utterly extinguished, leaving her a mere puppet.
“Lost” was a level 25 dark skill, an advanced form of Bewitchment that Zhao Nan had mastered to perfection. It struck directly at a person’s spirit, causing disorientation and compelling obedience.
For ordinary people with weaker spiritual energy, Bewitchment sufficed, but Pandora’s spirits were typically strong, rendering Bewitchment’s effect fleeting at best.
Zhao Nan had assumed that Lost would replace Bewitchment’s role, but its effectiveness far exceeded his expectations. Perhaps Pandora’s implantation of Stigmata only enhanced their abilities, leaving their spiritual power only somewhat elevated beyond that of ordinary humans.
From what he understood, if Pandora lost control of the Stigmata’s power, it would go berserk—indicating their spiritual strength was insufficient to contain the Stigmata’s outbursts.
Still, even so, Zhao Nan estimated that successfully using Lost required Pandora to be completely unguarded and relaxed, maximizing the chance of success.
...
“First, recover the ‘Stigmata Memory Body’ that you ‘baptized’ out of you.”
Zhao Nan stretched his body and looked at Kaede coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Yes...”
Kaede, now entirely devoid of will and stripped of clothing, pushed open the door and left.
“I was just thinking about how to find a test subject. Didn’t expect one to volunteer so soon...” Zhao Nan rubbed his nose.
He then took out his phone and dialed a number.
It was the time he and Finina had agreed to communicate daily, a routine never broken since the beginning.
“Was today tiring?”
“Not really,” Finina’s soft laughter came through the line. “At this rate, I should complete the adaptation training ahead of schedule.”
“That’s good,” Zhao Nan replied gently.
While they chatted, outside the door another scene unfolded. Kaede stretched her proud figure before her three Controllers.
Unfortunately for them, this time there was no excitement or anticipation. They were violently struck down to the ground in an instant.
No amount of pleading could prevent the rough recovery of their ‘Stigmata Memory Bodies’ by Kaede. The moment the Memory Bodies left their bodies, they lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Rest for a while. I have some matters to attend to,” Zhao Nan whispered into the phone as Kaede returned.
“Mm...” came the faint reply.
Beep!
Kaede approached, a faint struggle flickering across her face—the effect of Lost beginning to wane.
Lost. Twice.
Naturally, Zhao Nan would not allow her to regain awareness now. He used the skill again, and Kaede’s resistance vanished completely.
“How many Stigmata do you possess?”
“Four...”
---
Zhao Nan pondered. “Implant a Stigmata core into me first.”
“Yes...”
(The following is the ‘Baptism’ ritual... As for its specifics, the author confesses ignorance—perhaps ask the mystery behind the pit, or imagine as you please.)
...
After a Stigmata core entered his body, Zhao Nan kept Kaede in the Lost state while examining the changes within himself.
His skill list remained unchanged. Yet, within, he felt a strange surge.
Raising his hand, a peculiar force extended from his arm, forming an odd field that halted the fluttering curtains.
Zhao Nan surveyed himself and smiled. “Not a bad ability... Implant all the remaining Stigmata cores into me.”
“Yes...”
...
Once Kaede lost all her Stigmata cores, the remaining ‘Stigmata Memory Bodies’ inside her drastically diminished her power. Her face grew haggard, her radiance gone.
Zhao Nan sensed his own body. The capacity for Stigmata implantation varied among Controllers, but he felt no discomfort, indicating he had not yet reached his limit.
Yet, possessing four Stigmata cores was likely unique in the entire academy.
“That should suffice...” Zhao Nan cracked his neck, though the night’s work was far from over.
He stepped before Kaede and whispered, “Try to activate your ‘Stigmata Memory Bodies’ fully, without reservation... until they go berserk...”
“Yes...”
...
Suddenly, a terrifying scream erupted within the Pandora dormitory zone of the academy, a sound that seemed to tear the sky apart.
It was dusk.
The scream shattered the evening’s tranquility, the setting sun casting long shadows across the dormitory buildings.
At the same moment, a massive explosion followed.
“Alert! Alert! Detected Nova-like high-energy reaction!”
“Academy task force, assemble!”
At this moment, Kaede, now fully Nova-ized, aimlessly rampaged through her surroundings. After sunset, she resembled a corpse clawing its way back from hell.
Zhao Nan watched quietly.
He awaited the arrival of the academy’s Pandora.
“To truly understand Pandora’s strength, there is no better way than real combat...”
(To be continued.)