The Nature of Rule-Based Disaster Beasts and a Timely Reunion

Rule-based disaster beasts represent a unique and special existence among their kind. They anchor themselves to specific rules, concealing their true forms while creating avatars to enforce these rules.

Their true forms are effectively immortal; as long as the governing rules persist, their avatars can resurrect indefinitely.

From their very inception, rule-based disaster beasts are regional, unlike other disaster beasts that must evolve to gradually expand their destructive reach.

They might manifest within a bus, a factory, a hospital, a family home, a school, or an entire residential community. Any area governed by rules can become their domain, as they are intrinsically tied to the very rules they exploit.

Moreover, rule-based disaster beasts are still disaster beasts, meaning human panic remains their most potent nourishment. Being regional from the outset, if left unchecked, they can quickly become formidable threats, posing a significant challenge even for C-rank or higher superpowered squads.

The suppression exerted by their rules, their seemingly indestructible avatars, and their elusive true forms are the most challenging factors in resolving such incidents.

These are also the three main avenues for a rule-based disaster beast’s growth: strengthening rule suppression, enhancing avatar power, and perfecting the concealment of its true form.

‘Hmm…’

‘Did you notice?’

Indeed, rule-based disaster beasts are regional from the start, yet they do not expand their territory. The reason is simple: only within the protective embrace of their specific rules are they truly safe and invincible.

This inherent limitation also dictates the response to such threats. If no direct solution can be found, the only recourse is to seal off the affected area and ignore it, since the disaster will not spread further.

For the victims trapped within such a rule-based zone, there is both good news and bad news. Which would they prefer to hear?

The good news is that their survival rate is surprisingly high. If an individual is exceptional, they could potentially live for over a decade within the zone.

Since rule-based disaster beasts cannot hunt outside their designated areas and possess a degree of intelligence comparable to humans, they do not indulge in the mindless slaughter common among ordinary disaster beasts. Instead, they ‘graze’ the humans within their territory much like humans tend to livestock, understanding how to maximize their resources and ensure sustainable development.

Now for the bad news: your life from this point forward will be lived in ‘hell.’ Your existence will no longer be your own, and you will tremble in boundless darkness and fear, unless you are the very last ‘livestock’ remaining, in which case the hidden entity might shed a few crocodile tears for you.

As for hoping someone will eventually come to your rescue?

‘Well, a beautiful hope might just make life in ‘hell’ a little happier.’

‘It’s just…’

The most terrifying aspect of disaster beasts is their capacity for growth. The best time to deal with them is at their very inception.

Once that window is missed, as long as people continue to cry for help, as long as hope lingers and panic persists, the beast will only grow stronger.

Of course, hope is not entirely absent; in fact, the beast often revels in it, deliberately offering glimpses of escape, laying bait to lure both the fish within and outside its zone to bite the hook.

This intricate and systematic mode of operation makes rule-based disaster beasts truly terrifying. It is said that an S-rank superpowered individual once stepped into the domain of a rule-based disaster beast and was instantly suppressed, their abilities diminished to even less than a D-rank’s.

“……”

“How was that resolved?” Su Mo asked Su Xiaoqian, finding the concept too overpowered. She also wondered about Su Xiaoqian’s explanation of rule influence and whether such things truly existed.

“As long as you don’t step inside, you won’t be affected. So, they simply destroyed the entire area, along with the disaster beast, from the outside,” Su Xiaoqian replied, consulting her extensive knowledge.

“……’That’s it?'”

“‘Can you really do that?’ If you can’t win, flip the table… Hmm, perhaps I can learn from that!”

“Yes, although they possess defensive capabilities, they lack effective offensive means from the outside. In such cases, as long as damage can be inflicted, even a non-S-rank superpowered individual can succeed with persistent effort, since the true form of a rule-based disaster beast is quite vulnerable, no matter how well it hides within its designated area.”

Su Mo understood. Her steps quickened as she followed the bird ahead, eager to confront the true form of that rule-based disaster beast.

****

………………………..A break in time ~…………………………

“Ruoruo, you’re safe! That’s wonderful!”

Saint Lily embraced the girl tightly. She had been genuinely terrified, so much so that the moment she saw Ruoruo, her emotions overwhelmed her reason, compelling her to pull the girl into a hug.

“Lily… Sister Lily?” Bai Ruoruo was somewhat overwhelmed, her thoughts spiraling. First it was Su Su, and now Sister Lily, both concerned for her. Could she truly be a princess from a fairy tale?

“Sister Lily, you… you still remember me?”

“Ah… yes, how could I forget?” Saint Lily paused, wiping away tears and smiling. “Ruoruo, you’re my number one little fan!”

“Sister Lily~” Tears of gratitude welled up.

Saint Lily composed herself and looked around, but her confusion remained. From the moment she entered the Wentai Building, the monkey-headed security guards had not followed, choosing to leave instead.

Dandelion’s analysis suggested this was likely due to the rules of the teaching building, which prevented them from approaching. Because of this, Saint Lily had entered with heightened vigilance, yet nothing had happened.

She hadn’t triggered anything.

Not only that, but the children here no longer seemed afraid; many were peering out from several floors, completely devoid of tension.

“Sister Lily, it’s alright now. Su Su solved all the disaster beasts here.”

“Su Su?”

“That’s right! Su Su is incredibly powerful! She just went ‘biubiu’ and annihilated them all! Oh, and the beautiful fireworks from earlier? Su Su made those too!” Bai Ruoruo excitedly introduced her friend to her idol. “Su Su went to the restroom just now. I’ll introduce her to Sister Lily when she gets back~”

“……” Saint Lily mused, a smile on her face. “Ruoruo, what’s Su Su’s name?”

“Huh? Her name is Mo Su! Isn’t it a lovely name~”

“Hmm… yes, it is.”

‘Mo Su? It must be Su Mo!’

If Ruoruo’s account was true, such a powerful flame ability user in He City couldn’t just be described as rare; there were practically none.

Not to mention her fondness for setting off fireworks.

And then there was the overly perfunctory attempt at anonymity.

It was easy enough to connect the dots, wasn’t it?

Saint Lily feigned curiosity, asking Ruoruo about how she and her friend had met. When she learned that her own sister had initiated the conversation, her heart involuntarily tightened.

“Su Su is so good, so cute and cool! When she realized I was in danger, she rushed over immediately. She was so anxious at first that she even broke through a wall… Ugh! I want to be best friends with Su Su forever!”

“Ah…” Saint Lily watched the starlight twinkling in the girl’s eyes as she spoke of her friend.

How could she possibly reveal the truth she had uncovered now?

However, from the very beginning, it was Ruoruo who had approached her; she hadn’t used Ruoruo. And saving her was genuine.

“What color is Su Su’s hair?”

“Black hair, and it smells so good! Su Su must be a young lady from a TV drama, using super high-end shampoo.”

“Is that so… I suppose so~” Saint Lily offered a smile. ‘Hmm, I must have been overthinking things.’

“Su Su, isn’t she taking a bit long? I hope nothing happened.” As Saint Lily listened to Ruoruo’s remarks, she remained silent. Just then, Miss Dandelion contacted her.

– Lily, White Rose and the others have arrived. Also, the information about the rule-based disaster beast has caught the attention of Frostfall Sovereignty. She’s also en route and might attempt a forceful sealing. For now, let’s get the surviving children out of the school!

“……”

“Understood.”