"Brother Yin, think about it for a second. If S-rank really were the absolute limit, then why would the System need so many different classifications? There are people receiving skills, superpowers, equipment, and who knows what else. We haven't even figured out what half of these functions do yet. What if the rankings we're seeing aren't the complete hierarchy?"
"You guys are talking about SSS-rank too? My friend said his older brother got something even higher than S-rank!"
Fang Xiaotong immediately turned toward him. "Wait, you're serious?"
"That's what he told me!"
"And you believed him?"
"I mean... he also told me he could become invisible after getting his ability, but apparently that part wasn't true."
Fang Xiaotong stared at him for several seconds.
"Then why would you believe the SSS-rank part?"
"Because it sounds cooler."
I couldn't help laughing. "At least you're honest."
We returned to the serving station and received the second course, which consisted of grilled cheese, milk, fruit, and several other dishes. I immediately noticed the grilled cheese and smiled.
Fang Xiaotong caught my expression.
"I remember you like those."
"You actually remembered?"
"Of course. We've known each other for years."
He handed me one from his tray.
"Here. You should have it."
"Thanks."
I took a bite and immediately smiled.
"This is probably one of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had."
Fang Xiaotong laughed. "See? I told you today wasn't going to be so bad."
"We still have an invasion tomorrow."
"That's tomorrow's problem."
"You're surprisingly optimistic."
"I'm trying to enjoy the present while we still have it."
His words made me pause.
He was right.
Nobody knew what tomorrow would bring.
After finishing the second course, we eventually returned for the final one. The steak and mashed potatoes were accompanied by fresh fruit and several different sweets, and for a short while, the cafeteria almost felt like a normal gathering of students rather than a temporary shelter preparing for an unknown catastrophe.
People laughed.
Students exchanged abilities.
Others discussed the rumors they had heard from friends in different cities.
Some were already planning how they would fight tomorrow, while others were trying to convince themselves that hiding behind the soldiers would be enough.
As I sat there with Fang Xiaotong, I realized how strange the entire situation had become.
Yesterday, we had been ordinary students.
Today, we were players in something called the Infinite Game.
And tomorrow, we would find out what the System considered an appropriate challenge for humanity.
After we finished eating, Fang Xiaotong and I walked toward the entrance of the school. The sky had already become dark, and the military and police forces stationed around the area were becoming increasingly organized. Vehicles had been positioned along the roads, defensive lines had been established, and students with combat-related abilities were being gathered into groups.
Fang Xiaotong watched the preparations quietly before speaking.
"Brother Yin, I think tomorrow is going to be completely different from today. We know they're monsters, but that's about it. We don't know how many there will be, how strong they'll be, whether they'll have abilities, or whether there will be something stronger leading them. For all we know, the monsters we see tomorrow could just be the weakest creatures the System has prepared for us."
I became quiet.
That possibility had crossed my mind as well.
Fang Xiaotong continued, his expression becoming more serious.
"That's why I want to test my ability before the invasion begins. I need to know what I'm capable of, and if something happens tomorrow that we aren't prepared for, I want to have some idea of what I can do."
I looked at him.
"Just don't become reckless because you discovered that you're strong."
"I won't."
"You said that very confidently."
"Because I mean it."
He smiled before continuing, "Besides, I'm not planning on charging into a group of monsters without thinking. I want to figure out what my ability can actually do and then use that knowledge properly. If I can protect myself and the people around me, that's already enough."
I nodded.
"That's a good way to think about it."
Fang Xiaotong looked toward me.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You keep talking about everyone else's abilities, but I still don't know what your luck can actually do."
I hesitated.
"Neither do I."
He laughed.
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
"Then we're both going into tomorrow without knowing the full extent of our powers."
"Seems like it."
Fang Xiaotong shook his head with an amused smile.
"Then I guess we'll have to figure it out together."
I smiled.
"Sounds good."
For a while, neither of us spoke. After finishing up dinner, it was finally time to check out for the day. A day had passed, and it was almost time for the invasion. i got up from the hard floor that we slept on the whole night. Of course, my best friend Fang Xiaotong was by my side the whole time.
And the invasion was only a few hours away.
I slowly pushed myself up from the hard floor and rubbed my eyes, still trying to shake off the feeling of exhaustion. Fang Xiaotong was already awake beside me, stretching his arms as he looked toward the windows.
"Isn't it almost time for the invasion?" I asked sleepily.
"Yeah," Fang Xiaotong replied. "There are around three hours left before it starts. That's why I think we should head over to the baseball field. It's spacious enough for me to test my ability without worrying about accidentally hitting someone."
I looked at him curiously.
"You've been thinking about this all night, haven't you?"
"Maybe."
He smiled.
"I've been wanting to show you what my superpower can really do. If we're going to face an invasion today, I think we should at least understand what we're capable of before the monsters arrive."
I nodded.
"Alright. Let's go."
A few minutes later, we left the school building and made our way toward the baseball field. The moment we stepped outside, I immediately felt the heat from the morning sun.
"It's kind of hot out here, don't you think?" I asked while looking around the field. "Does your power affect the temperature or something? Maybe you can make the air around us cooler."
Fang Xiaotong looked at me as though I'd just asked him the strangest question imaginable.
"No, my power has nothing to do with lowering the temperature."
I sighed.
"Then why did you choose to come outside?"
"Because I need space."
"Oh."
"Also, I thought you'd figure that out yourself."
"I was hoping you had some secret temperature-related ability."
Fang Xiaotong laughed. "If I somehow discover that I can control the weather too, I'll let you know."
We continued walking until we reached the center of the baseball field. Fang Xiaotong then stopped and began stretching, rotating his shoulders and legs before performing several warm-up exercises.
Fang Xiaotong finished his warm-up and slowly straightened his body, his playful expression from earlier gradually disappearing as he looked toward me with an unusual seriousness. The atmosphere around the baseball field seemed to change along with him, and although I couldn't explain exactly what had happened, I could tell that he was no longer treating this as a simple demonstration between two friends. He had spent the entire night thinking about his ability, and judging from the way he positioned himself, he was finally ready to show me what he had been hiding.
"Brother Yin," he called out, his voice noticeably calmer than before. When I looked toward him, he lowered his body slightly and planted one foot firmly against the ground before continuing, "I've been thinking about this since yesterday. I don't know how strong this power can become, and I don't even understand all of its functions yet, but if we're going to face the invasion in a few hours, I need to at least know what I'm capable of. So, rather than explaining it to you, I thought it'd be better if I showed you."
I watched him carefully, becoming increasingly curious about what he was about to do. "Alright, then. Show me what you've got."
Fang Xiaotong smiled. This time, however, there was something different about that smile, almost as though he had finally found the opportunity to reveal something he had been waiting to share. The wind moved across the baseball field as he slowly clenched his fists, and for a brief moment, I felt an inexplicable pressure coming from him. Then, just as I was about to ask what was happening, his eyes sharpened and his entire body suddenly leaned forward.
"My power is..."
The words had barely left his mouth when his figure vanished from my sight, accompanied by an explosive gust of wind that swept across the field and sent dust and loose grass flying in every direction. I instinctively raised my arm to shield my face, completely stunned by what had just happened. When I lowered it and looked toward the place where Fang Xiaotong had been standing, there was nothing there except a trail of dust stretching across the field.
A moment later, his voice came from behind me.
"Brother Yin..."
I froze before slowly turning around.
Fang Xiaotong stood several meters behind me with a confident grin on his face, as though he had never moved at all. "My power is called Sonic Speed."