Chapter 262

Chapter 262: The Seven Steps of Calamity

Mu Ling, guided by the Savior, arrived at the dormitory of Hrendor University.

The moment she entered, her eyes were drawn to the computer screen—a black email stood out ominously.

It wasn’t an ordinary email; dark mist swirled around it, distorting the air and radiating an unsettling aura.

Mu Ling couldn’t shake the feeling that an enormous, unseen eye was watching her through the screen. A chill ran down her spine.

Suddenly, the girl sitting before the screen reached for the mouse.

“Stop!” Mu Ling shouted, grabbing her hand just in time.

The girl turned, startled but visibly excited to see her.

Before Mu Ling could process this reaction, the mouse moved on its own. With no one touching it, it clicked the black email.

Mu Ling frowned in confusion.

A surreal scene unfolded.

Deep Blue World

The room became still, frozen in time. Everything turned an intense shade of deep blue.

Mu Ling wasted no time—she smashed the mouse with her fist, shattering it.

But even with the physical mouse destroyed, the on-screen cursor continued moving, inching closer to the email.

Mu Ling quickly unplugged the computer, cutting its power.

“What’s going on?!” the girl exclaimed, her voice trembling.

She stared at the broken mouse and the now-dead computer screen.

Mu Ling’s calm response carried a heavy weight: “The crisis isn’t over yet.”

INT had warned her—the email wasn’t the end.

Suddenly, a crow carrying a black envelope flew through the open window. It landed on the bed, its talons clutching the letter tightly.

The girl gasped, pointing at the envelope. “That looks exactly like the email!”

Mu Ling nodded grimly. A sickening black mist surrounded the envelope, distinct from the Babel Tower’s familiar aura. This mist was hostile, almost predatory.

“Don’t touch it,” she ordered.

The girl agreed, but soon her demeanor shifted. Her face went blank, her movements robotic. She reached for the envelope.

“She’s being controlled!” Mu Ling realized.

A Battle of Wills

Once more, Mu Ling activated her Deep Blue World. Time froze.

She drew her sword and swiftly dispatched the crow, using her blade to lift the envelope. Leaping through the window, she planned to hide the cursed letter.

But as she exited, she saw the sky darken with a murder of crows. Black mist radiated from them, and on the ground, stray cats began converging on her. The animals were possessed, their intent clear—they wanted the letter.

Mu Ling retreated into a realm of absolute darkness, a dimension only she could access. She tried leaving the letter there, but it refused to stay.

Before she could act further, a strong gust of wind tore the envelope open.

The Oil Man and the Seven Steps

From the letter emerged a grotesque figure—a humanoid mass of black oil with golden patterns resembling an ever-watching eye. It stood under the sunlight, faceless and fluid, radiating menace.

Mu Ling’s instincts screamed danger.

“This… is no ordinary anomaly,” she thought.

Without hesitation, she froze time and attacked. Her blade, The Heart of Death, sliced through the creature. But as time resumed, the creature reformed instantly, unharmed.

Then it began walking.

With every step, the air grew heavier, its aura more oppressive.

One, two, three, four, five, six…

INT’s warning rang in her mind: “Do not let it take the seventh step.”

The Seventh Step of Calamity

Desperate, Mu Ling unleashed every power at her disposal. Yet nothing worked.

The creature took its seventh step.

A massive black ring of energy exploded outward, covering the city. Above, the sky turned crimson as a colossal meteor hurtled toward Tatsumi City. Its size was unimaginable, capable of wiping out a third of the city in an instant.

“The Seven Steps of Calamity,” INT whispered.

Mu Ling’s heart raced, but a

calm voice echoed in her mind:

“Its weakness lies in sound.”

With newfound resolve, Mu

Ling acted. She dragged her

blade along the ground,

creating a deafening screech.

The creature howled in pain, its

body crumbling.

But its steps quickened. Each

seven-step cycle unleashed a

new calamity—earthquakes,

storms, destruction.

The Rainbow Phoenix

In desperation, Mu Ling

donned Merlin’s Cloak.

Transforming into a radiant

Rainbow Phoenix, she soared

above the city. Her translucent,

prismatic wings shimmered,

captivating onlookers.

But beauty wasn’t her weapon

—sound was.

The phoenix’s cry pierced the

air, shattering windows and

leaving people covering their

ears in agony. The creature’s

body disintegrated further.

Even so, it managed to take a

sixth step. One more, and

disaster would strike again.

Mu Ling froze time, lifted the

creature into the sky, and

hurled it far from the ground.

There, suspended in midair, it

crumbled completely under the

relentless noise.

The calamity ended.

Aftermath

The meteor vanished, the

earthquakes ceased, and the

city returned to calm. Mu Ling

treated the injured without

fanfare, her role as protector

complete.

As she prepared to leave, the

girl from before called out.

“Wait, Nightsaber!” she gasped,

catching up to her.

The girl, An Yang, was flushed

with excitement. “Can I

interview you? Everyone wants

to know about the Babel

Tower!”

Mu Ling paused, then nodded.

“The Savior’s goal,” she said

simply, “is to save the world—

all worlds.”

When asked about her

relationship with the Savior,

her expression softened.

“He is my everything,” she said

quietly. “The one who saved

me, gave me purpose. His will

is my mission. His commands

are absolute.”

An Yang, captivated, jotted

down every word. Ideas for

stories flooded her mind.

But before she could ask more,

Mu Ling vanished.

The Savior had called.