Chapter 479 — Information World

Liora held the helmet and followed Elena’s instructions.

After unfastening the strap hanging beneath the helmet, she gently placed it on her head.

Her vision instantly grew dark. She didn’t panic, but pressed the red button flashing with light on the right side of the helmet.

A single point of light flashed in her field of vision.

Liora seemed to see a tiny phantom emerge and casually wave its hand, tearing the darkness apart and forcing the shadows to retreat.

For a moment, she seemed to have become the observer during the creation of the world.

Numbers, words, and strange patterns appeared all around her. The next second, they all fused together, transforming into a real yet illusory world.

Before Liora could react, she was standing near the center of a large plaza, surrounded by hundreds of familiar faces—all students of the Helios High School.

Elena stood at the very center, though her appearance had changed.

Her hair had turned blonde and her eyes icy blue, while her ears had grown longer and pointier.

Combined with the green robe adorning her body and the wooden scepter she held in her hands, she no longer looked like a human but like... an elf.

Elena seemed to sense the abnormality in her students’ gazes. After a few seconds, she grasped the reason.

Her face flushed crimson.

"Kyah!", she exclaimed, rushing to fiddle with something invisible in the air.

"No! No! How could I have forgotten to change my appearance? It’s all Matthew’s fault for asking me to cosplay yesterday!"

"Who could have expected that this would happen?", Liora heard Elena whisper in a low voice as her appearance began to shift, soon turning into her real one.

The flush on her face quickly receded. Looking at the students staring at her with their mouths open, she cleared her throat and chuckled.

"Hehe. This was just a demonstration of the Information World’s many abilities. You should have seen my previous appearance. I’m sure most of you wish to turn into such a fantasy race."

"I want to show you that it is possible. As long as your authority in the Information World is high enough, nothing is impossible!", Elena said solemnly.

Hearing her explanation, most students felt that they had understood everything. They nodded their heads in admiration, thinking that Elena was worthy of being their instructor.

Only a few students remained unconvinced, having overheard her previous mutterings.

Regardless of their opinions, however, Elena didn’t care.

After making sure that everyone had come into this world, she led them out of the plaza and into the nearby city.

As they walked through the streets, the peculiarity of the city was revealed. The buildings were strange.

Some resembled the architecture of Nova Terra, others were futuristic and full of strange steam machinery, while some looked as if they had emerged from the pages of a book.

Pavilions, castles, gardens, and even flying lakes.

For a moment, Liora had the illusion she had returned to the Demon World.

After all, the city very much resembled the grotesque, amalgamated appearance of several different worlds blending together.

Seemingly sensing everyone’s confusion, Elena smiled faintly and took the initiative to explain.

"Since the Information World overlaps with our own, its geography mirrors reality."

"The city you see is this world’s version of our Blackfort City. In fact, this entire planet corresponds to our Nova Terra Planet. Only after someone elevates their authority can they leave this place."

"As for those buildings.", Elena briefly paused.

"A person can apply for permanent residence in the Information World upon reaching Rank 1 and raising their authority to Level 1. In a certain sense, the city you see is composed of all the Awakeners of our own city."

Saying this, Elena used this as a bridge to introduce what authority meant.

In simple terms, it was the status an Awakener held within the Information World.

It depended on their strength, as well as the contributions they had made to human civilization. In return, Awakeners would unlock certain benefits.

"You guys are just Rank 0 Awakeners at the moment, and your authority is at Level 0. Your main focus should be on reaching Rank 1 as quickly as possible."

"Only then will the Battle Arena become accessible. I wish to remind you: the Battle Arena is one of the few things that can greatly improve your chances in the upcoming College Examination."

Though Elena’s earlier gaffe made her look irresponsible, she was quite reliable when she started giving advice.

Most students nodded their heads upon hearing her words, their eyes shining with expectation for their future.

They vowed to reach Rank 1 as soon as possible and obtain a residence in the Information World! At the same time, they would unlock the mysterious Battle Arena and improve themselves!

Seeing their determined expressions, Elena smiled with satisfaction on the surface.

But inwardly, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

She knew very well that most of these students would fail.

Only those who awakened C-Rank talents had a chance of being admitted to a relatively well-off university. As for those with worse talents, they’d most likely remain as civilian Awakeners.

"Thankfully, there is a genius among students this year! As long as everything goes well, she has a chance to be admitted to a first-grade university!", Elena thought excitedly, glancing at Liora from the corner of her eye.

The latter appeared to have sensed her gaze. She turned to look at her, and their eyes met in the air.

For some reason, a cold shiver ran down Elena’s spine.

Her intuition warned her of danger.

It was as if the girl she was facing was not an ordinary student, but a terrifying demon.

Though this was the Information World, Elena felt her body in the outside world tremble violently.

Although the feeling soon disappeared, the sensation of being a step away from her death remained fresh in her mind.

She looked at Liora and opened her mouth to say something, but she quickly swallowed her words.

"No! It must have been an illusion! I’m a High-Grade Rank 2 Awakener! How could I possibly feel threatened by a girl who had just awakened?", Elena shook her head, denying that notion.

"Did I have too much fun last night, leading me to hallucinate?", she began to doubt herself, not even daring to think that her earlier feelings were true.

Moments later, she suppressed her thoughts.

She forced a faint smile on her face and looked at the students. Then, she continued giving a tour of the Information World.

The students listened attentively as she revealed the abilities of this world, as well as gave some hints related to the upcoming College Examination.

The students learned a lot.

Even those who had given up on themselves now had bright eyes, as if they could foresee themselves growing into powerhouses.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before their dreams were crushed.

If one had to say, the only one who truly gained something from their little tour was none other than the person who had remained silent throughout this time—Liora.

As she observed the world around her and sensed the illusory yet real nature, her eyes narrowed.

"It’s quite similar to my own World of Heart. Except..."

"It’s millions of times more perfect.", she concluded.

Countless thoughts raced through her mind.

Without her doing anything, the Predation talent she had awakened stirred on its own, as if wishing to activate.

Fortunately, Liora recovered in time and suppressed it.

"Now is not the time. Maybe—maybe in the future...", she whispered.