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Lin Hao's dorm room felt like a pressure cooker, and not the kind he could turn into a monster-slaying feast. The *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb* in his *Reinforced Apron*'s hidden pocket pulsed like twin disco balls plotting a coup, their eerie glow casting jittery shadows across his walls. The chilling whisper from outside his door—"Weaver, hand over the orbs, or the next surge will be your last"—still echoed in his ears. It was 4:52 AM, June 7, 2045, and Lin Hao's reincarnated life was officially a high-stakes cooking show with a side of conspiracy.
[Sassy, who was that?!] Lin Hao thought, gripping his wok like it could fend off both the mysterious voice and his growing panic. His Level 9 stats were decent for a *World Weaver*, but he was no match for a shadowy traitor who sounded like they ate intrigue for breakfast.
[Hidden Quest Update: The Abyssal Shards confirm a traitor's interference. Next step: Infiltrate the school's underground tunnels. Warning: High-level monsters detected,] Sassy, his snarky [System], replied. [That voice? Probably the cloaked creep from the training grounds. They're after your orbs—phrasing, I know. Get to the tunnels before they do, or you're toast. Spiced toast, but still toast.]
Lin Hao's heart raced. "Tunnels? With monsters? I'm a cook, not a dungeon crawler!" He glanced at the *Monster Surge Document* tucked in his apron, its warning about a faculty traitor making his stomach churn. But Su Yan's message about meeting at the training grounds nagged at him. He couldn't ditch his squad—not with the Global College Combat Exams looming in three months.
[Sassy's tip: Bring Squad Firestorm. They're scary enough to handle monsters, and Su Yan's fireballs might scare off the creep. Plus, you'll need backup in those tunnels.]
Lin Hao threw on his apron, stuffed his phone in his pocket, and grabbed his wok. "Fine. But if I die, I'm blaming you, Sassy." He cracked open his door, half-expecting the cloaked figure to jump him. The hallway was empty, but the air felt heavy, like a storm was brewing. He sprinted to the training grounds, the orbs in his pocket humming ominously.
Squad Firestorm was already there, looking like they'd been dragged out of bed by a tornado. Su Yan's fiery aura lit up the pre-dawn darkness, her *Blaze Sorceress* glare fixed on Lin Hao. Wang Lei, the *Ironclad Knight*, leaned on his shield, yawning. Zhou Mei, the *Wind Archer*, twirled her bow, muttering about missing breakfast. Liu Tao, the *Shadow Assassin*, lurked in the shadows, his daggers glinting like he was ready to stab the sunrise.
"Spatula Boy, you're late," Su Yan snapped. "And you look like you saw a ghost. What's going on?"
Lin Hao hesitated. He couldn't spill everything about the *Hidden Quest*—not without sounding like a paranoid chef—but he had to warn them. "Uh, weird stuff. That *Crimson Fang Core* from the dungeon? It's tied to the monster surges. And someone… creepy… knows I have it. They just threatened me."
Su Yan's eyes narrowed. "Threatened you? Who?"
"No idea. Cloaked, creepy voice, probably the same weirdo from the training grounds. I think they're after this." He patted his apron, where the orbs pulsed.
Wang Lei grunted. "Great. Our cook's got a stalker. What's next, a monster fan club?"
Zhou Mei smirked. "Bet they want his stew recipe."
Liu Tao stepped out of the shadows, his voice low. "Where's the core now?"
Lin Hao pointed to his apron. "Hidden. But the *Monster Surge Document* I… found… says the surges are coming from underground tunnels. We need to check it out."
Su Yan raised an eyebrow. "Found? You're a terrible liar, Spatula Boy. But if there's a traitor messing with monsters, we're in. Those tunnels are off-limits, though—high-level monsters, restricted access. You sure about this?"
Lin Hao nodded, his wok feeling heavier. "No, but I don't have a choice."
[Emergency Quest Updated: Infiltrate the Underground Tunnels with Squad Firestorm. Reward: 400 EXP, Rare Material. Penalty: Traitor's Wrath. Tip: Use Thread of Fate (Level 3) to scout ahead. Those tunnels are a maze.]
The squad followed Lin Hao to a hidden entrance near the school's boiler room, marked by glowing runes and a faint hum of Abyssal Energy. Su Yan blasted the lock with a fireball, and the door creaked open, revealing a dark staircase descending into the earth. The air smelled like damp stone and something… sinister.
"Stay sharp," Su Yan whispered. "Level 10+ monsters down here. Spatula Boy, do your thing."
Lin Hao activated *Thread of Fate (Level 3)*, spinning golden threads into a glowing web that floated ahead, mapping the tunnel's twists and turns. The threads pulsed, detecting movement—*Abyssal Ghouls*, Level 10, lurking around the corner.
[Scout successful! Five Abyssal Ghouls detected, 20 meters ahead. HP: 1,200 each. Weak to fire and spicy flavors.]
"Sassy, you're obsessed with spices," Lin Hao muttered, relaying the info to the squad. "Five ghouls, weak to fire. Let's hit them hard."
Su Yan grinned, flames dancing on her fingertips. "My kind of party." The squad crept forward, and Lin Hao wove *Thread of Fate* into their gear, boosting Su Yan's fire damage, Wang Lei's shield durability, Zhou Mei's arrow speed, and Liu Tao's stealth.
[Gear Enhanced! Su Yan: +18% fire damage. Wang Lei: +22% shield durability. Zhou Mei: +18% arrow accuracy. Liu Tao: +20% stealth.]
The ghouls—skeletal creatures with glowing eyes and claws dripping black ooze—lunged from the shadows. Su Yan's fireballs incinerated one, Wang Lei's shield blocked a claw swipe, Zhou Mei's arrows pierced another, and Liu Tao's daggers sliced a third. But the remaining two ghouls charged Lin Hao, their claws aimed at his apron.
"No you don't!" Lin Hao shouted, activating *Cook the World in a Pot (Level 2)*. His wok expanded, casting a 12-meter circle of light. He tossed in a *Dragonfire Pepper*, an *Abyssal Shard* from the imp fight, and a *Mystic Herb Bundle*. "Time for a ghoul roast!" he yelled, channeling *Seasoning Slash (Level 3)* for extra heat. The wok erupted, producing *Flaming Ghoul Gumbo*—a glowing red broth that smelled like a Cajun apocalypse.
The gumbo surged, engulfing the ghouls. They screeched, their bones sizzling as the broth dealt 700 HP damage each and applied a *Blazing Burn* debuff, draining 80 HP per second. The squad's minor wounds healed, and the gumbo's aroma boosted their stamina, making Su Yan's next fireball glow like a supernova.
[Damage dealt: 700 HP to Abyssal Ghouls (x2)! Squad HP restored by 40%. Debuff applied: Blazing Burn – Ghouls take 80 HP per second for 15 seconds.]
The ghouls collapsed, dropping *Ghoul Bone Shards* and a *Tainted Crystal*. The squad panted, surrounded by the gumbo's lingering steam. Zhou Mei fanned her face. "Spatula Boy, this smells better than my mom's cooking."
Wang Lei grunted. "Don't eat it. It's probably cursed."
Su Yan smirked. "Keep cooking like that, and we might survive the exams."
[Enemies defeated! 500 EXP gained! Level Up! Lin Hao is now Level 10! Skill Upgraded: Cook the World in a Pot (Level 3) – Range increased to 15 meters, healing/damage increased by 15%.]
Lin Hao grinned, then froze as the *Crimson Fang Core* and *Abyssal Orb* pulsed hotter, syncing with a faint hum deeper in the tunnel. A holographic screen flickered on the wall, displaying a map with a red marker labeled "Abyssal Core Chamber." A cloaked figure appeared on the screen, their face hidden, holding an orb identical to Lin Hao's.
"Weaver," the figure's voice hissed through the screen. "You're too late. The surge begins tonight." The screen cut off, and the tunnel shook, a roar echoing from below.
"Sassy, what was that?!" Lin Hao yelped.
[Bad news. The traitor's activating the Abyssal Core. If they succeed, New Shanghai's toast. New objective: Reach the chamber before midnight.]
Su Yan grabbed Lin Hao's shoulder. "What's going on, Spatula Boy? That creep's after your orbs, isn't it?"
Lin Hao nodded, his wok trembling. "Yeah, and they're planning something big. We need to stop them."
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CLIFFHANGER
The tunnel shook again, and a Level 15 *Abyssal Minotaur* roared from the darkness, its eyes glowing with the same energy as Lin Hao's orbs. [Emergency Quest Update: Defeat the Abyssal Minotaur and reach the Core Chamber. Reward: 600 EXP, Legendary Ingredient. Penalty: School-Wide Monster Surge.] Su Yan's fireballs flared, but the minotaur charged, aiming straight for Lin Hao's apron. "Sassy, I'm gonna need a bigger wok!" he shouted, raising his weapon as the beast loomed closer.
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