The Enforcers stationed on campus quickly arrived at the library and subdued Han Chuan.
When the Enforcers left, they also took the several who had been injured by Han Chuan, along with the corpse of a deceased female student.
Over the next two days,
more than a dozen people whose bodies showed mutations appeared intermittently at Xingchuan University—men and women, students and teachers alike.
Some had faces that turned into rats. Others grew horns, their entire heads becoming ox heads.
There were even those whose mutations had spread across half their bodies—from waist to head—completely taking the appearance of werewolves.
Only a small fraction of these mutated humans could retain a sliver of reason and cooperate with the Enforcers' containment.
It had only been two days since the authorities had declared that no cases of mutation virus parasitizing humans had been found—and then these incidents occurred.
Strange that this Anomalous event only occurred at Xingchuan University, with no similar situations arising outside the campus.
The faculty and students on campus had fallen entirely into fear of the unknown and worry for their own selves.
They feared that their own bodies would undergo mutations, that they would be taken by Enforcers to become scientific experiments, or that they would turn into something as terrifying as the flesh mountain monster.
It was imaginable—as soon as the slightest mutation characteristic appeared on one's body, no normal person could remain calm, thinking themselves "abnormal." They would maintain suspicion toward everyone around them, not daring to seek help from the outside world.
Humanity discovered that once reason was lost to a certain degree, mutated humans would enter the same frenzied state as Han Chuan—attacking those around them without regard for consequences.
And those who were attacked by mutated humans suffered terribly. Within a single day, their wounds would develop malignant infections, and then their faces would change—for instance...
gradually taking on the features of a rat...
Fortunately, the Enforcement Bureau increased its support to Xingchuan University, deploying over a hundred Enforcers, keeping the potentially infected and mutated within fifty people and curbing the spread of the Anomalous event.
Thus, in addition to their panic, students protested the school's lockdown measures en masse, demanding that the gates be opened, classes suspended, and that they be allowed to go home.
But at this critical juncture,
how could the authorities possibly allow a group of students carrying mutation risk factors to walk out the school gates, or even leave Yongan City, scattering to every city and prefecture across the entire federation?
...
"These students contaminated by the Anomaly have no spirit essence reaction on them."
"Then what exactly is turning them into monsters?"
Suspended from the library ceiling by spider silk with his invisible body, Bai Jie hung like a chandelier, his perception and gaze sweeping over the study seats that now held less than half their usual occupants.
Ever since discovering he couldn't find Wang Miaoyin at the academic buildings and lecture halls, Bai Jie had moved his position to the library.
Suddenly, a figure with a graceful, voluptuous figure dressed in teacher's formal attire caught Bai Jie's attention.
"That seems to be... Professor Li Jiayu?"
Bai Jie recognized Lin Binbin's enemy at a single glance.
It wasn't just because of Lin Binbin. Even before he was reincarnated as a spider, Bai Jie had heard about this mature, coldly alluring female professor through classmates' chatter.
He had also searched for her photos on the school forum and attended her public lectures, so Bai Jie confirmed her identity just by looking at that curvaceous silhouette.
"Although you framed Lin Binbin, it is ultimately a grudge between the two of you."
Bai Jie watched Li Jiayu walk to the elevator, but did not intend to do anything.
However, the next instant, the hairs on his spider legs stood on end!
Spider Sense!
Bai Jie's mind jolted alert.
At almost the exact same moment,
Li Jiayu abruptly turned her head and looked toward Bai Jie's position on the dome!
"What?!"
Had he not seen the trace of doubt and inquiry in Li Jiayu's eyes, Bai Jie would certainly have thought she had discovered him.
Bai Jie quickly steadied himself:
"She can sense my gaze? How is that possible? Even Spider Sense tells me there's danger!"
"But the system hasn't detected any spirit essence reaction. Why?"
A thought stirred, and the information panel materialized before his eyes.
[Target]: Li Jiayu
[Vitality]: 1.1
[Body Length]: 172cm
[Status]: Healthy
Li Jiayu glanced toward the dome several more times before entering the elevator.
"She... definitely has something wrong with her."
Even with the information panel showing normal, Bai Jie was still certain of this.
Not long after, Li Jiayu left the library, carrying several books in her arms, and returned to her own office.
She still had no idea that crouched outside her office window was a giant spider, its eight eyes secretly watching her.
Li Jiayu occasionally flipped through books, organized desk work, and discussed project topics with students—no different from any ordinary university instructor.
During this time, many students and teachers came to see her. Regardless of gender, they all inevitably let their gazes linger for a few seconds on her proud figure.
However, unlike the impression Bai Jie had of her before—the Professor Li Jiayu who enthusiastically answered students' questions—
the current her had a trace of anxiety coalescing between her brows. Whenever students or other teachers came to find her, she would deal with them hastily and eagerly send them away.
"If your history had no dark spots, you would undoubtedly be a perfect woman, an outstanding professor."
"I am no Enforcer either, and have no intention of delivering judicial or moral judgment on you. But you shouldn't have looked at me with that glance..."
Bai Jie believed she would eventually show her hand.
Finally, a turning point occurred in the evening.
A female student who had just left Li Jiayu's office and walked outside the building suddenly fainted on the ground.
Immediately after, fine grey fur visibly grew on her face, and her facial features slowly began to change.
People passing by who saw this cried out in alarm. Under the gaze of a crowd keeping their distance, Enforcers were quickly summoned.
Almost simultaneously, the familiar, emotionless notification chime abruptly rang:
[Weak spirit essence reaction detected!]
Sensing something, Bai Jie sharply peered inside through the window.
"This..."
He saw Li Jiayu leaning against the door. Her jade face was deathly pale. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously dripped from her fair forehead. Her generous curves heaved violently as if she were enduring tremendous agony. She had even locked the door.
Bai Jie's gaze focused, and relevant data materialized before him...