bacchusnovels Chapter 414 System Chapter Return: Qiu Zhang's Special Mission
Chapter 414 System Chapter Return: Qiu Zhang's Special Mission
Chapter 414 System Returns: Qiu Zhang's Special Mission
Five minutes passed slowly, and the atmosphere in the classroom grew increasingly tense.
A thin layer of sweat gradually appeared on the students' foreheads, and the air was filled with a heart-pounding sense of oppression, with only the crackling of the wood in the stove.
Inside the classroom, the students behaved in different ways.
Some students' hands trembled slightly, and their facial muscles were tense. Judging from their appearance, it was clear that they had not yet fully entered the zone.
Others closed their eyes, their lips moving slightly, as if they were taking a deep breath.
Of course, the most eye-catching one is Krum.
As a professional athlete, he knows very well how to eliminate distractions and focus his attention on one thing.
As the final minute approached, Sean's gaze sharpened.
In this strange atmosphere, he could almost hear the heartbeat of each student, and even more so, he could sense...
The next second, a crisp and pleasant notification sound appeared in his ears.
Special Mission (Akiharu)
[Discovering Krum's Mystery]
[Task progress: 47h59min59s]
Sean was stunned.
It seems... the system hasn't appeared in his life for a long time.
When was the last time?
This goes back to time travel.
The system had fallen into a deep sleep, and after returning from ancient Egypt, Sean was "forced" to enter Azkaban for further training.
Then, inside, while helping his past self escape from prison with Bella, the system's energy was almost depleted, and it fell into a deep sleep.
However, the system's departure did not have a significant impact on Sean.
His magic had already been enhanced through that time travel, and his centuries of secluded cultivation had brought about a huge improvement.
He has also thoroughly studied the formula for magic potions, and now it has become a production line.
What else can the system do for him?
Apart from....
However, system regression is always a good thing.
Looking at the familiar system panel, Sean felt a pang of emotion.
Is it a special mission for Akiharu?
He seemed to understand.
As the last second of the five minutes ticked away, the magical barrier in the classroom suddenly vanished, and the air quickly returned to its normal flow.
Almost all the students breathed a sigh of relief, but they did not make a sound immediately.
Sean stood silently in front of the podium, observing everyone's reactions.
"Alright, everyone stand up and start evaluating your performance," he instructed. "Each of you, describe how you felt during these five minutes."
One by one, students stood up. Some were very frustrated and whispered about their confusion during those five minutes; others smiled, for them, the test was easy and even a waste of time.
When it was Krum's turn, everyone stopped talking and focused their attention on him.
Viktor Krum stood ramrod straight, expressionless, his voice low: "I heard the voices of many people—the anxieties of others, the turmoil within themselves."
"But I kept it under control," he said. "My goal was to stay focused."
Sean nodded, quite agreeing, and said, "Focus is the hardest part to control," he paused slightly, "You did very well, Krum."
As he spoke, he glanced at the students who hadn't performed as well, frowned slightly, and said, "For the others, today's training wasn't a success. The reason is simple—you didn't have a true dialogue with your inner selves; you couldn't clear your minds of distractions."
You haven't deeply examined your own fears; your minds are controlled by the surrounding environment and pressures, not by yourselves.
At this point, Sean's voice became slightly stern, "Every failure you experience here means you are still a long way from becoming a true strongman."
Silence fell over the classroom.
For these students, who are used to high-pressure training at Durmstrang Institute, today's first lesson was undoubtedly a profound self-examination.
Next came the second training session that Sean had designed.
That 10,000 Galleons wasn't easy to get—he arranged all the courses himself.
Sean tapped the podium lightly with his finger: "Today, we will begin the second training program."
"You will be facing not only your own inner fears, but also opponents far stronger than yourselves." He looked at the students, whose expressions were already tense. "I know you're thinking, 'Are we going to have to fight against even stronger opponents today?' The answer is yes, your opponents are yourselves."
"However, this time the opponent is not only your minds, but also a real physical entity—me."
A murmur rippled through the classroom, and many students wore expressions of confusion.
Sean smiled slightly and continued, "The training that follows will be your most important lesson today, and the one that will continue for you. You will be playing a chase game with me—but this is not an ordinary game, but a real battle. I will not surrender easily, nor will I give you many chances."
"In this duel, I hope you can put aside all distractions, concentrate, and push your limits. If you can learn from your shortcomings, then this training will not have been in vain."
"Next, come outside with me. I will give you ten minutes to hide. You can choose to act alone or work together to launch an attack on me."
"Anyone who is not found by me or not eliminated within five hours will be considered the winner of this game."
He paused, looking at the nervous yet eager students: "The winner will receive my reward."
Cho Chang's final grades were not ideal, but she still got a place at Hogwarts.
This semester has been a rollercoaster ride for her.
From seeing hope of winning the Quidditch Cup to losing it by a hair's breadth,
From confessing her feelings to Professor Phillips, whom she liked, to being rejected and feeling utterly despondent, to a dramatic turn of events and going on a date with the professor at Hogsmeade.
For Qiu Zhang, all the results could be described as "not good but still acceptable".
The only "bad and unacceptable result" was her final exam grade.
Because she spent most of the semester playing Quidditch and pursuing professors, even though Cho Chang was a bright Ravenclaw, her grades were inevitably affected.
This was undoubtedly a major blow to Qiu Zhang.
To use a more vivid analogy, it's like fighting on two fronts, losing on both fronts, and even... failing to hold onto the position of one's academic performance.
Looking at the broom leaning quietly against the corner of the bedroom wall, Cho Chang's thoughts drifted to this year's Quidditch World Cup.
She thought of Viktor Krum, a star player on the Bulgarian national team. He was also a Seeker, and was about the same age as her, but had already reached the world stage.
It's only natural to feel admiration for Krum.
As a young Seeker, he not only possesses superb skills but also demonstrates composure and resilience beyond his years.
Qiu Zhang thought to herself, if even he could withstand that kind of pressure, what reason did she have to give up so easily?
if.
She meant if...
If Cho Chang still had a vague expectation for his future, Hermione, on the other hand, was already deeply caught in a vortex of confusion.
When Hermione returned home, she looked unusually tired and irritable.
The maddening question kept swirling in her mind: Is Professor Phillips really my future husband?
This question, like an unsolvable curse, kept entangled in her thoughts.
Hermione clearly remembered the meaningful smile Sophia gave her as she left.
"But... if it really is him, then where is the evidence?" Hermione scratched her hair hard, her worries pouring out, almost like they were on fire.
Hermione doesn't consider herself a good person at handling emotional issues, especially in such unpredictable and disorienting situations.
How should she bring it up?
How can we verify whether this is her "destined future"?
Hermione's unusual behavior naturally did not escape the Grangers' notice.
At dinner, Mrs. Granger tentatively asked, "Hermione, has something happened at school? You seem preoccupied."
Hermione hesitated for a moment, not answering directly, but instead looking down and fiddling with the food on her plate, saying casually, "It's nothing, just some trivial matters. The coursework is a bit stressful."
Mrs. Granger clearly didn't believe this explanation and gently pressed on, "Hermione, you don't look like you're troubled by academic matters."
Is there anything you find difficult to resolve?
Hermione paused, glanced up at her mother, then quickly looked down again. "It's just some—things about the future."
Mr. Granger put down his knife and fork and asked with concern, "What about the future? Are you talking about career planning? Or are you worried about what to do after graduation?"
"Perhaps," Hermione echoed her father's guess, trying to make her tone sound light. "The last few years at Hogwarts always make you think more about the future."
Although she tried her best to hide it, the hesitation in her eyes and the unnaturalness in her expression betrayed her.
The Grangers exchanged a glance, but didn't press the issue further. Instead, they changed the subject to a gentler one, chatting about everyday matters.
However, Hermione knew in her heart that they had noticed her unusual behavior.
After dinner, Hermione washed her hands and went back to her bedroom.
After cleaning up the dishes, the Grangers returned to their room.
Mr. Granger closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed, and glanced thoughtfully at his wife. "Do you think Hermione's behavior today was a little... unusual?"
"Of course it's not normal," Mrs. Granger said seriously as she took off her earring. "She's been distracted ever since she walked in. Our precious daughter isn't the kind of person who gets easily distracted. There must be something seriously wrong this time."
"Do you think it's academic pressure?" Mr. Granger frowned. "She's always very concerned about her grades, especially since she'll be graduating in a few years."
"Studies?" Mrs. Granger chuckled softly, walked to the bedside, and looked at her husband. "Darling, I don't think it's a matter of studies. Did you notice the tone of her voice just now? Especially when she mentioned 'the future,' her eyes flickered as if 'some emotional confusion'?" Mr. Granger chimed in, adding hesitantly, "You mean...she might be in love?"