Collapse Iron: The Five Heroes of the Clouds Won't Let Me Go

"Damn! Two years have passed in this illusion, but two hours have actually gone by!"

Xing and March 7th ran down the corridor, constantly complaining.

March 7th, heartbroken:

"What? It's fake? I actually quite like school life."

"You like it?! Two years of studying has almost killed me!"

The two were now looking for Teacher Bobowa and, following the instructions of the head of the teaching department, arrived at Teacher Bobowa's office.

"Not here? How could that be!"

March 7th complained, "Two hours have passed. If Teacher Bobo was really in the office, Spark would have succeeded by now!"

"That's true."

As the two pondered, the sound of sparks rang out again over the loudspeaker:

"Oh dear, I didn't expect you to escape my [Cognitive Modification] so quickly. But it's alright, I've already hijacked this academy with the power of pleasure. All the teachers and students will become my helpers in the search for the mask!"

Xing: "Don't even think about it! You've forced me to study for two years, I'm going to teach you a lesson, you little brat!"

On March 7th, he offered words of comfort:

"Don't panic. Spark's reaction means she hasn't found the mask either. We still have a chance. Teacher Bobowa must be hiding it."

"Wow, did you suddenly become intelligent in March?"

"Don't treat me like an idiot!!!"

Then on March 7th, a blue jellyfish was summoned:

"This is the ability that Changyeyue taught me. It allows me to examine traces of memories, and by following them, I can find out where Teacher Bobowa is."

Let's go!

The two followed the memory jellyfish, and when they passed a classroom, Xing's eyes widened.

"Holy crap! What happened to this classroom? The windows are covered in bloody handprints, it's terrifying!"

March 7th also felt a bit eerie:

"Never mind all that for now, let's find Teacher Bobo first!"

After wandering through a complex array of illusionary mechanisms, the two arrived at a sealed-off classroom.

Happy March 7th:

"That's it! Teacher Bobowa must have locked herself in this classroom. No wonder Spark couldn't find her!"

After much effort, Xing successfully gained access to the teaching staff.

Sure enough, Teacher Bobo was there.

"Hey! Who are you?! How did you get in? Are you a student at the Painting World Academy?"

"Bobo-wa teacher, I'm Hoshi, Himeko's pioneering companion. That guy called Spark is controlling all the teachers and students to capture you. I've come to find you at Himeko's request!"

"I see. Himeko sent you to ask me for the mask, right?"

"That's right!"

"Okay, I know the Star Train has arrived, but I can't completely trust you yet. I'll ask you a few questions, and you can only prove that you are Himeko's friend if you answer them correctly."

"Go ahead and ask."

"First, which flavor of coffee does Himeko brew the best?"

Hoshino: "...Himeko's coffee is practically inedible!"

"Haha, you're right, it seems you really have experienced the horrors of coffee."

"Secondly, what kind of person does Himeko dislike the most?"

Hoshino: "There's a chatterbox on the train called Shut Up Robot. Himeko has been wanting to get rid of it. And I heard there used to be a blonde passenger who was also very talkative, but he's been kicked out now."

"You describe it so vividly; it seems you really did spend time with Himeko."

"Third, what is the thing Himeko regrets most during her time at the academy?"

Xing: "My biggest regret... is it cutting my hair short and becoming the school's leader?"

"wrong!"

"What?! Have I been scammed? That can't be..."

Teacher Bobo Wa laughed and said, "Not entirely, but I didn't expect Himeko to tell you even this. But the thing she regretted most fifteen years ago is something she really can't talk about with others because it's too cruel..."

"So, did I pass the test?"

"Of course! Since you know Himeko so well, I definitely trust you. The mask is yours!"

Then a blank mask of joy appeared; it turned out that Teacher Bobo had been hiding it inside her body all along.

Just as "Star" received the mask, the classroom door opened, revealing Star and March 7th.

"What's going on?! Xing is right next to me, so who are you?!"

"Hehehehehehehehehehahaha!!!"

"Star" let out a sugary laugh, then immediately put the mask on its face.

"Now that I've been found out, I'm not pretending anymore! Lord Spark has arrived!"

Bobo Baby: "What?!"

The mask transformed into a black and white rabbit design, and Spark laughed arrogantly:

"As expected of the ticket to the Illusionary Moon Game, I feel my power of pleasure increasing dramatically, multiplying, and surging!"

Bobowa knew perfectly well he'd been deceived: "How could this be? If you're not a pioneer, how do you know Himeko so well?"

Spark played with the mask and said:

"Now that the outcome is decided, I'll give the losers a proper explanation, so you can understand why you lost."

"That bespectacled guy named Walter doesn't seem to mind becoming a teacher at all. I asked him about the Star Train as a student, and he shared everything with me!"

March 7th: "Uncle Yang, you should really step up!"

"Alright, enough with the loser's post-match remarks. I, Lord Spark, have gained even greater power of pleasure! Hehehe, from now on, I will be broadcasting this 'Spark Tournament' live to the entire Two-Phase Paradise, so everyone can become my fan and have some fun!"

Xing: "This is bad. Spark's strength has actually reached a level that makes me tremble with fear."

March 7th: "What do we do? What do we do? Is this a dead end?"

Xing: "No! As a top-notch pioneer, I can find a way to break through any predicament!"

"Really! Xing, what other surprises are you hiding that I don't know about?"

Xing: "When faced with such a critical situation, we must use the ultimate pioneering method that Mikhail taught me to deal with it."

"Exploring the ultimate means? How come I don't know about that?"

"Hmph, you're so ignorant, aren't you? Today I'll show you!"

Spark was somewhat curious: "Interesting. Even facing death, it still wants to struggle? I'd like to see what its ultimate weapon is!"

Xing raised his baseball bat high, and a dazzling golden light emanated from his chest.

Spark exclaimed in shock: "Are you trying to detonate the star core inside your body?! You madman!"

Spark quickly gathered the power of joy to surround herself. When the golden light dissipated, nothing happened, but Star and March 7th had already run three hundred meters away.

Xing: "You're so cute!!!"

March 7th: "So it was all just an escape after all!"

"Where there's life, there's hope."

Spark's face darkened, and he sealed off the academy, taking control of all teachers and students:

"Catch those two guys, especially that Xing. How dare she trick me! I'm going to drag her into my QQ space and teach her a lesson!"