1742 quasi-warriors followed closely, walking for nearly half an hour before reaching their destination—an abandoned town not far from the military camp. Heavy weapons and artillery from the nearby barracks had brought the town under the camp's security cordon.
It was already evening, and the sun was beginning to set. Along the walls surrounding the town, thick barbed wire stretched across the perimeter, where a large number of soldiers stood guard with weapons in hand. Powerful searchlights shone both inside and outside the town, forming a seamless barrier to ensure that nothing could pass in or out unnoticed.
Roar~
Groans~
Even before they entered the town, Xia Zhi could already hear the guttural calls of various monsters echoing through the streets. At that moment, a row of heavy trucks rolled by, and from the enclosed compartments, the wild, enraged howls of the caged monsters could be heard. The crazed cries sent chills down the spines of the quasi-warriors, many of whom were encountering these beasts for the first time.
"Having a strong body and great physical strength doesn't necessarily make you powerful," said the martial arts instructor accompanying them to the assessment. "True strength comes from being able to kill monsters."
The instructor's voice was calm yet stern. "This combat assessment is not only a test, but also a form of training. It's only through real combat experience that you can understand the difference between what's in the books and the reality of fighting monsters. Remember, when you're up against a beast, you can't afford to show mercy."
"I understand," Xia Zhi replied with a firm nod.
"These monsters are the weakest of the H-rank," the instructor continued. "They're about as strong as low-level warriors. They lack intelligence, but they're bloodthirsty and crazed, driven by an instinct to kill. Every year, during this assessment, some of the quasi-warriors die or are permanently injured."
Xia Zhi knew that this was no game. It was a real battle against monsters, and the stakes were high. It was impossible to ensure absolute safety.
"Listen up!" A booming voice interrupted their thoughts, drawing the attention of the quasi-warriors.
They all looked up to see Major General Dong Hao, standing atop a dilapidated three-story building at the edge of the town. He addressed the crowd of fighters gathered below.
"This combat assessment will follow the same rules as before! It will begin at 6:30 tonight and end at 6:30 tomorrow morning."
"For every monster you kill, you must cut off its left ear as proof. The more monsters you kill, the more points you earn."
"Out of the 1742 of you here, only the top 60% will pass and become full-fledged warriors. That means only 1,045 of you will make it. The remaining 697 will fail and must wait until the next assessment."
Dong Hao's voice grew colder. "Remember, during this assessment, killing your fellow quasi-warriors is strictly prohibited. We are monitoring all your activities, and violators will be shot on sight!"
Murmurs spread among the fighters around Xia Zhi. A 40% elimination rate was no small matter.
"To pass, you generally need to kill at least three monsters. Killing only two might leave your fate to luck," Dong Hao continued. "If multiple participants have the same number of kills, we will rank you based on how quickly you killed the monsters and the severity of your injuries."
"So, once you've killed enough monsters, it's in your best interest to leave the town as soon as possible."
"If you're severely injured and can't continue, press the emergency button on your communication watch. We'll send help immediately, but if you are rescued, your assessment ends, regardless of your points."
"Boys, remember to prioritize your safety. This is the first lesson I'm teaching you personally."
With that, Dong Hao leaped from the building, landing several meters away. With a few swift movements, he reached the entrance of the town and waved the group forward. "Now, enter Monster Town!"
The 1,742 quasi-warriors surged forward, flooding into the town like a tide.
"Close the gate!"
With a loud boom, the only entrance slammed shut, sealing the warriors and the monsters inside. The real combat assessment had begun.
Inside the town, Xia Zhi stood beside Yang Ming, leaning against the wall of a once-grand residential building.
"You're planning to go through this town alone?" Yang Ming asked, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Yes, Brother Yang. Though this is an assessment, it's also a chance for me to train. I want to do it by myself," Xia Zhi said, meeting Yang Ming's gaze. With his current abilities, the H-rank monsters posed little threat to him. His goal was to pass the assessment and gain valuable combat experience.
Moreover, the words of their instructor, Jiang Tao, had left him feeling cautious. If there was a hidden danger or conspiracy, it would be safer to face it alone. This way, he wouldn't be distracted and could move more freely.
"Alright, but be careful and don't let your guard down," Yang Ming advised, scanning their surroundings for any threats. "See you outside the town tomorrow."
With a final nod, Yang Ming darted into a nearby street and quickly disappeared. Xia Zhi, meanwhile, slipped into the shadows of the crumbling buildings, ready for what lay ahead.
"Monsters are classified as Beast Soldier, Beast General, and Beast Lord," Xia Zhi thought as he walked cautiously down a dust-covered alleyway. "They correspond to human warrior levels: warrior, warlord, and war god."
He carried a six-sided shield on his left forearm and gripped a bloodshadow saber in his right hand.
"The monsters in this town are all H-rank, equivalent to junior beast soldier level. The three types are shadow cats, which are quick; iron-haired boars, which rely on strength and defense; and tiger mastiffs, which are fast and powerful."
Suddenly, Xia Zhi felt a chill run down his spine. A surge of killing intent flooded the alley, and from the shadows, an iron-haired boar emerged. Its body was bristling with spiked fur, standing at about 1.5 meters tall. The creature chewed on some unknown flesh, dark blood dripping from its jaws as it locked eyes with Xia Zhi.
"Here we go," Xia Zhi muttered, tightening his grip on his saber as he stepped forward to meet the beast.
The iron-haired boar snorted, its low intelligence failing to register the danger. It let out a growl before charging, its sharp tusks gleaming like scimitars. The ground shook beneath its massive hooves as it barreled toward him.
Xia Zhi's eyes narrowed, and he swung his saber in a powerful arc. With nearly four thousand kilograms of force behind the blade, the sword sliced through the boar's head with ease.
The beast's momentum carried its halved body past Xia Zhi before collapsing to the ground. Blood sprayed from the gaping wound, soaking the dirt.
As Xia Zhi sheathed his saber, he glanced back at the split carcass and felt a rush of excitement. This was his first kill, his first real taste of battle.
On Earth, even as a mercenary, there had been few opportunities to participate in such savage killing. And in the orderly world of the base city, fighting among humans was strictly forbidden. This was the first time Xia Zhi had truly unleashed his strength.
"This is what a warrior's life should be like," he thought with a grim smile. "Power is meant for combat."
But as his excitement faded, Xia Zhi began to reflect.
"I overdid it. I used too much strength."
He realized that fighting at full power against such a weak opponent was pointless. "From now on, I'll limit my strength to a thousand kilograms, matching that of a junior warrior. This way, I can actually train and improve."
He couldn't afford to continue overpowering opponents who were no match for him. He needed real challenges to sharpen his skills.
"Now, let the hunt begin!"
As time passed, all 1,742 quasi-warriors engaged in bloody battles across every corner of Monster Town. Some chose to fight alone, confident in their abilities. Others, more cautious, teamed up with friends to increase their chances of survival.
The H-rank monsters were on par with the quasi-warriors in strength, but humans had one advantage—intelligence. These beasts, driven only by instinct, couldn't match the cunning of their human adversaries.
For some, the night was a brutal wake-up call. Injuries forced them to press their emergency buttons, ending their assessments early. Others, shaken by the reality of killing monsters, found themselves overwhelmed by fear. But for those like Xia Zhi, the night was filled with excitement and exhilaration.
This night was destined to be extraordinary.