"Neural reaction test, start!"
The countdown ended, and a gunshot rang out.
A 6 - mm - diameter bullet burst out of the air and whizzed past at an extremely fast speed. Kai turned slightly sideways and easily dodged it.
Bang -
The bullet hit the wall, creating a small pit and sparking a few dots of fire.
"As expected, it's a live - ammunition test!"
Kai concentrated and looked ahead.
Since this was the Core City of Eternity, which was part of the Tower of Eternity, death wouldn't result in any real - world punishment.
The soldier test was as realistic as possible.
Bullets, fireballs, lightning, throwing knives...
In this neural reaction test, one needed to dodge these attacks as much as possible. As long as you could survive, you passed!
In other words, there were two ways to break the situation:
Increase your agility attribute as much as possible and learn more displacement skills to gain better mobility. This was the original intention of the neural reaction test.
Increase your shields, health, and other defenses as much as possible! If you couldn't dodge, then don't. Resist all the damage head - on and break through with brute force! As long as you could survive, it also counted as passing.
The soldier test aimed to select soldiers who could fight in the Abyss Plane. They didn't need to be absolutely all - round.
According to past experience, if your agility attribute reached 200, or the total amount of damage you could withstand exceeded 4000, you could pass the first level.
Many people were stuck at this level and complained incessantly.
However, this was no difficulty for Kai!
[Eyes that analyze the essence] could predict the trajectories of all the upcoming attacks, giving a short - term foresight ability. At the same time, it could plan the best evasion plan suitable for Kai!
All Kai needed to do was pick a plan and execute it.
Following the plan step by step, he easily dodged all the attacks!
In the hail of bullets, Kai walked leisurely, as if taking a stroll in his own backyard.
Bullets often missed him by a distance of 0.1 cm, but he didn't change his expression and showed no signs of panic.
Even, in order not to stand out too much, Kai would deliberately take one or two attacks, pretending to be unable to dodge in time. He was really an old - hand at acting.
10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds...
As time passed, the frequency of attacks became faster and faster. The number of available evasion plans for Kai became fewer and fewer, and the difficulty of achieving perfect evasion became higher and higher!
Kai's health remained in a very healthy state, but the intense firepower was a bit too exaggerated.
"Strange, is the first - rank soldier test this difficult?!"
Kai complained while dodging.
"My agility attribute is 224. Even without the Eyes that analyze the essence, I should be able to pass this level just relying on my agility! But... this difficulty is too exaggerated. Even if someone with an agility of 300 or 400 came, they might not be able to handle it!"
Kai felt like he was in a sea of fire, and a single misstep could cost him his life and cause him to fail the challenge.
He gritted his teeth and followed the instructions of the Eyes that analyze the essence, trying his best to complete every movement and dodge the upcoming attacks.
"Countdown!"
"10, 9, 8...."
Beads of sweat had appeared on Kai's forehead, and his left shoulder had been grazed by a fireball, giving off a burnt smell.
Just a fireball that passed by the side had caused more than 300 points of damage to Kai.
"Something must be wrong. This isn't the first - rank soldier test!"
Kai was certain. But now that he was in the testing room, he could only grit his teeth and keep going, waiting for the countdown to end.
"...3, 2, 1!"
"Congratulations, you have completed the [Neural Reaction Test] for first - rank soldier. Please proceed to the next level."
All the attacks subsided. Kai stood in the corner, breathing in fresh air heavily to regain his strength.
He looked at the motion - capture device in front of him and concentrated.
[This is just a motion - capture device. What are you expecting to see? Here's a pen, you write the story!]
[No matter how much you look at it, it's still just a motion - capture device.]
[Congratulations, you have just passed the neural reaction test for third - rank soldier!]
"So it's actually third - rank... this is a rip - off."
Kai rolled his eyes, feeling quite speechless.
He didn't know which link had gone wrong. The test that should have been for first - rank soldier had been adjusted to third - rank.
"That means my current strength is comparable to the neural reaction speed of a third - rank soldier!"
From another perspective, Kai had a clearer understanding of his own strength.
"Let's go, to the next level!"
Physical strength test, damage test, defense test...
To Kai's surprise, the following test levels went smoothly without any hitches.
The first - rank soldier test was no challenge for Kai.
Even, in order not to seem too outstanding, he held back to some extent in different tests.
"The first - rank soldier test is completed. Results are being generated..."
On a large screen, countless data scrolled, generating a test report for Kai.
"Neural reaction test, 98% evasion rate, SS - grade rating!"
"Physical strength test, 86% completion rate, A - grade rating!"
"....."
"Based on all the results, your first - rank soldier test rating is: A+!"
"Congratulations, you have passed the first - rank soldier test. Please choose your affiliation."
In front of Kai, three options appeared:
[HADC Legion], [Mercenary Corps], [Lone Wolf]
Soldiers, as the name implies, exist for the sake of battle.
After passing the soldier test, Kai could choose to apply to join one of the major legions under the [Human Action Defense Committee].
Once the application was approved, Kai would be required to go to the designated plane and integrate into the legion. This was the most common choice.
Legions with an official background had the top - notch strength and treatment.
Of course, the price was low freedom. One had to obey superior orders and basically had no room for independent action.
This path was obviously not suitable for Kai at the moment.
He had too many secrets and needed time to grow. He didn't consider joining a legion for now.
[Mercenary Corps] was a loose organization with a mercenary nature and a clear - cut price list.
They would form temporary teams, accept orders from various forces, complete tasks, and then receive rewards.
Based on the information at hand, Kai analyzed,
"The Mercenary Corps sounds good and suits me, but... the Mercenary Corps requires real - name registration! My school record shows a C - grade talent, and I've only been playing the Tower of Eternity for 2 days and then passed the first - rank soldier test. It's too eye - catching!"
Kai's gaze turned to the last option:
Lone Wolf!
One could receive the soldier badge anonymously, and the monthly allowances and benefits could be collected in the Core City of Eternity, ensuring to the greatest extent that the identity of the [Lone Wolf] would not be traced!
Of course, the official also had special methods to prevent people from repeatedly receiving allowances and exploiting loopholes.
This path was the loneliest and most helpless one.
There was no organization, no teammates, and no backing.
On the path of the Lone Wolf, everything depended on oneself!
Kai took a deep breath, his gaze firm, and pointed his finger down.
"I choose Lone Wolf!"
The path of the Lone Wolf was meant for the fierce and powerful!
Sheep and cattle flock together, while fierce beasts walk alone!
When the three paths for soldiers were established, the most powerful figure once said,
"Every genius is a lone wolf on their way forward!"
After Kai made his choice, the large screen went dark.
A medal fell from the sky and hovered in front of Kai.
On it was carved a howling wolf's head, vividly depicted, with its sharp teeth glinting coldly, looking rather eerie.
The Lone Wolf Medal!
"Not bad, I like it."
Kai grabbed the Lone Wolf Medal in his palm.
From today on,
The rising path of the Lone Wolf soldier Kai had officially begun!
After registering anonymously as a [Lone Wolf], a document appeared on the large screen, recording the welfare benefits that Kai could enjoy.
"Monthly allowance of 30,000 Dragon Coins, equivalent to 30 Gold Coins, to be collected in the [Combat Power Testing Area] on the second Thursday of each month..."
30 Gold Coins was equivalent to the expenses of a three - person family for about three months. It was definitely not a small amount of money.
However, compared to the speed at which Kai obtained resources, 30 Gold Coins seemed insignificant.
Calculating from yesterday, after clearing the novice dungeon, he was rewarded with 100,000 Gold Coins. He spent 80,000 Gold Coins on buying the [Force of Nature Staff], leaving a balance of 20,000 Gold Coins.
After reporting Leo Thompson, he received a bounty of 30,000 Gold Coins and spent 7,000 Gold Coins on buying [Wind - Treading Slash].
Kai still had 43,000 Gold Coins in his hand.
"The official allowance for a first - rank soldier is 15 Gold Coins, along with other welfare benefits.
Due to the anonymity of the Lone Wolf, other welfare benefits cannot be enjoyed. Therefore, the monthly allowance is 15 Gold Coins more, which is quite reasonable."
Getting 30 Gold Coins for free every month, without doing anything for a year, Kai could receive 360 Gold Coins. In reality, these Gold Coins could be exchanged for enough cash to buy a house in full within two or three years!
"The soldier test needs to be reviewed every five years. If you advance within five years, the review cycle will be recalculated."
Kai skimmed through the terms of the document. There wasn't much that he needed to pay special attention to.
In itself, the restrictions on [Lone Wolf] were the weakest, so naturally, there wouldn't be too many rules and regulations to bind Kai.
"Lone Wolves can receive tasks in the combat power testing area and obtain corresponding rewards after completion."
"After the Lone Wolf Medal is activated, it can transform into a Lone Wolf Mask to cover your true face. Any act of prying into the appearance behind the Lone Wolf Mask is regarded as a provocation...."
Seeing this, Kai lowered his head and looked at the Lone Wolf Medal.
[Can resist prying eyes below level 200]
Level 200 was the dividing line of the strength of a general.
As a first - rank soldier, as long as Kai didn't act too ostentatiously, it would be difficult to attract the attention of a general.
"For now, it's sufficient."
Putting away the Lone Wolf Medal and memorizing the content of the document, Kai walked out of the room.
Head - on, he happened to meet Asher Miller and the others. It seemed that they had just finished their tests.
Asher Miller's face was ashen, looking extremely ugly, like a moldy and stinky sock.
[Couldn't hold on for more than 3 seconds in the neural reaction test. Well, a real man for 3 seconds!]
Asher Miller didn't notice Kai. The group of people was angrily going to settle accounts with the staff.
"What's going on? Is the difficulty of the combat power test wrong?"
A sharp - mouthed and monkey - cheeked thief shouted.
"That's right! I was eliminated in just one minute. How is this possible!"
Hearing this, Kai looked at him in surprise.
One minute?
A minute at the third - rank soldier level? That would be remarkable!
Unfortunately, Kai was disappointed.
A line of words appeared above the thief's head:
[Persisted for 6 seconds!]
"Amazing. Blowing 6 seconds into 1 minute. You're really good at being stubborn."
Kai nodded and thought to himself.
High - EQ: Time flies when you're with someone you like.
Low - EQ: Not in a good state today.
Apparently, something was wrong with everyone's combat power test.
The test that should have been for first - rank soldiers had its difficulty abruptly increased to third - rank!
Kai was okay. He gritted his teeth and persevered through it, even dodging 98% of the attacks and getting a high - score rating.
Asher Miller and the others couldn't take it.
These proud sons of heaven thought that even if they couldn't pass the first level, they could at least look decent.
Who would have known that he would be killed when he came up, and he would be disgraced , so embarrassed!
The huge gap was unacceptable to them, and they were shouting for an explanation.
Soon, a slightly chubby middle - aged man with a bald head rushed over from the hall. His forehead was covered in sweat, and he looked anxious.
"Sorry, everyone, I'm really sorry!"
Seeing Asher Miller and his group, he knew he was in big trouble today!
There were quite a few descendants of warlords among them!
"Most of the people are on leave to go to the Tower of Eternity today. You can see the situation here. A new employee accidentally set it wrong, and it became the third - rank soldier test. I'm really sorry...."
The bald middle - aged man explained a few words, and Asher Miller and the others' expressions softened a bit.
They actually just wanted an explanation.
Even if they were playboys, there was no need to make things difficult for such a small - time person.
"Set it wrong? How could such an important matter as the soldier test be taken so lightly!"
A young man deliberately put on a stern face and reprimanded.
"Yes, yes, you're right."
The bald middle - aged man nodded and bowed, constantly flattering.
Asher Miller and his group had vented their anger. Seeing his slick appearance, even if they punched him twice, he wouldn't make a sound.
Such a soft - as - cotton punching bag made people lose interest in bullying him.
"Alright, let's just pretend this never happened. I won't report your work mistake this time."
The leading young man had an arrogant look, and his words were full of unruliness.
"But this video...."
The bald middle - aged man immediately understood.
These proud sons of heaven had come to participate in the soldier test full of enthusiasm, but ended up in a miserable failure.
If the video got out, their reputations would be completely ruined, and they would definitely become the laughingstock of their own circle!
Asher Miller and the others were causing trouble not really for the sake of the test but to delete the video and destroy the evidence of their embarrassment!
The bald middle - aged man immediately caught on and followed their lead,
"I'm really sorry. There aren't enough people today, and we're too busy. The camera here was forgotten to be turned on!"
Saying this, the bald middle - aged man took out a tablet, tapped a few times on it, and deleted all the previous soldier test videos.
"Hehe, you're quite smart."
Only then did Asher Miller and his group stop and leave.
Witnessing this farce, Kai didn't say much.
He couldn't stand the arrogance of these geniuses, but he didn't look down on the manager's slickness either.
After all, the geniuses were arrogant because they thought they had the capital to be so.
Family background, talent, connections...
They far surpassed their peers, and it was hard not to be arrogant.
And the manager's slickness was more due to the hardships and difficulties of life.
The work mistake could be resolved like this, and he had managed to avoid a disaster.
All of this had nothing to do with Kai, and no one paid attention to Kai either.
He was like a transparent person, walking out of the testing room and heading to the Lone Wolf mission - issuing area to see if there were any tasks worth taking.
Just after Asher Miller and the others left, the bald manager let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Little brat, you scared the hell out of me."
As mentioned before, if there was a problem with the soldier test, it was a major work mistake!
At the least, it would result in a fine; at the worst, he could be sent to the Abyss Plane to dig stones!
"Fortunately, it was just a false alarm."
The bald manager picked up the tablet and glanced at the previous test data.
"Total number of testers: 126, number of failures: 125, number of successes: 1, rating: SS - grade...."
"As expected, they all failed."
The bald manager put down the tablet, then suddenly froze. It was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind.
Did he miss something?
He suddenly picked up the tablet, widened his eyes in disbelief, and even stretched out a hand to rub his eyes non - stop.
"Am I seeing things?"
"Someone actually passed the neural reaction test for third - rank soldier! And it's an SS - grade rating!"
"Who is this amazing person? Quick, look at the video!"
The bald manager stood there, as if struck by a bolt of lightning.
The video... just now... he had deleted it....