Chapter 821: Chapter 821
821: Chapter 807: Dead End?
821: Chapter 807: Dead End?
One by one, the bottles were smashed.
Seizing the moment just as the domain had withdrawn and the “Holy Water” was still effective, some chose the safe path of retreat without hesitation.
Lu Ping’an blended into the thinning crowd, watching the “young fellows” he admired, hoping they would make the most rational decisions.
To give up in time was also a form of courage and rationality, to stubbornly cling on without a clear understanding of one’s own strength, in Lu Ping’an’s view, was simply foolishness.
Soon, he would forcibly make that choice for them…
“Actually, this is a good thing, we’re not losing out!”
“Sentry” Lu Feng was still holding on, shouting “we’re not losing out” while trying to convince other partners not to miss this rare opportunity…
“This is an opportunity.
Many eyes are watching us, and if we perform well, maybe a high-level professional will take us as apprentices, or big clubs, companies, or churches will recruit us…”
What he said was indeed true; the “live broadcast” had become the highest-rated TV program in Changping.
Though not particularly impressive in combat power, Lu Feng’s decisions had been sound, despite always showing some hesitation and unease before making important choices (Lu Ping’an saw him trembling).
But from what Ping’an observed, he had been trying to remain rational, and within his capabilities, was greedy in a way that a team captain should be.
“…I guess you pass.” Invigilator Lu Ping’an issued his first pass, to a “weaker” whose combat power was insufficient.
“Can we sign a temporary contract?
Let’s form a combat team; you two protect me, and I will provide backup support.
I’m a Contractor, I don’t lie…”
The speaker was Fan Zheng, who approached the whip-wielding brothers, Li Wendiao and Li Binhu, hoping to form a temporary combat group.
Although they were already a temporary fighting team, without a truly reliable front line, his abilities couldn’t be fully utilized…
By making this choice, it was clear he was ready to take a risk.
Yet this familiar “I am a Contractor…” phrase made Lu Ping’an feel a subtle impulse to reassess the young man…
Hmm, indeed, he did look like a little trickster.
“…Show me a little more, to be a combat support, you still need to show enough courage and decisiveness.” After some thought, Lu Ping’an felt that a second pass was slightly out of reach.
On the other hand, the two mighty but naive brothers didn’t seem professional enough, looking dumbfounded as if they had never been conned by a Contractor before.
And Lu Ping’an’s senior, Fang Lingguo…
“Looking at me again?
Keep looking and I’ll eat you.”
The girl gave the desperate look of someone seeking help, which Lu Ping’an directly met with a glare of his own.
Then, hesitating, she mustered her courage and approached him, asking softly.
“I, junior brother, I…”
You decide.” Lu Ping’an retorted irritably.
The once “mature” senior had shown her immaturity, and Ping’an was in no position to make any promises to her.
She wasn’t his person; why should he be responsible for her?
Now, he was an examiner, and she was a candidate.
Indeed, it was absolutely not because she had the nerve to reject his recruitment!
At this moment, Sister Fang was full of hesitation; she was well aware that all her skill points were in odd skills (like summersault, curse/anti-curse), and her combat ability was weak.
Her escape ability wasn’t bad, but was it of any use in this level of battlefield?
She was very uncertain, very fearful, extremely fearful.
She stopped mid-sentence, wanting to cling onto someone but afraid of being dismissed, so anxious she was almost in tears.
This scene made Lu Ping’an let out an exasperated sigh.
This guy wasn’t just lacking decisiveness, she wasn’t smart enough…
“Are you a bit silly?
I’m right here, how could I let you die?” Lu Ping’an felt a mix of frustration and disappointment.
If it weren’t for her “abilities” being so special, he would have arranged for her “accidental elimination” long ago.
But the principle remained, rules are rules, and how could Lu Ping’an watch a familiar senior die before his eyes…
With him around, she simply couldn’t die.
If he were in her place, knowing a powerful invigilator was amongst the team, he would have gone all out playing the fearless hero, enjoying himself to the fullest.
Lu Ping’an also realized another reality, that his role as examiner and invigilator was not yet over.
I’m afraid I’m also being scrutinized for my ability as a “Captain,” a “team leader.”
At that moment, Lu Ping’an snapped his fingers and silently “fell out of line”…
Only Fang Lingguo, who had been watching him closely, noticed, but she covered her mouth and dared not say a word.
A while later, the temporary team, which had just lost some members and become even more moribund, encountered an unprecedentedly strong enemy….
A massive “monster” emerged, and the ground where it passed showed signs of fusion and Hellfire.
It was like a demon possessing Hellfire; its greyish “bone structure” was enveloped in a massive body made of flames, giving the impression it was a demon from hell,
The Berserk Horned Demon, which had been extremely fierce, seemed like nothing more than dross in front of it, and at that moment, even the most optimistic examinees were plunged into fear and anxiety.
Only Fang Lingguo looked perplexed, as she had seen such an entity not long ago, only then the flames weren’t quite so numerous….
“…You can run, but you can’t hide….” The harsh synthetic voice carried a strange mechanical texture.
The “Metal Flame Demon” raised its hand; the familiar searing Sun was conjured, but this time, the unfortunate examinees had no luck and resisted with all their might….
The enormous fireball shattered the ground, and the scorching flames stripped away the fireproof layers of most professionals; the terrifying Flaming Knight followed closely, and the desperate examinees struggled frantically.
One after another, they chose to give up, while some still clenched their teeth and resisted, even trying to counterattack.
But in front of this monster, their efforts were meaningless.
Counterattacks were outright ignored; the only advantage seemed to be that, due to its massive size, the monster was not very fast.
Another advantage of so many people giving up was that the scattered teams were able to escape more easily.
Eventually, they escaped the monster’s pursuit and “just happened” to meet another group of members.
A new group was formed; this time, the members from all sides were clearly stronger and more elite.
But the monster found them again.
This time, the flight was no different from the last; the power of the flaming giant was so extraordinary that one would doubt it should exist on the shallower levels.
Scattering, fleeing, regrouping, wavering between giving up and persisting, the professionals continued amidst elimination, but struggled in despair.
The same events were occurring in different regions simultaneously.
After the “truth” of this examination was ascertained, the examiners and invigilators abandoned their overly “gentle” methods without hesitation, accelerating the testing and elimination of the examinees.
This was actually a form of mercy, a kind of care.
In the upcoming battlefield, the weak had no right to survive, and it would be better for those with insufficient strength not to persist.
Meanwhile, those strong enough to withstand the chase and hunt began to group together, starting to show their abilities and organization.
The weaker were eliminated, while the stronger ones persevered.
They became stronger, more battle-savvy; they found their place in the team, seemingly believing they could break through this overly harsh contest…..
The familiar sound of an explosion signified that a new round of crisis had arrived.
But accompanying the sky full of blazes, it wasn’t the previous Flaming Knight, but a monstrous beast.
Poisonous saliva dripped to the ground, directly dissolving the surface, its long neck and triangular head somewhat resembling a crocodile, but within its crimson, malicious twin eyes lay the intellect and greed of an intelligent creature.
The Magic Monster slowly crawled out of a pit, and its huge mouth contained a human limb.
Such a creature was obviously not to be confronted with force; the temporary team immediately chose to retreat.
But at that moment, the flaming knight blocked their retreat.
It seemed they had entered a dead end.