Chapter 80: Self-Introduction

The next day.

The sky was slightly bright.

Zhou Huai and the other four people were brought to a dim room.

In the center of the room, a complex rune magic array was exuding a faint blue light.

The light converged, slowly outlining a swaying portal in the center of the magic array.

Li Gang stood in front of the five people with a serious expression.

"In five more minutes, the teleportation channel will be completely opened."

"You will be teleported to the National Examination dungeon — Triple Island."

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping across everyone's face.

"From now on, you are no longer individual examinees fighting on your own."

"You are comrades-in-arms of the same team, representing our entire Dongning Province."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

The five of them spoke in unison, their voices echoing in the spacious room.

Li Gang nodded, and his expression eased slightly.

"Very well, next I will explain the rules of the National Examination."

"In this National Examination, forty-eight provinces nationwide, a total of forty-eight teams, and two hundred and forty people will participate."

"The assessment adopts a points system."

"The team with the highest final points wins the championship. Among them, the most outstanding examinee will be crowned as the National Examination Top Scholar."

He held up two fingers.

"There are two ways to earn points."

"The first is by slaying alien beasts."

"For ordinary alien beasts, slaying one grants one point."

"For ordinary BOSS-level alien beasts, slaying one grants twenty points."

"For Calamity-grade alien beast BOSSes, one hundred points."

"As for Hell-level alien beast BOSSes, one thousand points."

Li Gang's tone paused for a moment, becoming a bit more stern.

"The second way to earn points is by wiping out other participating squads."

"Wiping out a team can directly obtain all the points of the opponent's team."

"Remember, it is a wipeout."

"As long as any single person from the opposing team still exists in the dungeon, the points in their hands will not be transferred."

He glanced around at everyone, his eyes sharp.

"In addition, the assessment dungeon has a protection mechanism."

"When your health is cleared, you won't truly die, but you will be forcibly teleported away from the dungeon."

"Therefore, be decisive when you strike."

"Even if the opponent is human, do not hesitate."

"The National Examination not only tests your strength, but also tests your strategy and Heart-Nature."

"Being inferior in strength does not mean you will lose."

"Until the very last moment, never give up lightly."

Li Gang withdrew his gaze and continued.

"Now that the rules are finished, let's talk about the precautions."

"First, cannibalism among the same team is prohibited inside the dungeon; violators will be directly eliminated. You are teammates, comrades sharing honor and disgrace, and I hope you will always remember this point."

"Second, no recovery-type potions or status-type potions can be used inside the dungeon, and violators will also be directly eliminated."

"Finally, let me remind you once more."

"The National Examination will be broadcast nationwide synchronously, please mind your words and deeds."

"Don't embarrass our Dongning Province."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The five people's voices were even louder than before.

"Very well!" Li Gang glanced at the time. "Five minutes are up, set off!"

As soon as his voice fell, the light of the light-blue portal surged greatly and became stable.

Lu Qi walked in first, his face carrying an eager excitement.

Ye Xi, Shen Fuhai, and Yuan Kai followed closely behind, their expressions carrying a bit of tension and apprehension.

When it was Gandalf's turn, Li Gang's voice suddenly sounded.

"Wait."

Zhou Huai stopped, turned around, and looked at him calmly.

Li Gang stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and lowered his voice.

"Don't forget our agreement."

He looked into Gandalf's eyes, and those vicissitudes-filled eyes flickered with a complex light.

"Perform well."

"Slap the faces of those who look down on us hard."

He smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I used to be looked down upon by others as well."

"They all thought I was the weakest S-rank."

"After all, in that era, thermal weapons caused negligible damage to alien beasts, and firearms were even hard to break their defense."

"But I, relying on this gun in my hand, forced everyone to shut up."

Li Gang's eyes became fervent.

"Trust me, the feeling of slapping others in the face is addictive."

Zhou Huai's heart stirred slightly, wondering why Li Gang would suddenly say these things to him.

He could feel the sincere expectations in the old man's words.

"I will."

He nodded faintly, then stepped into the portal in one stride, and his figure disappeared.

After a brief sense of weightlessness, a solid touch came from under his feet.

A salty sea breeze rushed toward him, carrying the "swishing" sound of waves hitting the beach.

Zhou Huai opened his eyes.

Before his eyes was a golden beach, ahead was a boundless dense jungle, and behind him was the blue sea rolling with white foam.

Ye Xi and the other four had arrived a step earlier, curiously looking around.

"National Examination… Has it started just like that?" Ye Xi muttered to herself.

"It seems so." Shen Fuhai beside her took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn.

"Since we are comrades-in-arms now, before taking action, let's introduce each other's classes first so we can have an understanding."

"It will also be convenient for us to coordinate with each other when fighting later."

He spoke first.

"I'll go first, my name is Shen Fuhai, and my class is an A-rank Illusionist."

"Support-type, I can create various illusions to confuse opponents."

The tall and thin Yuan Kai took over the conversation.

"It's my turn, my name is Yuan Kai, A-rank class, Armored Warrior."

"I can transform into an Armored Warrior to fight."

After finishing, he seemed a bit excited, and directly pulled out a card shining with metallic luster from his upper pocket.

He held the card high, struck a pose he thought was very handsome, and shouted with full breath.

"Armor Body Integration!"

The card turned into a stream of light, sinking into a card slot device that appeared out of thin air at his waist.

"Hum——!"

Dazzling white light burst from his body!

Pieces of silver-white metallic armor emerged out of thin air, and accompanied by the mechanical locking sound of "clack clack", they quickly covered his entire body.

Helmet, chest armor, arm guards, leg guards…

In just a few seconds, Yuan Kai turned into a silver warrior over two meters tall with a highly sci-fi design.

Ye Xi opened her small mouth wide, looking dumbfounded.

Zhou Huai was also stunned watching.

What was going on with this overwhelming chuunibyou vibe?

He forced back the urge to complain and silently gave this Armored Warrior a thumbs-up in his heart.

Just at this moment, an untimely cold snort sounded.

Lu Qi crossed his arms and walked over with a disdainful look.

"I haven't spoken yet, where is it your turn to chatter here?"

"I said yesterday, this team will be commanded by me!"

"All of you must listen to me!"

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, looking at him sideways with the look of watching a fool.

"Since when is it your turn to command here?"

"Who do you think you are?"

"You!"

Lu Qi's face instantly turned liver-colored, and the veins on his forehead bulged one by one.

"I found you an eyesore since yesterday! Provoking me over and over again!"

"If it weren't for the National Examination team not allowing infighting, do you believe I would cripple you right now!"

Zhou Huai faintly responded with an "Oh".

"You still want to cripple me?"

He ignored the furious Lu Qi and turned to look at Ye Xi and the other three.

"Since everyone has introduced themselves, it should be my turn."

"My name is Gandalf, class… Archmage."

As his voice fell, he raised the Flame Explosion Core in his hand high.

The red crystal at the top of the staff shone brightly.

"[Forbidden Spell: Meteor Fire Rain]!"

He didn't even chant.

The sky suddenly turned dim.

Five huge meteorites burning with dark green nether fire tore through the clouds, dragging long flame tails, and whistled as they smashed toward the distant dense jungle!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The earth shook violently, and even the beach under their feet was vibrating.

Terrifying explosions rang out one after another, deafening.

The distant jungle was instantly swallowed by a sea of fire, countless towering ancient trees turned into charred charcoal in the fierce flames, and black thick smoke soared into the sky.

Shen Fuhai and Yuan Kai stood frozen on the spot, their mouths wide enough to fit a fist.

Ye Xi even covered her mouth with her small hand, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

The ferocity and arrogance on Lu Qi's face completely froze.

He stared blankly at the sea of fire that had been razed to the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Zhou Huai slowly lowered his staff, turned his head, and looked calmly at Lu Qi.

"Now, do you still want to cripple me?"