Killing

The 1,742 Quasi-Warriors followed the group in a vast procession for nearly half an hour before reaching their destination.

It was an abandoned town not far from the military camp.

The camp's heavy weapons and watchtowers had placed the town within their security perimeter as well.

At this moment, the town's surrounding walls were lined with dense barbed wire, behind which many armed soldiers stood guard.

It was already evening, and the sun was about to set.

Numerous searchlights atop the walls shone both inside and outside the town, forming a barrier with no blind spots and ensuring complete separation.

Roar~

Hah~

Before Xia Zhi and the others even entered the town, they could already hear the continuous cries of various monsters coming from within.

At that moment, a line of heavy trucks drove over. From the sealed compartments of every truck came the frenzied, furious roars of monsters.

Those hysterical roars made the Quasi-Warriors, who were encountering monsters at close range for the first time, tremble inwardly.

"Xiaozhi, having good physical fitness and great strength doesn't necessarily mean you're strong, or that you're good at killing monsters."

The martial arts hall master accompanying them for the assessment spoke from beside him.

"A Warrior's practical combat assessment is both a test and a form of training."

"Only after truly fighting monsters to the death can you understand that the knowledge in books is ultimately just knowledge."

"Xiaozhi, you need to adapt to life-and-death battles with monsters. When facing enemies, you must never be soft-hearted."

"Understood." Xia Zhi nodded.

"The monsters in this assessment are all the weakest H-class monsters, equivalent to Beginner Warrior level humans," the hall master continued.

"Their intelligence is very low, but they are bloodthirsty, crazed, and full of aggression."

"That is why every year, Quasi-Warriors are killed or crippled during the practical combat assessment."

Xia Zhi understood. This was not a game. They were truly fighting monsters to the death, and there was no way it could be completely safe.

"Everyone."

A rough voice reached the ears of every Quasi-Warrior.

Everyone looked up to see Major General Dong Hao standing atop a dilapidated three-story building at the edge of the town, addressing them all.

"This practical combat assessment follows the same rules as before!"

"It begins promptly at six-thirty tonight and ends at six-thirty tomorrow morning!"

"For every monster you kill, cut off its left ear as proof."

"The more monsters you kill, the more points you earn."

"Of you 1,742 Quasi-Warriors, the top 60 percent by points will earn Warrior qualifications!"

"The bottom 40 percent will be considered failures and must wait for the next practical combat assessment." Dong Hao's voice grew colder. "In other words, only 1,045 of you will pass. The remaining 697 will be eliminated!"

"Remember, Quasi-Warriors are absolutely forbidden from killing one another during the assessment."

"All your actions will be monitored. Violators will be executed on the spot!"

Hearing Dong Hao's words, the Quasi-Warriors around Xia Zhi began discussing it in low voices. The elimination rate was actually forty percent.

"Let me remind you: generally, hunting three monsters will be enough to pass the assessment. If you only kill two, then it will depend on your luck." Dong Hao's voice rang in everyone's ears.

"When records are equal, rankings will be determined by the time spent killing monsters and the extent of your injuries."

"So once you have killed a certain number of monsters, leave the town as soon as possible."

"If you are seriously injured and cannot continue the assessment, you may press the emergency button on your communication watch."

"We will immediately send people to rescue you."

"However, once you are rescued, your practical combat assessment ends, no matter how many points you have," Dong Hao continued.

"Brats, always ensure your own safety first. That is the first lesson I personally teach you."

After saying that, Dong Hao leaped into the air. His tremendous force made the dilapidated building beneath his feet shake.

Whoosh!

He shot dozens of meters into the air from the small building.

After several flashes, he landed at the entrance to the town.

Then he waved at all the Quasi-Warriors taking part in the assessment and roared, "Everyone, enter Monster Town!"

The 1,742 Quasi-Warriors participating in the assessment surged into Monster Town like a tide.

"Close the gates!"

Rumble~~ The only gate slammed shut.

The Warrior practical combat assessment had officially begun!

Within this completely sealed Monster Town, only the Quasi-Warriors taking the assessment and the monsters they were to hunt remained.

Xia Zhi and Yang Ming, who had traveled with him, were standing by the wall of a dilapidated residential building in the town.

"You're going to brave Monster Town alone?" Yang Ming asked in surprise.

"Yes, Brother Yang. Though this is an assessment, it is also training. I want to complete it alone," Xia Zhi said as he looked at Yang Ming.

Given his current strength, he did not take the weakest H-class monsters in the town seriously at all.

Xia Zhi only wanted to use this practical combat assessment to hone his experience in fighting monsters.

After all, there had been no monsters on Earth in his previous life.

Moreover, Instructor Jiang Tao's earlier words had made Xia Zhi somewhat wary.

If there truly was a conspiracy, it would be safer to face it alone. At the very least, he would not need to divide his attention, and his actions would be more convenient.

"Fine. Then we'll act separately. Remember, be careful and don't let your guard down."

As Yang Ming spoke, he observed the movements around them.

"See you outside the town tomorrow."

After saying that, he shot into a nearby street with a whoosh and quickly disappeared into the distance.

Xia Zhi also flashed into the shadows of a nearby building.

"Monsters are divided into Beast Soldier level, Beast General level, and Lord level. They correspond respectively to human Warrior level, General level, and War God level."

With the Hexagonal Shield strapped to his left forearm and the Blood Shadow Battle Saber in his right hand, Xia Zhi slowly walked through a ruined, dust-covered alley.

"The monsters prepared for the assessment in Monster Town are all the weakest Beginner Beast Soldier level monsters, namely H-class monsters."

"There are mainly three types of monsters in this town: Shadow Cats, feline monsters that rely on speed; Iron-Haired Wild Boars, which excel in strength and defense; and Tiger Mastiffs, canine monsters with astonishing speed and power."

As Xia Zhi walked, he suddenly felt a chill run through his body. Naked Killing Intent came from ahead in the alley.

A monster covered in fur like sharp spikes, standing a full meter and a half tall, slowly emerged from the shadows ahead.

Two enormous tusks jutted out from its mouth, reflecting a chilling cold light in the dark alley.

It was an Iron-Haired Wild Boar.

It was chewing some unknown animal's flesh in its mouth, and dark red blood dripped from the corners of its mouth with every chew.

"This one will do."

Looking at the Iron-Haired Wild Boar, which resembled a small tank, Xia Zhi raised the Blood Shadow Battle Saber and walked straight toward it.

"Hrrr—"

The Iron-Haired Wild Boar stared at the human approaching it and let out a series of low growls.

When it realized that the human was not afraid of it, its limited intelligence drove it into a rage. It roared, lowered its head, and charged at Xia Zhi with its two sharp, long tusks, like a pair of massive curved blades.

Its thick hooves pounded the concrete ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Watching the Iron-Haired Wild Boar charge at him, Xia Zhi tightened his grip on the saber. A cold glint flashed through his eyes as all the power in his body erupted, flowing directly into the arm holding the blade.

Without dodging in the slightest, he chopped straight down at the charging Iron-Haired Wild Boar's head.

Nearly four thousand kilograms of force allowed the sharp battle saber to cleave through without resistance.

Splurt!

The Iron-Haired Wild Boar's entire body was split in two. Its severed halves flew past Xia Zhi on either side due to inertia.

Because the battle saber had moved fast enough, blood did not spray out until the split body hit the ground.

Xia Zhi sheathed his saber and turned around. Looking at the corpse behind him that was still spurting blood, he unexpectedly felt a little excited.

Earth in his previous life had also been an orderly world. Even as a mercenary, he had not had many opportunities to participate in slaughter.

In this life, all killing was absolutely forbidden within the base city. This was the first time Xia Zhi's current body had ever killed.

Being able to kill monsters so freely made Xia Zhi, who had always craved powerful strength, feel immensely exhilarated.

This was the life a Warrior should live. Cultivating powerful strength was meant for battle.

"I got a little excited just now and used my full strength."

After his excitement subsided, Xia Zhi began reflecting.

"My physical strength is too high right now. Fighting like this serves no purpose as training."

"From now on, I'll limit my strength to one thousand kilograms and use Beginner Warrior level strength to train myself."

Using strength close to High-level Warrior level to deal with an H-class Iron-Haired Wild Boar that was merely at Beginner Warrior level was simply bullying it. They were not on the same level at all.

From now on, Xia Zhi would suppress his strength until both sides were roughly equal. Only then would it serve as proper training.

After all, he could not possibly encounter monsters a full level weaker than himself in every battle.

"Now then, let the slaughter begin!"

Time slowly passed as the 1,742 Quasi-Warriors experienced one bloody battle after another in every corner of Monster Town!

Those confident in their strength chose to fight and explore alone.

Those worried about the risks chose to form teams and fight alongside people they knew.

Although the H-class monsters in the town were roughly comparable in strength to the Quasi-Warriors,

humans possessed one advantage: intelligence!

The weakest H-class monsters had little intelligence, possessing only animal instincts.

Throughout the frenzied night, the slaughter continued without end.

Some Quasi-Warriors were injured during their first battle with monsters and could only press the button on their communication watches to call for help, choosing to end their assessments;

some Quasi-Warriors killed monsters but turned pale with fright afterward, their hearts shaken by the experience;

and some formidable Quasi-Warriors became excited and frenzied after killing monsters, just like Xia Zhi, filled with exhilaration!

This night was destined to be an extraordinary one.