Combat Strength Test Begins

Over the next few days, Han Jiang's life at the academy settled into a routine.

During training classes, he asked Mei for guidance on Hokushin Itto-ryu, and his affinity with the trio gradually increased.

Kiana's affinity rose the fastest, reaching 40 points.

Besides Han Jiang's easygoing personality, there was also the camaraderie of being "comrades in the same trench" after failing some of the same subjects.

Mei's affinity rose steadily. It was nowhere near as dramatic as Kiana's, but it had still reached 20 points.

Bronya's affinity increased the slowest, climbing point by point and hovering around 10.

Aside from the three of them, Han Jiang spent his free time asking Fu Hua for martial arts instruction, though her affinity rose very slowly.

Only after he mastered a designated movement or the opening stance of a fist technique would Fu Hua's affinity increase a little. It seemed she was training Han Jiang as a disciple.

Thanks to his good classroom performance, Himeko's affinity had also risen above 10 points.

The hardest one to win over was Joyce, Welt's alias at St. Freya High School.

Joyce was the history teacher of Han Jiang's class. On the day Han Jiang's quiz results came out, his affinity directly dropped to 2 points.

Han Jiang spent a full three days raising Joyce's affinity to 5 points. As for when he would learn Understanding Replication, he had no idea.

Monday arrived quickly. It was the day the students received their custom-made armor, as well as the day for the most important combat strength and combat role assessment since enrollment.

After morning classes, Himeko had already handed the armor out to every student.

Han Jiang received a Battlegear primarily colored black. It was precisely the Battlegear he had designed together with Kiana and the others that afternoon.

The armor was powered by Honkai Energy and came with a complete communications system, much like a portable computer.

After lunch, Han Jiang returned to his dorm and changed into the Battlegear. A new notification sounded from the system.

"Ding: Detected that the host is wearing armor. Stigmata: Hundred Refinements is beginning compression."

Domain Gear and armor were the same thing, merely called by different names.

Han Jiang's Hundred Refinements was only D-rank armor, and after the system loaded it, there was no visible change to its appearance at all.

Now that Han Jiang had new armor, the system issued an alert, and Stigmata: Hundred Refinements began to change.

The alarm continued for thirty seconds. Hundred Refinements transformed into a system resembling a computer plug-in and was directly loaded onto the armor issued by the academy.

"Domain Gear will subsequently form a system plug-in, attaching itself to physical armor to increase the host's combat strength."

Han Jiang studied it for a while and finally understood the Domain Gear the system had given him at the beginning.

Simply put, other people wore one set of armor, while Han Jiang wore two.

Moreover, both sets could activate their enhancements at the same time, stacking together without any drawbacks.

At two in the afternoon, all of Class 1-3 had assembled at the training ground in full armor.

The testing site was the Indoor Training Hall at the northwest corner of the training ground. Its equipment was nearly on par with the instruments St. Freya used specifically for Valkyrie rank assessments.

The Indoor Training Hall covered roughly three hundred square meters and was filled with futuristic-looking equipment.

The testing apparatus was an enormous computer with ten separate pods in front of it.

According to Himeko, the machine was connected to the Schicksal Database and had highly precise scanners capable of accurately calculating each student's specific data.

"Isn't this supposed to be actual combat?" someone asked as Himeko explained the equipment.

Himeko pointed at the machine behind the students and said, "To make sure none of you get hurt, you'll be connected to the Schicksal Database. It will generate difficult situations suited to your individual combat strength. Although they're all virtual data, don't let your guard down.

"The Schicksal Database contains the most comprehensive Deadwalker data. It can perfectly simulate the strength and habits of Deadwalkers.

"At the same time, it can scan each individual's precise combat strength. Fighting here is no different from fighting outside."

After Himeko finished explaining how to use it, she pointed at Han Jiang. "As the only male student in the class, take the lead. You'll go first."

Han Jiang nodded and walked up to the machine, connecting his Battlegear according to the instructions.

After putting on his helmet, a mechanical voice sounded beside his ear.

"Connection beginning!"

The next moment, Han Jiang was standing in a void, with the system's mechanical voice echoing around him.

"The 2014 Valkyrie combat strength and combat role assessment now begins. Please select your preferred weapon."

Following the instructions, Han Jiang chose a Tachi and pressed confirm.

"Combat scenario simulation beginning. The test will begin once the countdown ends. Please prepare yourself."

"...3, 2, 1, begin!"

As the countdown ended, Han Jiang appeared in a city of ruins.

Whether it was the flames burning in the distance or the feel and weight of the Tachi in his hand, Han Jiang felt no difference from reality.

To further confirm whether this place was really the same as the real world, Han Jiang bit his tongue.

"Damn!" Han Jiang cried out in pain, marveling at how impressive Schicksal's technology was.

Soon, ten Basic Deadwalkers holding scythes emerged from the ruins before Han Jiang and began attacking him.

Han Jiang did not dare let his guard down. He gripped his Tachi tightly and began killing the Deadwalkers.

Hokushin Itto-ryu was more familiar in Han Jiang's hands now, and with the armor's enhancement, dealing with these Deadwalkers was not difficult.

Han Jiang quickly dealt with all ten Deadwalkers. Then, a mechanical voice and a countdown appeared in the sky.

"The student has preliminarily passed the test. The next stage will begin. The testing area will expand to encompass the entire ruined city. Please do your best to survive!"

While the system counted down, Han Jiang was restrained in place and unable to move. Once the voice ended, the restriction on his movements vanished.

At the same time Han Jiang regained the ability to move, more and more Deadwalkers emerged from the ruins.

Without hesitation, Han Jiang raised his blade and charged in.

Outside, everyone could only see Han Jiang standing inside the pod with his eyes closed, not moving at all.

"The apparatus records every piece of data from the assessment. And where there's an assessment, there's naturally a ranking. Earlier, a certain genius girl claimed she was the practical-combat type. Today, she can prove it to everyone." As Himeko spoke, her gaze had already turned toward Kiana.

"Hehe, Auntie Himeko, just watch. This young lady's strength will definitely make your jaw drop." Kiana walked with a smug grin toward the pod beside Han Jiang's and began connecting her data.

Inside the database, Han Jiang, who had just been cutting down enemies left and right, had begun fleeing. A large group of Deadwalkers chased after him.

Among them were two special Deadwalkers, both noticeably taller than the others.

These two were a Loyal Ninja-type Schicksal Soldier and an Obedient Ninja-type Schicksal Soldier—the White Dual-blade and Black Dual-blade Deadwalkers players spoke of.

The appearance of the two Dual-wielding Schicksal Soldiers broke Han Jiang's unstoppable momentum. To escape the Deadwalker horde, Han Jiang even took a hit from the White Dual-blade, leaving his arm injured and bleeding.