Strength

Even with various drugs and supportive equipment allowed, very few high school students could run the 100 meters in under ten seconds. The class monitor had directly broken the school's 100-meter record.

After the 100-meter sprint ended, there were still another 900 meters of long-distance running left.

She did not maintain her exaggerated running form from before, immediately returning to a normal posture instead.

Clearly, even with the support of the Investigator uniform, her body could not sustain that state for long. The strain was immense.

The run ended.

The class monitor had broken two school records. The teaching staff was thrilled by such results. If she could bring those scores into the entrance examinations, the school might draw the attention of higher authorities and raise Fourth Middle School's profile.

On the grass.

The class monitor was gasping heavily. She was breathing even harder than when she had participated in field practice or faced the Spider Woman in the resettlement district.

It was as though every inch of her body had been drained dry.

"Something's off with the class monitor... I've never seen her this exhausted."

Gao Yuxuan spotted the problem at once and hurriedly stuffed a bottle of mineral water into Luo Di's hands.

Luo Di readily accepted the task and took the water over to the class monitor.

When he brought the water over, the class monitor could only remain leaned back with her hands braced against the ground. She did not even have the strength to raise an arm, and she seemed unable to speak. All she could do was open her mouth and make faint sounds.

Clearly, she wanted Luo Di to help feed her the water.

Because she had broken the record.

The class monitor was drawing plenty of attention. It was not just students from their own class, but students from other classes as well.

Everyone was watching this scene.

However, Luo Di had never cared about other people's eyes. He could tell that the class monitor was not pretending. She genuinely had no strength left and might even be in danger of losing her life.

He quickly unscrewed the cap and held the bottle against the tip of her slightly extended tongue, allowing the water to slowly flow into her mouth.

Only as her throat moved did the class monitor gradually begin to recover.

But then her face twisted in discomfort, and she grabbed her right calf. It seemed she had gotten a cramp. She hurriedly signaled to Luo Di with her eyes, hoping he could massage her calf.

Unexpectedly, Luo Di directly grabbed the sole of her shoe and began firmly pressing the bottom of her foot. In his view, this was the best way to deal with cramps.

The symptoms gradually eased, and the class monitor finally recovered.

"Whew... I wanted to test the limits of this outfit working together with my body. I almost killed myself."

"So this is an Investigator's basic combat uniform?"

Luo Di was finally able to closely examine the outfit.

At a glance before, it had looked like an ordinary tight-fitting tracksuit. Now, he could clearly see the extremely delicate bundled lines, like individual muscle fibers.

"That's right. You can't buy this thing with money. Luckily, my body barely met the requirements. Otherwise, even putting it on would have been difficult. I've been doing relevant pressure-resistance training at home for the past ten-plus days for today's exams.

"Otherwise, I might not have lasted even 100 meters."

"What exactly can it do?"

"Muscle assistance, neural support, working in tandem with your body.

"The stronger your body is, the more of the uniform's effects you can bring out. In turn, the uniform supports your body and brings you closer to the so-called 'limit.'

"I won't use it for the upcoming Strength Test. I'll rest a little, then use it again for the final Combat Test.

"Honestly, the Investigation Bureau is so stingy. They should have given you one too."

"It doesn't matter." Luo Di was unconcerned. The changes to the Zombie Blade had already satisfied him greatly.

Gao Yuxuan's voice came from the side. "Are you two done talking? How about coming over for some vitamin supplements, then heading to the Strength Test area to wait in advance?"

"Xiao Gao, don't rush me~ Let me recover a little longer."

"Why not have Luo Di carry you over? Some supplements will help you recover faster. That outfit of yours is really hard on your body."

Before the class monitor could respond, Luo Di had already crouched down beside her.

In his view, Xiao Gao was right, and the class monitor's current condition truly required help.

He easily carried her on his back and walked toward the gymnasium under the gazes of the teachers and students across the Athletics Field.

Strength Test

The rows of punching machines inside the gymnasium, each equipped with a moving target, made the testing method obvious.

Students were required to throw ten consecutive strikes within twenty seconds, hitting randomly moving targets.

The final score would be determined by the power and accuracy of every strike. Kicks could also be used in place of punches.

It tested not only strength, but also explosiveness, accuracy, and endurance.

There were no weight classes or gender distinctions in this test.

After all, after graduation, everyone would likely have to face various Pseudo-Humans. Those things would not treat them differently because of their build or gender.

That was why there was hardly anyone at the school who could be described as skinny. Teacher Guo, who had previously served as an invigilator, was an exceptionally rare skinny person.

Though the class monitor looked relatively slender, her shapely calves and thighs were full of firm flesh. No one knew how many days and nights of training had forged them.

Resting against a reclining chair, the class monitor still seemed not to have fully recovered. She had already asked the teacher to let her take the Strength Test last.

The class monitor turned her head. "Luo Di, you seem to be in great condition today. I could tell from the run earlier. Can you take first place in the grade for this strength event?"

"Hard."

"Because of that guy?"

Following the direction she pointed, Luo Di saw a high school student even more imposing than Anna, nearly 2.1 meters tall. His exaggerated muscles completely exceeded the scope of an ordinary student.

His body occupied the space of three seats, and he was currently swallowing various pills at a rapid pace.

Class 10, Year Three—Cheng Hao.

First in the grade for overall athletic performance, a position no one had shaken since the beginning of the school year.

As though sensing their stares, Cheng Hao, who looked nearly thirty years old, turned his head toward the class monitor and the others. When he saw Luo Di, he nodded in greeting.

It was soon Class Five's turn for the Strength Test.

Luo Di stepped up.

His extreme focus made him unconsciously click his tongue. With that sound, he instinctively threw his first punch.

For some reason.

Perhaps it was the real combat against Pseudo-Humans during winter break. Perhaps it was the slight influence of Zombie Transformation. Or perhaps it was some internal change he did not yet understand.

Luo Di could clearly feel that although his strength had not increased by much, his whole body had become more coordinated.

He could clearly sense every inch of his body exerting force. That kind of coordination had been difficult to achieve in the past. Moreover, as he continued throwing punches, he could feel subtle changes in his body.

The focus of his entire body gradually shifted from the arm throwing the punches to his spine.

"Was it the effect of real combat?"

Luo Di completed the first nine accurate strikes in fifteen seconds. Every punch landed perfectly and carried immense power.

He was in no hurry during the final five seconds.

He stepped back.

Using the elasticity of his waist and abdomen, he leaned his body far back.

His final punch was no longer a jab, but a Russian hook with a huge arc as he swung his arm.

His clenched fist seemed to grip an invisible machete. The punching machine before him seemed to turn into a pitch-black Pseudo-Human, into the grotesquely laughing Spider Woman from that rainy night.

Perhaps he was too focused.

Perhaps he had sunk into the memory.

The Hell Symbol suddenly surfaced in Luo Di's mind.

Boom!

A deafening crash echoed through the gymnasium.

The metal support connected to the moving target was bent directly out of shape, and the punching machine activated its safety measures and stopped operating.

Huff... He took a deep breath.

Luo Di ignored the gazes directed at him from around the gymnasium and silently returned to his previous resting spot.

When he sat down, he gave the class monitor and Xiao Gao beside him a fright.

His blood-red pupils were exactly like the photograph provided by the Investigation Bureau. They could even feel a palpable killing intent.

"Red Vein Through Eye... Luo Di, are you okay?"

Only after the class monitor's concerned question did Luo Di come back to himself. The bloodshot veins filling his eyes soon faded away.

"I'm fine."

The class monitor hurriedly patted his shoulder and gently rubbed it with her fingers. "That last punch was insane. No drugs, no equipment—you really have a chance of challenging for first place in the grade this time."

"Yeah. I'll try."

The Strength Test continued.

Gao Yuxuan appeared to have specifically studied martial arts. He delivered precise strikes with the protruding middle-knuckle joints of his fists. Combined with the push-up grind he had joined Luo Di in during every break over the past half year, he achieved a better result than ever this time.

As for the class monitor, although she did not activate the uniform's functions, her Strength Test results were not bad at all.

Of her ten strikes, she used punches only three times. The rest were perfectly executed kicks delivered in smooth succession.

Those legs that could break speed records could also unleash all kinds of difficult kicks. Leg strength naturally surpassed arm strength, perfectly making up for the difference.

In terms of spectacle, the class monitor was definitely the best.

She attracted not only a large audience of boys, but many girls had also gathered in groups to discuss her.

Gao Yuxuan gave the returning class monitor a thumbs-up. "If your body could stay compatible with the Investigator uniform for a long time, you could probably challenge for first too."

"I'm already satisfied if I can handle the 100-meter sprint. I only hope my body can barely hold up for the final combat assessment."

They continued waiting for the other classes to finish their tests.

Boom! Another tremendous crash rang out.

The Strength Test machine was struck so hard that it nearly came loose from its floor mount. The degree of bending was even more exaggerated than Luo Di's punch.

The one taking the test was Cheng Hao, first in the grade.

The class monitor commented in a low voice, "That monster is absurdly gifted. His skeletal frame, muscle mass, and drug tolerance are all maxed out. Even at First Middle School, he would be a monster-class existence."

"Are there people even stronger at First Middle School?" Luo Di rarely took the initiative to ask questions.

"There are. Stronger than you can imagine. After all, everyone's resources are different. Those people can even make minor alterations to their talents. Still, Luo Di, you're the most interesting."

Gao Yuxuan, standing nearby, seemed to smell something in the air and quietly moved a little farther away.

The Strength Test ended there.

Next came the Combat Test, the assessment with the greatest degree of freedom: practical combat.

Of course, with so many students in the school, it was impossible for practical combat to involve abnormal entities like the "simulated practice" exercises did.

The students' combat opponents would be the PE teachers.

PE teachers were considered "treasures" by every school.

Most of them had been outstanding graduates in the past, having spent years doing all kinds of dirty work for various companies. A very small number had even been fortunate enough to intern at the Investigation Bureau, only to leave due to insufficient ability or physical injuries.

They enjoyed the highest teaching subsidies and teacher status. Besides being PE teachers, they held another identity: the core combat force of the school security department.

If an incident occurred on campus, the PE teachers would suppress it immediately.

The upcoming Combat Test would have groups of five students facing a teacher, with scores based on their actual performance in the fight.

The class monitor was placed in a separate group with four other classmates.

Luo Di and Gao Yuxuan were in the same group.

Their opponent would be their homeroom teacher and PE instructor, Ruan Zhijun.

A middle-aged man who wore camouflage military fatigues most of the time, with an unchanging buzz cut and bronze-colored skin.

Ruan Zhijun was not a local. He was an immigrant sent from Huaxia Nation as a soldier. He had obtained his Level One Teacher certification two years ago and held considerable status throughout Fourth Middle School.

Additionally.

Besides allowing unrestricted drugs and clothing, the Combat Test also permitted close-combat weapons.

Moreover, using weapons would not deduct points like drugs and external equipment did. The school and society as a whole encouraged students to use weapons. Mastering armed combat techniques would allow them to fight Pseudo-Humans more effectively.

Naturally, the teachers acting as testers would use weapons as well.