Strength

Even with various medications and auxiliary equipment allowed, only a handful of high school students can run under 10 seconds. The class monitor's time shattered the school's 100-meter record.

After the 100-meter sprint, there was still the 900-meter long-distance run.

She didn't maintain her exaggerated running form from before, immediately returning to a normal running posture.

Clearly, even with the support of the investigator's uniform, her body couldn't sustain that state for long; the burden was immense.

The run ended.

The class monitor broke both school records, exciting the teaching staff. If such results could be brought to the college entrance examination, it might draw attention to the school and increase the reputation of Fourth High.

On the grass, The class monitor was gasping for air, her breathing even more ragged than when she participated in past simulations or faced the Spider Woman in the resettlement area.

It was as if every inch of her body had been wrung dry.

"The class monitor seems a bit off... I've never seen her this exhausted."

Gao Yuxuan immediately noticed the problem and quickly shoved a bottle of mineral water into Luo Di's hand.

He accepted the task readily and went to offer the water to the class monitor.

When the mineral water was offered, the class monitor merely maintained her pose, leaning back and supporting herself on the ground, lacking even the strength to lift her hand. She even felt unable to speak, only able to open her mouth and emit a faint sound.

It was clear she wanted Luo Di to help her drink the water.

Due to breaking the record, The class monitor was the center of attention, not just from her classmates but also from other classes.

Everyone was watching this scene.

However, Luo Di never cared about others' gazes. He could feel that the class monitor wasn't faking it but was genuinely out of energy, possibly even in mortal danger.

He quickly unscrewed the cap and held it near the class monitor's slightly protruding tongue, allowing the liquid to slowly flow in.

As her throat worked, the class monitor gradually began to recover.

But then, she immediately showed a pained expression, grabbing her right calf as if she had a cramp. She quickly gestured with her eyes to Luo Di, hoping he would help massage her calf.

Unexpectedly, Luo Di directly grabbed the sole of the class monitor's shoe and applied strong pressure to her foot. In his opinion, this was the best way to deal with a cramp.

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

"Hoo... I wanted to test the limits of this outfit working with my body, and I almost killed myself."

"Is this the investigator's simplified combat uniform?"

Luo Di could finally observe the outfit up close.

Before, it looked like ordinary, form-fitting sportswear. Now, he could clearly see very fine, bundled lines, resembling muscle fibers.

"That's right, this thing is priceless. Fortunately, my body barely passed the requirements, otherwise even wearing it would be difficult. For today's exam, I spent over ten days at home doing related stress-training.

Otherwise, I might have collapsed after just the hundred meters."

"What specific functions does it have?"

"Muscle assistance, nerve support, complementing your physical body.

A sufficiently strong body can unleash more of the outfit's effects, and the outfit can, in turn, support your body, pushing you closer to your so-called 'limits.'

I won't be using this outfit for the subsequent Strength Test; I'll rest a bit and use it for the final Combat Test.

Speaking of which, the Investigation Bureau is really stingy; they should have given you one too."

"It's fine," Luo Di said indifferently. The changes to his Zombie Blade had already satisfied him greatly.

Gao Yuxuan's voice came from the side: "Are you two done chatting? Why don't you come over for some vitamins and then head to the Strength Test area to wait."

"Xiao Gao, don't rush~ Let me rest a bit longer."

"Why don't you have Luo Di carry you over? Drinking some supplements will speed up your recovery, and that outfit really takes a toll on your body."

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

In his view, Xiao Gao's suggestion was correct, and the class monitor's current state indeed required assistance.

He easily hoisted her onto his back and walked towards the gymnasium under the watchful eyes of the teachers and students on the entire track and field.

[Strength Test]

Inside the gymnasium, rows of "Boxing Machines" with moving targets clearly indicated the nature of the test.

Students were required to throw ten punches within twenty seconds, hitting a randomly moving target.

The final score would be based on the power and accuracy of each punch (kicking was also allowed as a substitute for punching).

This was not just a test of strength, but a comprehensive assessment of explosiveness, accuracy, and endurance.

There were no weight or gender divisions for this test.

After all, upon graduation, they would most likely have to face various Imposters, who wouldn't differentiate based on physique or gender.

This was also why there were almost no "thin" individuals at the school; Teacher Guo, who had supervised the exams before, was a very rare example of a thin person.

The class monitor's figure might have appeared relatively slender, but her shapely, well-defined thighs and calves were the result of countless days and nights of training.

Leaning back on the lounge chair, the class monitor seemed to still be recovering. She had already asked the teacher to adjust her schedule so she could participate in the Strength Test last.

The class monitor turned her head. "Luo Di, you seem to be in great shape today. I could tell during the run earlier. Think you can get first place in the Strength Test this time?"

"Difficult."

"Is it because of him?"

Following the class monitor's gaze, a high school student even more imposing than Anna came into view. He was nearly two meters one tall, with muscles so exaggerated they seemed beyond the scope of a student.

This person's physique occupied the space of three seats, and he was currently rapidly swallowing various pills.

[Senior Year, Class 10 - Cheng Hao]

He was ranked first in the overall Physical Education scores, and no one had challenged his position since the start of the semester.

As if sensing the attention, Cheng Hao, who looked almost thirty, turned his head to look at the class monitor and the others. When he saw Luo Di, he nodded in greeting.

The Strength Test quickly came to Class 5.

Luo Di stepped onto the stage.

His extreme focus caused him to unconsciously make a clicking tongue sound. With that sound, he instinctively threw his first punch.

For some reason, perhaps it was the actual combat with the Imposters during winter break, perhaps it was the slight influence of his jiangshi transformation, or perhaps it was some internal change he was unaware of.

Luo Di could clearly feel that while his strength hadn't increased significantly, the coordination throughout his entire body had improved.

He could distinctly feel every inch of his flesh exerting force; this kind of coordination would have been difficult to achieve before. Moreover, as he continued to punch, he felt subtle changes in his body.

His focus shifted from his punching arm to his spine.

"The effect of actual combat?"

Luo Di completed the preceding nine precise punches in fifteen seconds, each one hitting perfectly with full force.

He wasn't rushed in the final five seconds.

He stepped back, using the elasticity of his waist and abdomen to lean back significantly, and his final punch was no longer a jab but a wide, arcing Russian hook.

His clenched fist seemed to grip an invisible saber, and the boxing machine before him appeared to transform into a dark Imposter, into the ferocious, cackling Spider Woman from that rainy night.

Perhaps due to his intense focus, or perhaps lost in memory, the image of that Hellish symbol suddenly appeared in Luo Di's mind.

Boom!

A deafening sound echoed through the gymnasium.

The metal bracket connecting to the moving target was bent directly, and the boxing machine activated its protective measures and stopped operating.

Hoo... He took a deep breath.

Luo Di ignored the gazes from around the gymnasium, simply walking back to his previous resting spot.

When he sat down, he startled both the class monitor and Xiao Gao beside him.

His blood-red pupils were exactly the same as the photo provided by the Investigation Bureau, and he could even feel a palpable killing intent emanating from him.

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

As the class monitor's concerned question registered, Luo Di snapped back to reality. The bloodshot veins covering his eyeballs quickly receded.

"I'm fine."

The class monitor quickly reached out and patted his shoulder, gently rubbing it with her fingers. "That last punch was insane. Without any drugs or equipment, you actually have a chance to aim for first place this time."

"Yeah, I'll try."

The Strength Test continued.

Gao Yuxuan had clearly studied martial arts, using the protruding knuckles of his middle fingers for precise strikes. Coupled with the push-up competitions he'd been having with Luo Di during breaks for the past six months, he achieved a better result than ever before.

As for the class monitor, even without activating the functions of her uniform, her Strength Test performance was not bad.

Out of ten strikes, she only used punches three times; the rest were all perfectly executed kicks.

Those legs, capable of breaking speed records, could also deliver various high-difficulty kicks. The power in her legs inherently surpassed that of her arms, perfectly compensating for the strength difference.

In terms of visual appeal, the class monitor was undoubtedly the best.

She not only attracted the attention of many male students but also had many girls discussing her in groups.

Gao Yuxuan looked at the returning class monitor and gave her a thumbs-up. "If your body could adapt to the investigator uniform for extended periods, you'd probably be able to contend for first place too."

"I'll be satisfied if I can just endure the 100-meter sprint. I just hope my body can hold up for the final Combat Test."

They continued to wait for the other classes' tests.

Boom! A loud noise echoed.

The strength testing device was hit so hard it was nearly ripped from its ground anchoring, the degree of its deformation even more exaggerated than Luo Di's punch.

The one testing was Cheng Hao, the top student in the grade.

The class monitor commented in a low voice, "This monster has too much talent. His bone structure, muscle mass, and drug resistance are all maxed out. Even in the First Middle School, he'd be considered a monster."

"Are there stronger people in the First Middle School?" Luo Di rarely took the initiative to ask a question.

"Yes, beyond imagination. After all, everyone's resources are different. Those guys can even make slight changes to their talents. However, Luo Di, you're the most interesting."

Gao Yuxuan, standing nearby, seemed to catch a scent and deliberately moved a bit further away.

The strength assessment concluded.

Next up was the most flexible assessment, the combat assessment, which was Actual Combat.

Of course, with so many students in the school, actual combat couldn't be arranged like "simulated practice" against anomalies.

The combat opponents for everyone would be the physical education teachers.

Physical education teachers were considered "treasures" by any school.

Most of them were outstanding graduates from the past, having done "dirty work" for various companies for many years. A very small number had even had the chance to intern at the Investigation Bureau before leaving due to insufficient ability or physical injury.

They enjoyed the highest teaching subsidies and teacher status. Besides being physical education teachers, they also held another identity: the core combat power of the school's security department.

If any unexpected situation occurred on campus, the physical education teachers would be the first to suppress it.

The upcoming combat assessment would be arranged with five-person teams fighting against a teacher, with scores given based on the actual combat performance.

The class monitor was separated and grouped with the other four students from the same class.

Luo Di and Gao Yuxuan were in one group.

And their opponent would be the class homeroom teacher and physical education teacher – Ruan Zhijun.

A middle-aged man who mostly wore a camouflage military uniform, with an unchanging buzz cut and bronze-colored skin.

Ruan Zhijun was not a local. He was an immigrant sent from Huaxia as a soldier. Two years ago, he obtained a Level 1 Teacher certificate and held a high position in the entire Fourth Middle School.

Additionally, The combat assessment not only allowed no restrictions on drugs and clothing but also permitted the use of melee weapons.

Furthermore, using weapons would not deduct points like drugs or external equipment. The school and society as a whole encouraged students to use weapons, as mastering the skill of armed combat allowed for more effective confrontation when facing Imposters.

Of course, the teachers testing would also use them.