His steps were unhurried, his aura restrained.
This stood in stark contrast to Kains Radiance's dazzling brilliance.
He calmly stepped into the device, and the metal door closed soundlessly.
The runes on the device's surface lit up once more and began operating.
One second—two seconds—three seconds—
Time seemed to stretch on.
At first, no one paid it any mind, assuming it was merely a routine procedure.
Yet ten seconds passed, then twenty—the device's glow not only failed to fade, but grew brighter and brighter.
The dark silver runes flickered violently as though breathing, and an incredibly faint hum of energy even came from within the machine.
This abnormality was completely different from everyone's previous tests.
Just as everyone began to feel puzzled—
Buzz!
The device's light abruptly reached its peak, then receded in an instant like the ebbing tide.
The metal door slowly opened.
Everyone's gaze, either unconsciously or with doubt, turned toward the device's display.
A number was clearly displayed there: "Bone Age: 40."
Then, as though confirming this unbelievable result, an icy mechanical synthesized voice rang over the silent square: "Bone Age: 40. Rating: Exceptional!"
Dead silence!
Absolute dead silence!
It was as though time had completely stopped flowing at that moment.
Everyone's movements, expressions, even their breathing, froze.
Shock, envy, calmness, disdain—all the emotions on their faces were instantly overwhelmed and shattered by a terror called "disbelief"!
Pato Ironscale reacted the most violently.
The smugness and superiority on his face shattered like fragile glass.
He abruptly widened his scale-covered eyes, his mouth unconsciously falling open wide enough to fit a fist inside.
A rasping "Hah—hah—" came from his throat, as if someone had seized him by the neck.
He stared fixedly at the "40" on the screen, then violently turned to look at Li Wen by the