Soraka Town No. 777

This week, not a single member could last ten moves against Du Feng.

Zhou Kai went up to try as well.

Du Feng's strikes were heavy and precise. As a newcomer who had never undergone a day of proper training, Zhou Kai was defeated after failing to block even one move. Lu Yan was no different.

Chen Ping's face darkened further. Standing before the group, he scolded them a few more times and urged the members to train diligently, but it had little effect.

Most of the members looked indifferent. Some even whispered among themselves and sneered.

"What's the point of building all those muscles? Can they stop bullets?"

"He's taught for so long, yet barely anyone has even gotten started. This might just be another money-grabbing scam..."

Zhou Kai turned a deaf ear to their chatter.

I might never run into bullets, but fists and claws? I see those every day.

He had already been interested in fighting. Now that he had heard of two secret martial arts, that small interest had turned into an obsession with obtaining them.

He was different from those people living peaceful lives.

A life-threatening crisis hung over his head, forcing him to grow stronger.

He could not get guns or cannons, but martial arts were the only path open to him.

The trainee assessment lasted less than half an hour. It came suddenly and ended just as hastily.

No one passed.

But Zhou Kai gave himself a dead-serious order: I have to pass!

Under the alternating guidance of Coach Chen Ping and several trainees, the day's lessons soon came to an end.

Perhaps because there were many people attending trial classes today, Chen Ping did not fob them off with basic techniques. For once, he taught several practical moves.

The members were fired up, their faces flushed with excitement.

They had finally learned something real!

Their money had not been wasted!

Fine sweat mixed with foundation shimmered on Lu Yan's neck. She nudged Zhou Kai with her elbow. "Your big sister's got decent talent, right? As long as I can learn useful stuff every day, next week... no, the week after next, I'll definitely become an official member!"

"Then Sister Yan can give you some private lessons. How about it?"

Zhou Kai tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Then thanks in advance."

He looked thoroughly uninterested and did not believe her at all, but Lu Yan clearly failed to notice.

With dopamine from exercise pumping through her, she had no time to read his expression.

"Keep it up! If there's anything you don't understand later, I'll teach you!"

Seeing Zhou Kai's thick long hoodie, Lu Yan rose onto her toes and patted his shoulder twice. Then, swinging her ponytail, she headed over to the official members.

Zhou Kai did not follow. He walked to the rest area, poured himself a cup of electrolyte water, and looked at his panel while enduring the dizziness from pushing himself to the limit.

His physical foundation was too poor. High-intensity training was still too much for him.

A line of text remained on one side of the panel.

[You have mimicked the key movements from a Memory Fragment.]

[You have learned the skill: Comprehensive Combat]

"Finally!"

The level-zero Comprehensive Combat skill appeared on his panel, permanently unlocked.

If he wanted to, he could pour universal experience into it at any time and raise it to level one, becoming the standout among these members.

But Zhou Kai did not do that.

Precious universal experience had to be spent where it mattered most.

For now, he could at least gain dedicated experience through practice.

After resting quietly for a while, he found an open space and began training alone.

Power generation techniques, minute adjustments to his footwork—any one variable could produce vastly different results.

Now, his memories and muscle memory seemed to have solidified as well. He would no longer forget or regress.

Three hours after Coach Chen Ping finished teaching, Zhou Kai could still imitate his movements seventy to eighty percent accurately. Through repeated practice, they had even become smoother...

[You have completed a skill practice session. Comprehensive Combat experience +1]

[Comprehensive Combat lv0 → lv1]

Perhaps because of the skill's complexity and his physical condition, Comprehensive Combat gained experience nearly ten times slower than Light Footwork.

But he could still gain experience through practice.

Huff...

Zhou Kai let out a long breath, and his spirits lifted.

Just one point of experience had brought a noticeable change.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Zhou Kai leaned slightly forward, his right fist flashing like lightning as he jabbed twice at the air before him.

The awkward popping in his joints and muscles was gone.

Those two punches were steady and vicious.

At least when it came to exerting force, his body had begun to adapt.

"Not a single one worth taking in this week?" A lean man with a goatee stood beside Chen Ping with his arms folded.

Chen Ping shook his head. "Not many from the last batch were serious, and they were all older too... Let's see about the newcomers."

"Summer vacation is coming soon. Some students should show up."

The goateed man suddenly lifted his chin, signaling Chen Ping to look toward the corner. "I haven't seen that one before. A newcomer? His punches look pretty decent."

Once Chen Ping recognized Zhou Kai, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

How had this kid improved so quickly?

Had I misjudged him?

Chen Ping frowned, intending to remain skeptical. "I just taught him those moves step by step. Maybe he simply hasn't forgotten them yet..."

"His physical foundation is too weak, and he's already an adult. We'll see whether he can stick with it. If he trains like this, he might have a chance in two months."

The goateed man nodded. "He is indeed a little old."

"Besides, two months from now, it'll already be autumn. He'll miss it... There's no point."

After glancing at Zhou Kai a few times, the two stopped paying attention to him.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Late at night, Zhou Kai checked his panel.

[Character: Zhou Kai]

[Status: Erosion]

[Skills: Comprehensive Combat lv1 (7/15), Light Footwork lv2 (2/25), Occultism lv0]

[Items: Residence Permit, Blood-Stained Axe, Rusted Chef Knife, Morning Star Notes]

[Universal Experience: 8]

[Erosion Progress: 4/9] (Please avoid death!)

After three days, the weakness in his body had finally disappeared.

He had not neglected either combat or footwork, and both had improved considerably.

Comprehensive Combat had gained seven experience points, while Light Footwork had directly risen by one level.

Of course, gaining experience became slower after leveling up.

"Compared to three days ago, I'm more than just a little stronger." Zhou Kai clenched his fist, feeling the strength swelling through his arm muscles. The unease in his heart eased somewhat.

Four days from now would be the day he was forcibly dragged into the Nightmare.

But he had no intention of passively waiting for death.

He decided to take the initiative!

Once he had the ability to face risks, dangerous situations were also opportunities.

Zhou Kai took a deep breath and waited for time to pass.

Hide?

I can't hide from it.

Better to dive into the sea myself. The bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish.

At the instant the hands of the clock were about to overlap—

Zhou Kai dumped all eight points of universal experience into Comprehensive Combat and softly muttered, "Load!"

Amid an indescribable sensation, his soul and consciousness were abruptly torn free, falling into a cold, deep abyss.

When Zhou Kai opened his eyes again in the rotten air, the Oil Lamp was still flickering.

The surroundings were dim and dilapidated, permeated by despair cold enough to freeze the soul.

[Welcome back, Summoned.]

[No. 777, Soraka Town, will always be your safest harbor.]

On the Fireplace, a line of text slowly appeared, glowing like dying embers. Then it silently drifted away and returned to stillness.