But they did not know that beyond that barrier, twelve million people were standing in line, waiting to become the blade that would kill them.
Twelve million applications.
The number weighed on everyone at the Demon Hunter Guild headquarters like an invisible boulder.
The technical department expanded the servers three times overnight, barely withstanding the flood of submissions that poured in during the final hour before the deadline.
The logistics department spent a full twelve hours calculating the approximate number of testing grounds, personnel, and supplies required.
On the day the final figures came out, Renault stared at the number "12374691" on the screen and remained silent for a long time.
"The total number of registered Demon Hunters worldwide is less than three hundred thousand." His voice drifted slightly. "Where did the other ten million-plus... come from?"
Wu Heng stood beside him, looking at the number as well.
"From the ruins."
The selection plan was finalized six hours after the deadline.
Four rounds of testing.
The first three rounds were preliminary screenings, while the final round was the official trial. Each round had an elimination rate of over ninety percent, leaving ten people after all four rounds.
First round: physical fitness test. It assessed basic strength, speed, endurance, and resistance to impact. Nine million would be eliminated, leaving three million.
Second round: combat test. Applicants would fight Guild training puppets and captured angel prisoners. It assessed combat skills, adaptability, and mental resilience. 2.9 million would be eliminated, leaving one hundred thousand.
Third round: loyalty test. An inner demon array would examine whether applicants harbored selfish motives, whether they were loyal to humanity, and whether they could hold to their bottom line at critical moments. Ninety thousand would be eliminated, leaving ten thousand to enter the final trial.
On the day