Selection

The force of the final axe blow was completely unleashed.

The moment the battle axe struck the core of the Portal, the entire space trembled violently.

The dense black cracks covering the surface of the passage exploded instantly, like a shattered mirror, spreading to every inch of the spatial structure. The dark, Other Plane energy, like dissipating black smoke, fled in all directions, only to be instantly dispersed and smoothed out by the winds of heaven and earth.

The invasion channel that had long connected the present world and Other Plane was completely shattered and rendered useless.

All the oppressive aura, the chilling atmosphere, and the lurking sense of being watched that came from beyond the boundaries vanished completely.

The body, which had been tense throughout the entire life-or-death battle, completely released all its strength at this moment.

Lu Heng's arm, gripping the battle axe, suddenly gave way and fell limply. The soreness and exhaustion in his muscles and bones instantly overwhelmed him. Enduring continuous attacks from Other Plane, fighting alongside two executioners, and repeatedly overdrawing and repairing his two systems had already pushed his physical strength to the limit.

His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the cold earth.

His back was pressed against the rough ground as he gasped for breath.

His chest heaved violently, his throat felt dry and parched, and finally, the roar of clashing weapons and exploding energy ceased in his ears.

it's over.

The long-standing core threat of the Withering Source, the largest node of the Other Plane invasion, was completely eradicated by his own hands.

The entire expanse of Withered Reed Plain fell into utter silence.

Before long, a gentle yet powerful aura slowly wafted from the depths of the surrounding forest.

It was not hostility, nor was it coercion.

It was the will of this world itself that quietly covered the entire battlefield, silently connecting with his consciousness.

A clear and straightforward thought unfolded directly in Lu Heng's mind, devoid of any emotion.

High-risk Withering Source and Other Plane pathways have been eradicated.

The threat remains Global Region, with only scattered, low-risk Aberrant and wandering, withered remnants remaining.

The remaining crises are manageable for ordinary survivors to handle on their own. Even if some survivors are unable to cope, the native beast hordes will eliminate these scattered threats on their own.

The evaluation for this battle is complete, and you will be awarded the corresponding battle reward.

Lu Heng lay on the ground, not getting up immediately.

Exhaustion gripped my limbs, yet the doubts in my heart grew ever clearer.

He looked up at the distant, endless forest, where layers upon layers of trees stood quietly, as if they had been silently watching from the sidelines all along.

He couldn't help but speak, his voice hoarse and dry.

"You've always been there."

"You watched the whole thing, why didn't you intervene?"

The Forest Will resounded once more, calm and cold, carrying with it the absolute fairness of the laws of heaven and earth.

I am bound by the rules of the world; in routine trials, Plane conflicts, and survival games, direct intervention in the battle is strictly prohibited.

All life-and-death struggles should be borne by the survivors themselves.

There was a momentary pause in his speech, and a question quietly surfaced in his mind.

You think I really didn't lift a finger the whole time?

Lu Heng's heart skipped a beat, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Before he could even think, the message from his will continued to flood his mind.

The Other Plane empowerment marks on those two executioners were erased by me.

Within the rules, I cannot interfere with the normal course of battle.

However, the power they possess does not belong to the scope of this trial war; it is an illegal enhancement from outside the region that has disrupted the balance of the trial.

Such external means that deviate from established rules are not subject to the restrictions of the ban.

I can only clear out the violations and lock down their cross-border enhancements in the gaps, so that the battle can return to its proper balance.

Lu Heng suddenly realized.

All the doubts in my heart instantly became clear.

No wonder that terrifying armor buff only lasts for one hit; once used up, it's useless and can never be restarted or stacked again.

It wasn't that the other side lacked strength; it was that the power struggle among the higher-ups had already quietly ended behind the scenes, unseen by him.

He was deeply involved in the battle from start to finish, fighting desperately to turn the tide in dire situations. In the end, he was just an ordinary person who participated in the game.

He had no right to interrupt in this kind of contest at this level.

Lu Heng fell silent, offering no further rebuttal.

A moment later, the judgment of the Forest Will resounded once more.

Overall, the outcome of this battle was not a loss.

Immediately, a cold, imposing order was issued, directly impacting Lu Heng's consciousness.

From now on, you are not allowed to interfere in any other war zones across the entire territory.

Lu Heng was slightly taken aback, a sense of confusion rising in his heart, and he subconsciously asked, "Why?"

He has eliminated the biggest hidden danger. The remaining Withering Source are scattered everywhere. With one more person taking action, more survivors can be saved and casualties reduced.

The Forest Will's answer is cruel and straightforward, devoid of any warmth.

The essence of the trial is to select qualified survivors, to select top warriors who dare to fight, dare to die, and can withstand crises.

It is not a place to shelter cowardly, war-avoiding, and complacent losers.

Most of the survivors who have survived to this day have avoided danger and feared fighting, relying solely on worldly resources to survive.

Lacking the courage to face crises head-on and the determination to turn the tide in dire straits, they will only engage in opportunistic survival.

They are the parasites of this apocalyptic world.

Unable to ensure the world's survival or to counter subsequent Plane crises, it only relentlessly exploits resources for survival.

If you were to handle and resolve all high-risk crises and all doomed battles by yourself.

This group of people simply coasted through life, gaining the right to a stable existence without any hardship or life-or-death experiences.

Then they would have completely lost their reason for existence.

Unqualified survivors should not be kept.

The remaining scattered withered and deformed creatures, and the remnants of the plunderers, are left to deal with on their own.

It was a stroke of luck that I survived.

To die at the hands of the plunderers and the remaining mutants is our destiny.

Lu Heng listened quietly to these words, feeling neither resistance nor any so-called saintly compassion.

He understands human nature very well.

In the end times, self-interest is always the biggest bargaining chip to sway people's hearts.

These survivors, who avoided combat and engaged in opportunistic behavior throughout the entire process, had not experienced the trials of life and death, nor did they possess the integrity to uphold their principles.

Today's peace may allow us to survive, but if greater temptations and crises arise in the future, betrayal and treachery will be nothing more than a matter of moments.

They dare not confront danger, but they dare to plunder their own kind and scheme against their companions.

Such people truly do not deserve to occupy survival resources in a cruel apocalypse.

The selection process of the Forest Will may seem cold-blooded, but it is in fact perfectly fair.

The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, is the only truth in the end times.

Lu Heng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, supported himself on the ground, and slowly sat up.

The fatigue still lingered, but my mind had completely settled down.

He gazed at the boundless Frost Forest, his eyes clear and serene.

It turns out that from beginning to end, this whole world was clearly visible.

Who is fighting to the death, who is opportunistically trying to survive, who deserves to stay, and who should be eliminated?

There was absolutely no deviation.