Forward, Forward

Although there was an extra 20-pound snake meat in the backpack, it did not significantly affect the speed of travel.

Having learned from the attack he had just suffered, Mu Fan had to be even more careful as he moved through the treacherous Rainforest. Just now, he had seen a giant flower, taller than two people, swallow Black Panther that was about to pounce on him whole.

Mu Fan tried to move within the canopy layer, because no one knew what kind of deadly danger was hidden in the thick layer of leaves on the ground.

Inside the heavy transport ship above the clouds, the crowd in the academy district was idly watching screens provided by the military.

There are five key locations in total, but we haven't seen a single person yet.

"What are those military guys making us do here? Just sit around?" one observer complained boredly.

"They didn't provide any tracking data for these 100 candidates at all. I just asked them, and they told me it was classified as operational information. Our academy is here to recruit students, and you're telling me it's classified! Who's recruiting here anyway!" another observer from the Bonar Academy chimed in.

Arriving on such a remote planet, not only did they not receive high-level hospitality, but the military treated them like thieves, guarding against them at every turn. If it weren't for orders from above, they probably would have left long ago.

This isn't a reserve force selection; it's a real Special Operations Team officer selection process!

As Ruan Xiongfeng listened to the group's complaints, he looked at the stronghold on the projection screen, which still showed no sign of anyone, and stroked the stubble on his chin, his gaze distant.

On the upper decks of the warship, soldiers were constantly reporting data.

"No abnormalities were found in the bioenergy monitoring."

"25 minutes until the rescue team can set off."

The colonel sat at the very front, listening intently to the reports from the people below.

A major standing nearby asked in a low voice, "Sir, regarding the Mysterious Backpack, those items we placed there... was this your idea?"

The colonel glared at him. "Don't ask any more questions. The testing method this time was uniformly formulated by the military headquarters of the Capital Star."

After the major turned around, the colonel sneered in a voice too low for others to hear, "You pampered academics, how could you possibly understand the general's decisions?!"

With ten minutes remaining, Mu Fan was approaching the edge of the V14 Area, and the Electronic Map showed that he was still two kilometers away.

Half-squatting on a tree branch, watching the dense, broad foliage spread out before him, Mu Fan quietly parted the leaves.

Because he heard human voices!

What's in your backpack?

"Bulletproof vest, what about you?"

"A 20-meter multi-functional rope."

"I feel like yours is more practical. I really don't understand what use a bulletproof vest is in a place like this, other than slowing down your speed!" the voice said with a hint of complaint.

Unbeknownst to them, someone was secretly watching them from not far above.

I can see the two of them clearly now. They are about the same size, but one of them has a slightly darker complexion.

The two were walking side by side, about three meters apart.

It seems these are two candidates who knew each other before?

No, their postures are not normal walking postures!

They were all on high alert.

In a flash, Mu Fan figured out the logic: every candidate was now his opponent, and everyone was trying to make sure they became one of the final fifty.

Just as Mu Fan was thinking, the situation on the ground suddenly changed. One person suddenly pulled out an axe from behind and slashed at the person next to him. The other person was always on guard. When he noticed his companion's actions, he did not panic much, but instead did a backflip.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out!

The man with the axe stared in disbelief at his abdomen, trying to plug the bleeding bullet hole with his fingers, but to no avail.

"You... cheated."

Bang! Another shot, and the wound in the abdomen widened again, the blood flowing out uncontrollably.

"I don't believe you. You came over after hearing the commotion to try and befriend me. You're really that kind?" the man who had just said that there was a bulletproof vest in his backpack said with a sneer.

"A revolver, equipped with 12 bullets. You can rest in peace now." He casually waved the silver-white revolver in his hand, and then the other person breathed their last in unwillingness.

Within minutes, the roles were reversed, and it turned out that neither of them was telling the truth. However, the outcome was obvious: firearms won decisively!

Mu Fan carefully withdrew his hand and waited for the noise below to subside before peeking out again.

The darker-skinned examinee died in the unknown Rainforest.

The candidates competing in the same arena acted without any scruples, directly eliminating the opponents.

Mu Fan now understood the cruelty of this exam. Was this really Reserve Special Recruitment the Federation Reserve?

I glanced down at the Electronic Map; there were still ten minutes left.

It seems that this exam will not only involve battling Rainforest creatures, but also having to be wary of other people.

The wickedness of the human heart surpasses that of wild beasts.

With a few leaps, Mu Fan once again grabbed a vine with one hand and swung through the forest, heading in a direction slightly different from the person who had just left.

He had to conserve his energy as much as possible, as he was not in a condition suitable for continuous combat.

When Mu Fan saw the green dot representing himself finally appear in the V14 Area on the Electronic Map, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Two minutes later, another text message and voice message appeared.

"The first round of elimination has ended. The eliminated candidates are 25, 816, 909... 94 remain. Please keep trying. The next elimination areas are now announced. Candidates in the following locations should leave within the specified time: b3, d9..."

This time, eight regions were announced in a row.

However, the V14 Area where I am located is not included in this category. Looking at the Electronic Map, most of these locations are on the edge. If this is the case, then the military's purpose should be to continuously compress the space in the rear, forcing candidates to concentrate in a few areas.

If you look at it this way, then the time ahead isn't for rest, but rather... to keep running!

Before you truly confirm your victory, you cannot afford to be eliminated.

Mu Fan decided to run to a dry area before resting.

A soldier reported loudly from a heavy transport ship high in the air.

"Sir, six people were eliminated in the first round, three of whom died."

"Hmm, broadcasting the death situation."

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier left in a hurry, and soon all the participating candidates and the college observers received a message at the same time.

"Notice: Six people were eliminated in the first round, and three of them have been confirmed dead."

The college district erupted in chaos; just one hour had passed and three people had died.

Is this still their college's entrance exam? It seems like the initial physical test was relatively normal, but it's gotten increasingly outrageous since then. Now, there's even a case of a candidate dying. How is the military going to explain this to the public?

Unfortunately, the military simply doesn't bother to answer these kinds of questions; a simple "military secret" is enough to shut everyone up.

Compared to the academy's observation team's unease, the examinees in the Rainforest felt a chill run down their spines. In just one hour, some of them had already died.

Those who initially treated it as a normal exam were no longer calm. Some clever people even thought of a deeper reason: the cause of death of these three people!

*************

P. S.: Thank you to the reader "Alien Tribe Chieftain" for the 100-coin reward!

Thank you to book friends "yuyuxiao" for 30 coins, "Yesterday's Beauty", "some little hehe", "fat brother brother", "Soviet Armored Infantry", "Da Si Te", "A Wei tt", and "Qing Cai Rou Bao 1" for 10 coins!