Chapter 37: Chapter 37: The Ridiculously Strong Freshman—Could He Really Be First?
In the end, no miracle occurred—at least not for the sand giant.
By now, it was riddled with holes from the relentless sword rain, unable to reform its body. It looked pitiful, weak, and helpless. Seeing the creature in such a sorry state, Liam decided to deliver the final blow.
With his safety assured, he stopped leaping between the ice pillars and dropped to the ground. Without even turning to face the giant, Liam gathered all the ice swords in the air, forming a massive blade of ice above.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, the giant sword descended from the sky, piercing through the sand giant's head and skewering its left chest—its weak point—pinning it to the ground. The yellow sand scattered, but this time, the giant could no longer reform and rise from the earth.
Liam never turned around during the entire process, listening calmly to the sounds of the giant's collapse and the rumbling of its body hitting the ground. He kept his head low, resting his right hand on his forehead.
The scene was like the end of a movie, with the protagonist striking a stylish pose for the audience. But in the next moment...
Liam stumbled, nearly falling, and swayed unsteadily as if he had drunk too much.
Still holding his forehead with his right hand, he quickly conjured a white ice cane with his left, using it to steady himself.
Seeing this, the evaluators who had been watching closely all held their breath, wondering what had happened.
Was he injured? They hadn't noticed any signs earlier.
Was there some energy backlash, or was he simply exhausted?
As they silently observed, Liam finally regained his balance, straightening up and muttering, "Whoa, that spinning really made me dizzy. Astronaut training must be tough."
"Which way is which again?"
He looked around in confusion, using his ice cane like an old man trying to find his bearings. After some time, he finally found the downed sand giant—it was right behind him.
The evaluators: ...
The evaluators, who had been worried he might be injured, were now left speechless.
This kid... Is he for real?
Sophia, who had been concerned just moments ago, couldn't help but burst into laughter. She quickly covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles, as she thought, "This guy... Every time he's about to be cool, he just has to do something funny..."
Her reaction drew sidelong glances from Cain and the others. Zhong Jing, ever the rascal, caught Dong Wushuang's eye and started making exaggerated gestures toward Sophia, clearly implying that there was something more between her and Liam.
But Dong Wushuang ignored him, turning instead to Cain and asking, "Did he break the record?"
"He did. The kid's definitely fast," Cain replied.
...
Liam walked over to the spot where the sand giant had fallen, picking up the crystal core with his energy chain. The pale yellow crystal emitted a warm, flickering glow, but as Liam weighed it in his hand, he frowned.
"So, this is the 'Divine Core' we're after?"
He couldn't shake the feeling that the energy emanating from it was somehow similar to the "Divine Fetus" he had encountered before.
After a moment's thought, Liam had a guess in mind. He tightened his grip, and the core cracked into several pieces, though no energy leaked out. It was clear that the design was meant to make it easier for students to "share the spoils."
In fact, the exam wasn't designed for students to defeat these creatures alone. Liam was just one of the few exceptions each year.
With a flick of his wrist, the pieces of the core were stored in his bracelet. He looked up at the sky, which had grown dark and ominous. The secret realm had taken on an eerie atmosphere, signaling that the first three hours were nearly over.
The secret realm didn't lack a day-night cycle; it alternated between three hours of daylight and three hours of darkness, creating a six-hour cycle. This setup not only helped students keep track of time but also increased the exam's difficulty.
As the sky darkened, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere settled in. The red sky, like a thick layer of paint, was suffocating.
In the first three hours, Liam was the only student to successfully kill a creature and obtain a "Divine Core." He was also the only one who knew what the "Divine Core" looked like.
Now, with nightfall approaching, continuing the exam in the dark was risky. Many students, unless they had specific abilities, would choose to rest during this time. Especially in the first six hours, with plenty of time remaining, those who had underestimated the exam's difficulty would need to reconsider their strategies. Some lone wolves who had initially been confident might even seek out teams.
But Liam wasn't one of them.
Having grown accustomed to the Voices of All Things, he found that as long as he managed the information he received, there was little difference between day and night for him.
Though the 36-hour exam was demanding, he didn't want to waste any time. He had made a promise, and he intended to keep it.
Liam wasn't usually concerned with rankings, but the baseless accusations earlier had changed his mind. He knew that his strength wasn't just about himself—Sophia had likely faced significant criticism for recommending an E-rank candidate like him.
If he didn't prove himself, it would only bring satisfaction to those who doubted him.
So this time, he would fight for the top spot.
The oppressive darkness couldn't stop him; guided by the Voices of All Things, Liam charged toward his next target.
...
Time passed quickly, and nine hours had elapsed in the secret realm. Liam was already battling his fourth virtual deity, or "prey."
At this point, even the strongest and fastest team had only managed to kill their second deity.
What other students considered terrifying monsters were little more than fodder to Liam. He identified their weaknesses, dispatched them swiftly, collected the "Divine Core," and moved on to the next.
This absurd lead made it clear to the evaluators that this year's freshman class included a genius among geniuses.
"It really looks like this kid might take first place," Dong Wushuang said, pleased with Liam's performance. He then turned to Zhong Jing with a grin. "Hey, it looks like your bet with the Ice Goddess might not go so well after all, hahaha."
But for once, the usually irreverent Zhong Jing wasn't in the mood to banter. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers interlocked, his gaze scanning the 126 screens.
With narrowed eyes, he spoke slowly, "I admit he's strong—ridiculously strong. I've already said our academy is determined to recruit him."
"But I still don't believe he'll end up as the top scorer."
"Haven't you noticed... he's already being targeted?"
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