บท 27: Lone Wolf

Inside the Combat Power Test room, Mike was warming up.

"I didn't expect the Mystic Market VIP card to actually work."

Several red lights flickered, and an emotionless mechanical voice echoed in the sealed space.

"Tier One Battle Soldiers test, first challenge [Neural Response Test], are you ready?"

"Hold on."

Just as the test was about to start, Mike suddenly thought of a critical issue. If the video of him taking the test was stolen by others, it could easily let enemies deduce that he is Thor. So, for safety, he should skip this test.

Just as he was about to give up, a note suddenly appeared in his line of sight.

[Please proceed with the test, your information will not be disclosed.]

Mike's talent gave him this prompt at that moment. Although he didn't understand the specific logic behind it, he chose to trust the Eye of Truth.

The emotionless mechanical voice sounded again in the sealed space.

"Tier One Battle Soldiers test, first challenge [Neural Response Test], are you ready?"

"Ready."

"Countdown, 5, 4, 3..."

"Neural Response Test, begin!"

The countdown ended, and a gunshot sounded.

A bullet with a diameter of 0.24 inches whizzed out at high speed, and Mike, with a slight sidestep, easily dodged it.

Bang—

The bullet hit the wall, creating a small crater and sparking.

"It's really a live-fire test!"

Mike focused his attention forward.

Since he was in the Core City of Truth, part of the Tower of Truth, death carried no substantial penalties.

The Battle Soldiers test was as real as it gets.

Bullets, fireballs, lightning, throwing knives...

The Neural Response Test required dodging these attacks as much as possible. Surviving meant passing the test!

In other words, there were two ways to break through:

1. Increase your Agility attribute as much as possible, learn more displacement skills to enhance mobility. This is the essence of the Neural Response Test.

2. Increase your shields, health, and other defenses!

If you can't dodge, don't dodge; withstand all damage and break through with force!

As long as you survive, you pass the test.

The Battle Soldiers test is designed to select those capable of fighting in the Abyssal Plane; it doesn't require absolute versatility!

Based on past experiences, achieving an Agility attribute of 200 or being able to withstand a total damage of over 4000 would suffice to pass the first challenge. Many people get stuck at this stage, constantly complaining.

However, for Mike, this was no challenge at all!

The [Eye of Truth] could predict the trajectory of all incoming attacks, providing brief foresight. It also mapped out the best dodging strategy for Mike!

All Mike had to do was choose a plan and execute it. Methodically, he easily dodged all attacks!

Amidst a barrage of bullets, Mike strolled as if he were walking in a garden. Bullets often missed him by just 0.1 inches, yet his expression remained unchanged, completely unfazed.

Even to avoid standing out too much, Mike would deliberately take a hit or two, pretending he couldn't dodge in time.

He was like an Oscar-winning actor.

10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds...

As time ticked by, the frequency of attacks increased, leaving Mike with fewer and fewer options, and the difficulty of achieving a perfect dodge escalated!

Mike's health remained at a very healthy level, although the intense firepower was somewhat exaggerated.

"Strange, is the Tier One Battle Soldiers test supposed to be this hard?!" Mike muttered as he dodged.

"My Agility attribute is 224, even without the Eye of Truth, I should be able to pass this challenge based on Agility alone! But... this difficulty, it's too exaggerated, even if my Agility was 400, it wouldn't be possible!"

Mike felt his situation becoming extremely perilous, a slight misstep could be fatal, leading to failure in the challenge.

He gritted his teeth, following the Eye of Truth's guidance, trying his best to execute each movement and dodge the incoming attacks.

"Countdown!"

"10, 9, 8..."

Sweat beaded on Mike's forehead, and his left shoulder had been grazed by a fireball, emitting a burnt smell. Just the fireball grazing him caused over 300 damage.

"There's definitely something wrong, this isn't a Tier One Battle Soldiers test!"

Mike was certain, but at this point, trapped in the test room, he could only grit his teeth and keep going, waiting for the countdown to end.

"...3, 2, 1!"

"Congratulations, you have completed the Tier One Battle Soldiers [Neural Response Test]. Please proceed to the next level."

As the attacks ceased, Mike stood in the corner, taking deep breaths of fresh air to recover his strength. He focused his attention on the motion capture device in front of him.

[It's just a motion capture device, what are you trying to see? Here's a keyboard, why don't you write something?]

[Look again, it's still just a motion capture device.]

[Congratulations, you have just passed the Tier Three Battle Soldiers Neural Response Test!]

"It was Tier Three... what a rip-off." Mike rolled his eyes, feeling somewhat speechless.

Somewhere along the line, there had been a mix-up; what was supposed to be a Tier One Battle Soldiers test had been set to Tier Three.

"That means my current abilities are comparable to the neural response speed of a Tier Three Battle Soldier!"

From another perspective, this realization clarified Mike's understanding of his own strength.

"Let's go, next level!"

Physical tests, damage tests, defense tests...

Contrary to Mike's expectations, the subsequent tests went smoothly without any surprises. The Tier One Battle Soldiers tests posed no challenge to him.

In fact, to avoid standing out too much, he even held back to varying degrees.

"Tier One Battle Soldiers test complete, generating results..."

On a large screen, numerous data scrolled by, generating a report card for Mike.

"Neural Response Test, 98% evasion rate, SS grade!"

"Physical Test, 86% completion, A grade!"

"..."

"Combining all results, your Tier One Battle Soldiers test rating is: A+!"

"Congratulations, you have passed the Tier One Battle Soldiers test. Please choose your affiliation."

Three options appeared before Mike:

[Defense Headquarters], [Mercenary Corps], [Lone Wolf]

Battle Soldiers, as the name implies, exist for combat. After passing the Battle Soldiers test, Mike could choose to apply to any of the major corps under the Planetary Defense Council.

Once accepted, he would be required to travel to a designated plane and integrate into the corps. This is the most common choice.

Corps with official backing offer the best in terms of strength and benefits. However, the trade-off is low freedom, as one must obey higher commands and has little room for independent action.

This path, clearly, was not suitable for Mike at the moment. With many secrets to keep and still needing time to grow, he wasn't considering joining a corps just yet.

[Mercenary Corps] is a loosely organized group with mercenary characteristics. They form temporary teams, accept orders from various powers, complete missions, and then collect their pay.

Relying on information from the Eye of Truth, Mike analyzed, "Mercenary Corps sounds good and suits me, but... Mercenary Corps requires real-name registration!

My school records show a D-level talent, and just two days into the Tower of Truth, I passed the Tier One Battle Soldiers test—it's too conspicuous!"

Mike's gaze shifted to the last option: Lone Wolf!

You can anonymously receive the Battle Soldiers badge, and collect monthly stipends and benefits in the Core City of Truth, ensuring to the greatest extent that the identity of [Lone Wolf] will not be traced!

Of course, the officials have special methods to prevent people from claiming benefits multiple times or exploiting loopholes.

This path is the loneliest and most unsupported.

No organization, no teammates, no backing.

The Lone Wolf path, everything depends solely on oneself!

Mike took a deep breath, his gaze firm, and his finger moved slightly downward.

"I choose Lone Wolf!"

The Lone Wolf path is indeed reserved for the fierce and bold!

Sheep flock together, but fierce beasts walk alone!

When the three paths of Battle Soldiers were established, the supreme being once said:

"Every genius is a Lone Wolf on their own path forward!"

After Mike made his choice, the large screen went dark.

A badge descended from above, hovering in front of Mike.