บท 30: Chapter 30: I Want You to Be the First
As Li Qi stepped aside, no one else dared to speak up, and the examination was about to begin. Cain and the other high-ranking officials shifted their attention away from Liam and Li Qi, focusing on opening the secret realm.
A group of bald men stepped forward, spreading their arms and chanting as if casting a spell. After a second, beams of light shot out from their foreheads, converging in a specific spot in the air. Slowly, a large, sickly green door began to open before everyone.
Or rather, it wasn't a door at all—it was more like a swampy, vile-looking mass, its color alone enough to make anyone feel nauseous.
"Alright, students, if there are no further issues, the examination begins now," Cain announced, clapping his hands lightly and smiling at the candidates. "Time inside runs concurrently with the outside world. We'll be observing your every move for the next thirty-six hours."
"So, if any of you need to use the restroom, now's the time. There are plenty in the stadium, so you shouldn't have to wait. Of course, if you want to drop your pants in front of everyone inside, we can't stop you from doing that either."
"That said, as superhumans, thirty-six hours without food, water, or restroom breaks shouldn't be too much of a problem. But if you find yourself with sudden diarrhea and need to quit, that's your call."
With his Santa Claus-like face, Cain delivered a string of rather colorful remarks before gesturing for the candidates to proceed. The examination started immediately, giving no time for the students to prepare—swift and decisive.
The candidates' expressions grew serious; a grueling thirty-six-hour challenge lay ahead of them. Some stepped into the realm without hesitation, while others temporarily left to use the restroom.
As each candidate entered, a computer screen-sized panel of light popped out from the sickly green gate, with one panel staying suspended in the air and another flying to the desks of the 126 staff members. These panels provided a bird's-eye view of the candidates, documenting their every action.
Cain and the other leaders would be watching everything, while the staff would record each candidate's performance. Points determined the ranking, but they didn't tell the whole story; how well a candidate performed was also under scrutiny.
Throughout this process, Liam didn't rush to enter. Instead, he stood back, observing everything carefully. His attention was particularly drawn to one person—Liu Peng. During the earlier cheating scandal, several people had stirred up doubt among the crowd, with Liu Peng leading the charge. As Liam watched him move through the crowd, whispering to others, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Finally, after everyone else had entered the realm, only a few candidates, including Liam, remained outside. Liam took off the storage ring Sophia had given him and placed it in his wristband before preparing to enter.
"Liam!" Sophia suddenly called out to him, taking advantage of the thinning crowd to speak up.
"I want you to be the first in this examination!"
She had always refrained from putting pressure on Liam, but this time was different. Her words drew everyone's attention; no one expected the usually reserved Sophia to make such a bold statement.
The examination was fraught with randomness, and even the most talented individuals from past years never dared to guarantee first place. The element of luck was too significant.
Cain, the Mighty War God, and the other high-ranking representatives from various organizations all turned to Liam, curious to see how he would respond.
"Oh, we'll see," Liam replied nonchalantly, showing no particular reaction as he began to walk toward the gate. But just before stepping through, he paused, turned back to Sophia, and flashed a mischievous smile.
"Kidding. I'll get it done!"
With that, he stepped into the secret realm, leaving the rest to their thoughts. As Liam and the others entered, the examination officially began.
Cain sat down, leaning back comfortably, and said with a hearty laugh, "Alright, everyone, let's see if any of these candidates catch your eye."
The Mighty War God, Dong Wushuang, didn't sit down. Crossing his arms over his chest, he reached out and plucked one of the 126 screens from the array, enlarging it for all to see. The screen displayed none other than Liam.
"Guaranteeing first place? I like confidence in a man, but he better deliver! Let's see how this kid performs to have our Ice War Goddess so invested!" Dong Wushuang quipped, teasing Sophia.
Sophia remained silent, her eyes fixed on the screen displaying Liam's activities in the secret realm.
...
As Liam passed through the sickly green gate, his vision blurred, and he found himself in a completely different world. The sky was dark red, and an endless desert stretched out before him. In this environment, keeping track of time would be nearly impossible.
Most of the other candidates had yet to leave; they lingered, considering whether to form teams. Liam, however, didn't hesitate. His eyes scanned the area until they locked onto one figure—Liu Peng.
With swift, purposeful strides, Liam approached Liu Peng and extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill.
Liu Peng was taken aback, completely caught off guard by this development. Was Liam actually trying to make peace?
Outside the secret realm, Dong Wushuang watched Liam closely, his brow furrowed. Taking the initiative to make peace after becoming a target was understandable but seemed somewhat cowardly. It didn't sit well with Dong Wushuang, who valued a more direct, manly approach.
Liu Peng hesitated for a few seconds before sneering, his arrogance on full display. He ignored Liam's outstretched hand and mocked, "Are you trying to team up with me? Or what? Given your E-level ability, I might be willing to carry you. How about an 80-20 split? I take 80, you get 20. How's that sound?"
Liu Peng didn't bother to lower his voice, loudly ridiculing Liam. His group of followers joined in the laughter, finding it amusing that they had such a seemingly weak opponent.
But in the next moment, Liam's hand, which Liu Peng had deliberately ignored, shot forward, grabbing Liu Peng's hand with an iron grip.
Liu Peng instantly realized something was wrong, but it was too late. A wave of cold surged through him, and within moments, his right arm went numb as the terrifying ice spread rapidly across his body.
"Did you misunderstand something?" Liam asked coldly, his voice dripping with menace.
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