The arena exploded into noise.
"Five members?!"
"Rare+ dungeon? That's not low difficulty!"
"Why did they increase the difficulty?!"
"Thirty minutes isn't enough!"
Students rushed toward each other—shouting names, grabbing sleeves, arguing mid-step.
Top academies moved fast.
Their teams were already decided. Students grouped smoothly, barely exchanging words. Instructors stood aside, arms crossed, watching without interference.
Mid-tier schools scrambled.
"We need one more!"
"Where's Liu Han?!"
"Anyone with healing—now!"
Lower-ranked schools panicked outright.
Some students stood frozen, faces pale.
"Five… we only trained in trios."
"If we don't register, we're finished."
---
No one came toward Jin.
Even after the 9.9 result.
Whispers floated around him.
"Too risky."
"What if he has no real combat experience?"
"Didn't Starfall Province have that rift disaster last year?"
"He might freeze in a dungeon."
They remembered the incident.
They remembered students breaking down mid-fight.
No one wanted to gamble their future.
---
Time ticked down.
Teams rushed to register. Names flashed onto the screens.
On the other side, people kept approaching Zhao Chen.
"Join us."
"We still need one tank."
"Our healer's decent."
Chen shook his head every time.
"I'm waiting."
Someone scoffed. "For who?"
Chen didn't answer.
---
Jin glanced at the countdown.
08:12 remaining
Then he looked around.
There were only a few people left.
Two boys. One girl.
They hesitated, then walked toward him.
"Wei Jin," one of them said carefully. "If… if you don't mind."
Jin recognized them immediately.
In his last life—
You survived longer than most, he thought.
Even when running was an option.
They had stayed behind during the city breach.
They had died buying time for civilians.
Not strong.
But good.
Jin smiled faintly. "Okay."
Relief washed over their faces.
They fell in behind him without another word.
Jin walked straight toward Chen.
Chen looked up.
"…You took too long," Chen said, then grinned. "Let's go. Time's running."
They turned together.
---
At the registration desk, Teacher Han Qiu watched the names go through.
He smiled quietly.
"You did well," he said. "Taking them."
He lowered his voice. "They won't carry the team. But they'll support it."
Jin nodded.
"That's enough."
---
00:00
The countdown hit zero.
The screens locked.
Silence spread unevenly—broken by quiet sobs, clenched fists, disbelief.
Groups of three.
Groups of four.
Students who hadn't registered stood frozen.
Some collapsed to the ground.
---
Senior staff member Feng Shen returned to the platform.
His voice carried cleanly across the arena.
"Attention."
He looked down at the unregistered students.
"Those who failed to form and register a team within the allotted time…"
He paused, letting the silence stretch.
"…will not be disqualified immediately."
A ripple of shock ran through the arena.
Feng Shen's gaze hardened.
"You will be placed into randomly assigned teams."
Murmurs broke out.
Some faces lifted in relief.
Others stiffened.
"This," Feng Shen continued calmly, "is your punishment."
The relief froze.
"I believe you all understand why no one chose you."
No one spoke.
Several students lowered their heads.
"Strength," Feng Shen said evenly. "Judgment. Trust. These are not optional in combat."
He swept his gaze across them.
"This is your last chance."
"If your randomly assigned team fails to pass Phase 2—"
His voice dropped a degree.
"—you will be disqualified from the NCEE without exception."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Feng Shen turned away.
"Prepare for Phase 2."
All qualified teams will enter parallel Rare+ dungeons.
Dungeon difficulty is equalized across all five environments.
Each dungeon contains: • One dominant monster species
• One enhanced combat trait
• One boss entity
Evaluation will be based on performance relative to dungeon trait, not speed alone.
1. Stonefang Gorge
Trait: High Agility
Monster: Stonefang Wolves
• Lean, grey-scaled quadrupeds
• Extremely fast movement speed
• Specialize in hit-and-run tactics
Boss: Alpha Stonefang
• Significantly faster than standard units
• Punishes slow reactions and poor positioning
Test Focus:
• Reaction speed
• Positioning
• Real-time adaptability
2. Ironhide Cavern
Trait: High Defense / Power
Monster: Ironhide Brutes
• Large, heavily armored humanoid beasts
• Slow movement
• High physical strength
Boss: Ironhide Lord
• Reinforced armored body
• Heavy, crushing melee attacks
Test Focus:
• Damage output
• Endurance
• Frontline stability
3. Venomroot Tunnels
Trait: Tricky / Poison
Monster: Venomroot Lurkers
• Medium-sized reptilian entities
• Poison-infused claws
• Ambush-oriented behavior
Boss: Venomroot Matron
• Enhanced poison potency
• Controls battlefield spacing
Test Focus:
• Awareness
• Team coordination
• Control and counterplay
4. Mistshade Forest
Trait: Illusion
Monster: Mistshade Beasts
• Appear and disappear within fog
• Generate false afterimages
Boss: Mistshade King
• Creates multiple illusionary bodies
• Only one real core entity
Test Focus:
• Perception
• Communication
• Calm decision-making under uncertainty
5. Skyclaw Nest
Trait: Flying
Monster: Skyclaw Raptors
• High-speed aerial predators
• Execute dive-based attacks
Boss: Skyclaw Tyrant
• Powerful wings
• Generates wind pressure
• Forces vertical combat engagement
Test Focus:
• Ranged combat proficiency
• Teamwork
• Aerial threat response
"Prepare for Phase 2."
The massive central screen flickered.
Lines of light split the display into multiple sections as team data began populating automatically.
A calm, mechanical voice echoed across the arena.
[ PHASE 2 — TEAM ASSIGNMENTS ]
Test Type: Rare+ Dungeon Combat
Total Active Teams: 217
Assignment Method: Registration Order → Randomized Dungeon Allocation
Names, academy crests, and dungeon titles scrolled rapidly.
Whispers broke out instantly.
Starfall First Academy appeared first.
They had done exactly what everyone expected.
Their strongest students were split deliberately.
Team 001
Academy: Starfall First Academy
Dungeon: Ironhide Cavern
Team Leader: Lu shen (Gene Purity: 9.3)
Team 002
Academy: Starfall First Academy
Dungeon: Skyclaw Nest
Team Leader: han yue (Gene Purity: 9.1)
Low murmurs spread.
"They're aiming for first and second place again…"
"Of course they are.".
Radiant Sky Institute. followed.
Team 014
Dungeon: Mistshade Forest
Team Leader: Shen Lian (Gene Purity: 9.2).
Northriver Combat School.
Team 027
Dungeon: Venomroot Tunnels
Team Leader: Qiao Ren (Gene Purity: 9.0).
Mid-tier academies filled the middle slots.
Then—
The scrolling slowed.
Team 211 appeared.
A brief silence followed.
Team 211
Academy: Starfall Tenth Academy
Dungeon: Stonefang Gorge
Team Leader: Wei Jin
Gene Purity: 9.9
Team Members:
• Zhao Chen
• Liang Xu
• Sun Wei
• Qiao Ning
The arena buzzed.
"That's him."
"9.9 purity… Stonefang Gorge?"
"Agility-type dungeon… interesting."
Some scoffed.
"Stonefang Wolves are fast. Let's see if purity helps when you can't keep up."
Others watched silently.
Chen glanced at the screen, then at Jin.
"So… Team 211."
Jin nodded. "Looks like it."
The three students who had joined last stood a little straighter.
Teacher Han Qiu watched from the side, hands clasped behind his back.
Stonefang Gorge…
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
The system voice returned.
[ PHASE 2 NOTICE ]
All teams will be transported to their assigned dungeon gates.
Time Limit: Standard
Failure Conditions:
• Team wipe
• Time expiration
• Voluntary withdrawal
"Teams," Feng Shen's voice rang out,
"move to your corresponding gates immediately."
Energy gates began opening around the arena.
Stone-gray light flared to life at Gate C-7.
Stonefang Gorge.
Jin stepped forward first.
"Let's go."
And Team 211 moved.