CRACK!
The shock-absorbing platform shattered into pieces.
In its final moment, it transmitted a terrifying amount of kinetic energy into the iron ball.
In an instant, the iron ball turned into a streak of silver light!
No one could clearly see how it flew — and no one had time to.
The massive shockwave from the punch and impact had blown everyone away, leaving them unable to pay attention.
The metal top of the device gave a soft pop and was instantly pierced, without even slowing the iron ball down in the slightest!
Whoosh!
With a sharp sound cutting through the air, the iron ball vanished into the blood-red sky dome…
It took a long while before people recovered from the chaos.
As they got back up, everyone wanted to see Su Xinran’s score.
But after searching for a while — they couldn’t find the iron ball.
“Hey, hey, hey! Look! The top of the machine is wrecked!”
“Hsssss… No way, right?!”
“The iron ball shot out of the machine — quick, quick, quick, go see where it landed…”
People finally realized what had happened, and everyone began scrambling around to look for the ball.
‘Disable High Performance Mode!’
[High Performance Mode deactivated. This session lasted 20 seconds. Cooldown time: 10 minutes. Please rate this service — press 10 for Very Satisfied, 7 for Somewhat Satisfied…]
What the heck — are you a telecom customer service bot?
Su Xinran shook her hand and interrupted the strange chanting in her mind.
Looking at the scene she had caused, she realized she had still underestimated her mechanical exoskeleton.
“Hey, did anyone find the iron ball…”
“Nope, nothing on our end. Hey, what about you guys? Anyone see it?”
Everyone looked puzzled — until one person’s face suddenly turned pale.
“Wait… you don’t think… the iron ball is still in the sky, do you…”
“Uhh…”
They all looked up at the sky and saw the clouds with a visible hole punched through.
Remembering the terrifying shockwave from that punch, they all, silently and simultaneously… chose to believe.
Time passed.
Then—WHOOSH! Another sharp sound from the air — followed immediately by a scream.
“PU-HA!”
The iron ball came crashing back down.
And it didn’t just land — it hit squarely on the head of the muscular blond guy from earlier…
“No way… I, Lord Dio… I, Lord Dio… how could I be taken out by something like th—AAARGH!!”
Dark red blood gushed out.
Su Xinran, unable to bear the sight, covered her eyes.
Hopefully… hopefully that iron ball wasn’t silver-plated…
She made a mental note to send him a bottle of aged Spanish blood wine as an apology…
Dear Lord… please bless this poor vampire gentleman…
Wait no, vampires and God are mortal enemies.
Better to pray to the Buddha instead… Amitabha…
Though that strange self-proclaimed “Lord Dio” had a massive hole in his head from the impact, for a vampire, as long as it wasn’t silver, Ripple energy, or a Stand user’s punch that smashed him to pieces, such an injury was just a flesh wound.
Soon, that vampire gentleman was carried off by a JO ambulance.
Even though he could’ve just sat there and regenerated in a little while, for humanitarian reasons it was better to send him off — otherwise even the Holy Light’s shadow priests wouldn’t be able to cover this mess.
“Umm… Examiner sir… his score won’t be canceled, right…”
Su Xinran, feeling a bit guilty, looked up at the examiner on the high platform — who still hadn’t fully recovered from the shock.
“That won’t happen… candidates who leave due to special circumstances are allowed to retake the exam later.”
The examiner wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.
“But rather than worrying about him, you should probably worry about the people after you… They really can’t take the test anymore — you’ve completely wrecked the machine.”
“Uh… I’m so sorry, everyone…”
Su Xinran turned around and bowed deeply to everyone in a solemn gesture.
“N-no no no!! Of course not, not at all!! We don’t mind one bit!”
Everyone who was supposed to take the test after Su Xinran frantically waved their hands to show they didn’t mind.
Are you kidding?!
How could they possibly complain to someone who threw a punch like that?!
This wasn’t just physical intimidation — it was reasoning with people through sheer physics.
And yet, someone with such overwhelming strength would actually bow to apologize to them and speak so politely — that surprised everyone even more.
“Whew… glad you’re all okay with it…”
Su Xinran let out a sigh of relief and was about to go record her score when suddenly, a civil defense siren blared across the training ground.
“Examiner, sir — what’s going on?!”
Su Xinran’s eyes swept the area warily as she questioned the examiner and simultaneously waved to signal Meimeike, who was waiting on the spectator platform.
Even though everything looked calm, the sound of the alarm clearly meant something serious was going on.
“I… I don’t know either…”
The examiner glanced at his wristwatch, staring dumbfounded in the direction of the broadcast tower.
Clearly, he had no idea what was happening either.
“Attention, all examinees!”
A woman’s voice came through the broadcast, slightly anxious.
While her tone sounded calm, her breathing gave her away — she was obviously trying hard to keep her composure.
“A faction from the Wildborn have infiltrated the testing grounds.
The threat level is extremely high.
Preliminary estimates place them at mid-tier Ghost-God level.
All examinees, please listen carefully — do not engage.
Repeat, do not engage.
Follow the instructions of the on-site examiners and evacuate in an orderly— ahh!!”
Suddenly, a scream of pain came from the speaker — and amidst it, you could hear the wet, gut-churning sound of a knife twisting in flesh.
“Mmph… mmph!”
Someone had covered the announcer’s mouth.
All she could manage were muffled whimpers of pain.
Before long, there was a thud — and then only the harsh crackle of static.
Silence fell.
“Wha…”
A chill ran down Su Xinran’s spine.
So this is… the Wildborn’s method?
Though she hadn’t seen it happen with her own eyes, this was the closest Su Xinran had ever been to witnessing someone being killed — even in a world that had collapsed into ruin.
Just hearing the broadcast made her legs feel weak, as though she were stepping on clouds.
She had to stomp hard to regain feeling in her feet.
indiscriminate violence, no mercy — not even toward ordinary people.
This is what the Wildborn are like…
“Hey, hey! Can everyone hear me?”
Suddenly, a hoarse male voice came over the loudspeakers.
“I’m Gantz, a commander of the Wildborn. You may call me Lord Gantz. Now, please don’t panic, and don’t run.
Panic makes the meat all tough and stringy… and if anyone gets trampled in the chaos, that would be such a waste… Ah, losing even one kill would be a real tragedy for us.
So I, Gantz, humbly ask everyone: please, don’t run… Hehehe… the hunt… is about to begin… hehehehehe…”
The mad, sick laughter echoed across the training ground.
A few people began to react, fleeing toward the limited number of safe exits.
But most were frozen in place, paralyzed by fear from that disturbing voice, unable to move.
“BEEP!!!”
A sharp whistle pierced the air — snapping everyone out of their stupor.
“Don’t just stand there! Everyone move — go! Go!”
One of the examiners was the first to react, blowing the whistle hanging around his neck.
“Damn it… Keke!”
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