“But considering the training camp’s usual ways, they’ll definitely try to target our team specifically, so we don’t have it too easy and can just breeze through the assessment.”
After everyone shared a laugh, Lin Zhen reminded them.
“I think they might separate us right at the beginning,” Yun Ruoxi raised her hand and said, “just like in the Squad Battle.”
Lin Zhen pointed at her. “Yeah, makes sense. If the training camp wants to make things hard for us, it’ll probably be during the landing on Taixing. Otherwise, if they interfere elsewhere, it’d be too unfair.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Lin Zhen continued, “So, considering this, I’ve prepared a little something I developed myself for everyone.”
Snap!
He snapped his fingers.
Seven iron coins, each the size of a button, floated up from behind him and hovered in front of everyone.
Yun Ruoxi curiously picked one up and examined it over and over.
Lin Zhen explained, “This is a signal receiver. With this, when we land on Taixing, we’ll know each other’s locations and can find our teammates nearby to regroup.”
“Another of Brother Zhen’s wonderful inventions? Little Aili’s got it now!” Aili giggled and slipped the coin into her pocket.
Compared to the others, she was the weakest, and truly needed something like this.
“I’ve also prepared some practical gadgets for each of you.”
Lin Zhen clapped his hands, and a few objects of various sizes floated up, landing in front of everyone.
As Lin Zhen’s mastery of advanced knowledge grew, he had invented many useful gadgets over the past year and distributed them to the team.
That’s why Aili was no longer surprised.
Since she was the weakest, most of Lin Zhen’s gadgets were developed specifically for her use.
She was, in a way, Lin Zhen’s top gadget tester.
And since this was the final assessment, destined to be dangerous and difficult—
Even though Lin Zhen rarely made gadgets for everyone, including Yun Ruoxi this time, nobody found it odd. Everyone took the items Lin Zhen had prepared and planned to try them out later.
“As for the Star Core… I know everyone’s a bit uneasy, but I believe…”
Lin Zhen’s gaze flickered, “In the end, we’ll have a perfect conclusion.”
“I’ve always believed,” Yun Ruoxi said with meaning.
“Doraemon, huh?”
“What’s this, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse now? Disney legal is watching.”
“Here comes the flag again.”
“The flags in ‘Stellar’ are legendary. Every episode has one, but none have ever worked.”
They discussed the final assessment for a long while.
It was as if everyone needed to voice their confusion and anxiety. Only when evening fell did they leave the training room.
Everyone returned to their dorms to pack, ready to face the last challenge of training camp life.
Yun Ruoxi pulled off the bionic skin on her arm, peeled away the blood scab, and stared at the fresh pink flesh for a moment.
Then she changed into her Starforce Battlesuit, zipped up her high-collared short jacket, and pulled on her tactical pants.
She pinned the signal transmitter Lin Zhen had given her onto her clothes, put on her shoes and socks, and turned to leave her room.
Unlike the other trainees, she didn’t need to bring any weapons.
Her own psychic power was the strongest weapon and armor, so she always traveled light.
Lin Zhen, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
Relying on metal manipulation in battle, he had prepared a whole pile of different alloys in advance, forming them into scales stuck onto his battlesuit.
The originally lightweight suit now became as thick as scale armor.
Besides that, he also had a backpack full of non-metal parts.
He could make metal parts himself, but these were the crucial pieces he needed to synthesize technological gadgets on the battlefield at any time.
Of course, the key non-metal components for the escape plan—the Zhe Yue Engine—were also hidden in the pack.
And the special alloy required for the engine was mixed in with the other alloys, only he could separate it out.
After finishing all the preparations, Lin Zhen shouldered his backpack, stood up, and tried moving a few steps using his abilities.
With so many alloy scales attached, the battlesuit was incredibly heavy. Just lifting his leg to step out was a struggle, as if trudging through thick marshes.
“Sure enough, I have to use my ability for help.”
Lin Zhen shook his head, decisively using his powers to lift the scales. Instantly, his whole body felt light.
His full-cycle star technique was enough to maintain his powers for twenty-four hours.
That’s why he dared to carry so much alloy on himself.
Anyone else, even if they could withstand the weight, would collapse from exhaustion sooner or later.
So even though Lin Zhen hated Dr. Forefinger, he still felt grateful for the effort Dr. Forefinger put into him.
Of course, he knew Dr. Forefinger only helped for the sake of his own research.
The two were merely using each other.
But that’s fine. Lin Zhen would repay Dr. Forefinger by using the abilities and star techniques he’d taught him to help Yun Ruoxi and the others escape this place—repaying his teacher’s kindness in his own way.
Beep!
His collar suddenly gave a crisp beep.
Lin Zhen turned to look at the dormitory door. Time was up; it was time to head to the mysterious Taixing.
He tightened his backpack straps one last time, then walked out of the dorm.
At the same time, doors to other dorms opened one by one, and fully armed trainees stepped out in succession.
Kaos, holding a long spear;
Yun Che, his belt bristling with daggers;
Zi Jiu, a straight sword on her left hip, a long blade on her right, a bow and arrows strapped to her back;
Anvil, hands wrapped in bandages, dressed like a fighter;
Aili, Starforce Battlesuit overlaid with colony armor and holding a shield for defense;
Yun Ruoxi, empty-handed, looking like she was out for a stroll;
And Lin Zhen, armed to the teeth, armored like a knight.
The contrast between them was stark, and the comments flooded the screen without pause.
“Xiao Xi looks sporty, Xiao Jiu is all business, eh, Xiao Ai looks…like a hedgehog?”
“Insulting Xiao Ai? Looking to get your head blown off by psychic power?”
“Isn’t Lao Xi just here for a picnic? Everyone’s all serious, loaded with gear, and she brings nothing, just grinning.”
“Lao Xi herself is the strongest weapon, duh.”
“Lao Lin’s getup is over the top, like a knight from the Middle Ages.”
The comments weren’t wrong. Compared to any trainee, Lin Zhen’s outfit was ridiculously over-the-top, turning heads everywhere he went.
When they reached the plaza, even Instructor Behemoth and the others couldn’t help but give him a second look.
“Doctor, the students you bring really are something else,” Instructor Behemoth turned and smiled at the doctor.
“His ability requires all that alloy. There’s no helping it.”
Dr. Forefinger looked at Lin Zhen coolly, his gaze sweeping over the alloy scales covering Lin Zhen.
Lin Zhen felt a bit nervous, but he didn’t believe the doctor could spot the special metal hidden among the alloys.
Soon enough, he calmed down, meeting Dr. Forefinger’s gaze with composure.
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