24: Chapter 24 An Impenetrable Defense and an Unsolvable Mechanism

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Everyone was so stunned by this beautiful yet terrifying power that they lost their voices.

Even the instructor in charge of monitoring stood with mouth agape, staring at the completely wrecked area, unable to utter a single sound for a long while.

In the viewing area, Laya hugged Li Yuan's arm in slight astonishment, murmuring to herself:

"Tier 3! This is Tier 3 power! Such a young Tier 3!!"

Elia, standing in the arena, seemed oblivious to the destruction she had caused; she calmly walked out of the ruins and gave a slight nod toward Li Yuan and Laya.

Li Yuan's pupils constricted, and a chill ran through his heart.

Tier 3! That Tier 3 that required 1 million essence!

This girl had awakened less than two months ago!!!

...

The test continued, but the atmosphere was distinctly different; the subsequent A-rank freshmen also tried to showcase their talents.

But compared to Aria's stunning performance, they all seemed to pale in comparison.

Li Yuan and Laya sat in the waiting area, continuing to wait.

Aria did not leave after her test; she sat beside them, waiting for their turn to finish.

"Next, Li Yuan. Talent: [Light Energy Messenger], B-rank. Test item: Summoned Unit Comprehensive Assessment."

Hearing his name, Li Yuan patted the back of Laya's hand, signaling her to let go, and then calmly walked toward the central exhibition platform—the platform had been urgently repaired so that subsequent demonstrations could continue.

He stepped onto the platform and stirred his mind.

A soft light condensed in front of him, quickly outlining a human shape.

A moment later, a Light Guardian, about two meters tall, composed entirely of light, clad in full-body heavy armor, and holding a shield and sword, stood solemnly on the platform.

"Summoned unit is in position. First, we will conduct the attack power test." The instructor in charge of guiding came through the loudspeaker, "Please have your summoned unit attack the standard alloy target post in front."

Li Yuan issued the command.

The Light Guardian walked with steady steps to the one-person-tall special alloy target post, raised its light sword, and slashed forcefully at the target.

"Clang!" A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out.

The light sword left a shallow white mark on the surface of the target post, less than a centimeter deep; relative to the thickness of the target post, it was almost negligible.

The testing equipment displayed a pathetic number—Attack Intensity Rating: F-rank.

An irrepressible murmur of whispers immediately broke out in the auditorium.

"B-rank talent? Just this?"

"This attack power... I'm afraid it can't even cut through a Drone's carapace, right?"

"The summoned beast's attack is so weak, and the main body is also Light-type; isn't this just a pure accessory?"

"Could it be a fake B-rank? What kind of luck did he have to be recommended here?"

The voices of doubt buzzed like gnats.

Even the department mentors on the high platform furrowed their brows, clearly disappointed by the strength displayed by the Light Guardian.

Li Yuan's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard those discussions.

Whether his baby was useful or not, having spent over half a month on the battlefield, how could he not know?

This was just an entrance test; there was no need to show some of the more core aspects.

"Attack test concluded. Next is the speed and reaction test." The instructor's voice remained steady.

The test item involved passing through a passage filled with crisscrossing energy rays.

As the command was given, the Light Guardian, which had previously appeared steady and even somewhat cumbersome in its steps, suddenly turned into a streak of white light!

"Whoosh—!"

Its speed was astonishing; it moved flexibly through the dense network of energy rays, sometimes coming to a sudden stop, sometimes turning back, its movements incomparably fluid, and all predictive ray attacks missed completely!

The final score far exceeded the excellent standard line; the instrument rating was: Speed A++ rank, Reaction Sensitivity A++ rank!

The discussions in the auditorium quieted down a bit.

A summoned unit with such high speed was indeed rare; although its attack power was lacking, at least its mobility was excellent. Perhaps it would be useful for reconnaissance or containment?

"Speed and reaction test concluded. Finally, we will conduct the defense test." The instructor's voice had not changed.

The defense test was evaluated by attacking with weapons of different power levels.

In the first round, several standard "Thunderbird" Type-III light energy rifles fired simultaneously. The energy beams hit the light shield raised by the Light Guardian like rain hitting banana leaves; the light shield did not move a bit, not even a ripple appeared.

In the second round, a handheld "Armor Breaker" plasma cannon fired. A scorching plasma ball hit the light shield, exploding into a blinding mass of energy fluid. After it dissipated, the light shield remained intact.

In the third round, a fixed "Punisher" automatic turret swept across. Large-caliber armor-piercing shells poured down like a metal storm, hitting the light shield and causing continuous explosions. The warheads deformed and ricocheted one after another, but the light shield still showed no reaction.

In the fourth round, small "Hellfire" missile attacks occurred. Two plasma explosive shells trailed with exhaust flames and hit the target. The violent explosion shrouded half of the platform in fire and smoke. When the dust settled, there was still no change.

...

The test intensity continuously increased, from individual weapons to vehicle-mounted energy cannons, and then to continuous bombardment simulating small naval guns!

The Light Guardian always remained like a reef that had existed since ancient times; no matter the raging storms, it remained unmoved.

That seemingly thin light shield seemed to isolate all damage.

The auditorium had long been silent; everyone was stunned by this defense power that exceeded their understanding.

"Final item, simulating 'Sun' class frigate main gun, low power mode, equivalent armor-piercing explosion!" the instructor announced with a hint of trembling in his voice.

A thick, crimson energy beam exuding an aura of destruction roared out from the simulator at the top of the venue, instantly engulfing the Light Guardian on the platform!

The entire arena trembled slightly from this terrifying energy fluctuation, and the scorching heat wave even made the audience in the front row feel a stinging sensation on their skin.

The light lasted for several seconds before slowly dissipating.

Everyone held their breath and looked toward the platform.

The Light Guardian was still standing! The color of the light shield in its hand seemed a bit dimmer than before, but that was all! It didn't even take a half-step back!

"Impossible!!" someone exclaimed in shock.

"What... what kind of defense is this?!"

"It even withstood a frigate main gun (simulated)? You must be kidding!"

On the high platform, several directors had already stood up, staring intently at that glowing figure.

"I don't believe it!" an instructor from the military couldn't help but roar, "This kind of defense power is unheard of! Elia! Use your talent to test it!"

Elia seemed very interested in this matter; she rushed onto the exhibition platform rashly, ready to take action, but suddenly noticed Li Yuan standing nearby. Only then did she realize it was inappropriate and bowed slightly to ask for permission.

Li Yuan nodded slightly: "It's fine. Please go ahead."

Elia did not hesitate any longer; she took a deep breath, and her silver hair fluttered without wind. She did not use the attack that would destroy the entire exhibition platform again.

Instead, she pointed two fingers like a sword toward the Light Guardian. A ray of moonlight fell upon it, covering the Light Guardian, and then an ice sword several meters long fell like a meteor, smashing onto the Light Guardian's head!!

The ice sword shattered with a bang, cold air overflowed, and water vapor filled the air.

The Light Guardian was still standing, but it was completely encased in a huge block of ice, and the light on its surface became extremely dim, like a candle in the wind.

"Did it succeed?" someone whispered.

Just then, with a soft "crack...", a crack appeared on the surface of the ice block, and then the cracks spread rapidly like a spider web!

"Boom!"

The ice block shattered, turning into ice powder filling the sky! The Light Guardian's figure reappeared; the light on its body was nearly 3/4 dimmer than normal, making it appear somewhat "weak," but its structure was intact, and under Li Yuan's command, it could still move.

"Hiss—!"

A synchronized sound of gasping in cold air rang out throughout the venue!

Whether it was the Moonlight Condensing Ice attack exceeding the power of a frigate's main gun!!!

Or the B-rank summoned beast withstanding this blow, both were hard for people to accept!!!

The instructor from the military had eyes wide as copper bells, murmuring to himself: "This... this is much stronger than the mobile defense lines built by the Chiron's Children unmanned armor...!"

However, there were still more people who favored offense; Li Yuan's summoned beast baby caused some fluctuations, but it soon calmed down.

The test continued.

"Next, Laya. Talent: [Song of Light], B-rank. Test item: Auxiliary and Healing Ability Assessment."

It was Laya's turn. She smoothed her skirt and walked onto the test platform with light steps. Her stunningly beautiful face and unique temperament immediately attracted many gazes.

"Please demonstrate your basic healing ability; the target is the standard bionic trauma unit in front." the instructor instructed.

Laya nodded, a pure smile on her face. She extended her slender hand, and soft white light began to gather, like warm sunlight. She began to chant softly; the voice was ethereal and melodious, as if it were a song with strange magic.

"Song of Light..."

As she chanted, a warm and peaceful beam of light descended on the bionic unit that simulated a severe laceration. The wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye; the charred parts fell off, revealing new tissue—the standard effect of a B-rank Tier 1 healing spell.

At the same time, everyone surrounded by the singing felt their strength, defense, and spirit receive a significant enhancement.

"This is... a group buff aura? An effect attached to [Song of Light]?" an instructor looked at the monitoring data in surprise, "Healing spell triggering group buffs? This mechanism is rare, but still within the scope of understanding... Wait! The data is wrong!"

His exclamation attracted everyone's attention.

On the platform, just as Laya finished casting and the light of the healing spell began to recede, that song with strange magic sounded again, and immediately after, another healing spell fell...

The healing spell triggered [Song of Light], and [Song of Light] triggered a new healing spell!

These two skills had actually formed a self-looping, self-sustaining chain reaction!

"This... what is happening?!" The instructor in charge of monitoring looked at the crazily jumping data on the instrument and the healing and buff cycle that kept refreshing itself; he was completely dumbfounded.

"Skill chain? Self-perpetuating machine?"

"BUG! This is definitely a BUG in the skill mechanism!"

"No! Look at the light element concentration! She is consuming the light elements in the area to maintain this cycle! Until the light elements degrade to the point where they can no longer support the healing spell!"

On the high platform, all the department heads, including the previously excited military instructor, all stood up at this moment; their faces were no longer showing shock, but a kind of confusion and disbelief, as if they were seeing some kind of "paradox"!

A B-rank talent, a seemingly ordinary healing talent, had actually displayed such a near-BUG-like, unsolvable mechanism?!

Although the intensity of a single healing and buff was only at the B-rank level, what did this characteristic of infinite looping until the environmental energy was exhausted mean?

A single healing spell from her was an enduring field of healing. In a planetary battle, unless she was taken out at the start, the troops she was with would be more terrifying than the Zerg Tide.

"Although the intensity is limited to B-rank... but this mechanism..." a white-haired research department head adjusted his glasses, his voice dry, "Unheard of! Unheard of!"

"The practical significance... is huge!" the military instructor took a deep breath, trying to calm his churning emotions, "This is a strategic-level environment shaper!"

Li Yuan looked at the girl on the stage who came with an "Eternal Field," and the instructors and directors whispering below, helplessly rubbing his temples.

Life at this "Yanlong First Academy" seemed like it wouldn't be peaceful from the very beginning.