50: Chapter 50, Provincial Joint Examination, Begins!

Chen Mo looked at the sand and gravel mixed with blood beneath his feet and sniffed the thick scent of blood in the air, only able to marvel at how advanced modern technology truly was.

The battlefield in this simulation was incredibly realistic; everything around him felt completely real.

"Chen Mo! We guys are quite lucky!"

Wang Jun rushed excitedly to Chen Mo's side, slapped him on the back, and said.

"Indeed, our luck is quite good. Our Team 12 is likely the strongest team."

Chen Mo nodded. As soon as he finished speaking, several more figures materialized behind him.

Lin Ye, Xia Li, Su Qingyue, Wang Jun... and Zhuo Jida, along with Chen Mo, made up the six members of Team 12.

The six most formidable individuals from Long City and Luo City had come together, which caused their approval rating on the official website to skyrocket.

"So, how exactly do we earn these points?"

Chen Mo scratched his cheek and asked, looking at the giant crystal pillar at least seventeen or eighteen meters high behind him.

"I have no idea. This thing must be the Energy Hub, right?"

Lin Ye spread his hands. It was his first time participating in the Provincial Joint Examination, and no one had told him how to earn points either.

"Maybe we need to kill enemies?"

Wang Jun was also confused. When the Joint Exam started, they were just told to enter the simulation pod; nothing else was mentioned.

Could it be that they are testing their on-the-spot reactions?

"..."

Su Qingyue, who had been expressionless the whole time, frowned as if she had remembered something.

"I remember now!"

"This Simulated Defense Battle is based on the Great Catastrophe from forty-seven years ago!"

The previously expressionless Su Qingyue clapped her hands together, recalling this Great Catastrophe that only existed in legends.

"The Great Catastrophe?"

Upon hearing these three words, everyone except Chen Mo turned pale.

"What Great Catastrophe?"

Chen Mo looked at them with a bewildered expression; neither he nor his original self knew anything about a Great Catastrophe.

"Back then, this Great Catastrophe caused 76,000 casualties for the Northeast Military Department. The Vanguard Battalion and all Scout Squads were completely wiped out, which was the only way they managed to hold back the Abyssal Race army."

"The time period we are in now is most likely the most brutal mid-stage tug-of-war..."

"Later, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast Military Department used the energy generated by the self-destruction of 108 Energy Hubs to turn the tide of the war."

"That means... we have become the original Vanguard Battalion!?"

Everyone's expressions turned grim. Trying to protect the Energy Hub behind them while under siege by a million-strong army of the Abyssal Race was simply a fantasy!

"Don't be nervous. This is just a simulation; just do your best."

"Everyone is facing the same pressure as we are, so there's no need to be nervous."

Chen Mo didn't know much about that Great Catastrophe, so he wasn't as nervous as Wang Jun and the others.

"Right, just do our best."

Meanwhile, in the Joint Exam command room, Governor Sun Jingan was holding a cup of hot tea and sipping it slowly.

"Governor, is it a bit excessive to use the Great Catastrophe for the Simulated Defense Battle?"

Zhou Sanlang's brow was furrowed. Even those of them who were directors of the local Martial Education Bureau might not be able to withstand such immense pressure.

Let alone a group of children who had never experienced a bloody battle.

The ones responsible for these Energy Hubs back then were the battle-hardened Vanguard Battalion, and every single one of them was a top-tier expert capable of taking on ten opponents of the same rank.

"Excessive?"

Governor Sun Jingan raised an eyebrow and slowly set down the stainless steel teacup in his hand.

"This isn't my requirement; it's a unified requirement from above."

"This Provincial Joint Examination uses the Great Catastrophe Simulated Defense Battle uniformly. As directors of the local Martial Education Bureau, you should understand what this means, right?"

Zhou Sanlang was stunned, but he quickly understood.

"The pressure from the Abyssal side... is increasing?"

"Yes, and the randomness is becoming stronger as well."

Governor Sun Jingan nodded, his eyes turning somewhat heavy.

"Since last month, there have been no fewer than 17 random Abyssal Rift incidents across the country."

"And each appearance has been very sudden. While they haven't caused many casualties, they have caused great panic."

"The Abyssal side is ultimately unable to restrain itself much longer; I estimate that in a few years, another Great Catastrophe will repeat itself."

"These children have extremely high talent. If they are willing, there is a high probability that they will join the Vanguard Battalion and Scout Squads."

"Letting them adapt to the pressure of the Vanguard Battalion in advance means they won't react as strongly during the National Joint Examination."

"What!"

It wasn't just Zhou Sanlang who stood up abruptly; many other directors of the local Martial Education Bureau also showed expressions of shock and disbelief.

"Are you letting these children go to the border fortresses for the National Joint Examination?"

"I disagree, I do not agree!"

"Everyone shut up!"

Governor Sun Jingan slammed his hand on the table, his gaze sweeping over the agitated directors of the Martial Education Bureau.

"Watch quietly. These little brats are not as fragile as you imagine."

"Besides... warriors are born to fight."

"Attention, all candidates!"

"Attention, all candidates!"

"In this Joint Exam, you can earn 1 point for every Grade 1 Abyss Beast killed."

"Grade 2 Abyss Beast: 5 points."

"Grade 3 Abyss Beast: 20 points."

"Grade 4 Abyss Beast: 100 points."

"Abyss Warrior of the same grade: Points × 5!"

"For every wave of attacks successfully defended, the team's points increase by 100!"

Accompanied by a piercing warning sound, the ground around them began to tremble violently.

"The first wave of attacks from the Abyss Beasts and the Abyssal Race is about to begin!"

"Please prepare to respond, all candidates!"

"Please prepare to respond, all candidates!"

The trembling of the earth became more and more violent. Chen Mo could even faintly see groups of dark, looming shadows.

"What the hell!?"

"That's at least thousands of Abyss Beasts, isn't it?"

Zhuo Jida's eyes widened. Was this Provincial Joint Examination playing for such high stakes right from the start?

They weren't even giving them a moment to catch their breath!

"Prepare for battle!"

Chen Mo, on the other hand, was relatively calm. He tore off his shirt, and his heart began to beat violently.

This was not fear, but the excitement brought on by the madness in his bones!