Chapter 162: The Trial’s Crucible

After the initial shock, everyone realized that trouble could ensue, and the entire hall plunged into chaos.

Exactly.

They might not know how Yenir managed to burst onto the 24th floor, but in their minds it had to be through a bloody battle that came with a huge price!

In the worst-case scenario, his drive for speed meant he was resorting to a reckless, injury-for-injury approach.

It’s not unheard of!

Deaths happen during the trials too! After the Doomsday eruption, many Third-Stage fighters had no choice but to begin the trial relying solely on their basic strength due to a scarcity of resources—entire groups fell! Some had the rare gift of growing stronger as their injuries worsened.

Just like Fang Hao once did—harnessing the power of ever-deepening wounds, he nearly lost his life!

If Yenir suffers severe injuries without immediate aid, the loss would be enormous!

Under the urgent questioning of the Middle-Aged Man, Yang Guoping stared anxiously at the information board in his hand.

Only seven seconds left!

Just a few seconds remain until the next mutant spawns.

Yet inside the Trial Tower, Yenir shows no sign of emerging.

“We can’t get through!”

“All communications are blocked inside the Trial Tower to prevent any potential cheating in the trials!”

Panic rising, Yang Guoping felt like he was about to go mad—as if he were an ant sizzling on a hot pan.

The moment he finished speaking, the expressions on Fang Hao’s and Commissar Hu’s faces darkened instantly.

They had never imagined they’d be anxious over an Awakener climbing so high—what a heart-stopping thought!

Holding his breath as all eyes fixed on him, Yang Guoping gripped his information board so tightly it was as if he were silently pleading.

My little prodigy—don’t push any further!

Come out!

If he could be reached now, Yang Guoping would dash over and bellow in Yenir’s ear, “Do you know how many top brass are worried sick about you?!”

Four seconds…

Three seconds…

One second…

As the countdown ticked down, Yang Guoping’s face turned deathly pale, and the other senior officials were no better.

It’s over!

That once so arrogant youth apparently still intends to press on!

But just as the countdown nearly hit zero, a new message flashed on the board.

“Beep. Trial Participant Yenir has halted the Strength Trial.”

Stunned, Yang Guoping felt like a drowning man suddenly hauled onto shore—his emotions roiling as sweat drenched his back.

“Yang Guoping?!”

“Did he trigger the next level?!”

“What about Yenir?! What happened to him?!”

They shouted in anger.

Everyone watched the dumbfounded Yang Guoping as Fang Hao stormed forward and seized him by the collar.

“What are you spacing out for?! Don’t you know we’re all waiting for news?!”

“No!”

“No!”

Coming back to his senses, a cold sweat streamed down Yang Guoping’s forehead. Under Fang Hao’s oppressive presence, he felt as if he were confronting a top predator—with each breath becoming a struggle.

“He’s stopped! Yenir has chosen to stop!”

He blurted out.

Fang Hao and the other senior officials exhaled sharply in relief, their terror momentarily receding.

After a brief pause, Commissar Hu snapped back to reality and quickly demanded,

“Then what about him?!”

“Why hasn’t he come out?!”

“Where’s the announcement that the trial is over?!”

Listening to the frantic questions, Yang Guoping gulped and shifted his gaze back to the information board. After a brief hesitation, he managed a tentative,

“He seems to…”

“Be gearing up for the next trial round?! He didn’t quit outright?!”

“Global announcements only come after the trial concludes!”

With that, everyone present gaped in disbelief, and even the Awakeners waiting for the Agility Trial felt a chill of unease.

“Continuing the trial?!”

“Does he think the next round is about Willpower?!”

………

Inside the Trial Tower, Yenir, exasperated, jabbed the tip of his sword into a splatter of mangled flesh on the floor.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations of a relentless bloodbath.

Other than a scrape on his left arm on the 20th floor that left a mark, the following floors were dreadfully dull.

Standing by the respawn point, the moment a mutant appeared he unleashed a sword technique that one-shot it—so simple, he didn’t even need to adjust his angle.

“Invincibility is pretty boring, after all…”

Yenir sighed inwardly.

His frustration mostly stemmed from the mutant on the 23rd floor—a rare crystal mutant.

This mutant, resembling a raw piece of ore, would explode and drop a rare material upon defeat—boosting Willpower by at least six points for Third-Stage fighters! Its value was astronomical!

In his previous life, there were only two recorded kills of this mutant throughout the entire Huaxia Battle Zone.

He thought his luck was impeccable, managing to snag such a prize during the trial. But after he dispatched it in one swift stroke, nothing dropped!

“What a letdown…”

“This system is unbelievably stingy—no loot at all from that mutant…”

After a few grumbles aimed at the system, Yenir shook his head and prepared for the next round of the Agility Trial.

He still had two sword techniques at his disposal: Dimensional Slash and Fallen Heaven.

After much deliberation, as the mutant was about to respawn on the 24th floor, he decisively chose to withdraw.

In his judgment, he had secured the global top rank; pressing on further was pointless. It was better to save his sword techniques for the remaining trials.

Not quitting was purely due to an invisible system rule.

For Awakeners in continuous trials, scores accumulate; quitting midway forfeits the bonus rewards.

In a way, it was the system testing the limits and resolve of the Awakeners.

For that reason, Yenir wouldn’t give up on the reward under any circumstances.

Though his stamina was depleting, he believed he could endure… With Dimensional Slash in hand, the Agility Trial should present little challenge. After all, no Awakener can be faster than instantaneous teleportation!

…….

“He really chose to continue the Agility Trial?!”

Amid mounting worry and shock, both Fang Hao and Zhang Long sported baffled expressions as they reluctantly accepted the truth.

Clutching his information board, Yang Guoping nodded in perplexity before managing a bitter smile.

“Yes, it was his own decision.”

Indicating the now blue vortex, Fang Hao could only offer a helpless shrug.

“Doesn’t this kid need a break?”

“What trial is he even in? He could just step out now!”

“He wouldn’t feel his performance was lacking and want another go at the Agility Trial, would he?!”

They couldn’t understand Yenir’s actions, but at least they surmised that if he could drop the 24th floor, he wasn’t completely off his rocker.

The Agility Trial is all about dodging attacks; if things go awry, one can simply quit—generally, there’s little danger.

Sighing, Fang Hao waved his hand.

“Since he’s started, let it continue.”

“Could it be that his talent even includes an Agility trait?!”

They murmured in disbelief, and even with his extensive insight, Zhang Long couldn’t fathom what Yenir was truly up to.

Upon receiving the order, the various Second-Stage fighters—who had planned to show off their skills—realized bitterly that no one cared about them.

“Why must we be in the same trial batch as Yenir?”

“Can’t they give us a fair chance?”