Chapter 674: A Clash of Testing and Destiny

Fire Wolf Team Ye Ming, Second-Stage, SSS-Level!?

“Stop! All units, hold your positions!”

On the ninth underground level, a soldier verifying IDs stared in astonishment at the ID card presented by Yenir, instinctively raising his gun to take aim.

Yenir, intentionally probing the base’s underground layout, trailed behind the other survivors, being among the last to enter this section with Ming Luo and the rest.

To the eyes of numerous soldiers—many rated B or even C—Yenir’s sudden appearance was as if a faker infiltrated their ranks, utterly out of place!

When he detected the unmistakable aura zeroing in on him, Yenir froze for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief.

He wasn’t overly worried; his identity was backed by a Rebel High-Ranking Officer. A quick word with his superiors would suffice.

What baffled him was the soldiers’ reaction, clearly revealing that the base had been staffed last minute, with internal communications lagging.

(On the bright side, the Rebels aren’t as vigilant as I once thought. That plays to my advantage.)

Ever adept at noticing the smallest clues, Yenir exhaled in relief, realizing these high-ranking Rebels hadn’t been in place for long.

His arrival had effectively upended the Rebels’ original scheme.

The plan to mass-produce him must have only just begun.

Chances are the Rebels hadn’t made significant progress—indeed, the thought of facing dozens, even hundreds, of his kind gave him chills.

Before long, amid the rising commotion, the soldier in charge of checks quickly contacted a higher-ranking officer.

After a few furious shouts over the communicator, the leading Second-Stage Peak Fighter hurriedly opened the metal door, repeatedly apologizing to Yenir.

“Sorry, sorry! We’ve arranged a resting spot for you at the base. Our orders specified that one special Awakener was to be sent directly to the twelfth level.”

“We weren’t informed that you’d be staying with everyone on the ninth level.”

Clank—

As the heavy metal door creaked open to a chorus of gasps, Yenir only smiled and led his group inside.

“It’s all good, officers. I too applied for a layer change at the last minute.”

“So, does that mean we’re going to be here for a long while?”

Without leveraging his status, Yenir calmly inquired as he quickly handed a pack of cigarettes to the guard.

He knew full well that his SSS-Level rating and his innate talent weren’t the same. Within the Rebels, he was seen as an excellent test subject rather than a cherished prodigy. The soldiers’ courtesy was due to high-level orders, not his true identity.

The guard, surprised by Yenir’s smooth move, couldn’t help but gape in astonishment.

After a brief hesitation, the guard hastily tucked away the cigarettes; in the underground base, they were hard currency.

“Thank you, sir. How long you hold onto them depends on when you hit Third-Stage.”

“But your test might start later than the others—probably tomorrow afternoon—while the rest might begin tonight and continue until tomorrow.”

“If things move fast, you might be stuck here for around three months. As for you… who knows. Maybe…”

Murmuring in a low, hurried tone, the Squad Captain gave Yenir a meaningful smile.

Technically, such information wasn’t supposed to be disclosed, but seeing Yenir’s cooperative demeanor, he didn’t mind sharing a few extra details.

As soon as the words settled in, Yenir’s pupils narrowed, and a heaviness gripped his heart.

He wasn’t mistaken; compared to the surface officers, these guards clearly had a better idea of what was about to unfold below.

Could it be that his test was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon—or even later?

He had already arranged for an officer to contact the higher-ups immediately after his test. Even a day’s delay was something Yenir found unbearable.

Moreover, separate tests meant that if anything went awry, who knew what mishaps might befall Ming Luo and the others? He’d barely have time to react!

Suppressing the rising unease, Yenir feigned curiosity and pressed on:

“Sir, why can’t I take the test tonight? A high-ranking official I met earlier—a prominent figure with a scar on his nose—claimed that if I complete the next test, you’ll help me break through to Third-Stage, maybe even unlock boundless potential!”

“You know, out here scavenging for supplies, our hunger for power is unending. And besides…”

Without hesitation, Yenir tossed over the Credit Points Card awarded by the Rebels—a few thousand points, which he didn’t care about at all.

After casually recounting a conversation he’d supposedly had with that high-ranking Rebel, Yenir looked earnestly at the guard.

Sure enough, upon hearing him mention that prominent figure, the Squad Captain’s eyes widened in shock, blurting out:

“General Cheng Hai himself saw you!?”

Barely finishing his sentence, the Squad Captain realized he’d divulged too much. Considering his earlier favorable impression of Yenir, his deference only grew.

After a moment’s internal struggle, he lowered his voice and forced a wry smile:

“Little brother, I really shouldn’t be sharing this. Your test is unique, and many higher-ups will be present—albeit only within the base.”

“So, the preparations took longer than expected, and you’ll most likely be absorbed into some organization…”

“There’s no way to run a test in advance. Just get some rest tonight. If you need any help, I’ll do what I can.”

Recognizing the high-ranking official Yenir had described, the Squad Captain’s estimation of him soared even higher.

Frankly, none of them fully understood this so-called resonance rating. But if this young man received a personal promise from that major figure, it was undeniably extraordinary.

(No way to push it earlier? And with higher-ups watching the test?)

Yenir’s eyes flashed as he sensed the Squad Captain’s attempt to ingratiate himself; he clearly wasn’t one to lie.

Yet, Yenir wasn’t about to back down.

“Then, sir, since I can’t take the test early, could I at least join my teammates? No, I know my test is different from theirs. But as brothers in arms, if such a significant event is unfolding, I want to see it.”

“Besides, I’m not feeling confident. With so many bigwigs present tomorrow, I’d like to give it my best to see what the test is truly like.”

Feigning concern for his comrades, Yenir wasted no time; if he could witness what Ming Luo and the others would soon face, he could better gauge what tomorrow’s test held.

Otherwise, if another mishap occurred, he’d truly lose it and go on a rampage ahead of schedule!