novelbin Chapter 484: Assessment Hub
Chapter 484: Assessment Hub
The following days were mostly uneventful for Liora.
Unlike her classmates, who had to work hard and practice in order to be admitted to a famous university, she didn’t have as many worries.
Most of her time was spent in the Information World, using the Battle Simulation to familiarize herself with the power system of this world.
After all, one could only deeply experience a power system during the course of a battle. The advantage of being able to adjust her enemies’ combat experience freely made this otherwise troublesome process even easier.
Aside from that, Liora spent the rest of her free time wandering outside the city, in the wilderness of the Nova Terra Planet.
Using her Predation talent, she quickly devoured the creatures and gained their talents, not only increasing her methods but also leading to qualitative changes in her power.
Under such a bizarre routine, time passed by very quickly.
In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had gone by since the Awakening of this year’s students.
This time window signified a massive change in the lives of most of them.
But perhaps more importantly, the end of the thirty-day period meant that the College Examination was finally about to begin...
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When Liora arrived at Helios High School, she found that the school grounds were mostly empty.
It was summer, and the lower-grade classes had already been dismissed for holidays just a few days ago.
The only students who could be seen within the grounds were graduates like her, who were getting ready to go through the assessment.
Looking at her nervous classmates, whom she had spent several years with, Liora couldn’t help but shake her head.
"This is the difference between living in a law-abiding society and one following the survival of the fittest.", she thought, observing the fidgeting youths coldly.
"Which Devil would become so anxious for a mere assessment? Even if it was supposed to determine their future, they would have the confidence to rise against all odds, even if they faced failure. Unfortunately, these people..."
She didn’t finish that sentence.
Humans in this world lived under the protection of the Human Federation from birth until they became Awakeners.
Due to several stringent rules, they didn’t have to worry about their safety and could live as ordinary citizens. It was only now, when they turned 18, that they had to care about the College Examination and finally face reality.
Though countless thoughts went through her mind, Liora didn’t pause her steps. Soon, she made her way towards the familiar hall, where a large number of people had already gathered.
She was among the last people to arrive. Only a few minutes later, the entrances of the hall shut on their own, and a female instructor appeared on the podium with a quick flash.
Yet, unlike the previous times they had met her, Elena this time appeared particularly stern.
A mighty pressure erupted from her body as she stared at the students below with an icy gaze, fully showcasing the power of a Rank 2 Awakener.
"I believe you guys have already prepared yourself mentally for today’s College Examination. Speaking to you at this time and encouraging you would be counterproductive."
"Since that’s the case, I’ll lead you to the assessment place right away.", she stated.
The moment her words fell, she slammed her right foot onto the metal floor. Instantly, the chairs that the students were sitting on were pulled apart from each other, while the floor in front of them rose.
Turning over as if an earthquake was occurring, metal pieces began to fuse, soon transforming into a futuristic blue capsule.
"The College Examination will take place within the Information World. However, since an assessment of your physical state has to be conducted, we can’t let you simply enter through your consciousness."
"This device, created by the Information World Company, can allow a part of your body to be physically transferred."
"Though it’s only a part, you should be careful. If you die within the Information World at this time, the separated part of your body will be gone forever."
Seemingly sensing the students’ curiosity, Elena broke her solemn facade for a brief moment.
"It’s rumored that powerful Awakeners do not need to use such a device. Their real bodies can enter the Information World directly with just a thought. Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly how powerful an Awakener must be to achieve this."
"Perhaps it’s Rank 6, 7, or even 8.", she shook her head.
Everyone here had visited the Information World and understood how shocking such information was.
At least, those who had experienced the Battle Simulation could guess the benefits of entering directly with their physical body.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have the time to contemplate this for long. Sensing their impatience, Elena regained her cold facade, instructing them on how to turn on the device.
Liora did as told. Compared to her classmates, she was not as anxious and even had the composure to observe the capsule itself.
Seeing the flickering lights and various distinct powers, which even she found difficult to distinguish, she couldn’t help but sigh, muttering that it deserved to be a world with suspected Prince of the Demon World-level beings.
Under Elena’s instructions, Liora lay inside and pressed the button on the left side, activating the capsule.
Instantly, the flickering lights grew even more intense. Liora sensed an inexplicable power wash over her body as if inspecting her state.
Within moments, it focused on a single cell of hers, "pulling" it upwards together with her consciousness.
The familiar sensation of her vision darkening appeared.
By the time she opened her eyes again, both the capsule and the hall were nowhere to be found.
Instead, she found herself in the Information World.
She had been here hundreds of times in the past and should not have been surprised.
Yet, Liora immediately sensed that something was amiss with her. Her eyes lit up as she investigated the source of this change.
"It seems that Elena’s words were correct. I can feel that a tiny part of my real body has been forcibly separated, brought into the Information World to create a ’real’ physical vessel to house my consciousness."
Liora estimated that this part was less than one thousandth of her total "volume". However, it made the experience much more vivid.
With a certain guess in her mind, Liora raised her hand and punched in the air in front of her.
As the wind whistled around her palm and struck the nearby wall, she realized that her strength had returned to Rank 1. This was not the illusory, simulated strength given to her by the Information World in the past, but her actual strength.
"The College Examination only assesses recently awakened students. It makes sense that it would limit the Awakener’s power to Rank 1.",
"However, a greater part has to be ’cut’ by the other students to obtain such strength. No wonder Elena specifically reminded us to be careful", she thought.
Just as Liora was about to investigate her state further, the scroll at the edge of her field of vision flashed red. The next moment, it rumbled, unfolding on its own.
A message shimmered into existence right before her, accompanied by a countdown.
"Awakener Liora Augustus, you are being forcibly transferred to: Assessment Hub."
"Please brace yourself for teleportation in 3... 2... 1..."