Chapter 673: Five Phases
The three minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
When the time ended, a mentor, following Bai Yuechan's signal, shouted loudly:
"All students, step forward to touch the gates of the mystic realm. Once inside, choose your difficulty level for the demon soldiers!"
"Take note..."
"If you find yourself outmatched, crush the scroll to teleport out immediately!"
"If you're too slow, you'll bear the consequences!"
Swish!
As the mentor's words fell, the students quickly approached the center of the hall, moving toward the scarlet gates emanating an ominous aura.
The energy emanating from the gates was wild and violent.
"So these are the mystic realms where the demon soldiers are sealed?"
"The malevolence is indeed exceptional!"
"Even the waves from legendary trial dungeons can't compare to this realm's aura!"
Ling Zhan also stepped forward to touch the gate.
Feeling the malice radiating from the scarlet door, he could sense an overwhelming bloodthirst.
Most importantly...
The malevolence of the abyss demons could influence the mind; the moment Ling Zhan touched the scarlet gate, a sudden surge of 'rage' rose inexplicably in his heart.
As everyone connected their thoughts to the scarlet gates.
Identical window templates appeared in everyone's minds.
[Mystic Realm: Demon Soldier Prison.]
[Level: Above Level 100.]
[Difficulty: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.]
[Number of Participants: 1.]
[Note: This realm imprisons abyssal prisoners from the battlefield of Ten Thousand Demons, powerful and not to be underestimated.]
...
Clearly.
The armies of various nations had repurposed captured or defeated demon soldiers from the battlefield of Ten Thousand Demons as assessment targets, imprisoning them in this mystic realm.
This could be considered effective utilization.
Each student needed to slay one demon soldier to pass the assessment.
Rankings were determined by the time taken and the difficulty level chosen.
Quickly...
Within half a minute, all 3,000 White Tier students of the Sacred Academy had entered the Demon Soldier Prison dungeon.
Most chose the intermediate difficulty.
Intermediate demon soldiers ranged from Level 100 to Level 120.
It was a level where most White Tier students could at least escape unscathed, even if they couldn't win.
Following Bai Yuechan's signal.
A massive holographic projection screen lit up in the hall.
The screen displayed numerous split views, each showing a student undergoing their mystic realm assessment.
"Woohoo! Straight into action!"
On one screen.
A Level 100 fourth-tier Mechanic pilot in a towering mech engaged in his first clash with a Level 108 demon soldier.
This demon soldier appeared to belong to the Blood Red type of the Ten Thousand Demon Clan.
Its body was crimson and covered with demonic runes, with four muscular arms and a grotesque, monstrous face, complete with sharp fangs and a terrifying aura of abyssal malevolence.
It was said that mere exposure to this aura could drive an average person insane instantly.
Even seasoned Professionals would have their minds severely affected, potentially transforming into demons if they lived long under its influence.
These were not exaggerations or hearsay but conclusions drawn from countless battlefield veterans.
At this moment.
The long-imprisoned demon soldiers' abyssal aura had permeated the mystic realms. The students had to first contend with this unsettling malevolence upon entry.
The fourth-tier Mechanic sat in his mech's cockpit, using the special materials of the mech to fully block out the abyssal aura, shielding himself from its effects.
He then piloted the towering, destructive mech—every man's dream machine—into a relentless barrage of bullets against the ferocious Blood Red demon soldier.
Watching the bullet casings pile up like mountains, it was evident why the Mechanic profession was called a "rich man's class."
The cost of this assault alone would bankrupt Professionals from poorer families.
Meanwhile, the demon soldier roared in defiance. Despite the unending hail of bullets tearing into its skin and muscle, it showed no signs of retreat.
Notably...
These bullets were enchanted with armor-piercing, explosive, and other deadly effects.
Yet, even so, the Level 108 demon soldier displayed no fear, advancing into the storm of bullets that exploded on its body.
In mere moments...
The demon soldier had sustained severe injuries!
Witnessing this, anyone unfamiliar with abyssal monsters might laugh and prematurely celebrate, thinking demon soldiers were nothing special.
However, those who knew demon soldiers would not laugh. Instead, they'd wear grim expressions.
Abyssal monsters grew stronger the longer they fought.
From birth, they inherited an innate abyssal immortality technique.
The more severe their injuries, the more their fighting spirit was heightened, significantly boosting their combat power.
They also possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities.
Sure enough.
Under the Mechanic's bombardment, the heavily injured demon soldier let out a furious roar. Its massive, towering body trembled, and its wounds began healing at a visible rate. A surge of increasingly violent energy radiated outward!
"This student is impressive. In less than thirty seconds, they've already forced the demon soldier into its second rage phase!"
The mentors, observing the scene, acknowledged the Mechanic's damage output.
Demon soldiers had five rage phases.
Each phase brought significant changes to their power, becoming more challenging with each stage.
Generally speaking.
To hunt a demon soldier above Level 100, at least three Level 100 fourth-tier Professionals needed to cooperate, dividing responsibilities to take it down.
But this was the final assessment at the world's top academy.
Every student was required to complete the task solo.
Boom!!
Suddenly, the Mechanic's screen emitted the sound of an explosion.
The mentors glanced over, their expressions immediately becoming serious.
The Mechanic's mech arm had been forcefully torn off by the second-phase raging demon soldier.
Boom!!
The sounds of explosions echoed not only from the Mechanic's screen.
In other screens showing other students, similar struggles were evident as demon soldiers entered their second rage phases.