The fourth star ring cleared out the parliamentary hall and set up the star network connection pods.
Nearly 1,000 silver whole-body pods were placed there, gleaming with a silvery light. You could tell just by looking that they were incredibly valuable.
Melina, the Director of the Education Bureau, spoke first: “This is a highly anticipated exam. Every move you make will not only be recorded by ‘Nuwa’ but will also be broadcast live in front of everyone.”
“Your seats are randomly assigned. The whole-body pods will provide the energy your body needs. Once you enter the star network, the realism will reach 99.9%.”
Melina said seriously, “I hope all of you will treat this exam as a real battlefield. Do not hold onto any wishful thinking. Next, we will hand over command to ‘Nuwa’.”
A voice came from the speakers in the parliamentary hall: “Attention, examinees. Please enter your designated whole-body pod within 10 minutes. The pod numbers have been sent to everyone’s personal AI.”
Lin Xiaohe glanced at her personal AI. It showed [Pod: 01].
01, that was the conspicuous one placed right at the very front.
In that entire row, there was only that one whole-body pod.
Lin Xiaohe clicked her tongue softly, wondering if this was deliberately arranged by “Nuwa.”
But it didn’t matter. Her excellence shone as brightly as the moon at night; even if she tried to stay low-key, she couldn’t hide her brilliance.
Lin Xiaohe was very confident. At least half of the viewers watching this competition were here to see her.
Ignoring the subtle glances coming from all around, Lin Xiaohe strolled leisurely to the very front and nimbly climbed into the whole-body pod.
Inside the hall, some faint, disdainful snickers could be heard.
Once all the examinees were ready, “Nuwa” officially opened the examination field.
Lin Xiaohe felt her consciousness, as if weightless, being pulled into a vast emptiness.
Streams of silver data, like rays of light, passed through her body.
[Examinee Lin Xiaohe, greetings. I am the chief examiner for this session, Nuwa. Please listen carefully to the rules for this exam.]
[Rule One: To ensure fairness in the exam, all examinees’ equipment will be uniformly issued by the Federation.]
[Rule Two: If you wish to withdraw from the exam, simply press the emergency distress button.]
[Rule Three: During the exam, do not overexert your mental strength or physical stamina. There is a risk of damaging your mental faculties and physical constitution.]
[The final interpretation of these rules belongs to Nuwa.]
As soon as this message ended, Lin Xiaohe was dropped into the star network examination field.
Bang!
A bomb fell from the sky.
Lin Xiaohe scrambled, rolling and crawling, to duck into a nearby crater.
She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, feeling a surge of fear. She had come close to being eliminated right upon arrival.
A notification sound from “Nuwa” came through her earpiece.
[Brave soldiers of the Federation, be advised: Capital Star has fallen. The enemy launched a blitzkrieg with a five-to-one troop advantage. The Federal Space Fleet has been completely annihilated, ground forces are surrounded and isolated, and supply lines are completely severed.]
[President Johnsen refused to surrender and called for resistance from all citizens, but was ultimately captured due to betrayal by a traitor.]
[Your mission is to rescue President Johnsen.]
[Number of Federal Action Team Members: 1035]
A very clear context and mission. Truly a production by “Nuwa.”
Lin Xiaohe felt a heavy weight in her heart. The little pink bug hadn’t come into the star network with her. What about Xinbao and the others?
Xinbao: [Xiaohe, we’re all here.]
The personal appearances and data in the examination field were scanned by “Nuwa” based on each person’s real data, replicated at a 1:1 ratio.
The relationship between Xinbao and the others and Lin Xiaohe had become that of a symbiotic entity after activating the [Five-Star Matrix].
So, “Nuwa” considered them part of Lin Xiaohe and projected them into the star network along with her.
Knowing she wasn’t fighting alone, Lin Xiaohe felt relieved and finally had the presence of mind to observe her surroundings.
This was an abandoned Federation artillery base, located on a hill surrounded by dense bushes.
Enemy fire whooshed overhead from the sky, landing near the base.
Lin Xiaohe lay motionless in the bomb crater. Not far away, a fierce exchange of fire was taking place.
It seemed to be at her two o’clock direction. Nearly a hundred enemy mechas were besieging a small Federation mecha squad.
Missile launchers occasionally emitted piercing shrieks, launching laser-guided missiles.
The Federation squad quickly fell into a disadvantage.
Hald turned on his communicator: “Calling for backup, calling for backup!”
Outside the examination field, people were discussing the examinees’ performances.
Melina: “Is this simulating the Battle of Serfa Star?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Examinees from the second and third star rings have studied this battle and know how to turn the tide. Examinees from the fourth star ring and Lin Xiaohe will be at somewhat of a disadvantage.”
The Deputy Director of the Third Star Ring’s Education Department said, “It seems ‘Nuwa’ has a very high evaluation of Lin Xiaohe’s abilities, which is why she was dropped on the outskirts of the capital city.”
Aside from Lin Xiaohe and Hald’s group, the other 1000-plus examinees were all dropped directly into the capital city.
Compared to these 1000 lucky ones, Lin Xiaohe faced the additional challenge of having to enter the city.
Cassian, who understood “Nuwa” better, said, “‘Nuwa’ always believes there’s a glimmer of hope in every situation. Hald’s group is the aid ‘Nuwa’ left for Lin Xiaohe.”
As long as Lin Xiaohe rescued Hald and his team, she would have a chance to approach the capital city.
Based on the previous two assessments, Lin Xiaohe appeared to be a very strong, confident, enthusiastic, and responsible qualified soldier.
How would she rescue Hald and the others?
But to everyone’s surprise, Lin Xiaohe showed no signs of taking any rescue action whatsoever.
She lay in the bomb crater like a real corpse, her breathing so faint it was barely perceptible.
Lin Xiaohe kept her eyes tightly shut.
There was no way she was going to rescue them!
She had no weapons, no mecha. How was she supposed to fight the enemy?!
The trails of missile smoke crisscrossed, filling the entire battlefield.
The sound of energy cannons and the explosions of artillery shells seemed to be playing a symphony together.
Lin Xiaohe lay there, perfectly peaceful.
But this peacefulness was not what the audience and “Nuwa” wanted to see at all!
They wanted to see combat! Whether using intelligence and wit or overwhelming strength, they wanted to see action, not just lying around doing nothing.
“Well, this is just…” Cassius frowned deeply, completely unable to understand how someone so timid could have been chosen by Marshal Chu.
Evander was also frustrated.
You could find someone with better performance than Xiaohe anywhere at the Central Military Academy!
“Is she planning to lie there until the end of time? But their mission is to rescue the President! If Lin Xiaohe can pass the assessment with this kind of performance, I’ll have no choice but to suspect foul play.”
Various discussions buzzed around. So far, Lin Xiaohe had shown none of the fighting spirit expected of a soldier.
Wesley said with dissatisfaction, “What do you know?! Having fighting spirit doesn’t mean being stupid. In this situation, anyone who attacks would die!”
Someone retorted, “Right near Lin Xiaohe, there’s an intact mecha with a full set of weapons. She’s perfectly capable of getting into that mecha and going to rescue them.”
“That’s right. Lin Xiaohe is just being a coward. That’s why she doesn’t dare to go.”
Wesley stiffened his neck and said, “Lin Xiaohe has her reasons for doing this.”
“What reasons?”
Wesley said confidently, “I don’t know! How could I possibly guess the thoughts of someone at her level?”
“Tch!”
