[Steam City, Gear Tower, Fifth Squad Assessment Ground]
"Brother Ink Wash, what do you think the association's next assessment will be?"
Seeing Tendo, who had also effortlessly passed the first stage of the Star Energy Water Screen assessment,
Yu Chen immediately approached him in a familiar manner.
While he appeared to be speaking to Tendo, the corner of his eye subtly bypassed Tendo, discreetly glancing at little Danica, who was tightly gripping Tendo's pant leg.
He seemed to be curious about something.
Noticing this, Tendo couldn't help but sigh, concluding that squinty-eyed people were indeed 'monsters.'
Everyone else assumed little Danica had luckily passed through the Star Energy Water Screen with his help.
But a few people present had noticed.
Little Danica had passed through the Star Energy Water Screen, which could interfere with the flow of Star Energy within a Star Envoy's body, by relying on her own 'strength.'
This five-year-old girl was, in fact, a formidable 'Star Envoy' herself.
And Yu Chen was one of the people who had noticed this.
That's why he couldn't help but try to test Tendo.
After all, this big and small duo seemed unassuming.
But Yu Chen somehow felt they were his biggest obstacle to becoming the captain of the Fifth Squad this time.
Tendo guessed his thoughts and replied gently, "Hmm, perhaps they'll have us spar with each other, or perhaps they'll arrange someone to assess us."
"After all, there aren aren't many of us left now."
Yu Chen nodded, looking around.
Apart from Kong Cheng, a Tier 2 High-Rank Red Cape Star Envoy, only he, Tendo, little Danica, and a reclusive Star Envoy who had lived in Steam City for a long time but never joined the association, remained after passing the first assessment.
The rest, as the assessor had just said, had tried their best but ultimately failed to pass the Star Energy Water Screen.
After all, the three hundred types of Star Energy fluctuations in that water screen were enough to disrupt the flow of Star Energy within a Star Envoy's body.
This made it impossible for those with insufficient control over their Star Energy to even resist the interference, let alone activate their "Star Source."
Soon, as the assessment time concluded,
among those who remained on the platform, besides little Danica, there were only four others.
At this point, everyone understood that the captain and vice-captain of the Fifth Squad would likely be chosen from these four.
Seeing that the time was right, the assessor returned to the stage.
"Congratulations to everyone who passed the first stage of the assessment. As for those who didn't succeed, there's no need to be disheartened. After all, everyone present here is already an elite of Steam City."
"Therefore, your failure is not shameful."
"Alright, those who didn't pass the assessment, please leave the venue in an orderly fashion."
"Because the next part is not something ordinary people can observe."
Hearing the assessor's words, the few who hadn't passed the first stage of the assessment left the venue.
Only Tendo and the others who had passed remained, patiently waiting for the assessor's next assessment arrangements.
To Yu Chen and the others' surprise,
the next assessment wasn't a spar between them.
Instead, a designated powerhouse would test them.
And according to the assessor, this person was a powerful individual of Branch Captain rank or higher, fully capable of testing them.
Upon hearing this, Kong Cheng, the Tier 2 High-Rank Star Envoy nicknamed 'Old Man Kong,' immediately became excited.
"Finally, something interesting."
The first stage of the assessment had been too humiliating.
He felt he needed to reclaim his pride as soon as possible.
Otherwise, where would he, a Tier 2 High-Rank Star Envoy, put his face?
But looking at the excited Kong Cheng, the assessor's gaze towards him was filled with sympathy.
Because if it had been the original assessment, Kong Cheng might have performed quite well.
However, due to someone's sudden whim, this assessment was already destined to make everyone present lose face.
After all, he couldn't imagine how these people could emerge completely unscathed from such a monster.
Thinking this, the assessor said in a meaningful tone, "Everyone, next... I wish you good luck."
With that, the original chief assessor left the venue.
Ding!
With a crisp elevator sound, an elevator outside the stage opened.
Under the curious gazes of Old Man Kong and the others, a brown-haired, red-eyed woman slowly emerged from the elevator.
She was a brown-haired woman with a powerful aura.
Standing at 1.75 meters tall, her brown hair was tied into a high ponytail, its ends slicing a sharp arc at her waist like a keen blade as she walked.
A black battle suit tightly enveloped her explosive physique, and on her exposed abdomen, there was a special 'star pattern' resembling a scar.
At the same time, an exaggeratedly long demonic blade was hung at her lower back.
Both the dimensional viewers and Tendo knew.
That mark on Chen Xing's abdomen was not a 'scar' at all.
It was a sign that Chen Xing had completed 'a Star Core Awakening', her unique 'Star Mark.'
Under the curious gazes of most of the participants, Chen Xing placed her right hand on the hilt of her demonic blade and slowly walked to the center of the stage.
She deliberately avoided looking at Tendo, who stood in the corner, and spoke calmly, "Three minutes. I'll only give each of you three minutes."
Saying this, Chen Xing raised a finger.
"For the first minute, I will use 20% of my strength."
"For the second minute, I will use 40% of my strength."
"For the last minute, I will use 60% of my strength."
"And there are two conditions for you to pass the assessment—"
She paused, her gaze feigning a sweep across the entire venue, but lingering for a moment longer on Tendo and Danica.
Especially when she saw little Danica, who was still clutching Tendo's pant leg,
Chen Xing's red eyes imperceptibly constricted.
Fortunately, her control was astonishing, preventing others from noticing anything amiss.
Only Tendo and Butler Fu, who had followed her for years in the VIP room, caught that fleeting moment.
And that one glance instantly made Tendo feel a large, red 'Danger' sign appear in his head.
If his previous thoughts were merely speculation,
Then Chen Xing's fleeting glance undoubtedly confirmed his suspicion.
This Chen Xing... was indeed coming for him!
Thinking this, Tendo made up his mind.
No matter how Chen Xing tried to test him later,
he would hide as much as possible.
Otherwise, his hidden identity, which he planned to keep secret until the end of the second season, might be exposed prematurely here!
Just as Tendo was pondering how to avoid this 'crisis' that shouldn't have occurred,
Chen Xing finally spoke again.
"...Your first passing condition is to last three minutes against me."
"As for the second passing condition, I'll tell you once someone among you meets it."
"Alright, who wants to go first?"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Old Man Kong abruptly stood up, his face filled with indignation as he glared at the proud-looking Chen Xing.
"I know you're a Branch Captain-level powerhouse, but saying '20%, 40%'... that's looking down on people too much! At least—"
Before Old Man Kong could finish speaking, Chen Xing looked at him with an expressionless gaze.
In an instant, Old Man Kong felt as if he were drowned in an exaggerated tide of blood.
In this viscous, boundless tide of blood,
not only did breathing become a luxury for Old Man Kong, but he also saw countless corpses of Star Beasts and humans within this tide, causing immense shock to his heart.
How many Star Beasts and humans must one kill to form such a terrifying tide of blood?
Although this 'pressure' released by Chen Xing was brief,
it caused the Tier 2 High-Rank Old Man Kong to instinctively fall to his knees with a thud, soaked in cold sweat.
Amidst his lingering shock, Old Man Kong struggled to look up.
From that angle, he perfectly saw Chen Xing's condescending, indifferent red eyes.
Looking at the pale-faced Old Man Kong, Chen Xing said coldly, "Someone who can't even withstand my pressure isn't qualified for me to take them seriously."
"Because my blade isn't a toy for playing house with you."
Chen Xing's words were filled with contempt for Old Man Kong.
It was as if the person before her wasn't a powerful Tier 2 High-Rank Star Envoy at all, but merely an ordinary ant.
Yet, despite such almost arrogant tone and expression, no one, including the dimensional viewers, felt there was anything wrong with what she said.
Not even Old Man Kong, who had just been so indignant, was an exception.
Because at this moment, Chen Xing truly possessed such power.
However, hearing Chen Xing's familiar words now, and seeing the familiar arena setting,
Tendo suddenly had a strange sense of déjà vu.
Because this scene... he felt like he had seen it somewhere before!
Star, not only did you change the script without permission, but you're also stealing my script!
And Tendo wasn't the only one who noticed this; so did the dimensional viewers in reality...