One hundred Five‑coloured Birds—but only fifty rings engraved with numbers. Which meant that, at most, fifty people could earn double points in the third stage.
There were still 159 in the jungle region… no—Lan Grace glanced at the figures projected from Zhao Qingyan's terminal.
Remaining: 136, 133, 127, 121…
In just a few breaths, the number of examinees in this region was dropping fast!
Beneath the seemingly calm surface, the instant this question was announced, civil war had already begun.
At such a rapid rate of decline, Lan Grace even wondered how many were team‑versus‑team—and how many were backstabs inside the same team.
The countdown to the appearance of the portals had begun.
Lan Grace's "seniors' dumbphone" terminal was completely useless here—there were no prompts of any kind.
Luckily, she was with Zhao Qingyan and could crib off her terminal to know the exact countdown.
Lan Grace was keyed up, waiting for the Five‑coloured Birds to appear. If luck was with them, perhaps a portal would open close by.
Suddenly, Zhao Qingyan gave a grave reminder. "If we run into a Five‑coloured Bird, don't worry about me—run."
Lan Grace: "???"
"Why run? Shouldn't we catch the prey on sight?" Lan Grace was baffled.
"There are only fifty rings with numbers. Catch one and there's one fewer!"
Zhao Qingyan was stunned.
She paused, then explained quickly while time was short. "The Five‑coloured Bird is extremely fast, can fly at low altitude, its talons are sharp enough to rake rock to pieces, and its beak is fiercer still—it can pierce steel, let alone flesh and blood like us.
"If you encounter one, survival comes first. The good thing is, under normal circumstances Five‑coloured Birds won't take the initiative to attack humans. If we meet one, we should back off and keep our distance—we'll likely be fine."
Lan Grace: "…"
She had been thinking of catching a bird and taking a ring to earn double points in the third stage—maybe then she'd have a better chance of staying at the Second Military Academy.
But now Zhao Qingyan told her these Five‑coloured Birds were strictly look‑but‑don't‑touch.
Then why release them as an assessment target?
And all those people now falling into infighting—didn't they know this?
Lan Grace's guess was right: few knew detailed information on the Five‑coloured Bird.
Zhao Qingyan did because of her family background and broad exposure. Two years earlier, by chance she had visited the Alliance Star's Institute of Biological Research with her elders and seen Five‑coloured Birds.
She remembered their stats vividly.
Even for her, facing a Five‑coloured Bird, there was no absolute certainty of taking it down.
Not because its combat power exceeded hers, but because of its speed and flight. Once it sensed danger and chose to flee, even Zhao Qingyan might not catch up.
The last ten seconds of the countdown ended. Across the vast jungle, one teleportation portal after another opened.
From each portal, one or two Five‑coloured Birds stepped out.
Just after hearing how dangerous the Five‑coloured Birds were and deciding to retreat at once if they met one, Lan Grace suddenly saw a portal open only a few metres away.
Out strutted a bird over a foot long, its feathers black, yellow, green, violet, red—five colours—a big rooster, shaking its comb, swaying its arched tail feathers, right in front of her.
Bright, beady black eyes; a sharp beak; neck stretched, chest thrust out; a strut punctuated by the occasional flap of its wings.
And those strong, powerful golden claws…
What Five‑coloured Bird?!
It was plainly a spirited, glossy‑feathered, top‑grade ingredient!
On the Waste Star, Lan Grace had once made Three‑cup Chicken for Captain Kate.
The "rooster" delivered then had been small, patchy grey‑yellow, listless—a sorry excuse of a bird.
Even so, the dish had won Captain Kate's high praise.
Now, looking at this so‑called Five‑coloured Bird, this great rooster—how fragrant would a Three‑cup Chicken be once plucked and cooked?!
No—far more than Three‑cup Chicken!
Fried chicken, roast chicken, chicken soup—all would be delicious!
She happened to have fresh wild mushrooms—stewed together, it would be perfect!
Lan Grace gazed dumbly at the Five‑coloured Bird. Zhao Qingyan saw her look and took it for terror at the bird's fierce bearing.
She had intended to step in front of Lan Grace and tell her to run first. But now it seemed she would have to grab the girl—who looked scare‑stiff—and flee with her.
Zhao had barely caught Lan's wrist when Lan, eyes shining with excitement, shook her off—then dashed straight at the Five‑coloured Bird!
"Lan Grace, are you mad?" Zhao Qingyan started, then sprang to block her.
But Lan Grace seemed possessed—unstoppable—charging directly for the bird.
As she ran, she shouted back, "Stop it! Don't let it get away! If we catch it I'll cook you something delicious!"
Zhao Qingyan: "???"
Could Lan Grace mean… what she thought?
She wanted to eat the Five‑coloured Bird?
Risk her life for food!
That was a Five‑coloured Bird! A ferocious fighter!
More importantly, this was the Second Academy entrance exam!
So bold—she even wanted to eat the exam question??
Seeing Lan Grace about to reach the bird, Zhao Qingyan no longer hesitated and lunged with her—not to help catch it, but to shield Lan from any attack the bird might launch.
Perhaps the hungry gleam in Lan Grace's eye was too intense. The predatory stare seemed to stir some ancient warning in the bird's blood.
At the sight of movement, the Five‑coloured Bird spun on its heel and—reflexively—ran!
This was nothing like Zhao Qingyan had expected. How could a creature so fierce turn tail the instant it saw Lan Grace?
And Lan Grace was in hot pursuit, relentless.
Clearly, she would not rest until it was caught.
Elsewhere near other portals, other examinees had, for good or ill, run into Five‑coloured Birds too.
Their ends, however, were the opposite of Lan Grace's…