Chapter 691: Perfect Level

Hearing many quick-reacting Awakened Ones nearby, they are already seeking to form teams.

Zeng Wu couldn't help but feel somewhat restless.

The people he brought not only had their strength patched to 29 points relying on equipment, but they also lacked even a single strength-system member.

This damned Doomsday System left him with no preparation at all.

With a thought.

After gauging his combat power, he strode toward Zhang Tie.

This bald, burly man looks like he should be a strength-system.

Moreover, his simple-minded appearance makes him seem easy to deceive.

Especially since the masked man is obviously excluded by the Huaxia war zone, he might be a lone wanderer who ran over on his own.

Anyway, with system protection, it's just trash talk—no loss of flesh.

"Masked kid, you dare provoke me?!"

He spewed poisonous mist from his mouth.

In his small eyes, Zeng Wu gave a malicious grin.

Although Lin An kept his head down thinking about something, in his view it was probably cowardice, not daring to face himself.

It's just this mask; its design feels a bit strange...

Psychic-system Awakened One?

Under system protection, he didn't notice the faint white light constantly shielding him, warding off the negative effects of the Death God Mask.

Seeing Lin An ignore him, Zeng Wu suddenly accelerated and lunged forward in a single step.

Like a tank, his whole body of bluish‑black fat quivered.

He swung a fist, appearing ready to smash Lin An into pieces.

"Get lost!"

In an instant, Lin An, who had been thinking, suddenly lifted his head and gave an icy stare.

His footsteps stalled.

The impact force from his inertia made him slam into Lin An.

But it was immediately blocked by a system white light.

In his imagination, the scene of the masked man being scared back by him did not happen.

And moreover...

For some reason, at the moment Lin An spoke, he suddenly felt a chill.

"Let me get lost?!"

Damn it.

What am I afraid of?!

With system protection, what am I afraid of?

Looking at the white light from the collision, Zeng Wu quickly came to his senses, his face darkening.

The sight of him stopping instantly was seen by the people behind in the war zone.

Ku Lunsi that worthless fool, is mocking me!

Zeng Wu was about to say something more when he noticed the eyes beneath the mask suddenly flash a silver light.

All he saw was a blinding milky‑white radiance erupting above his head.

"Buzz!!"

The light was intense, as if struck by a strong impact.

System protection kicked in again.

After a moment's daze, he realized that Lin An must have just launched an attack at him.

It was merely blocked by the system.

Fuming, he let out a bitter laugh.

Sure enough, a fragile mage!

The earlier unease quickly faded.

"Kid!"

"Don't think the system will always protect you!"

"If I run into you in the Trial Tower, I'll rip out your heart and let you..."

Beside him, Xiong Hanzi stared oddly at the endlessly chattering Zeng Wu.

Is this guy crazy?

He inexplicably ran over to provoke Lin Dui and spouted weird nonsense.

I've seen people courting death, but never someone this eager to die.

How can this brain be even more stupid than mine?

Poor Zeng Wu never expected that, at this moment, Xiong Hanzi had already slapped a 'moron' label on him.

After his outburst, Zeng Wu saw Lin An lower his head again, as if admitting defeat, and he couldn't help smirking inwardly.

Sure enough, the masked man is still afraid.

Unaware, Lin An's final glance at him was like looking at a corpse.

Regaining his composure, Zeng Wu abruptly turned his head to look at Zhang Tie.

"This friend."

"Your cowardly companion seems unable to join you in the Strength Trial."

「Follow me, great hatred! 」

「I can guarantee... 」

「Damn it, get lost!! 」

The words weren't finished yet.

Hatred stared blankly as Xiong Hanzi wore a face full of contempt, arms crossed, sneering at him.

That expression was even more arrogant than his.

「What did you say...!? 」

「I'm telling you, you motherfucker, get the hell away from me! 」

Zhang Tie looked impatient.

A big hand like a cattail fan suddenly swept over.

White light surged.

If not for the system's protection, he would have already pinched this hatred to death.

You dare disturb Lin Dui?

Watch me shove your head up your ass!

Hatred's facial muscles trembled with anger.

He was always the one threatening others; when had he ever been humiliated himself?

Outraged, he laughed bitterly.

He stared at Zhang Tie, his cloudy eyes locked on him.

As if trying to memorize that face.

Behind them, the Nordic theater Survivors watched this scene with interest.

Seeing Hatred subdued, they only felt relieved.

Just then, catching a glimpse of Hatred's man-eating expression, many power-system Awakened Ones glanced at Lin An and his companion with some pity.

Hatred, although sometimes his talent clouds his judgment.

But when he goes berserk, his combat power is the real deal.

By then, encountering inside the trial tower, the two without system protection would likely suffer.

There was no delay.

After confirming his memory, Hatred coldly left Lin An's presence, seeking other Awakened Ones to join the trial together.

Zhang Tie looked at that wrinkled-backed figure and casually asked Lin An:

「Team Leader Lin, what are you looking at? 」

「How many trials do you plan to sign up for? 」

「Five? 」

Thinking that the trial difficulty increases with the number of sign-ups, he still felt somewhat worried.

That red door looked ominous.

Lin An didn't even lift his head, his brows slightly furrowed.

「Five-attribute trials. 」

「But... my situation seems different. 」

On the system prompt, Lin An silently watched a new notification flash.

「System notification: Detected that player's all attributes have reached the limit, meeting the hidden standard. Choose perfect trial? 」

「Choosing the perfect trial will prevent promotion to third level after a single trial ends. 」

「Achieve perfect ratings on all attributes, and promote to third level after the deathmatch. 」

「Warning: Perfect rating difficulty extremely high, reward??? 」

Unknown reward, hidden trial option.

That's why Lin An focused most of his thoughts on the choice.

The conditions for the perfect trial are truly exceedingly harsh.

After completing the attribute trials, not only can he not promote to third level, but he is also not allowed to promote to third level even during the deathmatch.

This means that if he chooses the perfect trial, he must face a group of third-level opponents with second-level strength.

There are no loopholes to exploit; it truly is a genuine showdown against all current players worldwide.

Should he choose...

Hesitating.

From the Nordic theater players, a blond, blue-eyed man suddenly stepped forward.

「Hello, I'm the president of the Nordic Survivors Alliance; it's an honor to meet you. 」

「My name is Paladin. 」

His smile was radiant.

The blond man was also a psychic Awakened One; when he sensed the clash between Lin An and Hatred, he keenly noticed that Lin An was also psychic.

Therefore, he intended to extend an olive branch: the enemy of his enemy is his friend.

He was very confident, believing his reputation meant the other had surely heard of him.

Even if not from the same theater, as long as the other is a high-level powerhouse, they'd surely have heard of him.

Being fellow psychics, he didn't mind lending Lin An a hand.

However.

Lin An furrowed his brows and lifted his gaze toward the extremely confident Paladin.

「Paladin？」

In his doubt, whether in his Past Life or present, he had never heard this name.

This person probably died in the trial.

Paladin's smile froze; he sensed Lin An's doubt.

He doesn't even know me.

Just as he was about to say something, he only heard Lin An casually reply, and then he resumed studying the trial he had brought back.

「I am... 」

「Lin An. 」

His voice was soft, but many Awakened Ones paying attention here turned their heads in an instant, looking at him with astonishment.

Lin An!?

This masked man is Lin An!?

After leaving the Huaxia war zone, countless gazes suddenly fell upon him.

Some were curious, some shocked, and some greedy.

The name Lin An is known to everyone.

Mysterious, unknown strength...

And, a moving treasure!

Paladin's expression stiffened, his outstretched hand hanging in midair.

He couldn't help but stare intently at the man before him, instinctively raising his guard.

In the minds of Awakened Ones unaware of the Inside Information.

Lin An, Ron, is one of their biggest competitors,

The instigator of the Trial Tower and the accelerated cataclysm, people are too curious about who Lin An really is.

After coming to his senses, Paladin glanced thoughtfully at the Huaxia war zone, then at Lin An standing apart.

He gave a dry laugh, took a deep look at Lin An, then turned and left.

「Perhaps... you need our help？」

「Your situation doesn't look good... 」

As a psychic Awakened One, he noticed some abnormalities.

Lin An ignored Paladin's speculation, his eyes flickering.

He calmly glanced at the majestic Trial Tower, slightly closed his eyes, and began communicating with the system in his mind.

「Confirmed. 」

「Accept the perfect-level trial mission. 」

Just first place... isn't enough.

If we're going to do it, let's become the strongest in history!

Unnoticed, inside the dark Trial Tower, a dry mechanical synthesized sound suddenly rang out.

「Perfect-level trial activated, difficulty stacked and increased.. 」

「10%... 」

「30%... 」

「100%... ！！」