Chapter 833: Global First

Inside the Military Region's underground city.

Guards stand before the bronze gate; the silent Awakened Ones legion stationed there silently holds their posts.

Inside the rear central meeting room.

Thousands of Awakened Ones stand guard outside, dense searchlights sweeping back and forth.

Several middle-aged people in special uniforms looked up in astonishment, their gazes seeming to pierce through layers above, their faces first showing surprise, then turning into wild joy.

That sound was transmitted without obstruction to everyone.

"First?!"

"Is it Lihao!? Did Lihao and them achieve it!?"

"We really got first!!"

Overcome with emotion.

As the highest-level core, they were now excited like children, their lips trembling.

In their hand was a metal cup crushed into pieces.

Just a short while ago, they were still struggling with the existence behind the gate and the external situation.

But now?

Several people exchanged glances; one of the oldest men even had hot tears welling up.

"Our people... didn't die in vain.."

"The underground city plan... really succeeded!!"

Overwhelmed with emotion.

They transferred vast resources to the underground city, disregarding the fierce battles outside, and drafted large numbers of elite Awakened Ones.

The resistance within, bearing the stigma internally, made them anxious and fearful, worried they would become sinners of the capital.

But only now did they feel relieved of their burden.

Wasn't this the day they had been waiting for?

Although the trial opened too early, exceeding the timeline transmitted from within the gate.

But the ending turned out good in the end.

Bless Huaxia!

"Don't get excited yet."

"Soon there should be an announcement revealing who got global first, right?"

"I don't know how many besides Lihao are ranked high!"

Impatient, several neutralists who had previously opposed the underground city plan opened their mouths to say something.

In the end, however, they half-excitedly, half for no reason, closed their mouths.

At that moment, they thought of Lin An.

I wonder... how Lin An performed.

Not long after, amid the tense waiting of billions of global survivors, the announcement sounded again:

"Global Announcement: In this power trial, the second-level first Awakened One.."

"Huaxia War Zone: Lin An!"

"Obtained special third-rank promotion qualification!"

"According to the rules, all survivors of the Huaxia War Zone gain an extra point of power bonus!"

An uproar erupted.

Countless global survivors listened to the announcement, stunned.

Both envious and astonished.

Those who knew some information about Lin An were instead doubtful.

Lin An, how is he a power type!?

However, this all-region power +1 reward is truly too enviable.

And that special third-rank promotion qualification sounds very strong.

"Lin.. An!?"

"He's power first!?"

In the meeting room, many high-level officials suddenly stood up, equally shocked.

Lin An, isn't he will and agility?

Many of the Awakened Ones dispatched by the Military Region this time are power types.

How did it end up letting Lin An take first!?

For some reason, they always feel that things are beginning to develop beyond their imagination.

Like a waterfall, they poured out.

Immediately after, a series of announcements flashed down quickly.

In terms of speed, the density was so high that it almost left everyone stunned.

"Global Announcement: In this agility trial, the second-level first Awakened One.."

"Huaxia War Zone: Lin An!"

"Obtained special third-rank promotion qualification!"

"According to the rules, all survivors of the Huaxia War Zone gain an extra point of agility bonus!"

"Global Announcement: In this physique trial, the second-level first Awakened One.."

"Huaxia War Zone: Lin An!"

Obtained special third-rank promotion qualification!

According to the rules, all survivors in the Huaxia war zone gain an additional 1 point of physique bonus!

Global announcement: In this will trial, the first second-rank awakened one..

Huaxia war zone: Lin An!

Obtained special third-rank promotion qualification!

According to the rules, all survivors in the Huaxia war zone gain an additional 1 point of will bonus!

Like a heavy bomb.

In that scrolling message, the two characters 'Lin An' were as if etched deep into everyone's memory.

In the world-resonating icy voice, it seemed to appear only for one person.

The world erupted in an uproar.

The high-level officials of each war zone were, as if gone mad, unable to help but stare fixedly at the sky.

In this trial, they each dispatched their war zone's strongest.

Each one was the elite among elites of the hundred million awakened ones.

To make them perform better, every war zone practiced 'spartan frugality', even if lacking combat power, risking the safety zone's danger, they would still send people in.

But now..

Four systems!?

How could it possibly be four systems!?

Where are our people?! Andre?! Even if useless, where's Ron!?

North American war zone, the hive.

Panicked, fearful.

In the underground facility filled with technological sense, once belonging to a biotech company, the North American high-level officials all gasped heavily.

If Lin An had taken only one, or even two, they could not have objected.

They had seen dual-system awakened ones.

Three systems, they weren't nonexistent, although weak.

But four systems!? All attributes, all performances are number one worldwide!?

This damn system isn't malfunctioning; they could swallow the table before them on the spot!

How could there be such a perfect awakened one in this world!? Humans shouldn't have limits, should they!?

Where is Taylor!?

"Kainterles?! He wasn't famed as unkillable below third rank!?"

What happened to our people!?

In the icy snowy land, amidst the metal bunker cluster, a series of questions almost overturned the metal layers.

Where is the Dragon Warrior Lawrence!?

We accumulated reputation, the item we exchanged for him—is this the outcome!?

On Dongyuan, an angry awakened one punched and exploded the armored vehicle before him; the crowd behind, everyone's faces froze, bitter.

The entire safety zone scraped together Lawrence's 'dowry', yet no one expected not even a splash to be heard.

Miyamoto... did he let down our expectations..

Fushan war zone, Twin Star base.

Amidst the ruins, a girl covered head to toe in filthy blood walked barefoot.

Flames, severed limbs.

She lifted her head, amidst the dazed listening to those announcements, after hearing the familiar name, her dull gray-white eyes suddenly flashed a hint of unusual color.

Lin... An?

Such a familiar name...

Thump-thump—thump-thump—...

Heartbeat, double alternating.

Not far away, a huge mutant, like a deep-sea beast, seemed drawn by her voice.

The giant sea beast crawled over slowly, affectionately rubbing against her.

Death battle space, before the altar.

With a black obsidian-like staircase appearing atop the altar and extending downward.

With his back to thousands of awakened ones, Lin An alone slowly walked up to the highest point.

At the first-layer entrance.

Leading Lihao, who had just cautiously explored and caught up, he silently watched his back.

On the ground, all awakened ones of the military region had complex feelings, even secretly wry smiles.

Thanks to their extreme caution, after passing through the former North American war zone's garrison point, they even thought some earth-shattering change had occurred.

Until they saw Lin An..

Only then did they realize what had happened here while they were hiding on the fourth level.

Gazes filled with reverence—that was the most basic respect for the strong.

Ascended the altar.

Lin An silently turned his body to face the crowd.

Under the soaring pillar of light, a strange hue was cast upon him.

It should have been all top-ten awakened ones ascending together to the glory of the strongest, but right now, here, only he was alone.

All eyes were on him.

Thousands of Awakened Ones gazed at the empty altar, at Lin An's solitary figure, each feeling as if they were dreaming.

This probably means... did he change the rules by his own power?

In the prolonged silence, it seemed even the system hadn't anticipated that, when the final first place was decided, there was only one Awakened One.

Or perhaps, at the final moment of the promotion evaluation, there should have been another battle.

Ten minutes later.

The system prompt sounded again:

"The strongest of this trial is promoted."

"Current trial participants: 1"

"No remaining opponents detected; the battle is canceled."

"This trial... the final winner... Lin An!!"

At the top of the Trial Tower, a holy-gold light pillar, like a blade slicing toward the crowd, fell vertically and finally locked onto the altar.

The next second.

Across the globe, the zombies, mutants, and countless unknown beings that had halted due to the trial selection process all resumed movement at once.

"Global announcement: The trial has ended."

"The world's top combat power Awakened One has appeared."

"Winner: Lin An!"

"Obtaining the unique reward title, gaining 3000 points reward, obtaining Epic Tier equipment*1, gaining +3 to all attributes, obtaining a B-rank special reward..."

On the altar, Lin An silently watched the reward notifications flooding the screen again.

For some reason, he couldn't help but think that, if he lacked spatial equipment, with so many rewards he'd have to carry them back...

That would be... so troublesome..

Across the globe, whether they accepted it or not, whether they thought the system had made an error or were still stunned by the successive announcements,

At this moment, everyone's heart welled up with bitterness, even sorrow.

As it turned out, a global announcement could keep ringing for just one person...

Capital Military Region, inside the meeting room.

In the large meeting room arranged in a circular layout, capable of holding nearly a thousand people, there was a hush.

They had just been discussing how to announce the next steps, what standard to use to publicize the first honor earned by Lihao or other Military Region Awakened Ones to the entire Huaxia War Zone, to boost morale.

But now.

In their minds, as if under a spell, only one name they dared not speak kept echoing.

The world's strongest combat power...

Lin An!