Chapter 950: Leaving the Cave

The video footage is clearly from a first-person perspective, and in the shaky shot, there are no other Awakened Ones beside the monster.

Relying on his Third Rank judgment, the man quickly realized the filmer was hiding in one spot while the monster was charging at high speed.

What about those Third Rank?

In his imagination, there ought to have been a scene of multiple Third Rank acting together, but it didn't appear.

Fighting inside the building?

It's so narrow, and it's close-quarters terrain—that's practically suicide...

He could tell at a glance that this Third Rank Mutant was clearly a strength-agility dual type, its huge build extremely oppressive, and its charging speed so fast it made him click his tongue.

If it were him, he asked himself whether he could dodge when the monster charged just now.

Was there an ambush set up in this building? Or should they lure it away and slowly wear it down later?

Staring at the Flash Striker's ferocious head, the man instinctively wondered how he would face this monster himself.

Putting himself in that position and combining it with the smashed head in the screenshot, he quickly reached a conclusion.

At least two physique-types drew the monster's attack, while one agility-type kept moving, continually inflicting damage to weaken it.

The Rear then coordinated with elemental Awakened Ones for control, and finally a power-type burst of damage finished off the monster.

Step by step, it wasn't impossible to kill the opponent.

Of course, everything was in the ideal state.

If there was any coordination mistake, or if the mutant's abilities were slightly special, this conventional combat method would reveal flaws.

If anyone ran slow, they'd be waiting for a total wipeout.

His thoughts were lightning fast, just as he confirmed his idea in his mind.

The thought had just arisen when it instantly died out.

The reason was simple; in his peripheral vision, he instinctively glanced at the progress bar.

That brief progress bar, only four or five seconds long, suddenly stirred a sense of unease in him.

No!

If it really were as he imagined, how could the progress bar be so short!?

The screenshot came from the video, which means that scene must exist!

The next second, he didn't need to keep guessing.

In the video, a sudden tearing-through-air sound came, and a figure as fast as lightning instantly appeared behind the mutant.

His right arm plunged into the monster's body, and then, as the figure's aura burst forth, an extremely absurd scene unfolded.

Just like the people present at the scene, the man incredulously opened his mouth wide.

Holy shit!?

In the footage, that person directly used sheer physical power to smash this Flash Striker into the ground!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Flesh collided with flesh, a brutal massacre began.

Each frame was more shocking than the last.

A few minutes later.

The man who had finished watching the video stiffened on the sofa, the cigarette at his fingertips almost burning his fingers.

The grayish ash had already piled up halfway.

"Sir!?"

"What's wrong with you!? Sir!?"

The woman behind him looked at their Safe Zone leader in astonishment, unable to help shouting his name repeatedly.

Several maids also panicked, not knowing what to do for a moment.

They had never seen their leader behave like this; he looked as if frozen by a paralysis spell, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

What on earth could make a Third Rank end up like this?

In their eyes, the leader was an invincible existence who, relying solely on his personal strength, had built a vast Safe Zone.

He lay stiff on the sofa.

The man's mind went blank; only his slightly trembling fingers revealed his current mood.

God knows how many times he's watched the video.

All that can be said is that, in that simple video footage, the figure who literally smashed the mutant to death gave him an enormous shock.

It really was a massacre...

It really was a one-handed blow-up!

In that video, the Flash Striker's miserable end made his teeth ache.

Heaven pities him; he never imagined anyone could really press down and beat a mutant.

This is a Third Rank Mutant...

If it were him, he'd probably get hit ten times!

Can I withstand one of his punches?

"Gloop"

He swallowed saliva, ash falling all over him.

The man felt like a fish returned to water, gasping deeply.

Besides the shock, there was excitement and immense awe.

He never expected the video to be real, and even more exaggerated than the title!

Worth it, truly worth it!

Although he didn't learn, nor could he learn any useful combat techniques in those few seconds of "duel," just confirming the information made him feel it was worth more than its cost.

Where exactly did this mysterious person come from!? What rank is he!?

With his emotions still unsettled after a long time, he somewhat frantically hurried to send messages to a few acquaintances among the Awakened Ones.

Quickly go buy the recording!

It's the one with the most exaggerated title in the trading platform!

Holy shit, him!? That thing is real!

Regardless of whether the Awakened Ones who received the message would feel overly excited and lose the composure of a Third Rank, after sending the message the man lit another cigarette and took a deep drag.

After calming down, he couldn't help but recall the appearance of that person in the footage.

Who on earth... could actually achieve this.

This strength, could it not be the strongest in Huaxia!?

Absolutely not an early Third Rank!

That terrifying power and speed are absolutely far beyond him!

Recalling the sword on that person's back and the signature floating dual wings.

Subconsciously, a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure gradually overlapped in his mind.

Damn it... how could that person look so much like Lin An!?

Capital Military Region.

In the temporarily convened Meeting Room, all was silent.

Around the large square table, seventeen Awakened Ones silently opened the recording, many of them mechanically puffing on cigarettes nonstop.

Smoke swirled, lingering in the sealed Meeting Room.

In the opened trading channel, news about this recording spread almost like a virus, rapidly expanding.

At a glance, everything that met the eye was astonishment and disbelief.

Plus, with the trading restriction prohibiting disclosure of video information, the entire trading channel was filled with discussion, as if the screen were being flooded.

The last time this happened was when Lin An secured first place worldwide.

Real or fake!? Is it really as exaggerated as you say!?

Could it be that you hired a 'water army'? I believe you can kill a Third Rank Mutant, but slaughtering in a few seconds? Do you think this is a game!?

I hope everyone treats the Apocalypse calmly, doesn't stir up chaos for popularity, and doesn't mislead other Third Ranks.

If someone can instant-kill a Third Rank, then I can instant-kill a Fourth Stage! A bunch of idiots, even when bragging they should at least make it plausible..

Heh, believe it or not, that person in the recording is absolutely the strongest Awakened One I've ever seen!

How come I feel that person in the recording looks so familiar...

Arguments, clamor.

After closing the trading channel, Lin Zhan, seated in the chief seat, looked at his subordinates, the Awakened Ones, with a complex expression.

Everyone, have you all watched the recording?

Everyone present was a Third Rank; upon hearing Lin Zhan's words, the 17 top Awakened Ones all nodded, though none could say more.

Actually, they didn't dare voice their opinions either.

It's hard to imagine, but just half an hour ago they still thought the military was making a mountain out of a molehill, forcing them to buy the recording and then convene an emergency meeting.

You must know, the battle situation is dire; every minute and second of theirs is extremely precious.

But after watching the recording, everyone realized why the military placed such importance and tension on it.

If the recording is genuine, the implications behind it are enough to shock them.

Even, there is some unease...

In the chief seat, under the dim lighting, half of Lin Zhan's face lay in shadow.

He inexplicably sighed:

We'll set aside the battle process in the recording for now.

I believe after watching, everyone should be able to identify that person.

If our analysis is correct, after comparing with the trial footage, the Technical Department has a 98% chance...

... to confirm the other party's identity.

Having said that, everyone in the Meeting Room glanced at each other.

Lin Zhan, even at the end, did not utter that name, as if it were hard to speak.

That name, to some extent, also counts as a taboo from the Capital side after the trial ended.

He nodded, Lin Zhan hesitated a moment, then slowly spoke again:

If nothing unexpected happens,

that person should be...

Lin An...

His fingertips turned blue; Lin Zhan could not suppress his complex emotions, and for a moment he felt somewhat dazed.

The reason is nothing else.

After combining confirmations from multiple Awakened Ones, he had to accept a fact.

Lin An now is probably already a mid Third Rank.

And since the trial ended, it's only been a few days...