Chapter 39: Are Human Tactics Really This Abstract?

In the first level of the Trial Tower, the internal space where Lin Mo stood.

This was an extremely spacious enclosed hall, covering an area of one thousand square meters.

The surrounding walls were cast from an unknown black metal, radiating a chilling aura.

"Examinees, pay attention!"

A broadcast voice rang out:

"The Level One monsters will arrive at the battlefield via the teleportation array in 60 seconds!"

"Prepare your combat stance! A basic supply box on the right side of the hall contains Basic Mana Potions and Health Potions—take as needed!"

"Countdown begins: 59, 58…"

Lin Mo glanced at the teleportation array in the distance.

It seemed this was simply a test of their output class's damage capability—monsters would teleport in through the array on each level.

【【Fireball】 excitedly bounced up and down: Hurry up, hurry up! Where are the monsters? I shall cleanse this place—I'll turn it into a Lotus Hell! Hehehe, let those ants scream in the flames!】

Lin Mo couldn't help but mutter a comment.

"Hey, Xiao Huo, can we not act like some villainous final boss, okay?"

【【Fireball】 sneered coldly: Pfft, boring humans. In this world, violence is truth, destruction is eternity. What do you know?】

Lin Mo sighed: "Fine, fine, but can we please stop laughing 'hehehe' all the time?"

【【Earth Shield】 timidly chimed in: Yeah, yeah, big brother, you're too violent—can't you learn to be more steady like me?】

【【Fireball】 scoffed: Learn from you? Take us all to the sky?】

【【Earth Shield】 lifted his head defiantly: That was an accident, okay?】

"Enough bickering—the exam has begun."

Lin Mo cut off the skills' argument.

At the same moment, the one-minute countdown reached zero.

Hum—!

The teleportation array at the far end of the hall erupted in blinding light.

Space warped, and several short, ugly figures slowly materialized.

Five creatures with rusted iron clubs and ink-green skin burst forth from the array.

【Goblin Warrior, Lv. 5】

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow.

Only level five?

And they're beginner monsters—goblins?

But then again, it made sense—this was only the first level.

"Alright, Xiao Huo, send them on their way."

【【Fireball】's flames surged instantly, emitting a chilling laugh: Hehehe… At last! Now, burn to ashes in despair!】

A fireball instantly coalesced before Lin Mo.

"Go."

Lin Mo chewed on snacks, mumbling the word unclearly.

The fireball shot forward with a long trail of flame, hurtling toward the goblins who had barely steadied themselves!

At that moment.

Boom—!!

The ground before Lin Mo violently trembled.

A Thick Surface of earth rose up two meters in front of him, shielding him behind it.

But it also blocked the fireball, just as it was about to unleash carnage.

Bang—!!

Sparks flew, dust spread thickly.

As for the five goblins, who had been preparing to charge, their faces now showed a hint of confusion.

What is that human doing?

Human tactics… are they really this abstract now?

Behind the earth wall.

Lin Mo's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

【【Fireball】 stunned:???】

【【Fireball】 completely lost it: Are you insane? Are you seriously insane? Why did you block me?】

【【Fireball】 kept yelling: I just finished shouting 'burn to ashes'—and you pull this? Don't I have any dignity?】

Facing his big brother's rage, 【Earth Shield】 whispered in defense.

【【Earth Shield】 shrank into a small ball: I… I just didn't want those monsters to hurt the master…】

【【Fireball】 roared: Hurt the master? From those trash? Are you questioning my power?】

【【Earth Shield】 muttered softly: Safety first… as long as the master is fine… Besides, look—my wall won't even break from your explosion, so I'm clearly strong!】

【【Fireball】: I'll kill you!】

"Enough!"

Lin Mo slapped his own forehead, feeling his blood pressure spike.

"Can you two just calm down? This is an exam—it's being broadcast live across the city! Can you at least give me some face?"

Lin Mo took a deep breath and said calmly:

"Xiao Tu, let's reason this out. Your intentions were good, but you need to distinguish the situation."

"With just those few level 5 mobs, there's absolutely no need to use Earth Wall. Besides, even if you insist on using it, you must wait for your big brother to fly out first and coordinate. Understand?"

Scolded by his master, 'Earth Shield Technique' completely wilted.

【'Earth Shield Technique' lowered its head in guilt: Sorry, Master... I was just too nervous... I was wrong.】

Seeing Lin Mo standing on his side, 'Fireball Technique' wore a face full of smugness.

【'Fireball Technique' laughed with hands on hips: Did you hear that, coward? Move out of the way for me right now! Don't block my DPS!】

【'Earth Shield Technique' drew circles in grievance: Understood...】

Lin Mo turned to soothe his irritable big brother:

"Alright, Xiao Huo, don't be unreasonable just because you're right. It's time to send those goblins to the afterlife."

At this moment,

the few goblins outside also reacted.

Their intelligence was low; they didn't understand what this human was doing, only that they needed to kill all humans.

"Gaga!"

The goblins waved their iron clubs, screaming wildly as they charged forward.

Lin Mo's eyes grew cold, then his mind shifted.

The thick Earth Wall before him instantly turned into quicksand, reintegrating into the ground.

The view suddenly cleared.

The leading goblin raised its iron club, a grotesque smile spreading across its face.

【'Fireball Technique' sneered: Laugh? Just wait and see how you cry later! Die for me!】

A scorching fireball instantly formed.

The moment the fireball was fired, it trembled violently.

"Multi-Explosive Fireball!"

The single fireball instantly split into fifteen explosive fireballs, precisely locking onto the five pitiful goblins before them.

Under the dual crushing pressure of profession level and skill level, the goblins had no chance to fight back.

Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!

Firelight shot skyward, heat waves rolling.

Within the narrow fan-shaped area, it instantly became a sea of fire.

The five goblins were refined in an instant.

Professional Exam Monitoring Command Center, VIP Room.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhao Lei suddenly slapped his thigh hard.

Pointing at one of the screens, his face full of pride and smugness, he said:

"Xu Lao! Did you see? My son Xiaoyu not only comprehended 【Multi-Explosive Fireball】, but he also split it into a full five fireballs, each one hitting precisely!"

"Such micro-management, such talent. Xu Lao, this is absolutely the ceiling for this year's examinees in Jianghai City!"

However, the praise from Xu Lao that he expected did not appear.

"Xu Lao?"

Zhao Lei, somewhat puzzled, turned his head to look at Xu Wenchang.

"Shut up."

Xu Wenchang suddenly spoke, then sternly ordered the technicians:

"Rewind the examinee Lin Mo's footage by ten seconds! Play it back at one-tenth speed!"

"Yes!"

The technicians immediately complied.

The image on the big screen instantly switched, and time began to flow backward.

Zhao Lei had just focused all his attention on his son Zhao Yu and hadn't noticed the situation on Lin Mo's side.

Seeing Xu Lao's expression now, he keenly sensed something was wrong.

Could it be that Lin Mo was caught cheating?

That would be absolutely perfect.

On the screen, the footage began to play in slow motion.

Under the ten-times slow-motion lens, everyone clearly saw that fireball tremble violently in the air, then begin to split...

One... two... five... ten...

Fifteen!

"This..."

Zhao Lei suddenly sprang up from the sofa.

"Ten... fifteen?!"

"How the hell is this possible?!"