"Alright, I think we can communicate normally now," the Scholar said, turning to the six restrained figures. "What's the method for clearing this Trial Arena?"
It was only then that Shi Jun realized he was regaining a sliver of control over his body. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. These newcomers seemed absurdly strong.
In the perilous Trial Arena, each entrant's pre-existing profession naturally influenced their performance. A desk-bound office worker, for example, couldn't possibly compare to a special forces operative.
Theoretically, the most skilled newcomers the Trial Arena pulled in should be at the special forces level at most. How could they possibly surpass veteran Trial-Takers like them, who had invested heavily in enhancements?
This doesn't make sense!
Shi Jun couldn't fathom how this seemingly ordinary girl had instantly subdued them all. What exactly was that silver powder she had used?
He opened his mouth, letting the cigarette dangling from his lips fall to the ground without even noticing—or rather, without being able to notice.
Shi Jun explained, "Once you accumulate fifty thousand Points, you can leave the Trial Arena and return to the real world. But as far as I know, no one has ever managed to escape. The difficulty of each trial increases progressively, and without purchasing enhancements and arming yourself properly, it's virtually impossible to survive the later trials, let alone escape."
"Take our current trial, for example. This is our squad's fourth trial: Redwood Ghost City, a horror-themed map. We've stocked up on a ton of items to resist ghosts and ghouls."
The Scholar asked, "Before you entered this Trial Arena, were there any supernatural forces present in your real world?"
Shi Jun stammered, "Huh... uh?"
The question was absurd. What did she mean by "your real world"? Did she think they were from another dimension?
But then Shi Jun froze. It was actually possible. In his own experience, his world had always seemed completely ordinary, devoid of any supernatural phenomena. Of course, that might simply be because he'd been just a courier before, with no exposure to such extraordinary forces.
Given the Scholar's demonstrated abilities, it was clear she was no ordinary person. If she were from the real world, she would undoubtedly be a member of the Extraordinary Circle, making it impossible for her to ask whether supernatural powers existed there.
Shi Jun instantly grasped the situation. Though an ordinary person, he wasn't foolish.
Imagine a farmer from the countryside visiting a bustling city for the first time, overwhelmed by the endless streams of traffic and towering skyscrapers. His initial astonishment didn't imply stupidity; it merely reflected his unfamiliarity. After some time living in the city, he might even become more tech-savvy than the urban dwellers.
Shi Jun answered honestly: he wasn't certain if supernatural powers existed in the real world, but he'd never heard of them.
"Hmm," the Scholar nodded thoughtfully, falling into contemplation without pressing further. The atmosphere grew slightly tense.
Until another newcomer—besides Elysia and the Scholar—tentatively raised his right hand. "Um... do we still need to introduce ourselves? I'm a sports student, and I'm really fast..."
Immediately afterward, the remaining newcomers spoke up:
"Um... I'm a streamer. I'm pretty good at... putting on a show."
"I'm an active-duty soldier. I'm proficient with all kinds of firearms and can operate tanks."
If the Stone Army Squad had been shocked by the Scholar's display of power, these three newcomers were utterly bewildered.
What's going on? Who am I? Where am I? Who should I listen to?
Only Elysia smiled and nodded at the newcomers, acknowledging their introductions. The others ignored them completely.
While pondering her next move, the Scholar retracted the nanorobots covering Shi Jun and his squad. Her initial goal had been to demonstrate her strength to establish proper communication, not to eliminate them.
Shi Jun immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He flexed his wrists and ankles, then cautiously glanced at the Scholar. "So, Miss... you're from another world?"
"Yes," the Scholar replied simply. "My world doesn't have anything like this Trial Arena. We accidentally arrived in your world due to a different kind of disaster and got caught up in this arena."
"Us?" Shi Jun couldn't help but glance at Elysia. If the Scholar had initially appeared ordinary and unassuming, Elysia was the complete opposite. Her extraordinary beauty was immediately apparent, and her long pink hair looked entirely natural—but how could anyone's hair naturally be pink?
This was precisely why Shi Jun had asked Elysia to introduce herself first, only to be interrupted by the Scholar.
To Shi Jun's surprise, as he looked at Elysia, she finally seemed to have decided how to introduce herself. "My name is Elysia," she said, "and I'm one of the Eight Actual Rulers of the White Eagle Free Federation."
She pointed to the Scholar and added casually, "She's one of us too, you know~?"
Shi Jun was speechless.
Only one thought raced through his mind: Wow, the quality of this batch of newcomers is seriously impressive! A physical education student, a streamer, a soldier, and two kings!
He had no idea what the White Eagle Free Federation was, but it was clearly the name of a country.
Just then, everyone could see the white barrier surrounding them begin to flicker erratically. A notification appeared in their vision:
Trial Commencing
Main Objective: Survive for Seven Days
"A survival mission?!" Shi Jun exclaimed in shock. "These are usually the hardest! Just staying alive will require all our wits, so the Trial Arena won't need to throw any extra challenges at us!"
Hearing this, Elysia frowned slightly, but not because she was frightened by Shi Jun's words. Her concern stemmed from something else entirely: A survival mission? What a waste of time!
If there were a Boss, they could simply charge in and defeat it to complete the objective. But a survival mission meant they had to wait out the entire duration—so tedious!
Typical Firefly thinking!