[Name: Ross Staircase]
[Description: A circulating staircase composed of multiple sub-spaces, combined with a special Mechanist structure. Each staircase space is an independent entity and changes according to a specific pattern.]
[Evaluation: A large-scale structure similar to a 'Rubik's Cube,' often used for the protection of important facilities.]
Seeing the description of the Ross Staircase, the bullet screen on Site 13 immediately started scrolling.
'So, this so-called Ross Staircase is a structure similar to the Infinite Maze in the Ember Base from Season 1?'
'No wonder Old Tendo passed so easily. He can easily see things that others can't with his Star Eclipse Heavenly Eye.'
'Is the purpose of the assessment to screen out careless people?'
'Not sure. I feel that simply being careful is not enough for this assessment; you also need a certain level of observation, as no matter how careful you are, it's useless if you can't observe the clues.'
Amidst the scrolling bullet screen, the camera of the series shifted to Chen Kōng and the others, who were still trapped in the Ross Staircase.
The sub-spaces of the Ross Staircase were constantly rotating. In the blink of an eye, the 'Step No. 12' they had been standing on had turned into 'Step No. 3.'
At the same time, the invisible Star Energy patterns on the walls began to quickly recombine like flowing water, a dizzying sight.
"Quick! Now's the time!"
When there was only one minute left in the assessment, Vivian suddenly shouted, charging fiercely toward the wall in front of them.
Chen Kōng and the others immediately followed closely behind, passing through the wall with a whoosh, seizing the momentary gap in the sub-space rotation—the 'spatial overlap point.'
After successfully passing the checkpoint, Liu Ma immediately slumped onto the ground, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Whew, this damned assessment is too grueling! We almost got stuck in that space!"
Hearing this, Chen Kōng nodded in agreement, secretly feeling lucky.
It's a good thing we had Vivian, otherwise, even if we knew the method to pass, we wouldn't be able to grasp that fleeting 'spatial overlap point.'
After a rest, Chen Kōng looked up at his surroundings, his pupils instantly contracting.
Because where they were now was none other than the rest hall they started in.
[Explorer Assessment Rest Hall]
"The assessment is over. Current number of passers: 11 people."
The small raccoon administrator, dressed in a black suit, walked from the main entrance to the rest hall, just as it did when it first appeared, moving with its short legs.
But unlike before, there were only eleven people left in the rest hall.
Without wasting time, the raccoon administrator's round eyes scanned the crowd. Its small paws were clasped behind its back, like a serious examiner, as it stated the essence of this strange assessment.
"Everyone, the rules in the Fallen Zones are bizarre, and some dangerous areas have multiple rules existing simultaneously."
"To survive in such places and successfully complete exploration, besides a certain level of strength, you also need to possess keen observation skills."
"After all, reality is different from the assessment. An assessment failure allows for a retry, but if you fail in reality, you will essentially be left in the Fallen Zone forever, serving as 'Star Beast fodder.'"
"Therefore, this round tested your 'observation' and 'judgment.' Opportunity is fleeting."
Just as the raccoon administrator finished speaking, Liu Ma, who had long been dissatisfied with this assessment, immediately raised an objection.
"How is this testing observation and judgment? This is clearly differential treatment."
Liu Ma stood up, his tone full of defiance.
"Not everyone is sensitive to space. For a reinforced-type Star-Emissary like me, sensing sub-spaces is less useful than fighting a Star Beast. This assessment is utterly unfair!"
In response to Liu Ma's challenge, the small raccoon administrator tilted its head and said calmly, "Trainee, the world of an explorer never has the word 'fairness.'"
"Your enemies will not intentionally avoid space-based Fallen Zones just because you 'are not good at spatial perception.'"
"Survival is finding that precious 'opportunity' within your own 'discomfort zone.'"
With those words, the small raccoon administrator waved its hand.
The next second, the rest hall they were in suddenly began to shake violently.
The surrounding walls, the ceiling above, and the floor beneath them began to constantly recombine and iterate like randomly assembled building blocks.
In short order, the bright lights of the hall disappeared, replaced by metal corridors filled with pipes, warehouses stacked with discarded parts, and simulated jungles overgrown with vines.
In the blink of an eye, they had moved from the previously modern hall to an intricate 'parkour maze.'
The small raccoon hovered in mid-air, looking down at the crowd, and announced, "Everyone, the content of the next assessment is called... Hide and Seek."
"As is well known, Fallen Zones are dangerous. This danger comes not only from the unknown rules within but also from the powerful Star Beasts living there."
"Aside from certain monsters that cannot be measured by common sense, the primary goal for most explorers entering a Fallen Zone is one and only one: to find every possible way to get out of the Fallen Zone alive."
"Therefore, more important than combat power, what explorers value more... is actually survival ability."
"After all, only those who are alive can bring back valuable information about the Fallen Zones."
As it spoke, the small raccoon took out a small bell and hung it around its neck.
"And as long as you can pass this round, the final assessment will essentially be a formality."
"Because the last round is a written test, and you will be given three days to prepare."
"Three days are enough for you to master and memorize the theoretical knowledge that a qualified explorer should possess."
With those words, the small raccoon shook the bell, and the clear sound caused a faint Star Energy fluctuation to spread through the entire maze.
"In the following assessment, you will group into teams of three. If you can evade the 'Pursuer' (which is me) for more than five minutes, you will pass the assessment."
"A reminder: the 'Star Energy Detector' in the maze will scan once every five seconds. Anyone scanned will immediately have their position exposed."
Although the assessment was quite challenging, Chen Kōng couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Because if it was purely about combat power, he was clearly at a disadvantage among the people present.
But when it came to hiding and survival, his Mark of Emptiness could significantly reduce his presence, and his Dreamweaver ability could select suitable Star Sources based on the environment to cope, maximizing his hiding and survival capabilities.
Therefore, this second round of Hide and Seek would actually be much simpler for him than the first.
If he couldn't even pass this kind of assessment, then he would truly have wasted his 'Mark of Emptiness' and 'Dreamweaver.'
"Alright, everyone, let's start grouping now."
"You can form your own teams first. I will randomly assign those who are left over."
"Due to the number of people, besides three teams of three, there will also be one team of two."
"As for who will be in that team of two, it will depend on the grouping later."
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