In the huge forest, three hundred test subjects were airdropped and scattered.
Everyone only had the most basic weaponry and equipment; other things like medical supplies, food, and water were completely absent.
They could only rely on themselves to survive these difficult twenty-four hours.
It was currently noon, the time when light was most abundant. Although the dense canopy provided cover, the light reaching the ground was still sufficient.
Everyone began to move.
Some chose to stay put, setting up various simple defensive fortifications, adopting a strategy of waiting patiently for changes.
Others chose to take advantage of this precious time to move, hoping to find others to stick together with, weathering the difficulties as a group.
In short, these three hundred people were all warriors carefully trained by the Universal Union for a period of time; their professional quality was undeniable.
"How many of these three hundred people do you think will pass the assessment?"
A staff member beside Isaac inquired.
Looking at the movements of each contestant displayed on the screen, Isaac pondered briefly, then gave a terrifyingly low number.
"No more than fifty people at most."
Aside from the condition of surviving twenty-four hours, all test subjects who were severely injured and incapacitated, or who died outright during this period, would naturally be disqualified.
Fifty out of three hundred people passing the assessment was already Isaac's highest psychological expectation; the actual situation could only be lower.
"No matter what, have the medical department prepare. If any situation arises, intervene immediately to save people."
Isaac instructed.
"Yes!"
Although this assessment was similar to a battle royale, the Universal Union certainly wouldn't stand by and watch these valuable combat assets perish needlessly.
Dozens of medical transport aircraft hovered over the area, ready for any test subject who was attacked, severely injured, or lost consciousness.
With the Universal Union's current biotechnology, while reviving the dead was impossible, fully restoring a dying person who only had a breath left was no problem.
Of course, the three hundred test subjects moving around in the forest below were unaware of all this.
They only assumed the spacecraft above were observing their actions and preparing to collect their corpses.
Knowing whether or not they had a way out in this test was a completely different experience.
Only when people feel they have no retreat are they more likely to unleash greater combat power.
In the forest, a few unlucky individuals were attacked by fully armed Tactical Robots as soon as they landed.
All kinds of bullets mercilessly shot toward them, showing no sign of stopping.
Some of the unluckiest individuals were hit immediately. Their bulletproof vests could only offer slight resistance and quickly developed cracks.
The powerful impact was damaging the internal organs of these people.
--
Those who reacted too slowly were instantly shot through the body, falling to the ground amidst spraying blood.
Those who reacted quickly immediately hid behind dense bushes or thick trees nearby, trying to evade the endless barrage of gunfire.
But Tactical Robots equipped with advanced detection equipment were not so easily evaded.
Shots precisely struck the cover, wood chips constantly flew, and even the thickest tree couldn't withstand the continuous bombardment of large-caliber bullets.
These three hundred people came from different worlds: Resident Evil World, Avatar World, Pacific Rim World, Warhammer World—
But the fact that they were selected by the Universal Union from so many worlds and hundreds of billions of people proved one thing: these teenagers, who looked only fifteen or sixteen, all possessed their own unique skills.
Some had undergone genetic mutation, possessing superhuman physical fitness, which was common in the Warhammer World.
Some were geniuses in mechanical engineering who could instantly craft weapons from scratch.
When facing the dangerous Tactical Robots, they naturally had their own ways of dealing with them.
Seeing that cover was ineffective, some immediately used their agile movements to dodge and weave, fleeing into the distance. In this complex terrain, the Tactical Robots' movement speed was indeed not fast.
Others chose to pick up their weapons and directly confront the Tactical Robots on the spot.
Although the laser guns in their hands were not particularly powerful, if they repeatedly attacked the same spot, they could still penetrate the Tactical Robots' thick armor.
Aiming, raising the gun, and shooting, all in one smooth motion.
A rapid succession of laser beams was fired, accurately hitting the alloy armor on the chest of a Tactical Robot.
Under continuous attack, the lasers successfully melted a tiny hole into it.
Finally, one laser shot out, hitting the energy core hidden behind the armor.
Following a violent reaction, the energy core was directly detonated.
The Tactical Robot, which had been so arrogant just moments before, instantly exploded on the spot, scattering dangerous metal fragments everywhere, essentially turning into an oversized fragmentation grenade.
Inside the temporary command post outside the forest, Isaac keenly noticed the person who was the first to counter-kill a Tactical Robot.
In reality, counter-killing a Tactical Robot with a laser gun was not particularly difficult.
Because their control was disconnected, most of these Tactical Robots' movements were stiff, only carrying out mechanical, mindless attacks.
But the difficult part was calming down in such a short time and choosing the best way to counterattack.
This kind of composure was extremely rare, especially for these fifteen or sixteen-year-old minors whose minds were not yet fully mature.
"I want this person's file."
Isaac said casually.
Soon, a detailed file was delivered to Isaac.
Unsurprisingly, the person was named Kurt, and he came from the Warhammer World, a Hive City planet located on the edge of the Universal Union's sphere of influence, which had just been reclaimed by the Universal Union.
Isaac had some impression of this Hive City planet; it was said that gang culture was very prevalent there.
This child named Kurt clearly came from the gangs in the lower levels of the Hive City.
Perhaps when he was seven or eight, just old enough to pick up a weapon, this guy had already killed members of rival gangs.
No wonder he could react so quickly; stiff Tactical Robots were not necessarily more dangerous than cunning gang members.
"I just wonder how those guys responsible for recruitment managed to find this kind of talent."
Isaac muttered softly.
the Universal Union's current sphere of influence was vast. Although his authorization level within the Universal Union was high, he couldn't possibly be aware of every aspect.
The file on this "Kurt" wasn't long; after all, there wasn't much to say about an ordinary person's background.
Only upon reading the end did Isaac discover the reason this person was selected for the special forces.
At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"The Warhammer World still has the most talent; you couldn't find this kind of person in other worlds."
Having said that, Isaac redirected his attention back to the screen in front of him.
Kurt had once attempted to assassinate a rival gang leader and succeeded.
However, a subsequent attempt to assassinate an upper-class noble inspecting his own factory failed, leading to his capture and sentencing to execution.
The execution was forcibly halted because a unit of Orks invaded that Hive City planet, causing chaos.
Kurt was thus forced, like a duck pushed onto a shelf, into becoming part of the Planetary Defense Force to fight the Orks desperately.
Only when the Alliance fleet arrived, defeated the invading Ork fleet, and brought the Hive City planet under their rule was Kurt integrated into the Alliance forces.
But Kurt's "legendary" deeds were far from over.
That Hive City planet on the edge of the Alliance was truly plagued by misfortune.
Not long after the Orks were repelled, a small Leviathan Hive Fleet invaded the planet again.
Kurt, who was still young and would have otherwise been disarmed, quietly received some education, and become an ordinary Hive City Worker, now had another chance to fight.
It was also during this period that an Alliance Commander keenly noticed Kurt's extraordinary talent.
Especially his talent for stealth and infiltration assassination.
There was a reason this guy could assassinate a rival gang leader.
Moreover, according to Kurt himself, if his own gang hadn't suffered internal strife, leading to a traitor appearing...
...he truly could have succeeded in killing that upper-class noble, who was protected by multiple layers, armed only with a battered Lasgun.
During the battle against the Hive Fleet invasion, Kurt became a young yet deadly sniper.
The number of Tyranid Warriors who died by his hand was countless.
Until the larger Alliance fleet arrived and defeated this small Tyranid Hive Fleet.
Kurt was then recommended by the Alliance Commander into the Special Forces.
Such a person's talent truly could not be buried by becoming an ordinary Hive City Worker.
The battlefield was where he belonged.
As for Kurt himself, he didn't object to the Alliance's arrangements.
Even the Commander responsible for training Kurt and the other Young Cadets later admitted personally:
"Even I can't tell what this guy is thinking, but perhaps that is the most essential talent an Assassin should possess."
In short, according to the assessments, Kurt is currently only about fifteen years old.
If he were in any other world, he would be the age where he was attending school and enjoying his prime years.
But in the Warhammer World, things were completely different.
The number of humans who died by his hand had long exceeded three digits, all of them members of rival gangs.
The Orks and tyranids who died by his hand were even more numerous.
To achieve such feats as an ordinary person is extremely rare, even in the Warhammer World.
The perspective returns to the forest.
Kurt, who successfully detonated a Tactical Robot, did not rush to leave the spot.
Instead, he quickly checked his entire body, confirming that he had not been wounded by shrapnel from the explosion.
He then immediately ran toward the wreckage of the damaged Tactical Robot.
Unfortunately, after a careful search, Kurt did not find any materials worth salvaging.
All the weapons held by the Tactical Robot were destroyed in the blast.
Significant movement was already audible from the distant forest.
Kurt could distinguish that these were the sounds of other Tactical Robots advancing.
And there was more than one unit.
Relying only on the Lasgun in his hand and without prior preparation, even a natural Assassin and Marksman like Kurt could not kill multiple Tactical Robots.
Without pausing for even a second, Kurt briefly concealed his messy footprints, then leaped into the dense bushes, running in another direction.
Kurt clearly remembered seeing the shadow of a parachute there when he was air-dropped earlier, meaning there might be another Tester just like him nearby.
Kurt had fought all kinds of enemies.
Vicious gang members, strange Genestealers, ferocious Orks, and ruthless tyranids.
He had also witnessed how powerful the Alliance's various combat units were.
He knew that the forest at this moment contained more than just rigid units like the Tactical Robots.
There were also Lickers, Hunters, and even Tyrants.
Even Kurt wasn't confident he could survive alone in a place like this.
The best solution was to find others and band together.
Taking advantage of the still-bright light, Kurt moved very quickly.
Since he could remember, Kurt had been active in his own gang.
He couldn't recall who his biological parents were; perhaps they were two gang members who had died long ago at the hands of rival forces.
But he clearly remembered the various Combat Techniques that the older gang members had taught him.
These Combat Techniques, modified by Kurt himself, became a special set of assassination and stealth skills.
In summary, Kurt's movements were swift and concealed.
Even in complex thickets, he barely made any noise.
"This kid is suitable for the Raven Guard."
In the Command Post outside the forest, Isaac, who had been monitoring Kurt's actions, couldn't help but comment.
Among the three hundred people who joined the test, Kurt's experience was the most "legendary."
It was not surprising that Isaac knew about the existence and characteristics of the Raven Guard Chapter; Marcus had long since shown the files and characteristics of various famous Chapters to the high-ranking Alliance officials.
However, Isaac was only speaking casually.
If the Alliance hadn't intervened in time, Kurt would have been executed long ago, and his soul would have been shattered by the Warp Tides.
It was also impossible for the Raven Guard to travel to such a remote place to recruit, let alone happen to recruit Kurt.
Nevertheless, Isaac had already listed Kurt as a Key Observation Target.
It was almost certain that someone like him would pass this test.
As long as he wasn't too unlucky and didn't run into those Special Units—
But the next second, a nearby Staff Member reminded him.
"The signal of a Charcarodon is near Kurt. The two sides are about to meet."
Isaac quickly looked at the screen.
Sure enough, a Charcarodon implanted with a Signal Locator was less than three hundred meters away from Kurt.
Not only that, but there were also the biological signals of more than a dozen Tactical Robots, along with a dozen Lickers and Hunters nearby.
Even within the already dangerous Testing Grounds, the unit density in this area was much higher than in other regions.
In other words, Kurt, this promising talent, would face more trials than anyone else.
There was even a high risk of him being eliminated.
Isaac secretly sighed in regret.
He didn't think Kurt could successfully pass through this area.
Let alone a mortal who hasn't undergone various enhancements; even Isaac himself would need to expend some effort to pass through unscathed.
The only fortunate thing was that the Charcarodon not far from Kurt was not Third Company commander Shaar.
Nor was it a Charcarodon that used the gene-seed of the World Eaters or the Night Lords.
Perhaps, probably, possibly—
Kurt, this Human, could survive in the hands of this Charcarodon?
At least Isaac hoped so.
After all, even if such a talent were eliminated and couldn't become a Charcarodon, the Universal Union would definitely assign them to a suitable position, allowing them to shine to their fullest potential.
Moreover, if the Universal Union were willing to apply various flesh-and-blood technologies to ordinary people, it wouldn't be difficult to replicate super-soldiers similar to Space Marines.
Regardless, Isaac immediately ordered the nearest medical transport plane to fly towards Kurt's area.
Hundreds of meters away from Kurt, stripped of most of his gear, wearing only simple recruit reconnaissance power armor, was a Charcarodon named "Dosol."
He was the captain of the Charcarodons' Third Company, First Tactical Squad.
The reason Dosol was chosen by his Chapter Master to join this escape and selection was actually very simple: within the brutal and bloodthirsty Megalodon Warband, Dosol was more "sensible" compared to others.
At least he wouldn't completely disregard friendly unit casualties during combat.
Dosol knew very well that his mission was to select truly suitable new recruits for the Chapter.
To eliminate those who only knew how to hide and wanted to "turtle" their way through these twenty-four hours.
Dosol used a gene-seed derived from the Raven Guard, naturally inheriting the trait of excelling in covert operations.
In fact, most Charcarodons could do this, but they were always accustomed to launching bloody close-range assaults.
Just as Dosol was thinking and advancing,
his keen senses caught a movement in the nearby bushes.
After silently merging into the darkness, Dosol discovered it was a Licker, constantly dangling its long tongue, waiting for prey to come to it.
Dosol didn't know much about Lickers, only that they were bioweapons developed by the Universal Union.
If an ordinary person saw a Licker with no skin, exposed crimson muscles, and brain-like growths on its head, they would probably be terrified, if not faint from shock.
But Dosol, using the cover of shadows, cleanly twisted the Licker's neck.
The entire process took less than three seconds.
In the darkness beyond the realm, alien monsters far more terrifying than Lickers were everywhere; a mere Licker was nothing to mention.
Although he personally twisted the Licker's neck, Dosol didn't get a trace of blood on him.
He remained perfectly hidden in the darkness.
He could feel that there were many other creatures around, as well as those mechanically moving "machines."
But at the same time, Dosol also keenly perceived the extremely faint, yet distinctly human, footsteps coming from not far away.
In an instant, Dosol made a judgment.
Clearly, the owner of the footsteps had undergone special training and knew how to conceal various traces of their movement.
However, in front of Space Marines with various superhuman senses, such concealment was still too obvious.
Avoiding the Tactical Robots, Lickers, and Hunters along the way,
Dosol successfully came to the side of this Human who interested him.
However, at this moment, Kurt evidently didn't know that a two-meter-tall armored man was hidden in the shadows beside him.
But a keen sixth sense still told Kurt that his surroundings were not optimistic.
Along the way, Kurt had successfully avoided several hidden ambushes by Lickers and Hunters, as well as two patrols of Tactical Robots.
This density was indeed a bit too high.
Just as Kurt stopped and pondered whether he should continue to risk advancing to find another tester,
Dosol, who had been lurking in the nearby shadows, suddenly stepped out.
With a mission, he couldn't just keep following this Human; he had to test the Human's mettle.
Before Dosol could make a move, in the next instant, Kurt had already quickly raised his Lasgun and continuously pulled the trigger towards Dosol's head.
A total of five laser shots almost precisely aimed at the same spot.
If they hit, even a Space Marine would be momentarily disrupted.
However, Kurt didn't hold such thoughts; after pulling the trigger, without any hesitation, and without even checking if he had hit successfully, he immediately ran into the distance.
That was the patrol area of two teams of Tactical Robots; only there could Kurt possibly escape from the Charcarodon behind him.
Casually blocking the five laser shots with his hand, Dosol revealed a smile.
His interest in this Human grew even more.
After all, if it were an ordinary Human, facing his sudden appearance, they would probably have surrendered long ago, let alone launched a swift counterattack.
Pulling out a combat knife from his waist, Dosol began his equally skilled assault.
The speed of a Space Marine far surpassed Kurt, this Human; in just a few breaths, Dosol had already caught up to Kurt.
Several laser shots again accurately aimed at Dosol's eyes, but were still blocked by his armored hand.
"This isn't going to work."
Kurt thought to himself.
He immediately changed direction and ran towards another location nearby.
Dosol wasn't in a hurry to immediately catch up to Kurt, but rather just kept trailing him.
He wanted to see what methods this Human, who interested him, possessed.
Dosol had secretly set a standard for Kurt: if Kurt could avoid being caught for the next five minutes, he would let him go and consider him an excellent soldier candidate.
However, Kurt, who was frantically running ahead, naturally didn't know this; his organs, enveloped by the Charcarodon's killing intent, were already operating at their peak.
A Human body was ultimately limited, and after prolonged activity, Kurt already felt fatigue inevitably creeping in.
With a few dodges, Kurt nimbly arrived at the base of a giant tree that several people could embrace.
The next second, a long tongue extended from above, attempting to coil around Kurt.
A Giant Licker, many times larger than other Lickers, was ambushing in the dense canopy at the top of the giant tree.
A laser shot out, successfully interrupting the Giant Licker's tongue attack.
In pain, the Giant Licker let out an angry roar, about to rush down and tear Kurt, this snack, into pieces.
But soon, Dosol, who followed closely behind, exuding terrifying killing intent, made the Giant Licker change its target.