The Evil Twins Rise
The Limit Dojo's main hall buzzed with tension. Rows of candidates stood waiting, their gazes locked on the colossal machines that would decide their fate. Above them, a digital board displayed the requirements that had crushed the dreams of countless hopefuls.
Earth's Power Ranking System:
Apprentice: Fist strength below 900 kg, speed below 25 m/s.
Warrior: Fist strength ≥ 900 kg, speed ≥ 25 m/s, reflex at combat standard.
Fighter: Must pass the quasi-warrior exam and slay a beast in the second stage.
An examiner in a black combat suit raised his voice. "The quasi-warrior test consists of three trials — strength, speed, and reflex. Pass all three, and you may proceed to stage two, the beast hunt. Fail even one, and you are eliminated."
The hall grew quieter, each candidate feeling the weight of those words.
The examiner glanced at his clipboard. "First up — Luo Feng!"
All eyes shifted as the black-haired youth stepped forward.
"Look, it's one of the Evil Twins."
"The Mad Twin himself…"
"He's said to be brutal in sparring, but outside he's approachable."
Murmurs spread, voices filled with a mix of awe and envy.
Luo Feng ignored them. He steadied his breathing, tightened his stance, and drove his fist into the alloy plate.
Boom!
The machine rattled, numbers surging.
962 kilograms.
Gasps erupted.
"So close to warrior-level strength!"
"As expected of the Mad Twin…"
The examiner's brows rose slightly. "Good. Very good."
Next came the speed test. Luo Feng crouched at the starting line, muscles coiled.
"Begin!"
He exploded forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Sensors flashed as he crossed the finish.
25.8 meters per second.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
"That's already warrior level…"
"Meteor Luo Feng! His growth is too fast!"
The old nickname, Mad Twin, clashed with the fresh murmurs. Some students whispered both at once — Mad Meteor Luo Feng.
The examiner nodded. "Speed: passes warrior-level."
Now came reflex. Luo Feng entered the dome simulator, eyes sharp. Lights flashed randomly — left, right, overhead — and his body twisted and struck with precision.
When it ended, the numbers froze.
Accuracy: 89%. Reflex speed: peak quasi-warrior standard.
The examiner smiled faintly. "Not bad at all. Just shy of warrior level."
The crowd erupted again.
"He's only eighteen! Almost warrior in all three!"
"No wonder they call the brothers monsters…"
The examiner raised his voice once more. "Next — Luo Zheng!"
A hush fell. The white-haired youth strode forward, his ruby eyes cold, his face unreadable.
"The Ice Cold Twin…"
"Even scarier than his brother."
"No, some call him Heaven's Chosen now…"
The murmurs carried a mix of fear and awe as Luo Zheng stepped before the alloy plate. Without hesitation, he struck.
Bang!
The numbers climbed past 900, past 1,000, before halting.
1,038 kilograms.
The dojo seemed to freeze.
"That's fighter-level strength already!"
"He's a monster… no, he's something else…"
The examiner's eyes gleamed. "Strength: warrior level confirmed."
At the speed track, Luo Zheng launched forward with effortless grace. His stride was fluid, his breath steady.
27.1 meters per second.
The crowd gasped again.
"Above warrior standard…"
"Truly the Ice Cold Twin!"
"No — Heaven's Chosen Luo Zheng!"
And then the reflex test. Luo Zheng stepped into the dome, eyes narrowing. The lights blazed faster than before, but his body moved like flowing water — smooth, precise, inevitable.
When the trial ended, the results shone bright.
Accuracy: 94%. Reflex: warrior level.
The dojo erupted.
"Both brothers… both passed!"
"Meteor Luo Feng!"
"Heaven's Chosen Luo Zheng!"
"No — the Evil Twins… they're both monsters!"
The nicknames mixed and merged in the murmurs. Mad Meteor, Ice Cold Heaven's Chosen — the hall could not decide. But one truth was clear: the Evil Twins had shaken the Limit Dojo.
The examiner silenced the noise with a raised hand, his gaze lingering on the brothers. "Luo Feng, Luo Zheng… both of you pass the first stage. Prepare yourselves. The beast trial comes next."
Before the crowd could settle, the heavy doors at the side of the hall creaked open. The sound of boots against the polished floor echoed — slow, measured, filled with authority.
A man in a black trench coat entered, followed by two assistants. His aura pressed against the hall like a wave, invisible yet undeniable.
"Chief Instructor Jiang Nian!"
Whispers spread like fire. The very leader of the Zhi-An region's Limit Dojo had appeared personally.
Jiang Nian's gaze was sharp as he scanned the candidates, but it softened when it settled on the twins. He spoke in a deep, steady tone that silenced even the boldest murmurs.
"In the entire Zhi-An region, I have seen countless youths strive for greatness. Most stumble, some rise. But rarely do I see talent like this." His eyes shifted between the brothers. "Luo Feng, Luo Zheng — would you be willing to accept the dojo's invitation to join as internal elites?"
The hall erupted.
"Internal elite?!"
"That's for warriors, not candidates!"
"They're skipping all the steps…"
Luo Feng's heart thundered in his chest. Internal elite? That's a position countless dream of… But beside him, Luo Zheng's expression didn't shift. Cold ruby eyes locked on Jiang Nian, and he nodded slightly.
"We accept."
The uproar doubled.
Jiang Nian raised a hand, and the room stilled. He gestured to his assistant, who stepped forward with a black case. Inside lay two thin manuals bound in leather.
"This," Jiang Nian said solemnly, "is the Primary Breathing Method of the Extreme Martial Hall. It is one of our most guarded legacies. With it, you may draw in cosmic energy, strengthening both body and spirit. Consider it the true first step on your path as fighters."
Gasps filled the hall.
"That's given only to full warriors…"
"They're really skipping all the stages for them."
Luo Feng bowed deeply as he received the manual, his eyes shining. Luo Zheng accepted his copy without expression, though deep inside, a voice chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Task Completed. First Stage Success.]
[System Rewards Unlocked.]
In the depths of Luo Zheng's consciousness, brilliance unfolded.
[Reward Granted: SSS-grade Twin Combat Suits.]
[Reward Granted: SS-grade Twin Blades.]
[Reward Granted: 20 SS-grade Twin Flying Blades.]
In his system space, items manifested with a brilliance that stole his breath even as he kept his face composed.
Luo Zheng's Combat Suit shimmered in a regal blend of dark purple and dark gold, armor-like but sleek, exuding an aura as cold as his ruby gaze.
Luo Feng's Combat Suit gleamed in dark red and black silver, sharp and fierce, like flames bound in steel.
The Twin Blades emerged, crescent-shaped weapons glowing with their distinct colors — Luo Zheng's faint purple-gold, Luo Feng's blood-red silver. When combined, they formed a terrifying double-edged saber.
Finally, the Twin Flying Blades appeared: twenty slender weapons, ten bearing Luo Zheng's hues, ten Luo Feng's, each humming with lethal intent.
Even Jiang Nian, watching from the stage, felt a strange pulse ripple through the air as if the twins' presence had deepened.
"As internal elites," Jiang Nian continued, his tone solemn, "the dojo grants you the following privileges: each of you will receive a villa in the inner city, with full access to the dojo's training facilities. You will also receive an annual stipend to cover cultivation needs, and priority entry to all dojo resources. In addition, you may enter the Gravity Training Hall whenever you choose."
The candidates almost fell over.
"A villa?! In the inner city?!"
"That's worth hundreds of millions!"
"An annual salary too…?"
Jealousy burned hot, but none dared voice it too loudly. Everyone knew — the twins had earned this through power none of them could match.
Jiang Nian's gaze softened slightly. "Work hard. You are still at the beginning. Strength will decide everything, and the world outside is cruel. Do not waste this chance."
The crowd erupted into new murmurs, voices tumbling over one another.
"Mad Meteor Luo Feng…"
"Ice Cold Heaven's Chosen Luo Zheng…"
"The Evil Twins…"
Their nicknames spread like wildfire. Some said them in awe, others in fear, but no one could deny the truth: two monsters had been born in the Zhi-An region.
The twins stepped down from the stage, manuals in hand, the crowd's whispers trailing after them like shadows. Yet even as they walked calmly, their minds burned with determination.
For Luo Feng, the dream of becoming a true fighter had never felt closer. For Luo Zheng, armed with both the dojo's legacy and the system's gifts, the path ahead stretched far — a path where the Evil Twins would dominate the skies.
And ahead, waiting beyond the dojo walls, the beast trial loomed. The second stage of the exam. The true baptism of blood.
This was only the beginning.
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