Chapter 7: The Gamble of Registration
The sky was just beginning to lighten when the sound of movement already echoed through the stairwell of the shelter.
In the past, at this hour, many newcomers would still be lingering in their compartments, eyes closed in meditation. But today was different. With only one day left before the registration window for the newcomer assessment closed, those intending to take a gamble had all risen early. They packed their belongings, clutched their temporary identity cards tightly, and prepared to head to the Military Affairs Bureau. Footsteps rose and fell in the corridor, interspersed with hushed conversations, and the air was thick with the tense restlessness that precedes battle.
Lin Yan washed up quickly, collected a breakfast, and did not linger in the cafeteria. He swallowed the multigrain cake in a few bites, drank the purified water in one gulp, tucked his temporary identity card safely away, and walked out of the shelter, heading toward the auxiliary building of the Military Affairs Bureau.
The city district had not yet fully awakened. On the main road, early-rising logistics teams were already clearing the streets and transporting supplies, while the synchronized footsteps of the garrison changing shifts could be heard from the direction of the distant city wall. The cool-toned daylight pierced through the shading net framework, falling onto the pavement and stretching the shadows of the buildings long across the ground. There were few pedestrians on the street; most, like Lin Yan, were newcomers preparing to sign up for the assessment. They mostly traveled alone, their expressions varied. Some had eyes full of desperate determination, some had furrowed brows, silently reciting the key points of the assessment, and others had pale faces and hesitant steps, still weighing the terrifying risks in their hearts.
He soon arrived at the auxiliary building next to the main Military Affairs Bureau.
Unlike the solemn and oppressive atmosphere of the main building, the lobby of the auxiliary building was bustling with voices, though not chaotic. The space was vast, the walls similarly clad in reinforced steel plates, with crisscrossing steel frames on the ceiling. Several rows of metal benches were placed against one wall, filled with young people waiting to register. At the far end of the hall, four registration windows were open side by side. Above the windows hung a massive electronic display screen, scrolling through the regulations, risk disclosures, and bold red warning text for the newcomer assessment, repeatedly reminding all registrants: This assessment carries the risk of life and mental damage. Once registration is submitted, you voluntarily assume all consequences.
In the corner of the lobby, two instructors in dark green combat uniforms stood quietly against the wall. Their arms were crossed over their chests, and their gazes calmly swept over every waiting newcomer. They did not speak, yet they exuded an oppressive aura born of long years on the battlefield.
Lin Yan walked to the end of the line. As the queue slowly moved forward, he quietly observed his surroundings.
The person in front of him was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, slight of build, clutching his identity card so tightly his knuckles turned white, silently chanting something to himself. From his hushed conversation with a companion, Lin Yan learned that his entire family had perished in the last rift eruption. Now alone, he had no other way out but to take the assessment. The boy's voice trembled, yet it concealed an unyielding tenacity.
Not far away, a burly young man was chatting with those around him. He was originally a logistics worker on the city wall repair team. Having been in close contact with the psychic turbulence leaking from outside the wall for years, his Sea of Consciousness foundation was much stronger than that of ordinary people. He did not want to be trapped in the repair position for life, risking a surprise attack by scaled beasts every day to patch the wall, yet never having the power to protect himself. So, he signed up for the assessment, hoping to gamble his way into the frontline garrison.
There were also a few people with gloomy expressions, sitting silently and not communicating with anyone. Lin Yan could faintly sense the restless fluctuations on the surface of their Sea of Consciousness; presumably, fear and desire were intertwined within them, and their hearts were locked in fierce struggle.
The line moved forward bit by bit, and soon it was Lin Yan's turn.
The female clerk behind the window looked up at him and pushed over a thick paper document. The title read: Newcomer Talent Assessment Risk Confirmation Form.
"Read the entire text, confirm that you are aware of all risks, and if you have no questions, sign at the end, enter your identity information, and the registration will take effect. Once confirmed, it cannot be revoked." Her voice was flat; having received a large number of registrants every day, she was long accustomed to the choices of these young people. "I will repeat this verbally: The assessment consists of two main modules. First, the Sea of Consciousness potential evaluation; second, the comprehensive wilderness test in the ruins. The wilderness test area is the abandoned defense zone of the old city wall. The area contains low-level scaled beasts that have not been completely cleared, and there is psychic turbulence leaking from the rifts. Emergency garrison squads and signal alarms are on-site. Triggering the alarm will result in an immediate failure of the assessment and forced evacuation. If severe Sea of Consciousness damage or life-threatening danger occurs during the assessment, on-site medical staff will immediately intervene to provide rescue, but all consequences of the damage will be borne by the candidate."
Lin Yan picked up the confirmation form and read it line by line. The document was written very straightforwardly, without any beautification or embellishment. Permanent Sea of Consciousness damage, mental breakdown, and death from scaled beast attacks in the wilderness—all possible disastrous outcomes were written in black and white.
He picked up a pen and wrote his name at the signature line.
The clerk scanned his temporary identity card and entered the registration information. A confirmation prompt sounded from the terminal screen. A paper voucher printed with the assessment number, time, and assembly point was pushed in front of Lin Yan.
"Assembly Point Number Three. Assemble punctually at six in the morning on the day of the assessment. Bring your temporary identity card. No heavy weapons are allowed; you may carry a small emergency first-aid kit. Tardiness will result in immediate disqualification."
"Understood." Lin Yan put away the voucher.
After leaving the registration window, he did not immediately leave the auxiliary building lobby. In the open space in front of the hall, a middle-aged instructor who had been standing against the wall walked slowly to the front of the crowd and gently tapped the metal podium in front of him. The noisy hall instantly fell silent, and all eyes focused on him.
A scar ran across the instructor's left cheek, an old wound left by the claws of a scaled beast. His gaze slowly swept over the dozens of newcomers who had just finished registering. His tone lacked passionate encouragement; it was only a cold, objective statement.
"I am the chief instructor for this newcomer assessment, Lu Ling."
"I know what each of you is thinking. Some want power, wanting to escape the bottom-tier logistics life with no hope of advancement; some carry blood feuds, wanting the ability to slaughter scaled beasts; and others have no way out, making the assessment their only path to survival. I will not paint a rosy picture of the training camp for you, nor will I make empty promises. I will only state the facts."
"Every year, many people sign up for the newcomer assessment. In the end, less than thirty percent pass both tests and successfully enter the training camp. Of the remaining seventy percent, some are eliminated on the spot and leave safely; some suffer Sea of Consciousness damage and require long-term recovery; and a few remain forever in that abandoned defense zone."
He paused, his gaze growing heavier.
"The wilderness ruins are not a training ground. That is the old city wall camp that was breached by scaled beasts twenty years ago. The houses have collapsed, the alleys crisscross, and beneath the crumbling walls, countless blind spots can hide scaled beasts. Even though we conduct large-scale mopping-up operations in advance, low-level scaled beasts that slip through will still钻进来 (sneak in). The concentration of psychic turbulence is high in some areas of the ruins. Those with a weak Sea of Consciousness will have their consciousness shattered by the turbulence before they even see the monsters."
"During the Sea of Consciousness assessment, the psychic pressure released by the instrument will increase level by level. It does not test how strong a mental force you can burst forth, but whether your Sea of Consciousness can withstand continuous erosion. Do not force yourself to endure it. Once you feel a tearing pain in your Sea of Consciousness, signal to stop immediately. I believe you have all seen examples in the shelter and the adjustment center of the price of forcing yourself."
"One last thing. During the assessment, self-defense and brief mutual cover are allowed, but malicious attacks on other candidates are strictly prohibited. Once intentional harm to a companion is discovered, you will be immediately disqualified and handed over to the Military Affairs Bureau for disposal according to bastion law."
"In three days, at six in the morning, Assembly Point Number Three. Now, disperse. Go back and rest well, build up your strength. If you want to back out, there is still time."
As his words fell, the hall fell into complete silence. The surge of hot blood that had just ignited on many faces was largely extinguished by this cold warning. Some lowered their heads to look at the registration vouchers in their hands, their eyes wavering, and even turned and walked toward the window, intending to cancel their registration.
Lin Yan stood in the crowd, his expression calm. The dangers the instructor had spoken of, he had already witnessed with his own eyes. The wounded soldiers at the base of the city wall, the names on the Wall of Martyrs, Uncle Chen at the shelter whose Sea of Consciousness was permanently damaged—each scene had left its mark in his heart. He was clear about the price of this gamble, yet he still chose to step onto this path.
He turned and walked out of the auxiliary building lobby.
Outside, the sun had risen higher, falling on the armor plating of the Military Affairs Bureau building and reflecting a cold, hard luster. The assessment voucher in his hand was just a thin piece of paper, yet it bore the weight of a choice concerning destiny.
Three days would pass in the blink of an eye. Amidst the ruins, the trial of the Sea of Consciousness, and the scaled beasts lurking beneath the broken walls, all were quietly awaiting this batch of newcomers who had gambled everything.
End of Chapter
In the past, at this hour, many newcomers would still be lingering in their compartments, eyes closed in meditation. But today was different. With only one day left before the registration window for the newcomer assessment closed, those intending to take a gamble had all risen early. They packed their belongings, clutched their temporary identity cards tightly, and prepared to head to the Military Affairs Bureau. Footsteps rose and fell in the corridor, interspersed with hushed conversations, and the air was thick with the tense restlessness that precedes battle.
Lin Yan washed up quickly, collected a breakfast, and did not linger in the cafeteria. He swallowed the multigrain cake in a few bites, drank the purified water in one gulp, tucked his temporary identity card safely away, and walked out of the shelter, heading toward the auxiliary building of the Military Affairs Bureau.
The city district had not yet fully awakened. On the main road, early-rising logistics teams were already clearing the streets and transporting supplies, while the synchronized footsteps of the garrison changing shifts could be heard from the direction of the distant city wall. The cool-toned daylight pierced through the shading net framework, falling onto the pavement and stretching the shadows of the buildings long across the ground. There were few pedestrians on the street; most, like Lin Yan, were newcomers preparing to sign up for the assessment. They mostly traveled alone, their expressions varied. Some had eyes full of desperate determination, some had furrowed brows, silently reciting the key points of the assessment, and others had pale faces and hesitant steps, still weighing the terrifying risks in their hearts.
He soon arrived at the auxiliary building next to the main Military Affairs Bureau.
Unlike the solemn and oppressive atmosphere of the main building, the lobby of the auxiliary building was bustling with voices, though not chaotic. The space was vast, the walls similarly clad in reinforced steel plates, with crisscrossing steel frames on the ceiling. Several rows of metal benches were placed against one wall, filled with young people waiting to register. At the far end of the hall, four registration windows were open side by side. Above the windows hung a massive electronic display screen, scrolling through the regulations, risk disclosures, and bold red warning text for the newcomer assessment, repeatedly reminding all registrants: This assessment carries the risk of life and mental damage. Once registration is submitted, you voluntarily assume all consequences.
In the corner of the lobby, two instructors in dark green combat uniforms stood quietly against the wall. Their arms were crossed over their chests, and their gazes calmly swept over every waiting newcomer. They did not speak, yet they exuded an oppressive aura born of long years on the battlefield.
Lin Yan walked to the end of the line. As the queue slowly moved forward, he quietly observed his surroundings.
The person in front of him was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, slight of build, clutching his identity card so tightly his knuckles turned white, silently chanting something to himself. From his hushed conversation with a companion, Lin Yan learned that his entire family had perished in the last rift eruption. Now alone, he had no other way out but to take the assessment. The boy's voice trembled, yet it concealed an unyielding tenacity.
Not far away, a burly young man was chatting with those around him. He was originally a logistics worker on the city wall repair team. Having been in close contact with the psychic turbulence leaking from outside the wall for years, his Sea of Consciousness foundation was much stronger than that of ordinary people. He did not want to be trapped in the repair position for life, risking a surprise attack by scaled beasts every day to patch the wall, yet never having the power to protect himself. So, he signed up for the assessment, hoping to gamble his way into the frontline garrison.
There were also a few people with gloomy expressions, sitting silently and not communicating with anyone. Lin Yan could faintly sense the restless fluctuations on the surface of their Sea of Consciousness; presumably, fear and desire were intertwined within them, and their hearts were locked in fierce struggle.
The line moved forward bit by bit, and soon it was Lin Yan's turn.
The female clerk behind the window looked up at him and pushed over a thick paper document. The title read: Newcomer Talent Assessment Risk Confirmation Form.
"Read the entire text, confirm that you are aware of all risks, and if you have no questions, sign at the end, enter your identity information, and the registration will take effect. Once confirmed, it cannot be revoked." Her voice was flat; having received a large number of registrants every day, she was long accustomed to the choices of these young people. "I will repeat this verbally: The assessment consists of two main modules. First, the Sea of Consciousness potential evaluation; second, the comprehensive wilderness test in the ruins. The wilderness test area is the abandoned defense zone of the old city wall. The area contains low-level scaled beasts that have not been completely cleared, and there is psychic turbulence leaking from the rifts. Emergency garrison squads and signal alarms are on-site. Triggering the alarm will result in an immediate failure of the assessment and forced evacuation. If severe Sea of Consciousness damage or life-threatening danger occurs during the assessment, on-site medical staff will immediately intervene to provide rescue, but all consequences of the damage will be borne by the candidate."
Lin Yan picked up the confirmation form and read it line by line. The document was written very straightforwardly, without any beautification or embellishment. Permanent Sea of Consciousness damage, mental breakdown, and death from scaled beast attacks in the wilderness—all possible disastrous outcomes were written in black and white.
He picked up a pen and wrote his name at the signature line.
The clerk scanned his temporary identity card and entered the registration information. A confirmation prompt sounded from the terminal screen. A paper voucher printed with the assessment number, time, and assembly point was pushed in front of Lin Yan.
"Assembly Point Number Three. Assemble punctually at six in the morning on the day of the assessment. Bring your temporary identity card. No heavy weapons are allowed; you may carry a small emergency first-aid kit. Tardiness will result in immediate disqualification."
"Understood." Lin Yan put away the voucher.
After leaving the registration window, he did not immediately leave the auxiliary building lobby. In the open space in front of the hall, a middle-aged instructor who had been standing against the wall walked slowly to the front of the crowd and gently tapped the metal podium in front of him. The noisy hall instantly fell silent, and all eyes focused on him.
A scar ran across the instructor's left cheek, an old wound left by the claws of a scaled beast. His gaze slowly swept over the dozens of newcomers who had just finished registering. His tone lacked passionate encouragement; it was only a cold, objective statement.
"I am the chief instructor for this newcomer assessment, Lu Ling."
"I know what each of you is thinking. Some want power, wanting to escape the bottom-tier logistics life with no hope of advancement; some carry blood feuds, wanting the ability to slaughter scaled beasts; and others have no way out, making the assessment their only path to survival. I will not paint a rosy picture of the training camp for you, nor will I make empty promises. I will only state the facts."
"Every year, many people sign up for the newcomer assessment. In the end, less than thirty percent pass both tests and successfully enter the training camp. Of the remaining seventy percent, some are eliminated on the spot and leave safely; some suffer Sea of Consciousness damage and require long-term recovery; and a few remain forever in that abandoned defense zone."
He paused, his gaze growing heavier.
"The wilderness ruins are not a training ground. That is the old city wall camp that was breached by scaled beasts twenty years ago. The houses have collapsed, the alleys crisscross, and beneath the crumbling walls, countless blind spots can hide scaled beasts. Even though we conduct large-scale mopping-up operations in advance, low-level scaled beasts that slip through will still钻进来 (sneak in). The concentration of psychic turbulence is high in some areas of the ruins. Those with a weak Sea of Consciousness will have their consciousness shattered by the turbulence before they even see the monsters."
"During the Sea of Consciousness assessment, the psychic pressure released by the instrument will increase level by level. It does not test how strong a mental force you can burst forth, but whether your Sea of Consciousness can withstand continuous erosion. Do not force yourself to endure it. Once you feel a tearing pain in your Sea of Consciousness, signal to stop immediately. I believe you have all seen examples in the shelter and the adjustment center of the price of forcing yourself."
"One last thing. During the assessment, self-defense and brief mutual cover are allowed, but malicious attacks on other candidates are strictly prohibited. Once intentional harm to a companion is discovered, you will be immediately disqualified and handed over to the Military Affairs Bureau for disposal according to bastion law."
"In three days, at six in the morning, Assembly Point Number Three. Now, disperse. Go back and rest well, build up your strength. If you want to back out, there is still time."
As his words fell, the hall fell into complete silence. The surge of hot blood that had just ignited on many faces was largely extinguished by this cold warning. Some lowered their heads to look at the registration vouchers in their hands, their eyes wavering, and even turned and walked toward the window, intending to cancel their registration.
Lin Yan stood in the crowd, his expression calm. The dangers the instructor had spoken of, he had already witnessed with his own eyes. The wounded soldiers at the base of the city wall, the names on the Wall of Martyrs, Uncle Chen at the shelter whose Sea of Consciousness was permanently damaged—each scene had left its mark in his heart. He was clear about the price of this gamble, yet he still chose to step onto this path.
He turned and walked out of the auxiliary building lobby.
Outside, the sun had risen higher, falling on the armor plating of the Military Affairs Bureau building and reflecting a cold, hard luster. The assessment voucher in his hand was just a thin piece of paper, yet it bore the weight of a choice concerning destiny.
Three days would pass in the blink of an eye. Amidst the ruins, the trial of the Sea of Consciousness, and the scaled beasts lurking beneath the broken walls, all were quietly awaiting this batch of newcomers who had gambled everything.
End of Chapter