Chapter Twenty-One: The Starforge Squad

Silvery moonlight tore through the darkness, casting its cold radiance upon the earth. Of the more than a thousand warriors who had entered the assessment, only one hundred and twenty-seven passed the initial test—a clear sign that joining the Guardian Squad was no easy feat.

Now, these remaining one hundred and twenty-seven warriors faced a final trial, the nature of which was still unknown but would certainly see more eliminated. It was impossible to say how many of the original thousand would ultimately succeed.

Those who had passed the preliminary assessment now followed a middle-aged man clad in black battle attire, entering the Lingfeng City military district, their hearts uneasy as they awaited the last test.

The barracks were lively, with a sumptuous dinner prepared especially for those who had cleared the initial round. After they had eaten their fill, the black-clad man led them to a spacious square.

“One hundred and twenty-seven? Luo Yi, that’s quite a crowd this time,” boomed a burly man as he approached, grinning, and gave the black-clad Luo Yi a friendly punch to the chest.

“Luo Yi, give your old pal a hint—who are the promising ones?” the burly man said, throwing an arm around Luo Yi’s neck and lowering his voice to a confidential murmur.

Luo Yi’s usually stern face softened into a rare smile. He and this burly man had once served in the same squad, surviving countless life-or-death situations together, their bond forged in blood.

“Old Gu, you know the rules as well as I do. There are some good seeds, but it all depends on your judgment,” Luo Yi replied, shaking off Gu’s arm with a stern expression, though his gaze, almost unconsciously, drifted toward Ke Bei.

“I get it—rules are rules,” Gu laughed, catching the glance, and wandered off as if nothing had happened.

Moments later, seven or eight more robust men arrived at the square.

“Stellar Squad, Blazing Squad, Horizon Squad… Nine squads in all. Everyone’s here, let’s begin,” Luo Yi announced, stepping aside and gesturing toward the group of one hundred and twenty-seven.

“Who’s first?” asked Gu Kun, his eyes like bronze bells as he surveyed the others.

“Gu, of course it should be you. No need for modesty,” replied a man of medium build, stepping back with a smile. Of the nine squads present, Gu Kun’s was the only two-star team. His own strength was at the very peak of Tier Three, and none of the one-star captains dared compete with him.

“Well then, I won’t stand on ceremony,” Gu Kun said with a grin, swaggering a few steps before stopping in front of Ke Bei.

“Young man, what’s your name?”

“Ke Bei,” he replied, raising his head and smiling at Gu Kun, whose full beard and imposing build brought to mind Ke Bei’s own father. Instantly, he felt a sense of warmth.

“How about joining my squad?” Gu Kun extended a broad hand with a smile.

“Alright!” Ke Bei answered readily, grasping Gu Kun’s large palm without hesitation. He found himself liking this forthright man.

“Good lad! I like that spirit!” Gu Kun roared, gripping Ke Bei’s hand and suddenly tightening his grip.

Stellar Squad does not accept dead weight! In the wilderness, battling beasts is a matter of life and death. A burden could spell disaster for all. As captain, Gu Kun had to be cautious.

“Listen, young man, let me be clear: Stellar Squad can give you a chance to prove yourself, to adapt to fighting beasts and zombies in the wild. But you must rely on your own strength—don’t expect help from the others. If, after your first mission, you fail to satisfy your teammates, I’ll have no choice but to send you packing.”

As Gu Kun spoke, his grip tightened even more.

“I understand, Brother Gu,” Ke Bei replied calmly, his face unruffled as if he felt no pressure at all. His strength was now not much less than a Tier Three warrior, and since Gu Kun was only testing him and not using his full power, Ke Bei felt nothing amiss.

“Good! I’m relieved to hear that!” Gu Kun laughed heartily, withdrawing his hand, his eyes flashing with delight. He had exerted seven or eight times the strength of an ordinary man, yet Ke Bei remained unflustered.

A newcomer with such strength was exactly what he wanted.

“Brother Luo Yi, this one’s for Stellar Squad. Register him,” Gu Kun said.

“No problem, I’ll take care of it,” Luo Yi replied with a knowing smile. He was glad his old comrade had found such a promising recruit.

Formalities were quickly settled.

“Come on, lad, I’ll take you to get your gear. When there’s time, we’ll gather the whole squad for a meal at West City’s Flower Pavilion so you can meet everyone,” Gu Kun said cheerfully, leading Ke Bei deeper into the camp.

“Aren’t two-star squads usually unwilling to take on newcomers?” the captain of the Blazing Squad asked his companion after Gu Kun had left.

“No one really knows. Most two-star squads don’t take rookies, but Old Gu is different—he enjoys mentoring new blood. Says it builds camaraderie.”

“Enough chatter, let’s pick our people. I lost three brothers on the last mission. We need fresh blood.”

“I lost two myself,” another sighed.

“Let’s get to it,” the others urged.

So the seven or eight one-star squads began selecting new members. When all was said and done, only thirty-nine of the one hundred and twenty-seven who had passed the initial round were chosen.

The wild-looking youth joined Horizon Squad, a mid-tier one-star team led by a captain who had reached the very peak of Tier Two. It was a good match for the newcomer.

Out of more than a thousand warriors, only thirty-nine ultimately passed. Joining the Guardian Squad was indeed no simple matter.

The city had dedicated training institutions, and over ninety percent of Guardian Squad members were selected directly from these schools. Those with talent were recruited early and trained intensively. So, although the Squad held open recruitments monthly, the number of spots was always very limited. Only the truly outstanding had any hope of making the cut.

Under Gu Kun’s guidance, Ke Bei made his way to the armory. When he presented his credentials, he was shown three thick tomes, each nearly a foot thick.

“Pick the weapon that suits you best. You can’t go beast hunting without the right tool,” Gu Kun said, patting the books with a smile. “Take your time. Choose what fits you.”

Ke Bei nodded and quickly skimmed the indexes.

Weapons, armor, shields, and battle suits—four categories in all.

“No need for a weapon; I already have ‘Sky-Sunder.’ I’ll focus on armor and battle suits,” Ke Bei thought, carefully scanning the options. As a newcomer, his choices were limited.

After half an hour, he looked up.

“I’ve made my choice. For armor, I want tungsten-steel; for the battle suit, ice-silk.”

“No shield? No weapon?” Gu Kun asked, puzzled. Most newcomers chose tungsten-steel armor and an ice-silk suit, but the main focus was always on weapons, since everyone’s preferences differed.

“I already have a weapon,” Ke Bei replied, patting the broadsword slung across his back. “As for shields, I’ve never used one. Not interested.”

“I see. Alright, then,” Gu Kun nodded.

He relayed Ke Bei’s selections to the armory attendant, and ten minutes later, the requested gear arrived.

Afterward, Gu Kun accompanied Ke Bei to collect his property certificate: North City, Mingye Estate, Building 18, Sixth Floor, Apartment 605.

“Mingye Estate? I live there too! Looks like we’ll be neighbors,” Gu Kun said with a hearty laugh, clapping Ke Bei on the shoulder.

“That’s everything sorted. I’ve got some matters to attend to, so I won’t see you home. Tomorrow, I’ll visit you at Mingye Estate and introduce you to the other five members of Stellar Squad,” Gu Kun said.

“Alright, Boss Gu, you go on,” Ke Bei replied, waving as he left the barracks with his new armor and battle suit in a wooden box.

As night fell, Ke Bei made his way toward the southern district.

“Qianqian, why aren’t you asleep?” Ke Bei was surprised to find Li Qianqian squatting at his doorstep.

“I was waiting for you to eat,” she replied, springing to her feet and hurrying over to take the box from his arms, her head lowered.

Lighting the oil lamp, Ke Bei ate the freshly warmed meal Li Qianqian had prepared. Glancing around their familiar, cramped room, he suddenly broke into a smile.

“What’s so funny?” she asked softly, sipping her soup as she watched Ke Bei’s inexplicable grin.

“Heh, Qianqian, we don’t have to crowd into this tiny place anymore!” Ke Bei said smugly. “Tomorrow, we’ll move into a big apartment—with a kitchen, a balcony, and three bedrooms!”