Chapter 85: The Giant

Chapter 85: The Giant

Martial Arts Notary and Discipline Inspection Office.

At first glance, this department was clearly a powerful and authoritative institution. Ordinary Martial Artists would tremble at the mere sight of it.

Yet, Chen Shouyi still hesitated.

Heaven knew he was only seventeen. Just a short while ago, he had been attending high school, and suddenly, he found himself having to make life-altering decisions. No matter how mature he was, it was hard to adjust all at once.

He felt he needed to think it over carefully.

"I can't decide this right now. I need to discuss it with my parents first!"

The Director was taken aback, looking at his youthful face.

Still just a kid!

He smiled and said, "Of course, there's no rush. Take your time to consider it and talk it over with your parents."

......

Chen Shouyi gazed out the window.

In the distance, chimneys stood in clusters, exhaling white smoke, forming a thick blanket of clouds over the entire industrial district. Most of the factories here seemed to have been converted into steam-engine plants.

A sense of uncertainty weighed on his heart.

About the choices ahead.

Before coming here, his thoughts had been simple: obtain his Martial Artist certification, elevate his social status, and improve his family's circumstances. Beyond that, he hadn't considered much else. Where would he go afterward? What would he do in the future? He hadn't given it any thought.

Deep down, he naturally leaned toward returning to his hometown, Dongning City.

After all, it was where he had grown up.

Too many memories lingered there—including his first love, now out of reach.

Moreover, if he returned to Dongning City, he could make use of the Spatial Gateway in the underground parking lot of that unfinished building again.

With his status as a Martial Artist, all he needed was to apply for an Explorer ID Card, and he would have the freedom to enter and exit any Spatial Gateway.

But compared to Hedong City, conditions in Dongning City were undoubtedly harsher. Not only was the Restoration of Electricity still a distant hope, but public security had also deteriorated, and Cult activities remained unchecked.

Of course, given his current strength, issues like public security were hardly a concern for him.

But his parents were ordinary people. Though his younger sister had some ability, she still lacked the power to defend against real dangers.

Compared to Dongning City, bringing his parents and sister to Hedong City would undoubtedly be much safer.

A melancholy feeling settled over him. After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't find a clear answer.

......

The bus gradually drove toward the countryside. Farmlands began to appear on both sides, and after another ten minutes or so, the vehicle came to a stop at the entrance of a village.

The group quickly disembarked, weapons in hand.

Chen Shouyi felt there was something odd about the houses in this village, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It felt as if no one had lived here for a long time.

Just as he was puzzling over it, a notary with a terrifying scar on his face spoke gravely:

"Before we enter, let me briefly introduce Channel 48233. It was discovered half a month ago, but by then, the tragedy had already occurred."

A middle-aged man interjected, "Is this the incident where the entire village disappeared overnight?"

"Exactly, this is the channel. After investigations during this period, we found that a small tribe of about a hundred barbarians lives near the channel. That alone isn’t the issue—the real problem is that these barbarians are slaves to a Giant."

The barbarian tribe must dedicate most of their daily food supply to feed the Giant. If the food is insufficient or unsatisfactory, it would devour the barbarians as punishment. This continued until the barbarians discovered this gateway..."

Everyone's expressions turned grave. What followed was entirely predictable.

The barbarians realized that weak humans were easier to hunt than wild game, perfectly compensating for the shortage of prey. They were undoubtedly thrilled, as if manna had fallen from heaven. Thus, tragedy struck—overnight, the entire village, hundreds of people, regardless of gender or age, were herded like livestock into the gateway.

Under triple gravity, they wouldn’t even survive long.

"Martial Artist Apprentices are no longer ordinary people. In a sense, they are already quasi-military personnel—militia. Our mission this time is to exterminate this tribe and kill this Giant. But don’t worry, the Giant is only about six meters tall. Judging by its development, it’s still a juvenile! Your performance will determine your evaluation in this test."

"This operation carries some risk. Does anyone wish to withdraw?" the notary officer asked as a final question.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Chen Shouyi also felt a chill in his heart.

The previous Martial Artist Apprentice examination had already been unusual, with multiple fractures, injuries, and even a candidate’s death. This Combat Test was even more brutal and bloody.

Was humanity preparing for something?

...

Everyone maintained a tense silence. Having come this far, they had already steeled themselves. Naturally, no one was willing to back out.

"Then let’s move out!"

The group walked along the village’s concrete road for a few more minutes before discovering that the houses ahead had been completely flattened, replaced by a military encampment. Over a dozen rapid-fire artillery emplacements and seven or eight armored vehicles were positioned around the area.

Aside from numerous soldiers, there were also large numbers of construction workers and heavy machinery engaged in urgent work.

An officer with the rank of major strode over and shook hands firmly with the Notary Office Director. "Director Fang, hello! We’ve been waiting for your arrival."

"Major Liang, there’s no need for such formalities. The moment your report came through, we were on our way! Besides, your military has plenty of its own Martial Artists."

"Ah, too many monks and too little gruel! They’re all deployed at the tense frontline gateways... Never mind. Are these the examinees for this session? I’ll assign two men to escort you."

"Zhang Youwei, Xie Xiaozhi!"

Two soldiers immediately rushed over.

"Present!"

"Escort the leaders to the gateway entrance."

"Yes, sir!"

...

The spatial gateway was situated two meters below ground level, still exposed to the open air for now. However, the foundations around it had already been laid, indicating it would soon be sealed off.

"Proceed inside!" Director Fang said.

The group began entering one after another.

Chen Shouyi felt the scenery shift abruptly, followed by a sudden heaviness in his body as he plummeted. Fortunately, the drop was only about 20 centimeters, and he instantly found his footing.

Before him stretched an endless grassland.

In the distance, a few bizarre-looking creatures could be seen grazing with their heads lowered.

Sensing the commotion, the creatures suddenly grew alert, their eyes fixed on the group as if debating whether to flee.

"Feeling nervous?" Lu Weifeng walked up to Chen Shouyi and whispered.

Chen Shouyi checked his weapons and nodded. "A little!"

Of course he was nervous. After all, he was about to face a Giant.

He had never seen such a terrifying creature before, but without exception, they were all incredibly powerful. It was said that some Giants could even rival mountains in height, capable of shattering peaks with a single punch.

"Let's go. Once we cross that slope ahead, we'll reach the barbarian tribe. Also, a reminder—from the moment we step in here, the Martial Artist Combat Test has officially begun. Everything is up to your own decisions. Unless you encounter danger, we will no longer intervene," Director Fang said solemnly.

Many were already breathing heavily, their faces tense.

The vast majority here had not only never killed a barbarian before—they had never even seen one. Like fresh recruits stepping onto a battlefield, no matter how much they had trained, their hands and feet would inevitably tremble when the moment arrived.

The slope ahead wasn’t far. After a few minutes of walking, the group reached the top and quickly crouched low.

This was a primitive tribe located by a small stream.

It was even more backward than the barbarians Chen Shouyi had encountered before—at least those had known how to build canoes. This tribe, however, showed almost no signs of civilization.

They lived out in the open, with no structures whatsoever.

By now, it was nearly evening, and the men who had gone out hunting were beginning to return.

Those carrying prey walked with their heads held high, greeted by waves of admiring glances from the women. Those who returned empty-handed looked dejected, ignored by everyone.

Some were wrapped in animal hides, while others wore nothing at all. Most were gaunt and malnourished, their bodies frail.

Chen Shouyi glanced at them briefly before shifting his gaze to the massive figure in the distance.

A naked, black-yellow Giant lay sprawled in the grass hundreds of meters away from the tribe, surrounded by piles of feces and bleached bones.

It was fast asleep, its thunderous snoring rising and falling in waves—faintly audible even from where they stood.