" What's behind that glass door?"" It looks like a black hole."" Could that really be the entrance?"
The students whispered among themselves.
" That's exactly it the Forbidden Zone entrance!"
Tyler Young confirmed their guesses at once. " Go straight in. When the three mission options appear, just choose one. Remember: stay safe inside! I'll be waiting for your return…"
At his words, the students formed a line and stepped into the swirling void one by one. Vincent Fox watched as each classmate vanished the moment they entered.
Soon it was his turn. He stood before the dark gateway, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
In the next instant, he found himself in a pure white space.
" Please select your mission…"
A calm voice sounded and three mission panels appeared before him:
Mission 1: Eliminate T-virus–infected creatures.Difficulty: EasyTime limit: 30 daysTip: The more infected you kill, the higher your rating.( Higher rating, greater rewards)
Mission 2: Rescue survivors.Difficulty: HardTime limit: 30 daysTip: The more survivors you save, the higher your rating.
Mission 3: Eradicate the T-virus and save the world.Difficulty: UltimateTime limit: 30 daysTip: Faster completion yields a higher rating. Completing it also grants an Ultimate Reward: one random innate talent.Warning: Failure to finish within 30 days traps you here permanently!
Looking at the three choices, Vincent couldn't help but smirk. The first two carried no penalties for failure perfect for newcomers. No wonder this was designated the Second Forbidden Zone. The third option, by contrast, spelled doom if you failed. You might survive, but being stuck in a post-apocalyptic wasteland wasn't much of a life.
A sudden curiosity struck him: What exactly were these mysterious Forbidden Zones? How and why had they appeared on this planet? Were they truly intended to make humanity stronger?
No one here could answer that. Shaking off the thought, Vincent set his jaw and said, " I choose Mission 3."
" Selection successful…"
A flash of white light spun him around. When his vision cleared, he stood in an abandoned city street.
Skyscrapers loomed shattered and half-collapsed evidence of some past catastrophe. The roads were littered with derelict cars, debris, and dust. Not a soul stirred anywhere. A layer of grime covered everything in sickly brown tones, as if the city had lain in ruin for decades.
Desolate. Ravaged.
This was the true face of the Second Forbidden Zone.
Back at the entrance, the teachers breathed easy now that all the students had entered. Tyler Young was looking for a quiet spot to rest when a familiar voice called out.
" Yan! Long time no see!"
A fellow instructor with gold-rimmed glasses and a scholarly air approached, clapping Tyler Young on the shoulder. " I didn't expect War Saint University to send you as their leader."
Tyler Young frowned, instinctively stepping back. His eyes flashed with cold displeasure.
" Benjamin Tanner," he said coolly. " Since when are we such good friends?"
Benjamin laughed it off. " Old classmates, right? Don't be so stiff."
" Old classmates?" Tyler's tone turned mocking. " You're a senior professor at War God Academy; I'm just a teacher at a third-rate college. I wouldn't dare pretend otherwise."
Benjamin heaved a sigh. " You still remember what happened back then, I see. But it was all a misunderstanding…"
Tyler cut him off with a cold laugh. " Sorry, I don't have time for nostalgia. What do you want?"
" Nothing much," Benjamin answered with a pleasant smile. " Just wanted to see how you're doing. You seem to be doing well I needed to report back to Ava that you've got things under control."
At the mention of "Ava," Tyler's expression betrayed a flicker of pain. That name belonged to someone he had once loved. He knew Benjamin had said it on purpose. Staring at that hypocritical grin, he fought the urge to strike him.
Benjamin raised a finger. " Oh, one more thing. Every year we teachers have an unwritten rule: we compare which of our students achieves the highest mission rating in the Second Forbidden Zone. I trust this year will be no exception?"
He spoke loudly on purpose, drawing the attention of all the nearby instructors…
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Note: For clarity and ease of reading, all original Chinese names have been adapted into their English full-name equivalents throughout this translation.
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