Chapter Twenty-Four: Gathering, On the Eve of Selection

A person must always venture into unfamiliar places, walk unknown roads, and meet strangers—this is a part of our lives.

On August thirty-first, Ji Cheng rose early. After eating the breakfast prepared by Luo Rao, he shouldered his gear and set out.

Alloy wrist blade, tactical goggles, laser lock device, wrist computer, biochemical mask, planetary LAN access pod—his backpack was packed to the brim.

“As usual, today we’ll cover some precautions. Tomorrow, everyone will head together to the real selection site.”

Ji Cheng spent a single coin on the bus fare. By the time he arrived at the Parliament Building, the sun was already high. Guided by staff, he entered a lively room crowded with dozens of odd-looking people—all gene prototypers.

To avoid stirring trouble due to his age, he wore a black mask and chose a seat near the edge, closing his eyes to rest amid the chatter of others.

He hadn’t waited long when the room’s doors slammed shut with a mechanical rumble, and a large screen descended from the eastern wall.

“Good afternoon, future ability users,” said the middle-aged man on screen. “If you’re here, it means you’re the most talented individuals of New Southport. On behalf of Southport, congratulations.”

“But that’s not enough—not nearly enough. The core principle of ability user selection is simple: to find the strongest gene prototypers.”

The room gradually quieted.

“Have you heard, buddy?” asked a fat man with boar tusks, turning to Ji Cheng. “This time, gene prototypers from five city-states are competing—two more than last year.”

“So many all at once!” Ji Cheng exclaimed in surprise.

The fat man chuckled, “Relax, the number’s about the same every year. Around two hundred take part.”

“I see.” Ji Cheng asked seriously, “Which four city-states besides Southport are participating?”

“It’s just the city-states of West Continent: Red Eagle Republic, Anxi City, Rift Valley City, Sand City,” the man replied carelessly. “Only Blackwater Fortress isn’t involved.”

On Baishan Star, aside from the oceans, there are two continental plates—the western larger than the eastern. The Southport city-state, formed by Southport City and New Southport, is one of the six city-states of the West Continent. Among them, Anxi City is the strongest, Rift Valley City follows, and the others aren’t much different, the gaps not too wide.

While they conversed, the middle-aged man continued his address on the screen.

“Some may wonder—since everyone here is a genius with over ninety percent prototype assimilation—why not let all become ability users? Let me tell you a harsh truth: resources are scarce.”

“Many of you know, to become an ability user, one must unlock the gene lock. The resources required to unlock a single gene lock would take all of Southport a year or two to gather.”

“Every ability user is forged through huge amounts of resources and money. That’s why we only want the strongest—the reason the selection is so ruthless.”

“You must fight, kill, and strive to survive. We must ensure every ability user Southport invests in is truly strong—adaptable, cautious, brave, and well-versed.”

His words set off a wave of discussion among the gene prototypers in the room.

“Tsk, seems you need strength, luck, and willpower to become an ability user.”

“At this point, I have to give it my all—even if I lose my head, it’s just a scar the size of a bowl. What’s there to fear?”

“I feel a bit cowardly myself.”

Ji Cheng mused quietly, “It seems Baishan Star is indeed poor and backward—every scrap of resource is fought over. Luckily, I unexpectedly acquired the Tyrant Serum; otherwise, I couldn’t be so confident.”

The man on the screen continued, “The format of the selection will be revealed tomorrow when you depart. Most must prepare for injury or even death. Let me share some figures.”

“In 1309, 197 participated; 58 were disabled, 116 died. In 1310, 212 participated; 77 disabled, 108 dead. In 1311, 204 participated; 81 disabled, 87 dead.”

He smiled grimly. “Ability user selection is bloodier than you imagine.”

Beep—

The speech ended, the screen went dark, leaving only heated discussion in the room.

“That’s terrifying. I’ve never heard those numbers before.”

“Hmph, everyone signs a confidentiality agreement for the selection. Where would you hear about it?”

“Is it too late to back out now?”

…

“I say, this time it’s probably just physical tests and arena duels at some training field,” analyzed a young man with spikes covering his back.

“What that guy said was psychological warfare. He made it clear—if you’re scared now, you’re out.”

Someone asked, “So you mean the selection has already begun?”

“Exactly. Think about it—why call us together early? We’re already under their surveillance. Every word and deed is material for their assessment, including what I’m saying right now—they’re definitely watching. Maybe I’ve already scored extra points.”

His analysis drew many nods and prideful smiles. “I propose we all introduce ourselves and our prototypes—share intel. After all, our biggest rivals are those from other city-states, and I’ve heard rumors there may be cooperative tasks.”

Most present agreed readily.

The young man spoke loudly, “Since I proposed it, I’ll start. I’m Yan Guangji—meaning ‘light, wind, and clear moon.’ My gene prototype is the sword hedgehog; I’m skilled at entangling combat.”

He finished, and a rough fellow chimed in, “I’m Liang Wu—Liang from ‘gentleman on the beam,’ Wu from ‘drawn and quartered.’ My gene prototype is the river ape.”

“Nice name, brother.”

The room buzzed with lively introductions, but Ji Cheng scoffed inwardly.

This selection is absolutely not so simple.

He sensed the cold ruthlessness in the middle-aged man’s speech—genuine, uncompromising cruelty.

From his two weeks of observation since crossing over, this city is far from the carefree place most imagine. Too many signs show Southport is slipping into hardship:

Food shortages, massive energy crystal deficits, skewed population ratios, resources constantly dwindling, mutant animals appearing endlessly, and internal city conflicts. Most problems are masked by the citizens’ worship of ability users.

An ordinary person living all their life in a prosperous district might never see Southport’s true face.

Only in the gray zones—close to the wild, impoverished, and backward—do residents glimpse the bloody reality, from mutant beasts occasionally storming the city to neighbors replaced like wild grass.

He figured other cities on this planet were much the same.

In such circumstances, to become an ability user, to join the elite few and claim the most resources, you really had to stake your life.

It’s no friendly contest or exam.

“That Yan Guangji’s analysis is pure self-delusion. The others believe him mostly because they’re afraid.”

Ji Cheng saw through it all.

When people are afraid, they instinctively reject the harsh truth.

If someone proposes a reasonable, more hopeful guess, it’s easy to win agreement.

Just like fortune-telling: one real seer says you have two years left; another charlatan says twenty—you’d rather believe the charlatan.

Ji Cheng shook his head. These people grew up in the city, educated and law-abiding, but outside the city, the mining zones are wild lands untouched by civilization—the true battlefield of ability users.

There, radioactive soil, psychic pollution, and terrifying mutants abound—danger lurks everywhere. Only ability users can survive in the wild.

“To pass the selection, you must adapt to the wild, to danger, to the law of the jungle,” he thought silently.

An indescribable excitement swept through him.

Such a selection must be dangerous—and thrilling!

“Hey, it’s your turn.”

Ji Cheng snapped out of his thoughts. Yan Guangji was staring at him eagerly, as were the others, waiting for his introduction.

Ji Cheng smiled and leaned back in his chair.

“I’m Ji Cheng—‘Cheng’ as in ‘winner takes all.’”