Chapter 47: Death Eye
After completing the suppression process, the participants assembled inside the arena once again.
Most were still adjusting to their restricted bodies, while the military candidates stood quietly in several organised rows as if the suppression had changed nothing.
Xingluo opened and closed her hand, feeling the mark on her wrist limiting her strength to Level 70. Most of The Fall of Rahk had also been sealed, though the armor remained connected to her.
Just then, heavy footsteps came from the side of the arena.
A broad man in a dark military uniform climbed the stairs toward the central platform. His eyes remained closed, but the officers nearby straightened the moment he appeared.
The conversations across the arena slowly faded as he reached the platform and turned toward the participants. "It is good to see so many young talents gathered here today."
His voice carried throughout the arena without any amplification device.
"You were selected from the universities, military divisions, and major families of this city, but the Human Alliance does not need flowers that can survive only inside protected gardens."
Several students frowned, while the military candidates remained unmoved. "Talent without resolve is worthless, the moment real danger appears, those who depend only on their level, equipment, or family will be the first to break."
The man looked across the field before continuing, "Because of this, the original first test has been replaced."
Confused voices immediately rose among the participants, and even several professors in the spectator stands appeared surprised.
"The new test is simple, you only need to remain standing for fifteen minutes."
A projection appeared above the platform.
[First Assessment: Will of Steel.]
[Qualification Requirement: Remain conscious and standing for fifteen minutes.]
Some students visibly relaxed after reading the rules, while others looked around for the device or formation that would conduct the test.
Wuxia stared at the man on the platform. "Do not relax. Something about him feels dangerous."
Before Xingluo could respond, the broad man slowly opened his eyes and the pressure struck without warning.
Xingluo’s breath stopped as a dense killing intent spread across the entire arena. Her chest tightened, nausea rose through her stomach, and for a moment, it felt as though something had wrapped around her throat.
Several participants collapsed instantly and some fell unconscious before understanding what had happened, while others stumbled and dropped to their knees as their bodies reacted to the threat.
Medical machines entered the field immediately, lifting the eliminated participants and carrying them away.
The broad man watched them leave without changing his expression. "Those who cannot endure this much pressure have no right to ask the military for opportunities."
Xingluo steadied herself and forced air into her lungs, most participants were still standing, though their earlier confidence had disappeared.
Several university students were already trembling, while a few family heirs used controlled breathing techniques to remain calm.
The military candidates reacted better.
Their faces had also become pale, but they lowered their bodies slightly and controlled their breathing instead of trying to resist the pressure directly.
Wuxia examined them and said, "This is the difference I warned you about. They may be afraid, but their bodies have already learned how to function while facing death."
Xingluo looked toward the man on the platform, the pressure was uncomfortable, but compared to what she had experienced inside the Eternal Night Basin, it was still bearable.
The Avatar of Rahk had released enough pressure to make her feel that her entire existence could be erased, while this killing intent only forced her body to recognise the possibility of death.
Once she adjusted, her breathing gradually became steady.
Wuxia noticed the change in her expression and laughed softly. "Do not become complacent."
"This is nowhere near the Avatar," Xingluo replied.
"Because he is barely using a fraction of his strength."
Xingluo’s eyes shifted toward him.
Wuxia continued studying the man. "His pressure is covering the entire field, and he is controlling it carefully enough that those who collapse are not seriously injured."
"If he released his complete killing intent against one person, most people here would lose consciousness before they could even move."
Only then did Xingluo recognise the dark markings spreading from the man’s grey eyes.
"Death Eye."
Wuxia looked toward her. "You know him?"
"He is the current commander of the city battalion."
Nearly everyone in the city knew his name.
Death Eye had been the first S-rank talent born in their tertiary city, and his awakening had attracted recruiters from Golden Dragon City.
For several years, people believed he would become the greatest Awakened their city had ever produced, but he later returned without explanation and settled here as the battalion commander.
There were countless rumours about what had happened, the most common one claimed that a powerful family from the main city had extracted a rare bloodline from him, damaging his foundation before discarding him once he lost his value.
Nobody knew whether the story was true, but few dared discuss it openly, another participant collapsed nearby, interrupting Xingluo’s thoughts.
Death Eye looked across those still standing, then gave a low laugh. "Better than I expected."
The pressure increased, Xingluo’s shoulders sank slightly as the killing intent became heavier. The air entering her lungs felt thick, while the suffocating sensation around her throat strengthened.
Several participants fell almost together, one student reached toward the person beside him for support, but the moment his hand touched the other participant, both of their wrist marks flashed.
[External Support Detected.]
[Participants Eliminated.]
Medical machines immediately removed them from the field and the remaining participants spread apart, no longer daring to rely on anyone beside them.
A family heir activated a faint mental barrier around his head, but Death Eye’s gaze moved toward him for only a moment.
The barrier shattered and blood ran from the heir’s nose as he stumbled backward, barely stopping himself before touching the ground.
"The suppressors have sealed most external advantages," Wuxia said. "Trying to force a defensive skill against someone this experienced will only attract his attention."
Xingluo adjusted her breathing and kept her eyes on Death Eye.
Around her, the military candidates were beginning to struggle as well. Some clenched their fists until blood appeared between their fingers, while others bit their lips to prevent their breathing from losing control.
Qin Haoran remained standing near the front, his expression serious but stable. A faint light covered his eyes, suggesting that he had received training specifically meant to resist mental pressure.
Death Eye watched the field for another moment before raising the pressure again and the killing intent changed this time.
Instead of spreading evenly across the arena, it began feeling closer, as though someone holding a blade was walking behind every participant.
Several students suddenly turned around, attacking empty air as their instincts overwhelmed their judgment.
Others froze completely, unable to move even though nothing was physically restraining them. Xingluo’s hand moved toward her sword before she caught herself.
Wuxia noticed it. "That is the real test. Not simply whether your body can withstand the pressure, but whether your mind can still recognise what is real."
The announcement above the arena changed.
[Time Elapsed: Three Minutes.]
Disbelief appeared across several faces. Only three minutes had passed, yet the field was already filled with empty spaces where participants had collapsed.
Death Eye looked at those still standing and smiled. "You have twelve minutes remaining."
His gaze moved across the military candidates, the family heirs, and the remaining university students before briefly stopping on Xingluo.
She was tense, but her breathing remained controlled, and unlike many around her, there was no panic inside her eyes.
Death Eye raised one eyebrow and the pressure around Xingluo suddenly became heavier than before.
Her legs sank slightly as killing intent gathered around her alone, but she tightened her stance before her knees could bend.
Wuxia looked toward the commander and gave a quiet laugh. "It seems you caught his attention."
Xingluo forced another breath into her lungs and raised her head toward Death Eye. "Then let him look."
Another ten minutes slowly passed and by then, most of the competition field had already emptied, with medical machines continuously carrying away those who collapsed.
Only around a hundred participants remained standing and their faces had turned pale, their uniforms were soaked with sweat, and even the military candidates could no longer maintain their earlier calm.
Death Eye looked across the remaining participants, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Not bad."
The pressure increased once again and the killing intent descended with far greater force, and several participants collapsed almost immediately.
Others staggered, their knees bending as they struggled to remain standing for the final moments.
Xingluo clenched her fists and steadied her breathing while the weight pressing against her mind continued growing.
Around her, participants fell one after another, but none of those still standing dared look away from the timer above the arena.
Then the fifteen-minute mark was finally reached and the killing intent vanished at once.
Many of the remaining contestants immediately dropped to the ground, breathing heavily, while others remained standing only because their bodies had not yet reacted to the sudden relief.
A projection appeared above the field.
[First Assessment completed.]
[Qualified Participants: 64.]
Death Eye looked across the exhausted survivors before turning away from the platform. "Sixty-four of you remain."
His voice carried through the silent arena. "At least this city still has a few young people worth testing further."