Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 193 Two Years of Expedition, Breakthrough in Live Streaming

The setting sun bathed the African landscape in a deep, somber golden-red hue. The scorching heat of the day gradually subsided, and the evening breeze began to bring a touch of coolness.

The vast expeditionary force camp was ablaze with lights, their glow reflecting off the newly emerging stars in the sky.

Soldier Li Rui returned to the camp with the flow of people.

The tent area where he was located was neat and uniform, with a modular design and basic protection and temperature control functions.

Li Rui entered his own cubicle, deftly inserted his longsword into the weapon rack beside the bed, removed the standard light composite armor covered in a layer of fine sand and dust, revealing the dry sky-blue combat uniform underneath.

Instead of resting immediately, he walked to a simple metal table, sat down, took out a tactical tablet from his pack, skillfully entered his identification code, and brought up the combat log interface.

Li Rui's fingertip hovered over the screen for a moment, as if savoring something.

Then he started typing.

Log entry: Day 001 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: Expeditionary Force Camp.

Today, I have finally set foot on African soil.

There were almost no intact buildings to be seen around the airport, and sporadic explosions could be heard in the distance.

We were assigned to a huge temporary camp, where tents grew densely like mushrooms on the leveled ground.

Right next to it was the camp of those big Russians, and you could smell a strong vodka odor from a distance.

The captain said that from now on we will be fighting alongside these allies.

I feel a little unsure.

Then came Commander Lin Yi.
The way he appeared today is something I'll never forget for the rest of my life; it's something no human being could do.

With him around, I feel confident about even the most dangerous missions.

That evening, the captain relayed the order from Commander Lin Yi: rest for 48 hours, conduct acclimatization training, and then, in battalions, launch a preliminary clearing operation in designated areas, with the goal of reducing the density of abyssal beasts within a 500-kilometer radius of the camp to below a safe threshold.

I think this is destined to be a period that will be remembered.

And I, Li Rui, an ordinary Stardust-level Origin Martial Army soldier, am fortunate to be a part of this torrent.

Li Rui stopped typing, leaned back slightly, and looked out at the African night sky through the small observation window of the cubicle.

Soon, Li Rui threw himself into the intense and fierce combat mission. However, whenever he had a spare moment, he would continue to record what was happening in his combat log.

Log entry: Day 037 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: Edge of the Sahara, Outpost No. 7
The second round of operations has ended.

Our team was tasked with clearing out the Abyss Beasts from an abandoned town.

The process was more difficult than expected.

The biggest problem isn't the abyssal beasts, it's coordination.

Our squad was assigned a Junkers assault soldier named Karl.

They are very brave, but their tactical habits are completely different from ours.

During one raid, he launched a direct assault, as was their custom, and nearly lured our Russian fire support team to our flank into a trap.

Although everyone eventually won the battle through their individual skills, they were all terrified.

Karl seemed quite frustrated, sitting alone in a corner during his break, wiping his two-handed greatsword.

When Vice Commander Liu inspected the area, he saw our predicament. He didn't say anything, but he instructed the command to increase the intensity of tactical training and required each squad to set aside time every day for coordinated drills.

Log entry: Day 115 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: Gangguo River tributary, "Hope" Forward Base.

Our battalion successfully destroyed a small nest.

Although it was done in collaboration with a special operations battalion from Frank.

After several months of getting to know each other, our teamwork with Carl, and later with an English archer we called "Iris," became increasingly seamless.

Now, not many words are needed; a glance or a gesture is enough for everyone to understand each other's intentions.

Carl learned to wait patiently while we set traps, and Iris always managed to fire just in time when we needed cover.

We also created some slang that mixed multiple languages. For example, "left side, Russian firepower coverage" means that the Russian heavy firepower should support the left side, while "right side, Gallic advance" means that the Frankish teammates should break through from the right flank.

While cleaning the nest today, I encountered a troublesome leader, the "Corruption Giant Lizard".

At the critical moment, our squad and Frank's squad launched a pincer attack from two directions simultaneously, and Iris shot an arrow from a great distance that blew up the acid sac on its back, which is how we managed to take it down.

Back at the newly built "Hope" base, one can see the azure pillar of light soaring into the sky in the center of the base from afar—that is the "Source Energy Condensation Instrument" that was just deployed three days ago.

It is said that Commander Lin Yi personally requested that all captured energy condensers be deployed on the spot and provided to the expeditionary force.

Every time I return from a mission, seeing this beam of light makes me feel especially at ease, as if I have something to rely on.

Log entry: Day 281 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the main camp of the expeditionary force, "Shaking the Mountain".

Time flies, it's almost been a year since I started in Africa.

The expeditionary force achieved remarkable results.

Starting with Gangguo, we have established more than a dozen solid forward bases in the inland areas, wedged into the territory controlled by the Abyss Beasts like nails.

Each base was equipped with energy condensers, and those towering beams of light were particularly conspicuous at night, like clusters of flames of civilization ignited on the dark continent.

The expansion of the Abyss Beasts has been successfully contained. Although the task of eradicating them remains arduous, several African countries that were previously on the verge of collapse have regained their living space and are attempting to rebuild under the protection of the military.

Seeing the sparse green reappear in the fields is more satisfying than killing countless abyssal beasts.

My source energy level broke through 5000 points a few days ago, officially entering the second stage of the Stardust level.

This is inseparable from the tempering of high-intensity battles, as well as the support of resources exchanged through the Source Energy Condensation Device and the Merit System.

The rotation period for the first expeditionary force is approaching.

Some members of the team are discussing their plans after returning to China.

But I hesitated.

Watching this continent gradually recover from its desolation, and looking at these comrades from various countries who were once strangers but can now be relied upon, I found myself reluctant to leave.

That evening, I submitted my application to extend my service for another year.

Log entry: Day 379 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: Dawn, a permanent fortified city on the banks of the Nile River.

My application was approved, and because of my decent performance, I was appointed as the acting leader of a small squad.

Besides the Xia Kingdom comrades, the team also included Karl from Junkers, Iris from England, and Natasha, a newcomer who was taciturn but ruthless with her swordsmanship.

We have become a true multinational force.

Daily communication is no longer a problem; we can even exchange harmless jokes.

Natasha became obsessed with the hot pot base from Xia Kingdom, and would stock up on it every time she resupplyed.

She told me that she was a graduate of the East Coast branch of Ross University.

It was then that I realized that there were many foreign students like her in the Expeditionary Force who were part of the "Dongfeng Clique." People from England, Frankish, Junkers, Russia, and even some local African students had all studied at the Dongfeng branch school to some extent.

Naturally, the Xia language became the official language for communication between us.

Tactical instructions, daily communication, and even swearing all carry a distinctly Chinese flavor.

Karl can now swear fluently in Chinese, while Pierre has fallen in love with the versatile interjection "damn it."

The figures of high-level source energy users are like pillars of strength in the eyes of us ordinary soldiers.

As for Commander Lin Yi, he is more like a legend.

We often see a golden streak of light streak across the sky at unimaginable speed, disappearing into the distance, its destination unknown, and its return uncertain.

But every time he left, we felt incredibly at ease, because we knew he would never allow a truly terrifying being beyond our control to appear on our battlefield.

This invisible protection gives people more confidence than any words.

Log entry: Day 673 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: "Shaking the Mountain" Camp, Personal Training Room

Today, I succeeded.

Energy level: 10000 points!
Feeling the surging energy within me, I was so excited I almost shouted it out.

Stardust level, third tier.

This is a height that was unimaginable in the country before.

The trials of blood and fire over the past two years, the countless struggles on the brink of life and death, and the generous resources provided by the expeditionary force have finally allowed me to cross this threshold.

As I stepped out of the training room, Karl happily congratulated me and patted my shoulder so hard it almost knocked me apart.

Natasha handed me a small bottle of "Fire" wine from the Kingdom of Ross, while Iris laughed and said that I had finally caught up with her level. She had just broken through last month.

After the breakthrough, I didn't waste a moment and immediately submitted an application to join the Yuanwu Army Training Corps through the Merit System.

This has always been my goal.

Log entry: Day 691 of the Expeditionary Force

Location: An African canyon filled with wind-eroded rocks.

The Training Corps' application has been approved!
Starting next month, I will be a reserve player.

The team members congratulated me and insisted that I treat them to a meal.

I immediately agreed that I would treat them to a nice meal after we achieved our goal for the day.

Our team's goal today is to clear out a mine deep in this canyon that is suspected to be inhabited by a leader-level abyssal beast called the "Rock Armored Poison Lizard".

The mission level wasn't low, but for our team, which had been working together for two years, it was still considered standard.

Just as we finalized our action plan and prepared to enter the canyon, the merit bracelets on everyone's wrists and the communicators on our off-road vehicles simultaneously emitted the highest priority alert tone.

A message pops up at the very top of every display screen:

[Announcement to the entire military]

[Theme: Breaking Boundaries Through Observation]

[Content: Commander-in-Chief Lin Yi of the Blue Star Joint Expeditionary Force will officially attempt to break through the Star Core level barrier at 8:00 AM tomorrow.]

To inspire future generations and demonstrate the path to power, this breakthrough process will be broadcast live in its entirety to all members of the expeditionary force and all member states of the Blue Star Community through intelligent life simulation.

[Those who are qualified are encouraged to observe and learn something from this event.]

I immediately felt my heart contract sharply and then start pounding wildly, blood rushing to my head, and my ears ringing.

Star core level!
Commander Lin Yi is about to break through to the Star Core level, and the whole process will be broadcast live!
(End of this chapter)