Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

When I opened my eyes again, it was dark all around.

The rock face was covered with specks of glowing moss, and the air was thick with the smells of moldy items and mutated beast droppings.

Lin Ran glanced around and felt a sense of familiarity.

The abandoned mine pit, the place he had been exploring for the past two days.

The scene was very realistic, giving Lin Ran the feeling of suddenly returning to the mine.

All 37 students in the class gathered in an open area at the intersection of the mine tunnels, and everyone moved their hands and feet to adapt to the environment.

Zhao Meng squeezed out of the crowd and strode to Lin Ran's side.

"Last time in the solo scenario you said it was luck. This time in team battles, let's see how you hide your true strength. Hehehe..."

He had a very loud voice, which echoed throughout the entire mine shaft.

Lin Ran rolled her eyes at him: "Why are you shouting so loudly? Aren't you afraid of attracting monsters?"

"Hehe, it just slipped out unconsciously." Zhao Meng slapped the back of his head and looked at everyone: "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

In these team survival virtual scenarios, the first three minutes are a safety protection period during which no mutated beasts will actively attack.

But rules are rules. If you yell and attract the mutated beasts ahead of time, the system won't interfere.

After three minutes, mutated beasts will surge from the surrounding mine tunnels. At first, there will be only a few, but more and more will appear until the final leader appears.

The team needs to work together to kill the mutated beasts and defeat the leader to clear the level.

Seeing that everyone was ready, squad leader Liu Ming walked to the center of the crowd.

He is an A-rank defense-type character with a calm personality and a certain level of prestige in the class.

"Everyone, quiet down." He looked around, waiting for everyone's attention to be focused.

"As is customary, everyone will be divided into three groups. Zhao Meng, Zheng Hong, Qin Wuyai, Lin Ran..."

He rattled off more than a dozen names in one breath, most of them physical enhancement type awakeners, including strength type, speed type, defense type, and self-healing type.

Lin Ran, who hadn't awakened his powers, stood out somewhat among them.

However, no one raised any objection. Clearly, the whole class had already tacitly categorized him as a physical awakener.

After all, he could send a martial artist at the Tongqiao Realm flying with a single punch. Even if he hadn't awakened, he was almost on par with an awakened power-type martial artist.

"You guard the outer perimeter and try your best not to let the mutated beasts into the inner circle."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Liu Ming continued calling out names: "Bai Ruolin, Chu Xining, Sun Jinghuan, Lin Haozhe..."

Another dozen or so names appeared, mostly elemental awakeners.

In fact, Lin Haozhe, as a metal-type awakened individual, would be perfectly fine placed on the periphery.

However, considering that he was ultimately an elemental awakener, Liu Ming still placed him in the second group.

"You are responsible for ranged attacks to kill the mutated beasts as much as possible."

"No problem," everyone responded in unison.

Liu Ming looked at the remaining people: "The rest of you are responsible for cleaning up any omissions and are ready to replace the students in the front row at any time."

These students all have rather unique abilities, such as transformation or sensory abilities.

It's neither a constitution type nor an element type, so it's more suitable to place it in a later position.

"Once the supply points refresh, prioritize supplying weapons and medicine to the front lines. Everyone, get ready."

As soon as he finished speaking, rustling sounds came from deep within the surrounding mine tunnels.

The sounds grew louder and more frequent as they approached.

"Here we are," Liu Ming said.

A dense array of red dots lit up the darkness at the mine entrance.

The next second, dozens of clawed rats surged out from the mine tunnels from three directions at the same time, their mottled and rotten gray figures spreading out in a moving gray tide under the fluorescent light.

The raptor at the front pushed off the ground with its hind legs, propelling its entire body forward, its claws flashing coldly in the air.

Bang!

Zhao Meng punched the skull of the oncoming Claw Rat, the sound of bones cracking rang out, and the Claw Rat turned into specks of light and disappeared.

The elemental attacks from the back row immediately followed, and the first wave of rats was quickly wiped out.

Several students from the strength department in the front row were swinging their arms. Zheng Hong's sleeve was torn open by sharp claws, revealing his unharmed forearm inside.

The elemental units in the back row barely suffered any losses, since the battle was over in just one round.

An electronic notification echoed throughout the area: "The weapon supply point has been refreshed 1,800 meters to the north."

Liu Ming immediately said, "Qin Wuyai and Zhao Meng go and bring the weapons back."

Upon hearing this, Qin Wuyai nodded, and his figure flickered and disappeared into the depths of the mine tunnel.

Zhao Meng pushed off with his feet, going full speed ahead, and kept up close behind.

After watching the two leave, Lin Ran looked back around.

Chu Xining happened to look over at that moment, and their eyes met.

"Go for it!" Chu Xining gave him a sweet smile.

Before long, a series of hurried footsteps came from deep within the mine tunnel.

Zhao Meng ran back alone, his voice urgent, "There are three Tier 2 Armored Lizards lurking around the supply point. Qin Wuyai and I can't take them down in a short time with our bare hands. We need help."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ming quickly made a decision: "Lin Ran, Bai Ruolin, you two should go."

He was familiar with the strength of Bai Ruolin and Lin Ran, and felt that the two of them should be able to handle the situation.

"Okay." Lin Ran and Bai Ruolin agreed and turned to leave with Zhao Meng.

Chu Xining suddenly spoke up: "I want to go too."

Liu Ming replied with a hint of helplessness, "Chu, we are a team, you should follow orders."

Sun Jinghuan seized the opportunity to chime in: "Yes, Xi Ning. This is a team exercise, you can't go it alone."

"I just wanted to help kill the armored lizard, how is that being unconventional?"

"As a member of the team, you should obey orders, otherwise how can we cooperate in future operations?" Sun Jinghuan said seriously.

"Time is of the essence." Liu Ming looked at Chu Xining: "I hope Chu will not waste everyone's time."

This isn't about how many people go; it's about whether he'll be able to command everyone in the future.

If everyone has their own ideas, he, as the class monitor, will be unable to control the situation.

Chu Xining looked at Lin Ran, her lips slightly pursed.

Lin Ran thought to himself, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

It seems that what others said wasn't wrong, was it?

Of course, right or wrong is one thing, but one's stance is another.

"I can go by myself," he said calmly. "I'm better at dealing with armored lizards, so Ruolin and Xining don't need to go."

Upon hearing this, Lin Haozhe spoke up first: "Ran-ge, don't be reckless! If we don't get the supplies back, it will affect the whole class's grades!"

These words sound like persuasion, but they are actually an attempt to label Lin Ran.

If Lin Ran fails to retrieve the supplies, he will truly become the rotten apple that affects the entire class's grades.

"Why don't you do it?" Lin Ran glanced at him, his smile playful.

Lin Haozhe paused slightly: "I can't do it, I don't have that ability."

"If you don't have the ability, don't talk nonsense!" Lin Ran showed him no mercy, then looked at Liu Ming: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Liu Ming glanced at Lin Ran. Since Lin Ran was willing to take responsibility, he was happy to back down gracefully: "Alright, then you two go and come back quickly."

"No problem." Lin Ran followed Zhao Meng into the north mine tunnel.

After walking about five or six hundred meters, the mine tunnel suddenly opened up.

In a clearing surrounded by abandoned minecarts, a glowing supply crate stands.

The three-headed armored lizard was lying next to the supply box, its tail slapping the ground intermittently.

Qin Wuyai was hiding at the entrance of the mine chamber, waiting for reinforcements.

Although he was fast, he couldn't break through the armored lizard's scales with his bare hands.

If we act rashly and cause too much commotion, it may attract even more mutated creatures.

Seeing Lin Ran and Zhao Meng arrive, Qin Wuyai frowned slightly: "Why are there only the two of you?"

Zhao Meng shrugged: "Brother Ran said he's very good at dealing with armored lizards."

"Huh?" Qin Wuyai looked puzzled. "How good are you at it?"

"Watch my performance!" Lin Ran strode past him and charged straight at the nearest armored lizard.