Pre-death assessment

After that, Zhao Yu stopped talking and had his robot take him to the building next door.

Ling Wu smiled and then turned around.

The woman and the group of children were so frightened that they stepped back a fraction of an inch.

Although Ling Wu didn't seem like a bad person, they still couldn't help but be afraid.

Because in the face of these people, they are always like lambs to the slaughter, powerless to resist.

Looking at the group of children and the woman, Ling Wu took a deep breath.

Then, sitting on the edge of the balcony, she asked softly, "How...how did you all die?"

"We... I died in childbirth."

The woman spoke first: "I was alone at home when I suddenly went into labor. I didn't have time to go to the hospital, so... my child and I came here."

"Brother, we accept our fate, we've already accepted our fate!"

"I don't ask to go back alive, I just want to spend this short year with my child."

"We don't want to get involved in any conflict or fighting, please, let us go..."

As she spoke, she started crying again, and the child in his arms also started crying.

"Uncle, we...we were still in school when there was a sudden explosion, and then we ended up here."

The other children chimed in, saying, "We've accepted our fate. We just want to live through this time. We don't want to experience or see those cruel things."

"Are you resigned to your fate?"

Ling Wu gazed into the distance.

The word "accept your fate" sounds easy, but only those who have experienced it truly understand how difficult it is.

Most people in this world refuse to accept their fate, so they keep striving and fighting.

When the word "accept one's fate" is uttered, it means... that one has lost all motivation and ability to strive.

There are no more extravagant desires or hopes left.

How pathetic, how pitiful.

Like everyone else... there's one thing we all have to accept from the very beginning: that we will all die someday.

But why... why must I die?

Why must death exist?

Why must we accept this fate?

Everything would be better if there were no death.

Why must death be imposed on everyone?

Even after everyone dies, they will have to endure the torment of death once more.

Is there anyone who can step forward and challenge death...?

Then... break free from this constraint!

Death plays tricks on all living beings, but who will play tricks on Death?

"You really have to accept your fate."

Ling Wu continued, "Because all the pieces in this pre-death assessment space are already in my hands, none of you can leave alive."

The novice hunter has begun scouting the entire city, and soon all the pieces will indeed fall into his hands.

His team has already secured nine spots.

There was really no chance for anyone else!

He certainly wouldn't kindly give away his own pieces to other people who don't have them.

Because his team needs it.

Because only if all his team members survive can they have a greater chance of fighting to the end!

Hearing this, the children and the woman did not feel discouraged.

Because they already knew they couldn't possibly get a complete set of chess pieces.

"However, I can do you a small favor."

Ling Wu continued, "I can make this city free of killing, so you can spend your final days in peace."

"That's enough, brother. As long as you're willing to help us, that's enough."

The woman looked at Ling Wu with red eyes: "As long as you can live through these last year or so, you will be our great benefactor."

Ling Wu smiled and continued, "You guys go to the city center; I'll be there in a bit."

The woman nodded, then led the children downstairs to the city center.

……

The building next door.

Bang!

With another loud crash, Kotaro smashed through another wall, his gaze fixed on Li Ming as he gave chase.

"Big guy, strong enough, but not so fast?"

Li Ming had a smile on his face at this moment.

Although this guy was terrifyingly reckless, he managed to get under control as they maneuvered.

There's nothing to be afraid of in someone who has brute strength but lacks agility.

"I thought you were a man, but you're just a mouse that only knows how to hide and run away." Kotaro became increasingly agitated at this point.

"Man? Take away your superpowers, let's fight hand-to-hand, do you dare?" Li Ming sneered.

Kotaro did not respond; it was not that he dared not, but that he was unwilling.

If you have the ability, why not use it?

Just then, Zhao Yu and the other two surrounded them from behind.

"Brother Li, the captain said we need to do some training."

Zhao Yu, carrying his spear, continued, "Since the captain said that, it means he knows that the four of us can handle this guy."

"So, we won't use chess pieces or summoned creatures; we'll just crush him like this!"

Four people, each armed with special weapons, do not rely on anything else.

With just tacit understanding and experience, they can kill the capable ones.

This was indeed a good learning experience. If they could kill this big guy today, they would be more experienced when they encountered other ability users in the future.

"Since you all dare to do it, I'll certainly play along to the end."

Li Ming grinned: "Let's get him!"

After saying that, the four of them finally took the initiative to launch an attack and surrounded the target.

The four of them approached Kotaro at the same time, cooperating with each other to look for an opportunity.

At this moment, Kotaro was like a wild beast surrounded by enemies, frantically swinging his fists and feet, trying to break free from the four hunters' encirclement and tear them to pieces.

Li Ming and his three companions were only probing him and did not directly confront his attacks.

Isn't it easy to hunt down wild beasts?

Just keep expending resources and looking for opportunities.

The four continued to maneuver inside the building, and Kotaro became increasingly agitated.

Although he had an absolute advantage in strength, Li Ming and the others did not choose to directly confront his strength, because no matter how much strength he had, it would be useless.

After a long time, Li Ming finally saw an opportunity, a golden opportunity.

Creating opportunities takes a very long time and requires a lot of effort.

But seizing an opportunity only takes a moment!

In that instant, Li Ming aimed at the fist that Kotaro was throwing at him.

Then, he gripped the white iron rod tightly with both hands: "It's over!"

After saying that, he suddenly swung the white iron rod in his hand.

The iron rod collided perfectly with Kotaro's fist.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the fist collided with the iron rod, creating a visible shockwave ripple.

The next moment, Kotaro's face suddenly twisted into a ferocious expression.

Because of that iron rod, almost all four fingers on his hand were broken off.

He never expected that his unstoppable force would be completely neutralized when it collided with Li Ming's iron rod.

Why?

Logically speaking, with his formidable strength, Li Ming's iron rod shouldn't have been able to stop him.

"The opportunity has arrived!"

Li Ming and his three companions seized the moment when Kotaro was injured and rushed at him.

Swords, clubs, and other weapons were used in a chaotic slashing and smashing frenzy.

Finally, this big guy, indeed like a crazed beast, was completely brought down by their ferocity...

Without using their abilities, they ambushed and killed a true ability user for the first time!

……

Ling Wu sat on the rooftop for a long time, and it was only after a long time that Li Ming and the other three returned, panting heavily.

Although they won decisively, the effort required to fight against Kotaro was immense.

After all, in that kind of battle, they had to be on their toes at all times. If they made even the slightest mistake, whoever got hit by Kotaro's fist would be dead without a doubt.

"Unexpectedly, both the big guy and the skinny guy had several chess pieces on them."

Li Ming and his companions were holding some chess pieces in their hands.

They have everything from military strategy to fortune telling.

These were taken from the bodies of Sato Yoshi and Kotaro.

Besides the chess pieces, there are two rather special beads.

The bead was slightly larger than the chess piece and also emitted a faint, ethereal glow.

However, instead of chess pieces, the inside contains two symbols representing strength and enhancement.

"There are still some on this fat worm."

Guan Hao then walked to Hirose Daisuke's body and cut open his chest.

Sure enough, there were several chess pieces on his chest as well.

In addition to the chess pieces, there is also a bead with a shield symbol inside.

Several people came to Ling Wu with the chess pieces and the three extra beads.

They were not greedy, nor did they have any selfish motives.

How to allocate these chess pieces and the three extra abilities is entirely up to Ling Wu.

They believed that letting Ling Wu distribute the resources would maximize their effectiveness.

"Give this to me."

Ling Wu took the enhanced bead and said to Li Ming, "This one for strength is for you, and the one for defense is for Dr. Lu."

"Take whatever pieces you need from the remaining pieces, but don't take too many."

After all, there are only ten complete sets of chess pieces. If someone takes an extra piece, it means that one set of chess pieces cannot be collected.

To remove a chess piece from someone else's body, you have to kill them.

"No problem!"

Li Ming and the others had no objection to the allocation of Ling Wu.

Then, Ling Wu waved his hand: "Let's go, to the city center!"

The so-called assessment in this pre-death assessment space is about to end prematurely because of my arrival and the novice hunters I summoned.

Li Ming and the others nodded and followed Ling Wu's steps.

hum!

Just then, as the group reached the stairwell...

Suddenly, the entire space for the pre-death assessment trembled.

The once pitch-black sky suddenly became bright in that instant.

It's like having the lights off and then suddenly turning them on!

"What...what's going on? Why is it suddenly light out?"

Li Ming and the others' expressions changed slightly.

Isn't the sky here automatically adjusting its brightness according to the 24-hour cycle?

Why is it suddenly lit up in the middle of the night?

At this moment, Ling Wu suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly, raised his head, and said in a deep voice, "A very important person... is coming!"