But it's not like we can't manage without him, right?

No matter how good he is going solo, how impressive can he truly be?

He's probably at B-rank at most.

But the four of us have limitless potential. As long as we build synergy and coordinate well, I think... even a B+ rank isn't beyond our reach!"

"Do you agree with what I'm saying?"

The long-haired youth had stood up at some point as he spoke.

He leaned on the small table before him, his exaggerated exoskeleton unfolding from his back. He looked down at the other three, already exuding a leader's commanding presence.

Although the other three felt slightly uneasy, they had to admit Ye Wuqiang's words were quite reasonable and inspiring.

"So, our priority now is to quickly select a mission and complete it!"

Ye Wuqiang glanced at the mission wristwatch on his hand and said, "Now, the New Blood Leaderboard has more names, meaning other teams have already completed missions.

Despite the long assessment period, a full fifteen days, the total number of missions is limited. We still need to hurry.

My suggestion is we skip formal introductions. We can get to know each other and learn to work together during the missions. What do you think?"

"I don't mind."

"I have no objections."

"Sounds good."

Seeing the others gradually begin to accept his leadership, a smile finally touched Ye Wuqiang's lips.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Next, all it would take was a rallying cry to start forging this temporary squad into a unit.

"I believe..." Ye Wuqiang's eyes shone with conviction, his tone firm and inspiring, "Our four-person squad will absolutely not be inferior to anyone.

We'll show that Lu Yuan. We'll make him realize what a foolish decision it was to abandon us!"

Just as Ye Wuqiang finished his impassioned declaration,

DING-DONG—

A pleasant chime sounded simultaneously from the mission wristwatches on their wrists.

The expressions on all four of their faces shifted slightly.

A special notification broadcast only occurred when a mission of a specific rank was cleared for the first time.

So far, the first-clears for C-rank and B-rank missions had already been claimed.

For the notification to sound again now…

Could some formidable individual, or team... have actually managed to claim the first-clear of an A-rank mission?

"Really? It must be a different kind of notification, right?"

Ye Wuqiang muttered, one hand braced on the tabletop, the other raising his arm to check his mission wristwatch.

The others did the same. Soon, a message appeared before them—

[Congratulations to New Blood Lu Yuan on achieving the first clear of an A+ rank mission.]

Lu Yuan?!

A... A... A+??!

Their pupils constricted violently. The next second...

BOOM!

The small round table before them instantly collapsed again, shattering into pieces across the floor.

Ye Wuqiang stood dumbfounded before the ruined table, his face a mask of shock and utter disbelief. The black exoskeleton on his arm emitted a series of whirring, slightly uncontrolled mechanical sounds.

A long silence ensued. The atmosphere was palpably frigid.

Finally, someone couldn't help but whisper, "Now I finally understand why Lu Yuan wanted to ditch us and take on missions solo...."

"I guess... for him, we... no, probably everyone else in this assessment... are just burdens holding him back."

"..."

「...…」

The blond-haired youth and his companions were smoking at the foot of an abandoned apartment building.

Nearby, a few children were kicking a ball around.

Every so often, they would pause their game, looking up with curious eyes at the nearby apartment building from which loud BANG! BANG! explosive sounds emanated.

They also glanced at the somewhat peculiar-looking adults standing at the base of the building.

"Here, catch!"

The soccer ball had accidentally rolled to the blond youth's feet.

A playful impulse took him, and he grinned as he kicked the ball back towards the local Smokeless City children.

A stern-faced young man beside him glanced at his watch, frowning. "Are you sure Mr. Teng will be alright alone?"

"Relax, relax." The blond patted the short-haired youth's shoulder, reassuring him casually, "Since Mr. Teng said he can handle it, you need to have faith in him."

"But this is a B+ rank mission! The mission briefing says the final target is a homicidal maniac with a comprehensive strength equivalent to B-rank.

He's equipped with the B-rank New Martial 'Chainsaw Hand,' which can easily cut through Rainbow Steel! Mr. Teng..."

"You're seriously underestimating Mr. Teng." The blond youth sneered, "Chainsaw Hand? What kind of trashy B-rank New Martial is that? How can it even compare to Lightning Strength?

Do you even comprehend the value of a B+ rank internal New Martial art like Lightning Strength? The implantation cost for Lightning Strength could buy you twenty sets of 'Chainsaw Hand'!"

"...Moreover, to even install B+ rank Lightning Strength, the primary prerequisite is reaching the Viscera Training Realm in Ancient Martial Arts.

Otherwise, most people would be instantly electrocuted by Lightning Strength's ferocious power long before the implantation could succeed.

Before Mr. Teng even got the Lightning Strength implant, he was already a martial master in Ancient Martial Arts, a prodigy guided by renowned masters in the Ancient Martial Arts World, capable of reaching B-rank relying solely on his Ancient Martial Arts skill!"

"Even though Mr. Teng only recently got the Lightning Strength implant and is still in the adjustment period, I reckon... his current strength is probably even greater than an average B+ ranker.

A mere B-rank 'Chainsaw Hand' thinks it can compare to Mr. Teng?"

The blond youth was closest to Teng Xiangqing, practically his confidant, and thus knew the depths of his abilities best.

As he laid all this out, the other squad members were visibly stirred and impressed.

They knew Teng Xiangqing, as an heir from a prominent family, had access to superior resources and was incredibly strong.

But they hadn't expected him to be even more of a monster than they'd imagined.

Reaching B-rank through Pure Martial arts and then transitioning to New Martial... that made one far stronger than those who reached B-rank solely through the New Martial or modification paths.

The differences in martial perception, willpower, self-control, combat proficiency, and many other subtle aspects were simply worlds apart between the two approaches.

The reason New Martial was considered an epoch-making, super-futuristic form of Martial Arts...

...was because it assimilated the essence of both Ancient Martial Arts and the modification path.

A true New Martial expert possessed both the supreme martial perception and peak techniques of an Ancient Martial Arts master, while also wielding the Extraordinary power afforded by technological modification.

It was like giving wings to an apex predator, instantly elevating it from the top of the natural food chain to a creature of myth and legend.

Teng Xiangqing, evidently, already possessed such 'potential'.

DING-DONG—

As they were speaking, a pleasant chime sounded from the mission wristwatches of the group gathered beneath the building.

The blond-haired youth couldn't help but laugh.

"See? There's the first-clear announcement for Mr. Teng, right on cue!" he said, looking down at his wristwatch with a smug grin.

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