Time flew by, and it was 3:30 pm. There was still half an hour before the opening ceremony began. However, a large crowd had already assembled in the assembly hall.

“There are quite a few people in the training camp, Moss. I just estimated that there are at least six hundred people here,” Alan said as he tilted his head.

“There should be more people than that because my serial number is 666. There should be others behind my number,” Moss replied, but his eyes lingered on the mysterious boy.

“I think I saw some familiar faces,” Bass said as he looked into the crowd.

“The Crimson Fires and Youth Forces are here too. It looks like we’re not the only second-year students who got to participate in the training program,” Mill echoed.

“Judging from their confident expressions, they must have come prepared,” Alan muttered.

…

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, most participants had already filled the hall’s north side seats. The participants also filled up more than a dozen seats in front of the podium.

The sounds of thirty war drums echoed through the assembly hall when it was time for the opening ceremony. Then a middle-aged man wearing black glasses, sitting at center stage, began to speak.

The speech felt different from the others Moss had experienced before. There were no opening remarks or emcees, only a straightforward approach to the opening ceremony.

“Welcome to the 201st Devil’s Training Camp! I am Commander Murphy, your chief instructor. You can call me Old Mur.

“The National Training Center has accepted 850 participants, while the National Professional Alliance has added 50 more sophomore students. Since there are 900 of you, we will divide you into thirty groups.”

The participants below began to whisper among themselves when they heard that.

“Haha, that’s excellent. Those fifty participants will be cannon fodder.”

“Welcome to hell, sophomore rookies!”

The third-year elites below were delighted when they heard the news.

However, Old Mur did not care about the minor commotion below the stage and continued, “Our group of instructors consists of ten instructors and two deputy chief instructors. Each instructor is responsible for three groups, while the two deputy chief instructors are responsible for fifteen groups each.

“I hope you will forget your names and your previous achievements in the next month. However, you must remember the purpose of your stay here—to make breakthroughs and improve yourselves. Commit to memory your serial numbers and your missions!

“Do away with all distracting thoughts and keep pushing forward. I will reward you with graduation certificates if you can survive the month!” Then Old Mur paused to reveal a menacing smile. “I wish you all a wonderful time in the training camp. Next, I will allow the two deputy chief instructors to introduce the arrangements and assessments of the training camp.”

“Hello, rookies. I am one of the deputy chief instructors of this training camp, Flying Wolf. We have divided this program into three phases,” a bald man on Old Mur’s right said. His voice was loud, and the entire assembly hall could hear him, even without a microphone.

“The first phase will consist of basic training for fifteen days. We aim to improve various parameters of your bodies, but more importantly, stimulate your potential! This phase will constantly push your body’s limits and willpower.

“After that, you will face the first elimination round, and only 50% of you can enter the second phase. The second phase will last for ten days, and you are to fight against the Magical Beasts we trapped in the concentration camp!”

“The third and final phase will last five days—the final assessment phase! Getting wounded severely was a common occurrence during that time. The second phase will also be life-threatening. Do not treat these phases as jokes, or you will perish!

“This training camp is deadly, so repeat it three times in your heads! If you have any qualms about these phases, I urge you to quit now! That is my heartfelt advice!”

The participants knew the training program’s perverse hardships and life-threatening dangers. Still, their hearts wavered when they heard Flying Wolf’s highly terrifying emphasis.

“Captain, we should withdraw. Our lives are in danger!”

“You coward! Why are you afraid? There aren’t any dangers in the first phase, so we should at least try to enter the top 50%! If we do that, we can make it to the local elite student catalog!”

“I-I’m scared, and I want to go home!”

While the participants below discussed animatedly in groups of threes and fives, a woman in black sitting to Old Mur’s left tapped on the microphone. Before she could speak, the participants below became curious.

“Wow! She’s a deputy chief instructor?!” The participants below were taken aback by the woman’s appearance.

“Isn’t that the lady who gave us a tour of the hall of fame and led us to the registration counter?!” Alan’s excited voice trembled.

“She is so young, yet she’s a deputy chief instructor?! That’s unbelievable!” Baylon gasped.

“She must be powerful. Otherwise, she couldn’t have become a deputy chief instructor. Also, she seems to be in charge of the final assessment phase.” Mill immediately looked at the woman admiringly.

The woman cleared her throat. There was no expression on her goddess-like face, exuding arrogance as she said coldly, “Welcome. I am one of the deputy chief instructors. My name is Red Spider.”

A wave of heated discussions erupted upon hearing Red Spider’s name.

“So she’s the famous succubus-faced instructor, Red Spider!”

“Whoever has to deal with her will be in deep sh*t. She has the strictest requirements for anyone to pass!”

Red Spider ignored the commotion below and continued, “First of all, congratulations to those present. Still, you have lost thirteen competitors so far. They have surrendered in the face of equality between men and women.

“Nonetheless, out of the remaining 887 participants here, only 450 of you at most will proceed to the next phase. Only 225 of you will obtain their graduation certificates.

“We will divide the final assessment into two parts, the ability and battle test. Among the two, the ability test includes basic and level tests! I want to emphasize the second and third phases now.

“Flying Wolf mentioned that the last two stages would be life-threatening, especially the final assessment phase. You must enter the Magical Beast den to complete the final assessment phase.” Then Red Spider paused, her face slightly frowning.

“Even our instructors wouldn’t dare guarantee your survival during this assessment! Therefore, you must improve your abilities and trigger your Y potential during the first phase!

“All of you are responsible for your’s and your teammates’ lives during the second and third phases! Only then can you become an elite and receive your graduation certificates! You will live up to the billions of people looking for your protection in the future!

“I look forward to you all making breakthroughs and achieving satisfying results. But, whoever thinks they can slip through my eagle eyes should pack up and leave now.”

When Red Spider finished speaking, Old Mur introduced the other ten instructors. Then he shouted, “Dismissed! See you all tomorrow, rookies!”

Although the tense opening ceremony had ended, the participants’ heated discussions were far from over.

“Red Spider’s demands have completely shattered my expectations.”

“She spoke too well. I think I’m starting to like her!”

“I sincerely hope Red Spider will personally hand me my graduation certificate when the time comes.”

“Red Spider is my new goddess!”

Moss watched Red Spider’s receding figure then at the crowded assembly hall. Endless anticipation for what was to come filled his heart.