[This story is entirely a work of fiction. Please do not take it seriously.]
"FML! Weren’t they saying this placement exam Dungeon was ninety percent safe? That last claw swipe nearly killed me!"
Wild Wolf: Deceased
Level: 4
Tier: Unranked
Soul Energy: 4
Li Heng panted heavily. He looked from the wolf corpse on the ground to the nicked, blood-stained Longsword in his hand, a lingering fear still gripping him.
However, when he saw a ball of white light slowly materialize over the wolf’s corpse, his expression lit up. He quickly composed himself and walked toward the light.
Name: Wolf Fang Bracelet
Category: Soul Energy Equipment
Value: Common
Effects:
1. Wearer’s Strength +1, Spirit -1.
2. Intimidation against wolf-type creatures +1.
[Consume 10 Soul Energy to upgrade this equipment?]
The ball of white light solidified into a bracelet with a single Wolf Fang attached. After reading its stats, Li Heng didn’t overthink it and put it on immediately.
But the moment he put on the bracelet, a string of information flashed through his mind, informing him that he could upgrade it.
’Consume Soul Energy... to upgrade?!’
’So my Golden Finger isn’t a system, but the ability to consume Soul Energy to upgrade items?!’
In this world, entering a Dungeon before the college entrance exams was a mandatory requirement across the entire Federation. It was colloquially known as the "placement exam Dungeon."
The purpose of opening this Dungeon was to let all the exam candidates experience one, so everyone could get a reality check.
Those who could adapt to the survival rules of the Dungeon could choose to take the Dungeon-focused college entrance exam.
Those who couldn’t could opt for the ordinary liberal arts or science exams.
However, the type of exam one took often determined the type of university they would ultimately attend.
In this new era, getting into a Soul Energy University naturally meant a future with greater achievements.
As a Transmigrator who came with his own game-like system, Li Heng had originally wanted to broaden his horizons and experience a different kind of life in this world.
Li Heng had played plenty of games back on Earth, and the existence of this system undoubtedly made him see the Dungeon as, well, a dungeon.
The only thing was, running this Dungeon was extremely dangerous. The margin for error was practically zero. According to the teachers, just like in reality, dying in a Dungeon meant you were truly dead.
Although Li Heng had a game system that could digitalize most information for him, he didn’t dare test its limits or do anything reckless.
After putting on the Wolf Fang Bracelet, Li Heng clearly felt the strength in his right hand increase. His hand, which had been trembling slightly while holding the Longsword, was now perfectly steady.
Feeling the tangible change, a trace of joy appeared in Li Heng’s heart, along with rising expectations.
Killing one wild wolf only yielded 4 Soul Energy. To upgrade the Wolf Fang Bracelet, he needed to kill at least two more.
Wild Wolf Valley was the Dungeon for this placement exam, and it was roughly divided into three areas: the outskirts of Wild Wolf Valley, the entrance of Wild Wolf Valley, and the depths of Wild Wolf Valley.
The number of wild wolves progressively increased from the outskirts inward.
Given his current strength, Li Heng made up his mind. The safest plan was to lie low on the outskirts and specifically target lone wolves.
’With a Golden Finger at my disposal, steady, cautious development is the way to go. No need to be flashy.’
Li Heng: Unranked
Soul Energy: 4
Strength: 7 (+1)
Agility: 8
Spirit: 6 (-1)
Soul Energy Skills: None
Soul Energy Pets: None
Soul Energy Equipment: Training Longsword (Wild Wolf Valley), Wolf Fang Bracelet (Common)
Soul Energy Items: Teleportation Talisman (Wild Wolf Valley), Waterskin (Wild Wolf Valley)
Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Level 3), Basic Body Technique (Level 3)
’Six points of my base Strength, plus the 1-point bonus from the bracelet, combined with Level 3 Basic Swordsmanship... Killing another wild wolf shouldn’t be as dangerous as the last one.’
Before entering the Dungeon, every student could choose one weapon. The selection included everything from sabers, spears, and swords to halberds, guandaos, staves, and Meteor Hammers. However, they were all standardized models and restricted to use only within the Wild Wolf Valley Dungeon.
The Teleportation Talisman was every student’s last resort for survival inside the Dungeon. Each person received only one. If they encountered a danger or predicament they couldn’t handle, tearing the talisman would instantly transport them out.
At the same time, to ensure the students’ safety as much as possible, the school also placed a time limit on the talismans. After a maximum of one week, the Teleportation Talisman would activate automatically, and the student would be transported out of the Dungeon.
Of course, besides the Teleportation Talisman, there were other safety measures. At the Dungeon’s entrance, there was a "gathering point."
Three supervising teachers from the school were stationed at the gathering point, responsible only for its security. Compared to other places, the gathering point could be considered absolutely safe.
Li Heng adjusted his mindset slightly, tightened his grip on his Longsword, and continued to wander the outskirts, looking for other lone wolves.
’There are ten senior classes in this Dungeon, which means 300 people. Most of the students will probably play it safe, grouping up on the outskirts to hunt lone wolves together.’
Li Heng mused to himself. This meant he had to hurry. Whenever he encountered a lone wolf, he had to take the initiative.
After all, the number of lone wolves on the outskirts was limited. If he was too slow, there wouldn’t be any left to kill.
Li Heng had no plans to enter the mouth of Wild Wolf Valley anytime soon—at least, not before he grew stronger.
Whether it was good luck or the scent of blood on his training Longsword, Li Heng hadn’t walked for long before he spotted a gray wolf ten meters away, its nose to the ground, sniffing at something.
Despite his experience from successfully killing one wolf, the moment he saw this one, Li Heng immediately raised his sword into an offensive stance, ready to strike at any moment.
The wolf, busy sniffing, seemed to sense something. As Li Heng raised his sword, its eyes darted in his direction.
Seeing an unfamiliar creature before it, the wolf instinctively bared its fangs, preparing to attack.
But just as it stepped forward with its right foreleg, the wolf felt a flicker of fear. This fear, however, was quickly replaced by the urge to attack.
In just two seconds, the wolf lunged at Li Heng.
Li Heng’s nerves were stretched taut. The instant he saw the wolf move, he took half a step out with his left foot and held his Longsword at the ready in front of his chest.
For a running wolf, a distance of ten meters was nothing. In the blink of an eye, it closed the gap to less than two meters.
Within that two-meter gap, Li Heng suddenly twisted his body to the left. Pushing off hard with the ball of his left foot, he leaped into the air.
This leap to the left allowed him to smoothly evade the wolf’s pounce.
But successfully dodging one attack didn’t cause Li Heng to relax his tense nerves.
Almost in the same instant he leaped, Li Heng swung the training Longsword he held before his chest.
He waited for the wolf’s head and forelimbs to pass by. Just as its torso was about to be parallel with his shoulder, Li Heng put all his strength into a sudden thrust, plunging the Longsword toward the wolf’s belly.
The Basic Swordsmanship taught during the Federation’s compulsory education only included moves like the flick, thrust, and slice, and its maximum level was 5. The fact that Li Heng had reached Level 3 meant his fundamentals were at least decent.
SHINK—
As the tip of the Longsword sank into the wolf’s belly, blood gushed out instantly. Li Heng immediately pulled the sword free and retreated away from the wolf.