"Advancing in strength becomes increasingly difficult the further one progresses," Luo Feng mused. "Going from a speed of 23.8 meters per second to 25 meters per second might take me a full year. And increasing my punching force from 809 kilograms to 900 kilograms will likely take even longer. I probably won't earn the title of 'Warrior' until I enroll in university."

"If, if… I could fall unconscious again. My physical fitness might just meet the requirements for a Warrior then."

Of course, the 'unconsciousness' he desired wasn't from being struck down. It was from the pain in his head reaching an extreme breaking point, causing him to pass out.

Luo Feng suffered from a recurring headache condition.

He experienced intermittent throbs of pain daily, usually manageable by enduring it, but when the pain peaked, it led to him losing consciousness!

From childhood until now, Luo Feng had only passed out twice.

When he was eight, his younger brother’s leg was crushed by a car. Overwhelmed with grief that day, Luo Feng suddenly felt an excruciating headache, coupled with a terrifyingly rapid heartbeat. The speed of blood flow throughout his body surged to an astonishing level, making him feel as though his heart was about to burst from his chest. He finally collapsed into unconsciousness, unable to bear the strain.

Then, at twelve, his mother fell gravely ill and was hospitalized. Terrified of losing her, Luo Feng panicked, suffering the same unbearable headache and astonishing heart rate, leading to another episode of unconsciousness.

After both instances, his family took Luo Feng to the hospital for examinations, but nothing abnormal could be detected. After all, even now, the brain remains one of medicine's most intractable puzzles.

"But, those two bouts of unconsciousness bizarrely boosted my physical conditioning by a massive margin," Luo Feng anticipated eagerly. "After waking up from the episodes at ages eight and twelve, my strength, speed, and nerve reaction time markedly improved. This is why, upon entering the martial arts club at sixteen, I immediately passed the Intermediate Trainee assessment and earned the title of 'Intermediate Trainee.' Thanks to that solid foundation, I secured the 'Advanced Trainee' title the following year at seventeen."

"If I could pass out just one more time, my strength would certainly leap forward again!"

Fainting, in fact, was the body’s self-preservation mechanism, not entirely a negative event.

Luo Feng had battled headaches since childhood, but after the first collapse at age eight, he noticed the severity of his headaches had significantly lessened. After the second episode at twelve, the intensity of the pain diminished again.

"Following this trend, if I could collapse one more time, the headaches should ease up further… Perhaps one or two more episodes, and the headache condition might vanish forever." Luo Feng yearned for this outcome inwardly; each collapse brought relief from the pain and a corresponding leap in physical ability.

Alas...

Unconsciousness wasn't something one could simply summon. In his entire life, it had only happened twice.

"When the headache reaches its peak, the heart rate also rockets to its limit."

Luo Feng glanced down at the watch on his wrist—a timepiece equipped with a pulse-testing function.

"But even when sprinting at full tilt, my heart rate doesn't exceed 120 beats per minute," Luo Feng observed the display. "If only I could reach over 200 beats per minute. The precursors to fainting are an intense head pain and a rapidly beating heart."

Regrettably—

No matter how violent his exertion, his heart rate simply wouldn't accelerate enough to trigger the debilitating headache and subsequent collapse.

※※※※※※

Inside the training hall, Yang Wu, whose face bore a long scar, stood before the punching force testing machine. Without bothering to gather momentum, he casually hammered the padded target with fierce left and right punches. Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of dull impacts echoed as numbers scrolled across the tester’s screen—"956kg, 912kg, 936kg, 981kg..."

Yang Wu landed dozens of punches in quick succession before finally stopping.

Luo Feng, watching from the sidelines, felt a pang of envy. His own full-power punch barely registered 809 kilograms. If he were to punch rapidly like Brother Yang, managing over seven hundred kilograms per strike would be considered excellent.

"Brother Yang, if only one of my full-power punches could match the casual force of one of yours," Luo Feng remarked with a smile from the side.

"You rascal," Yang Wu walked over, clapping Luo Feng heartily on the shoulder. "You're only nineteen this year, barely eighteen in actual age. When I was your age, I was just an Intermediate Trainee at the martial arts club. Given your rate of progress… don't push it too much, two years, and you’ll absolutely meet the physical standards for a Warrior. Tsk tsk… a twenty-year-old Warrior, that truly makes people jealous."

Luo Feng smiled.

The martial arts club recruited trainees between sixteen and thirty years old because growth is most rapid during this phase. The earlier one enters the Warrior ranks, the greater their potential future strength. Last year, at seventeen, he had become an Advanced Trainee, a feat that indeed drew envy from many.

"By the way, Madman, you’re facing the college entrance exams soon, right? What are your plans afterward?" Yang Wu asked with a grin.

"I plan to apply to a military academy," Luo Feng replied with a slight smile. "Most military academies groom students to become junior officers in the regular army. But for me, after graduation, joining a specialized military unit shouldn't be an issue."

"Oh."

Yang Wu pouted slightly. "Military school is fine, but… I feel like personal freedom gets curtailed. Once you graduate and join the special forces, you must adhere to military discipline! I, for one, couldn't stand it. Being a Free Warrior is much better."

"A Free Warrior is certainly appealing," Luo Feng shook his head. "But I don't want my parents to worry. Joining the military means higher security than being a Free Warrior by a large margin."

Warriors generally have four paths available.

The first is joining the military, becoming a member of the armed forces. The benefit is high security; the nation won't easily risk its Warriors, and the state provides substantial welfare to their families, ensuring they have no financial burdens.

The second path is joining a martial arts association. These clubs have looser organizational structures, making them a relatively relaxed collective. Furthermore, since the Global Association was founded by the world's strongest expert, 'Hong,' becoming a Warrior under the Global Association offers numerous advantages alongside lax management and considerable freedom.

The third path is joining a specific corporation, a powerful family, or some other major organization—essentially acting as their hired muscle.

The fourth path is joining a mercenary corps—a life of constant danger and death, yet also the path offering the greatest autonomy.

"The military offers safety, true. But I don't want a life with so little freedom," Yang Wu said, shaking his head. "This year, I estimate I'll take the 'Aspirant Warrior Assessment' again and should pass. Once certified, I'll immediately participate in the 'Warrior Combat Assessment' this year, striving to become a full Warrior before the year ends."

Luo Feng’s eyes lit up: "Brother Yang, you're confident about passing the Aspirant Warrior Assessment?"

"Haha," Yang Wu laughed. "For the three required tests—punching force and nerve reaction—I've already met the standards. My weak point is speed! But now, when I perform well, I can barely hit 25 meters per second. With a few more days of hard training, I should pass the assessment."

"Congratulations, Brother Yang," Luo Feng felt genuinely happy for him, knowing Yang Wu had struggled toward becoming a Warrior for years. "Brother Yang, after you become a Warrior, what’s your plan?"

"Join the Global Association, of course," Yang Wu chuckled. "Their structure is relaxed, and they have branches all over the world. Having many senior Warriors around will greatly benefit my own development. Plus, I can rest when I want, or go out to hunt monsters whenever I feel like it. So much freedom."

Luo Feng nodded.

"Madman," Yang Wu looked at Luo Feng. "You have a streak of true madness in you, I'm not mistaken. I think you're perfectly suited for the Free Warrior path. Joining an association offers freedom! And the Global Association will offer us a lot of support."

"I…" Luo Feng hesitated.

Seeing his reaction, Yang Wu shook his head with a smile. "Madman, Free Warriors often walk the line between life and death, tempering themselves in the crucible of survival. It’s dangerous! But precisely because they constantly fight on the edge of oblivion, their strength improves the fastest! Look around; the truly powerful Warriors, no matter where you find them, are overwhelmingly Free Warriors."

※※※※※※

Night fell, and the streetlights flickered on.

Luo Feng left the Global Association and walked alone down the sidewalk, the words Yang Wu had shared clearly having a significant impact on him.

"There are really two paths suited for me," Luo Feng thought silently. "One is entering a military academy, graduating smoothly, and then joining a specialized military unit. The second is becoming a Warrior, joining the Global Association, and becoming one of their affiliated Warriors, free to hunt monsters."

"Of these two paths, the first—military school—offers high security and excellent family benefits. Even if I die in service, the state will take good care of my relatives."

"The second path, becoming a Free Warrior, involves constant life-and-death struggles, leading to rapid strength gains. Hunting monsters also yields vast sums of money; income is fast. This path… is dangerous, strength increases quickly, money comes fast, and it offers freedom. The only drawback is the danger." Luo Feng weighed these options constantly; he had been grappling with this very dilemma throughout his senior year.

"Mom and Dad only have two sons. My brother is already disabled. If I become a Free Warrior and die during a life-or-death battle, what will my parents do in their later years?"

His brother required care.

His parents were getting old. If he died, what would become of them?

"I'll go to military school."

"In the future, joining the special forces, I can still study the 'Military Martial Arts,' combining it with the 'Limit Martial Arts' I learn at the Global Association. My strength should increase again. In the army, I can still forge my abilities! Moreover, even if I die in combat while serving as a Warrior, the state will provide my parents with a monthly survivor's pension." Considering his parents' well-being above all else, Luo Feng leaned toward applying to a military academy.

However…

Is a military academy a place he could simply enter if he wished? Everything depended on the college entrance exams in June.

P: What is the cause of Luo Feng’s headaches? This is a small hook… Also, calling for recommendation tickets. More is always better! Throw them all at Fanqie (Tomato)! .