How Do We Play If This Boss Isn't Nerfed?

A flicker of surprise went through Lin Ye’s mind.

Ninghai Technology Martial Arts University.

Of course he had heard of the name, as the university was located right here in Dongjiang.

He’d heard that its admission scores had been extremely high in recent years.

It was considered a decent university for the Machinist Martial Arts path.

But this was the first time he’d learned that the university actually had an affiliated high school.

Zhang Yuqing, beside him, obviously knew more about this. She lowered her voice and told Lin Ye everything she knew.

From the very beginning, this Ningke University Affiliated Middle School’s training philosophy ran completely counter to all traditional Martial Arts High Schools.

They didn’t use pure Qi and Blood or martial techniques as their sole standard. Instead, they focused on cultivating Machinist Martial Artists who could perfectly pilot various types of high-tech combat equipment.

Although in the minds of most people in Dongjiang, Machinist Martial Arts was considered an opportunistic shortcut, a heterodox path with a much lower ceiling than pure martial arts.

But the quality of their student body was top-tier all the same.

The Qi and Blood values and foundational combat power of every student, even when stripped of all their Exoskeleton Armor, were not to be underestimated.

Technology has its limits.

But the potential of the human body and source energy was, in theory, limitless.

This was the fundamental reason why many Martial Artists looked down on Machinist Martial Arts.

Relying on external objects was ultimately mistaking the means for the end. In the world of high-level Martial Artists, one’s own innate strength was the foundation of everything.

However, Lin Ye saw things a little differently.

He had always only cared about results.

At the low-level Martial Artist stage, a high-performance Combat Exoskeleton provided an overwhelming boost in combat power.

At least, before today, he had never imagined that half-coverage Exoskeleton Armor had already developed to the point where it could allow for single-person levitation and flight.

In these urban ruins with their complex terrain, the meaning of air superiority was self-evident.

’I have to find a way to get my hands on that gear!’

That’s right.

From the moment he saw these people trigger a beast tide to cull the weak, the two words "trade" and "cooperate" never once crossed Lin Ye’s mind.

This group had been acting with the mentality of eliminating all competitors from the very start of the competition.

They were the Hunters, and the people who had died in the square were their prey.

Lin Ye was one to hold a grudge.

Both the "Lone Wolf" from before and the LV8 elite black panther that had ambushed him were targets for his revenge.

Even if the advancement mission issued by the system at the time had nothing to do with either of them.

Lin Ye would have found a way to defeat Lone Wolf and then kill that mutated black panther to avenge the sneak attack.

Now, this group that had taken the initiative to target him had also been added to his kill list.

A vague plan slowly began to take shape in his mind.

But he still needed to observe; he needed an opportunity.

Lin Ye withdrew his gaze from the distant tall building, no longer paying attention to the three black dots slowly descending.

He turned around, refocusing his attention on the massive mutated spider corpse at his feet.

He arranged the spider’s eight thick, long legs, then gathered some relatively dry branches and dead leaves.

Then, he took out a fire source from the basic survival kit issued by the competition’s organizing committee.

To pursue the ultimate degree of realism, the competition had introduced hunger and thirst mechanics.

All participants would feel fatigue and would need to eat and drink to maintain their stamina.

And just like in reality,

everyone would get tired and sleepy.

The competition had started less than half a day ago, and most people had probably not yet realized that hunger would be a more terrifying enemy than the mutated beasts.

Lin Ye was waiting.

Waiting for the moment when these people were starving, their willpower worn down to its lowest point.

A flame flickered to life. Lin Ye used his Rain Listening Sword to chop the eight spider legs in half, skewered them on sharpened branches, and propped them over the fire to roast.

Zhang Yuqing watched his series of incredibly fluid movements, sidled up curiously, and asked, "This... Is it edible?"

"Yes."

Lin Ye replied without looking up.

"It tastes pretty good. The protein content is six times that of beef."

Zhang Yuqing: "..."

She looked at the grotesque spider legs being seared by the flames, gradually changing color, and her stomach churned once again.

But thanks to Lin Ye’s previous series of extraordinary performances, coupled with the prestige of his "school’s number one" title, she believed him.

Gradually,

as the flames forced the grease from the spider legs, it dripped into the fire with a SIZZLE.

An indescribable, exotic aroma began to waft over, filling the air.

The scent was very peculiar.

At first, the smell had a faint, gamey odor.

But soon, that gamey smell evaporated in the intense heat, replaced by a charred aroma reminiscent of a mix of grilled crab and roasted shrimp, yet even richer and more potent!

Zhang Yuqing couldn’t help but swallow.

’This aroma...’

’It smells amazing!’

Given her family background, she had eaten all sorts of rare delicacies.

But this was the first time she had ever smelled such a unique and alluring aroma of food.

The scent was like an invisible hand, roughly forcing its way into her nostrils and stirring her most primal appetite.

Zhang Yuqing hadn’t felt hungry before, but now, her stomach betrayed her with a growl.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she shifted her feet, a little embarrassed.

Lin Ye acted as if he hadn’t heard, merely focusing on turning the spider legs on the rack, adjusting the heat from time to time.

When the outer shells of the spider legs were roasted to a crispy, golden-brown, even slightly charred, and the aroma had reached its peak, Lin Ye finally stopped.

Zhang Yuqing’s eyes lit up, and she subconsciously leaned a little closer.

However,

after taking the roasted spider legs off the fire, Lin Ye didn’t eat them himself.

Nor did he show any intention of sharing them with Zhang Yuqing.

He simply wrapped the still-scalding roasted meat in a few large leaves, slung it onto his back, and finally stood up to look at Zhang Yuqing.

"Rested enough?"

"Huh?" Zhang Yuqing was taken aback.

"We can’t stop earning points."

"Time to keep hunting."

Lin Ye’s tone was as matter-of-fact as if he were stating the obvious.

Zhang Yuqing: "..."

She looked at Lin Ye’s calm, emotionless face, then glanced at the packets of roasted meat exuding a fatally tempting aroma, and could only force her gaze away and nod silently.

Although she was a bit tired, she chose to obey unconditionally.

One behind the other, the two of them descended from the ruined high-rise again, their figures melting back into the city’s shadows.

Lin Ye headed in the direction where the black dots in the sky had disappeared.

His logic was simple and direct.

In a treacherous ruin like this, energy and stamina were the most precious resources.

No matter how powerful that set of T-3 Hovering Exoskeleton Armor was, it certainly had energy consumption limits.

Frequent long-distance travel was the stupidest choice.

Therefore, that group would most likely use that tall building as a base, mark out an area as their hunting ground, and begin their activities.

As long as he found their camp, his looting plan was halfway to success.