Chapter 61 - Physical Assessment.

Shi Lang ignored the gazes and walked back to where his classmates were gathered. The physical assessment was the next thing. After how the technical class performed in the last assessment, the school had allocated a separate gym room for them. They were free to enter and practice when they wished. 

This was also the reason that the class had all stepped into the third-star level. When Shi Lang walked over he found that the invigilator had arrived. The man was a standard captain rank officer. These officers were sent from the federation military headquarters to have the students go through standard physical examinations. 

The captain said, "You all will be going through the standard examination. The rules are already clear to you, but I will tell you once more. Before the assessment, a blood sample will be drawn from you all, and it will be screened for the presence of any illegal boosting medicines. If you have taken any such medicines, other than gene enhancement serum, then come forward now, or you will be barred from enrollment." 

The students were aware of this rule and none of them came forward. The captain nodded and said, "Do not blame me later." 

He was not picking on them, he was just stating a fact to them. The students all walked over to a medical screening module in a queue and let a robotic arm draw a sample of their blood. Shi Lang was among the queue as well. After the blood was screened and none of the people were found to be faulty. 

The captain said, "Do move forward, following the same order as your blood test and the first test will be your physical strength. You have to punch at the gong-tube as hard as you can. You have to hit the device with all your limbs." 

The students nodded and they all began to move forward. The gong-tube was a metallic hollow cylindrical tube, equipped with sensors to calculate the force of impact carried behind the punch. The power of a punch throw by your dominant hand and weaker hand will have a weaker strength. This was crucial data. 

Soon the gym began to echo with sounds like TONG! TUNNG!

The students were all punching and kicking the gong-tube with their best blows. After thirty minutes it was Shi Lang's turn. The average force displayed by the students was nearing three hundred kilograms. The captain at the side took down notes on them, he was impressed when he found that the stance and implementation of these blows were so good that it squeezed out their complete strength.

Shi Lang stood in front of the gong-tube with his legs parted and his hands raised up in a standard boxing pose. He took a deep breath and stepped in with his right foot and locked his waist in, then his left fist compactly moved forward with his fist swinging inward. 

The captain was shocked but the next moment, he thought he was dreaming, the punch landed on the device and a loud metal clanking sound echoed in his ears like a ring. The gong-tube was left with a first impression. 

Lucas sucked in a cold breath and said, "Monster." 

The strength displayed on the screen was five hundred thirty. The number meant this much kilogram of weight will be delivered to the enemy if they were hit by the proper blow from Shi Lang. 

Jane asked, "He is right-handed. What do you guys think he can bring out with that?" 

The people all began to make estimates. Shi Lang had turned deaf to their comments and using the same technique he delivered a punch right at the device and the impact was similar. The number on the screen did not change. The people were surprised and Shi Lang said, "Ambidextrous. This was a part of the camp." 

When fighting Yuu, he was told taught how to use any weapon with both his arms simultaneously, John taught him how to use his arms for different things at the same time. The captain took a note of this. He did not expect to find someone like this in the technical branch. This was the best military school in the capital, even in the whole of the federation. The federal Star Academy was the trend setter. So, he was not entirely baffled. 

Shi Lang proceeded with the kicks and the impact was similar again. The class then began to test their neural response. The boy left everyone behind by a big margin in this as well. It took him only a blink of an eye to responding to a laser pointed at him. 

The captain was surprised and he kept taking notes. The scores of this boy were already first grade. Shi Lang did not say anything and silently participated in all the tests, scoring the best. 

The final round was to face a standard military officer. The strength was not much different from the students but the techniques were more refined. This was easy stuff, when Shi Lang came to trial, the opponent did not even get to throw the second punch. 

The first punch was dealt with a style of hard and soft. The whole body of the soldier was flicked over the shoulder, and then he was punched in the temple, making him fall in love with the elastic floor of the combat ring. 

The captain took note of everything and said, "You all can wait outside and prepare for the group battle. Also, those who are interested in taking the technical department, should go to the laboratory and have the specialized experts check on you." 

The students replied with a bright yes and they all came out of the gym. Shi Lang was approached by Tim. The class representative asked, "Lang, will you be taking the technical tests?" 

Shi Lang shook his head and said, '"I will not." 

He did not have the ambition to sit behind a screen and monitor various things. He was longing for frontal combat, and his dream was to fight, however, in the past because of his weak body he was limited to joining the army as a technical soldier and then hoping that one day something will happen and he will be able to get to the front. 

Things have changed now, and he has changed as well. He will not be hiding in the comfort of an office and grow old. He will go out on an adventure. This was his dream and wish. He did not go through the brutal suffering in the camp just to be a technical soldier. 

He noticed that the people were casting him a weird glance. The boy said, "I have my own dreams and so do you. Do not worry, I will be fine. However, as I told you all yesterday, the group battle this time is not easy and it will be dangerous. If you really want to jump in that pit of fire, do not be hesitant and do not hold back. 

On the other hand, if you have the slightest worry or something that needs you to be safe, you better take the technical tests. You do know, what I mean to say, right?" 

His gaze landed on Lucas and Jane, and the two people understood what he meant. They nodded and so did the others. The group battle will be held on the same day and the candidates will be sent to a war front. They will be given a specific time, and the task will be to act as a group of soldiers. They will take part in frontal combat and if they could survive a day, they will be considered to have passed the exam. 

If they found themselves at the wit's end, they will forfeit and return. They will be given a rank in the army but never allowed to take part in frontal combat if the situation did not demand it. Shi Lang did not wish to see his classmates commit suicide, because, with just one visit to Ao, he had come to the severity of a proper battle front. 

Shi Lang was about to walk away from them all when he found Amelia walking in his direction. He came to stand still and he saw her tranquil expression. The technical class students were confused by this sudden visit of hers. 

However, what happened next shocked them. Amelia Knight, the cold princess of the battle class, came to stand next to Shi Lang and took hold of his hand, and asked with a heart-melting smile, "How was your assessment?" 

The crowd was stunned. Shi Lang was aware that this girl was out here for revenge and replied with a warm doting expression, "It was nice, but not as nice as you." The second half was ambiguously whispered in her ears, making her look down on the floor and blush. She had forgotten the purpose of her impromptu visit. 

She wanted to leave him speechless as he did to her in front of her class. However, what happened next shocked her even more, Shi Lang turned to her class, and said, "Guys, this is my girlfriend, Amelia Knight." 

Then he cheekily stole a peck on her cheek, in front of everyone, and made her freeze like a stone statue.