You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 26 The Foundation of the Successor to the Kingdom of 1.4 Billion

The final endurance test was a foregone conclusion.

Candidates must wear weighted gear and undergo prolonged combat tests in a simulated abyss-like, oppressive environment.

Other candidates, including Izawa Munezo and Xu Lei.

They were all drenched in sweat, panting heavily, and struggling to hold on.

Li Zhe remained calm and composed.

even……

He still had the leisure to walk over to Xu Lei, who was almost exhausted.

He patted him on the shoulder and guided him on how to adjust his breathing rhythm and how to relax his muscles.

"Dude, you're not using the right way to generate power. You need to tighten your core and use your waist and abdomen to drive your limbs, like this..."

Xu Lei: "..."

Izawa Muneko: "..."

Ms. Zhilin: "..."

Other test takers: "..."

The physical fitness tests were all completed, and the results were announced on the spot.

No one was surprised by the result.

Li Zhe achieved a perfect score of 50 points with an undisputed sweep of all three S-rank scores.

All the candidates and examiners stared at him as if he were a monster.

The power of the deep-sea exploration instruments set up in the examination room was also silently turned up to the maximum.

However, the results showed...

The "monster" in front of us...

He's a human being through and through!

Although Izawa Munezo also got a perfect score.

But he knew better than anyone else.

I was able to get a perfect score because my skill level was just right to reach the perfect score threshold.

And the man in front of me is a Chinese man named Li Zhe.

He got a perfect score simply because that was the only total score available!

Are all the people of Huazhou monsters?

Izawa Munezo muttered to himself.

The pride in my heart quietly cracked open at that moment, leaving an irreparable fissure...

Xu Lei, on the other hand, had already been impressed by Li Zhe's strength.

The way they looked at him was filled with almost fanatical worship, as well as the pride of being compatriots.

Despite the complex gazes of the crowd, Li Zhe remained calm.

He simply nodded politely to Xu Lei and Ms. Zhilin before turning and leaving the testing ground.

Although the performance was amazing, it still falls within the scope of the explanation of "the limits of human potential".

After all, there are always some unreasonable and "gifted" people in this world.

It is said that in some physical fitness tests at certain examination centers, there are also "monsters" with similar astonishing performances.

In short, there is absolutely no risk of Li Zhe's secret about his muscle armor being exposed.

So next, it's time to prepare for the interview on the third day.

……

The interview took place early the next morning.

The atmosphere inside the interview room at the Kagoshima selection test center was solemn and respectful.

The three interviewers sat side by side behind the long table.

He scrutinized each and every candidate who walked in.

The examiner was a middle-aged man with a ramrod straight back, sharp eyes, and a serious, almost cold expression.

He was wearing a full set of standard mech pilot uniform and shoulder patches representing the rank of corporal.

Clearly, this is a pioneer who has experienced the baptism of blood and fire on the front lines of the abyss.

The examiner's name was Zhu Xingtuan.

After witnessing the powerful organizational and action capabilities of Huazhou, which were swift, efficient and people-oriented, he immediately sought progress and resolutely chose to become a Huazhou citizen.

As a pioneer, he became one of the first registered mech pilots in the United Government and actively participated in the establishment of the registered mech pilot system.

To his left sat a woman with frameless glasses, an intellectual air about her, but whose eyes held a hint of scrutiny and criticalness.

She is Dr. Megumi Suzuki, an expert specializing in data analysis and potential assessment.

She seemed to despise Li Zhe's behavior of scoring zero on the written test and skipping the exam from the bottom of her heart.

To Zhu Xingtuan's right was a kind-faced, smiling, chubby uncle, Instructor Anxi Kuangyi.

Instructor Anzai was mainly responsible for assessing the candidates' mindset and resilience, and his attitude was relatively mild.

"Next, Li Zhe." After his name was called, Li Zhe pushed open the door and entered.

He calmly sat down in the chair in front of the three interviewers.

I had just sat down and hadn't even had a chance to introduce myself.

Dr. Megumi Suzuki was the first to launch an attack.

“Li Zhe, the examinee,” she pushed up her glasses and asked without any politeness, “I’ve seen your file.”

"Written test score: zero."

"Please explain why you skipped the exam."

Her words were filled with undisguised distrust and contempt.

"Do you know how serious the selection of mecha pilots is?"

"Your behavior is extremely disrespectful to all the examiners and to the other candidates who have prepared diligently for the exam!"

Faced with this barrage of questions, Li Zhe's expression remained unchanged.

He simply replied calmly, "Reporting to the examiner, I suddenly felt unwell on the day of the exam and unfortunately could not make it to the exam venue."

These words were spoken with sincerity and without a trace of hypocrisy.

After all, Li Zhe was not lying.

His body became like a strange, muscular armor.

I did feel uncomfortable with exams at the time.

Although these words have been abridged, they are absolutely true.

When a person doesn't lie, they have a lot of confidence when they speak!
Faced with the candidate's incredibly sincere and candid gaze and words, Suzuki Megumi was momentarily speechless.

However, she has seen it all and is quite experienced.

Just as she was about to ask more questions, the chief examiner, Zhu Xingtuan, raised his hand to stop her.

Those who can participate in the mecha pilot selection exam are mainly selected by lottery, so luck plays a role.

However, they all underwent comprehensive background checks and basic academic assessments.

The candidate in front of me, named Li Zhe, has passed the basic requirements.

He also has an impressive story of saving someone when he was a child.

Recently, he also received property gifts from families he helped.

We can definitely establish a positive role model and promote it internally.

In Zhu Xingtuan's view, the issue of missing the written exam can be set aside for now.

Knowledge can be learned later in life.

But a person's will and character are hard to change after a certain age...

Zhu Xingtuan was very curious.

What is the mindset of this student who may have harbored dreams of becoming a hero in elementary school?

His hawk-like eyes were fixed intently on Li Zhe.

After a moment of silence...

He raised a more pointed and core question in a deep and authoritative voice.

“I’ve seen your physical fitness test results, but strength alone isn’t enough.”

"I ask you, what do you think... is the duty of a mech pilot?"
Is it to enjoy the glory of being admired by all? Or is it to wield the power of life and death?
"Or is it to satisfy your personal heroic fantasy of saving the world?"

This question struck like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard.

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

Suzuki Megumi and Instructor Anzai held their breath, waiting for Li Zhe's answer.

This is a question without a standard answer, yet it is the best way to see through a person's true nature.

Li Zhe simply lowered his eyelids slightly, as if he were recalling something.

A moment later, he raised his head again.

Looking directly into Zhu Xingtuan's sharp eyes, he calmly and profoundly stated:
"I believe that the duty of a mech pilot is to 'take responsibility'."

"Taking responsibility?" Zhu Xingtuan frowned.

"Yes, responsibility."

Li Zhe's voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resounding.

"In the face of the monsters of the abyss, we have become the strongest shield for human civilization."

"In the face of a desperate people, we are their hope for tomorrow and for the future."

"We are not heroes."

"We are just ordinary people who, in an era of crisis, are building a dam for the lights of thousands of homes behind us."

"Being able to eat well every meal, sleep soundly every night, and do what I love in my spare time... I act and take responsibility for those who hold this most basic expectation."

"This is what I believe is the duty of a mech pilot."

“Well said.” Zhu Xingtuan’s brows relaxed. “So well said… it’s like something forged after years of struggling on the battlefield and losing countless comrades…”

(End of this chapter)