Compared to reality, where renting a general training ground can easily cost two or three silver coins per hour, the fees here are truly affordable.

"Let's begin..."

He picked up a standard pistol, Charles Lynn weighed it in his hand, raised it, and aimed at the target in the training ground. He activated his Heart Source Power, channeling it into the pistol's grip power system.

Instantly, the square mark above the grip lit up, the standard pistol grew slightly warm, a halo flickered at the muzzle, and with a "bang," the bullet shot out, piercing the target and leaving a spiral-shaped, scorched bullet hole.

This shot was precisely the first ring level of the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique].

This basic gun technique is divided into five rings of proficiency. With each ring advanced, the bullet's destructive power increases by 10%. At the highest, the fifth ring, the muzzle can flash with five halos.

Because of this, the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique] is also known as the [Star Ao Five-Ring Gun Technique]!

On the Alliance Academy's virtual platform, using the template of Heart Source Power at the ninth stage, Charles Lynn had long since mastered the [Star Ao Five-Ring Gun Technique] to the highest fifth ring.

But in reality, with his previous second-stage Heart Source Power, Charles Lynn could barely manage the second ring.

"On the Heart Source Battle Net, with my third-stage Heart Source Power, how many rings of the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique] can I pull off?"

Charles Lynn felt a bit uneasy. He took a deep breath, gathered all his Heart Source Power, and poured it into the pistol's grip.

Bang!

The muzzle trembled, halos flashed out one after another—there were five in total. Accompanied by a piercing whistle, the bullet pierced through the target ahead, but there was only one bullet hole; this shot had passed through the previous hole.

The target shook, and on the back, there was a palm-sized gap. This was the destructive power of the fifth ring of the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique]!

"Five rings?! I can pull off the fifth ring of the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique]?"

Charles Lynn was a bit stunned. This didn't make sense. With his third-stage Heart Source Power, he should only be able to manage up to the fourth ring at most.

"Could it be that the standard pistol on the Heart Source Battle Net is different from the one on the Academy's virtual platform..."

With a few swift movements, Charles Lynn disassembled the standard pistol and examined it, but found no differences at all.

Chapter 09: A Faint Sadness

"This Heart Source Power chip isn't an enhanced version..."

He checked the square mark on the gun's grip—that was the Heart Source Power chip of the standard pistol, the core of Heart Source weaponry.

Unlike firearms on Earth, the firearms in this world are powered by Heart Source Power chips. Injecting Heart Source Power into them is enough to drive them.

Because of this, even the power of a standard pistol far exceeds that of pistols on Earth, not to mention when combined with gun techniques.

After reassembling the standard pistol, Charles Lynn pondered for a moment and came to a rough conclusion.

The reason he could achieve the power of the fifth ring with only third-stage Heart Source Power was probably because, on the Alliance Academy's virtual platform, he had already reached the highest fifth ring of the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique].

As long as you have mastered a combat technique, and your Heart Source Power is sufficient to perform it, you can reach your original level?

Of course, this refers to the Heart Source Battle Net.

"From the looks of it, I still have the same advantage in the Heart Source Battle Net. The only thing lacking is that my Heart Source Power stage is too low. But that's not a big problem; sooner or later, my Heart Source Power will increase..."

At this moment, Charles Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he had this unparalleled talent on the Heart Source Battle Net, plus the four years of accumulation at Nanluo Academy, he would soon be able to make a name for himself.

"There's still the entrance assessment tomorrow. I'd better practice the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique] a bit more."

Charles Lynn calmed down and began to repeatedly practice the [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique], gradually sensing the differences from the Alliance Academy's virtual platform.

On the Academy's virtual platform, it was like controlling a virtual image, lacking a sense of reality.

But here, practicing the gun technique over and over felt just like in real life.

Bang, bang, bang...

On the training ground, halos flashed in succession. With five bursts of muzzle flash, four targets were shot flying.

"Five-ring combo... not bad!"

He spun the pistol a few times in his hand and stylishly holstered it. Charles Lynn was quite satisfied with his practice results. "It's a pity that my aptitude in reality is average, so I can only reach the second ring. But with this level of proficiency, I'll reach the fifth ring sooner or later."

"When my [Star Ao Basic Gun Technique] reaches the fifth ring in reality, I'll be considered an expert among ordinary security officers, and I'll have the strength to protect myself."

Ding... a crisp reminder sounded. The two hours were up, and Charles Lynn's figure blurred as he was forcibly teleported out.

Looking at the bustling crowd on the road, Charles Lynn clenched his fist, the sense of power so vivid and real.

"Will I be able to shine on the Heart Source Battle Net like I did on the Alliance Academy's virtual platform? To stand above the rest and become the brightest star..."

Charles Lynn muttered to himself, indulging in a beautiful, chuunibyou-like fantasy about the future.

Dong...

Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly. Charles Lynn turned his head, his expression changed, and he quickly dodged to the side.