And Eric Thompson also had to face an important hurdle: the summer training and final assessment at the Advanced Tactical School.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast at a street stall, Eric Thompson rode his bicycle to school.

Today was the day of the summer training exam, so all the students arrived quite early.

Eric Thompson had a habit of always being exactly on time, never early. In his view, whether waiting for others or making others wait was a waste of time.

This year, there were about 1,500 new students. They stood on the playground in neat formations, each looking a bit nervous. The results of the summer training would determine important class placements, and poor performance could even lead to expulsion.

In the past, high schools divided students into honors and regular classes based on academic performance. Now that young people were all learning martial arts, class placement was determined by Force Value.

It was rumored that the elite class warriors would receive very different privileges—whether it was access time to the Turtle House, the selection and study of martial techniques, instructor assignments, or the best resources in the school, all would be tilted toward the elite class.

Being able to enter the elite class meant taking the first step toward success. After all, advanced tactical schools and universities were not established just to train warriors; the goal of the young people here was to become martial artists!

According to the ranking system, only those whose Force Index broke ten could be called martial artists and become true combat elites on Earth.

The difference between warriors and martial artists was huge. Warriors generally joined the military to carry out large-scale attack or defense missions.

Martial artists, on the other hand, had the ability to act independently, carrying out the most dangerous and secret missions deep in occupied zones—only martial artists could take on such tasks, and the treatment and honor they received were far beyond what ordinary warriors could imagine.

Principal Megan Hall walked up to the podium very solemnly, his gaze sweeping over the more than a thousand students, then he said in a deep voice, “First, I have good news to announce. This year’s batch of new students is very strong—probably the strongest in the history of the Ninth Advanced Tactical School! All 1,536 new students have met the admission standard after summer training, and not a single one has been eliminated!”

Hooray~

The scene immediately erupted in lively excitement. Not being eliminated meant having a chance to become a martial artist, or even to enter a university full of elites for further study and become a professional talent in the military. Those underachievers who had been worried all cheered up at this news.

Originally, Eric Thompson should have been one of these cheering young people, because his entrance score was very poor—only 0.2 Force Units.

But fate had already completely reversed without him realizing it. The sudden appearance of Cola and the StarNet meant that Eric Thompson was no longer at the bottom of the school.

In just one month, Eric Thompson’s Force Index had increased from 0.2 to 2.8, reaching the standard of a level-two warrior, and he would soon break through to level three!

Megan Hall then enthusiastically spoke about the current world situation and the glorious history of the Ninth Advanced Tactical School, encouraging the new students to strive hard to earn the title of martial artist before graduation, or to be admitted to university early.

After this encouragement, the next to take the podium was Instructor Travis.

Travis happened to be the instructor in charge of Eric Thompson’s summer training. He had a short beard and a fierce scar on his neck, left from a battle with a mutant beast years ago.

“The class assignment notice will be posted outside the teaching building. Students can enter their assigned classes according to their student numbers. What I want to announce here is the list for the Special Class. If your name is called, please stay after the assembly,” Travis announced loudly.

“Ashley White! Philip Young! Kevin Stone! Sophie! ……”

Instructor Travis called out names loudly. Eric Thompson frowned slightly and asked Jason Carter beside him, “What does this Special Class mean?”

Jason Carter shrugged and said, “It’s the genius class. I heard it’s a level above the elite class. Everyone selected for the Special Class has a Force Index over three—they’re at least level-three warriors.”

Eric Thompson stuck out his tongue. Wow, these are all fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boys and girls, and their Force Index is already over three? No wonder they’re called geniuses.

So Eric Thompson didn’t pay much attention to the names Instructor Travis was reading. His own Force Index hadn’t reached the standard, so he definitely wouldn’t be chosen for the Special Class, but getting into the elite class was a sure thing.

For someone like Eric Thompson, who had always been at the bottom, not only not being eliminated but also being assigned to the elite class was already satisfying enough. If Instructor Grant, who used to scold Eric Thompson every day at the junior tactical school, heard this news, he’d probably be shocked too.

“Eric Thompson!”

Just as Eric Thompson was lost in thought, he seemed to hear someone call his name. Looking up, he saw Instructor Travis looking at him eagerly—the name had indeed come from his mouth.

The new students at the Advanced Tactical School all came from several nearby middle schools, and many of them knew Eric Thompson. They looked over in surprise, unable to believe that the underachiever from middle school, Eric Thompson, had turned things around as soon as he entered high school and even made it into the genius class!?

Smack!

Jason Carter gave Eric Thompson a heavy punch, exclaiming excitedly, “Old classmate, you really kept it hidden! You actually got into the genius class!? If you make it big in the future, don’t forget about me!”