"Tendo, do you think Chen Xing... can pass the assessment?"
Outside the arena, Caroline looked at the Earth Dragon Lizard, whose aura was clearly off, and worried about Chen Xing's upcoming assessment. Because if it weren't for Tendo's "provocation" just now, then even with the huge disparity in strength between Chen Xing and the Earth Dragon Lizard, they would still have a good chance of achieving a decent score if the Earth Dragon Lizard was holding back. But all of that had completely vanished with Tendo's strike. Looking at the now serious Earth Dragon Lizard, Caroline knew very well that Chen Xing and the others' assessment would be truly hellish. Especially since she chose to enter after Tendo's group.
Facing Caroline's question, Tendo pushed up his sunglasses. "Who knows? However..."
Tendo turned to look at her two teammates who hadn't yet entered the arena: NO.036 Chen Kong, and NO.005 Lin.
"...as long as Star's two teammates can play their part, their results might just exceed everyone's imagination."
"Oh?" Caroline looked at Tendo in surprise, clearly not expecting him to say that. She had just personally experienced contact with the Earth Dragon Lizard and knew very well how terrifying that creature was. Yet Tendo said Chen Xing and her team might achieve good results. The only variable, then, could only be Chen Kong, this 'ordinary person.' Because she believed, given Tendo's personality, he would never speak idly. Since he had repeatedly said Chen Kong was special, then that guy must have something that Tendo valued.
Caroline's guess was actually correct. According to the original plot, this Earth Dragon Lizard was merely a tool lizard used to create "highlight moments" for Chen Kong. The difference was that in the original, Chen Kong's group was the first to enter, not the second. Although the current situation differed slightly from the original, Tendo felt that the actual outcome wouldn't change too much. Because currently, Chen Kong's teammates were still Chen Xing and Ye Shenlin. And in the original, Chen Kong's group was also suppressed by the Earth Dragon Lizard from the moment they entered, with virtually no chance to fight back. It was Chen Kong, at the last moment, who relied on his own 'Black Star' and 'Mark of the Void' abilities to briefly nullify the Earth Dragon Lizard's erected Star Energy field, creating an opening for Chen Xing to attack. Only then were they able to 'injure' the Earth Dragon Lizard and create a miracle. And this was the protagonist Chen Kong's first highlight moment in the original work. It was just preempted by Tendo.
But considering Chen Kong's special bloodline and the exaggerated Black Star Star Core, Tendo felt they still had a good chance to replicate this scene. However, with Tendo having already performed such a feat, any similar act by them would merely be a 'poor imitation' of Tendo.
While Tendo and the others were conversing, Chen Kong and Ye Shenlin finally chose to enter the arena. Although they didn't really want to face an obviously enraged Earth Dragon Lizard at this time, Chen Xing's words just now had, to some extent, shifted their mindset. Because, as Chen Xing said, as Children of the Stars, they couldn't always hide behind others. Besides, Tendo and his team had already proven with their strength that a Second-Tier Earth Dragon Lizard could bleed.
"Sis..." Chen Kong stood behind Chen Xing, nervously holding a training Star Energy pistol.
Seeing the Star Energy pistol in his hand, many people outside the arena, and even many important figures in the VIP room, showed disdain.
It was important to know that with the advent of the Star Origin Era, except for certain special firearms enhanced by Mech System users, most traditional firearms had completely lost their dominance.
They could only deal with some weak First-Tier Star Emissaries and Star Beasts. Against powerful First-Tier Star Emissaries and Star Beasts, or anything above Second-Tier, traditional firearms simply posed no threat.
Therefore, there was an unwritten rule among Star Emissaries: except for Mech System users, if anyone else used a gun, it was considered equivalent to being weak.
Hence, among the 36 Children of the Stars in this group, only Chen Kong chose firearms as his weapon. Even Caroline, a Mech System user, didn't do so. Not because she couldn't, but because she didn't want to rely on such 'external objects' too early.
Although Chen Kong holding a pistol made many look down on him, as his sister, Chen Xing was quite satisfied with his choice. "Not bad, at least you know you're useless and didn't come empty-handed to die for the sake of 'face.'"
Hearing this, Chen Kong awkwardly scratched his head, unsure how to respond. Ye Shenlin, who was wearing a 'ninja suit,' also had unusually little prejudice against Chen Kong's choice. As a pragmatist, if the final assessment hadn't restricted them to only one main weapon, she wouldn't care about 'weak' or 'strong.' If it was effective, she'd even bring a rocket launcher onto the arena.
"So? Are you ready?" Yun Meng asked with a smile, approaching the trio.
Chen Xing calmly nodded, giving her answer.
"Alright, then... good luck." With that, Yun Meng retreated outside the arena.
"Final assessment, second round... Begin!"
"Roar—"
The Earth Dragon Lizard's roar vibrated the arena barrier. Its amber vertical pupils stared fixedly at the newly entered Chen Xing trio, sulfurous white smoke puffed from its nostrils, and the metallic scales on its dorsal fins clanged. Clearly, Tendo's previous strike had completely ignited this creature's rage. And now, Chen Xing and her team were its perfect targets for venting that fury.
"We're doomed... Someone's definitely going to die..." Looking at the enraged Earth Dragon Lizard, one of the Children of the Stars couldn't help but mutter softly.
Then, under everyone's terrified gaze, the enraged Earth Dragon Lizard charged at Chen Xing and swatted with a claw.
Bang!
Amidst the sparks of metal colliding, Chen Xing's Bloodflame Blade barely managed to parry the Earth Dragon Lizard's sharp claw. But the astonishing force transmitted from it made her stumble back six or seven steps before she could stabilize herself. And although she miraculously withstood this attack, blood had seeped from the corner of her mouth, and the webbing between her thumb and index finger on her right hand had cracked, clearly indicating a significant injury.
So heavy... Is this what a serious Second-Tier Star Beast is like?
Feeling the changes in her body, Chen Xing's mood grew incredibly heavy. Could they truly defeat such a monster? Had Tendo only been able to injure this thing because it underestimated him?
"Shadow Bind · Dark Thorns!"
Seeing Chen Xing fall back at the first clash, Ye Shenlin's black hair stirred without wind. Dozens of dark shadows shot out from the ground, wrapping around the lizard's four limbs in unison, attempting to delay its movements and create an opening for Chen Xing to attack.
But just one second later—
Crack!
The shadow chains shattered completely. Lin grunted, and a trickle of blood flowed from her mouth. "No, Xing, in its enraged state, I can't restrain it!"
Hearing Lin's words, Chen Xing forcibly suppressed the churning blood within her and gritted her teeth, charging back towards the Earth Dragon Lizard.
As for Chen Kong?
At this moment, he couldn't even see the others' movements, let alone make a move himself. He could only stand there, stunned.
Outside the arena, seeing Chen Xing and the other two being completely overwhelmed, the surrounding Children of the Stars fell into complete silence.
It turns out not everyone... is called Tendo Simei.