The system's words practically branded "werewolf" on Chen Anzhi's forehead.
"Another traitor," Lu Yan murmured in his mind, "Hopefully, it won't affect me getting my graduation certificate."
System: [Given the host's currently low spiritual power threshold, disclosing everything may pose a risk of brain death. Do you accept related information: Yes/No]
Lu Yan: "Yes"
System: [...You're bluffing. I don't buy it.]
Lu Yan smiled and didn't pursue the topic further.
He wasn't sure what to have for breakfast, but the cafeteria served hefty meals—high sugar, protein, and fat. Lu Yan guessed the day's training wouldn't be easy.
As his mutation increased, he noticed some normal human desires diminishing: appetite, sleep, and even libido. It made Lu Yan wonder if there were indeed "second-generation awakeners" in the world.
Luckily, the cafeteria's chef was exceptional. It could easily earn three Michelin stars outside. So, everyone was quite enthusiastic about their meal.
Lu Yan grabbed an apple, taking a bite that left four rows of teeth marks on its surface. Then he picked his favorite dishes onto his plate.
The cafeteria staff was very accommodating, noting down requests for dishes they didn't have, promising the head chef would prepare them the next day.
New employees gathered in twos and threes. Lu Yan glanced over; Chen Anzhi seemed to strike up conversations with anyone, her face exuding warmth and friendliness.
Among this group, Lu Yan even spotted an old acquaintance: Director Hu, who had fled K City overnight and participated in the parasitic fish surgery.
Clearly noticing Lu Yan, Director Hu rushed over excitedly, "Lu! You're here too! I couldn't reach you when K City was sealed off. It's great to see you're okay. Didn't expect you'd become an Awakener too. Why didn't you post about such a big deal on your social media? By the way, I specialize in support abilities—cell division. What about you?"
"I'm in support too, foresight."
"Foresight's great, flee when danger's near."
Director Hu, encountering an old friend, eagerly chattered away.
[Cell division, ability level 432. Accelerates cell differentiation in the human body, remarkably effective for certain injuries.]
[This top-tier ability sequence is called 'Genetic Recombination,' sequence number 13. Unfortunately, the only human who mastered it has passed away. Tang Xunan, behind the Dragon Wing, was the result of genetic recombination. Since that person's death, there hasn't been another 'perfectly synthesized human' like Tang Xunan...]
"Are you talking about Qiao Yu, who compiled the sequence periodic table of abilities?" Lu Yan asked. "Aren't Awakeners supposed to have long lifespans?"
As a medical student, Lu Yan had read about Qiao Yu in textbooks. He passed away at the age of 70 in 2067, half a century ago.
The system fell silent for a moment: [Some humans, when their mutation reaches an irreversible point, choose euthanasia to avoid becoming pollutants. Some pseudo-concepts created by humans, such as 'belief,' 'dedication,' 'sacrifice,' are truly interesting, more effective than ability hypnosis.]
At the entrance of the multimedia classroom, the assistant responsible for latecomers wore an excited smile.
"Did you hear? Tang's leading this session!"
Within the Special Operations Department, many individuals had the surname Tang. But when referred to as "Tang's team," it usually meant one person.
"I knew it," another assistant replied. He was a C-level Awakener from Group 1, wearing a kind smile. "My instructor back then was also from Tang's team, seems like it was forty years ago."
"Our batch had the lowest mortality rate in final combat but the most dropouts midway."
Thirty people, with ten dropping out due to the unbearable pressure. Zero fatalities in the final test, and an unprecedented collaborative hunt of a C-level pollutant.
The 20 graduates from that batch were now the backbone of the Special Operations Department, including the current leader of Group 2, Bai Qiu.
The younger assistant beside him shivered, "Sounds terrifying, brother."
The newcomers in the Awakener world had no idea about the hellish challenges awaiting them.
Lu Yan had excelled academically but habitually sat in the middle-back rows of classrooms.
Humans naturally tend to gather. Just overnight, groups started forming, seeking comfort in companionship. Especially those whose dorms were close by.
It felt like an expensive private high school classroom.
Hu Youbang, in his fifties, naturally sat beside Lu Yan. Back in the hospital, they were colleagues and had a stronger bond than others after several years together.
Lu Yan didn't refuse.
At eight in the morning, the bell for class rang punctually. Its sharp tone silenced the classroom instantly.
Lu Yan had excellent hearing. He could distinctly hear approaching footsteps, their rhythm perfectly timed.
But what puzzled him was that these footsteps didn't sound like a person... more like a quadrupedal creature.
Whether it was Lu Yan's perception, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop slightly, and the kingfisher inside him lay low, sensing danger.
The metallic door sensed the arrival and opened automatically. A tall man, holding a dog, entered.
Clad in a dark uniform that hugged his frame, he had striking pure golden eyes.
But most eye-catching was the somewhat peculiar... muzzle on his face?
The kind of device used on barking dogs.
Oddly enough, the dog he held didn't seem to need it.
In the new batch of Harbingers, not everyone was clueless. Someone instinctively exclaimed, "Is that the Tyrant?"
Deutsch Shepherd leaped onto a nearby stool, coughed, and said, "Hello, everyone. I'm the lead instructor for this new recruit training... Well, my master's assistant. You can call me Howler. Ahem, the lead instructor isn't much of a talker, so I'm taking over today."
"This new recruit training lasts for three months. The first two months are for learning at the base, and the final month is for practical tests."
"The current schedule includes theoretical classes in the morning and practical sessions in the afternoon. Extra classes might be added in the evenings as needed. From the second month onward, it's all practical teaching."
Howler let out a howl and continued, "Let me introduce the 'Student Points System.' Each student starts with 10 points. If the points reach zero, they'll be dismissed by headquarters. We won't let any underqualified or slacking Harbingers go to the front lines. However, those dismissed by the Special Operations Department can still opt to join the Contamination Disease Prevention and Control Center."
"After graduation, student points can be converted into contribution points at a ratio of 1:1000."
"The lead instructor for this employee training is my master, Tang Xunan. You're lucky; you don't have to worry about the mortality rate at all. Because my master is the only recorded S-class Harbinger, with too many achievements for me to list here. If you're interested, you can search on the Harbinger forum."
"Besides, headquarters has assigned six assistants for you. They operate on an 'Assistant Responsibility System,' with each assistant responsible for 10 to 11 newbies. During training, assistants will be living on the same floor as everyone else."
Part-time dormitory supervisors. Each new employee is assigned a dormitory floor before coming to headquarters. Approximately seven combat-type Harbingers are on each floor, paired with three support or special types.
"Of course, we're not devils. At the end of each month, excellent students among the top three in points will receive rewards! Other students can also receive special allowances."
"When facing pollutants, any negligence could be fatal. Sweating and shedding tears now are to prevent bleeding on the frontline later. Since you've joined the Special Operations Department, you've shown determination for this."
As he spoke, a staff member handed over a sheet of paper. Lu Yan glanced down and found it was a class schedule. The first class would start at eight-thirty. Each session lasted 15 hours with a 20-minute break in between. There were 40-minute breaks for lunch and in the afternoon. It was tougher than the final year of high school.
Morning: Pollutant Identification, Pollutant Distribution Chart.
Afternoon: Strength Training, Endurance Training, Combat Training.
Evening: Extreme Temperature Endurance Training (1 hour).
Each day's schedule varied. There were sessions like "Weapon Selection," "Talent Extension Training," "Living Pollutant Training," "Hot Weapon Usage and Maintenance"... even things like "Special Transportation Vehicle (Plane, Ship, Sailboat) Driving."
As per the schedule, there were only two days of free time each month, scheduled at the end of the month.
The schedule also indicated Lu Yan's assistant instructor.
Lu Yan lived on the 5th floor, room 3, and the instructors on this floor were all C-class Harbingers—Lone Wolves.
The first month's courses were general. The second month would tailor courses based on the previous month's performances.
Director Hu glanced at the schedule and couldn't help but lament, "But I'm just a support type! Why do I have to study too? I'm already 53 this year!"
Howler's dog ears caught this statement, and he said, "When facing pollutants, the other side won't care if you're a combat type or a support type. They'll only see if you're good at killing!"
"Truth be told, as an animal-type Harbinger, I've also attended the new employee training and graduated with an excellent certificate. I've lived for 42 years this year. One human year equals 18 dog years, which means I'm already 756 years old! You won't even match a dog's age. Can you believe it?"
Lu Yan couldn't help but whisper to the system, "[Are you and it long-lost siblings from different parents?]"
The tone was strikingly similar to inviting trouble.
System: "[...Thank you for the sudden concern.]"
The morning's theory class was taught by a research fellow sent from the Second Research Institute, a capable and serious middle-aged woman.
Many research fellows hadn't awakened as Harbingers, but their understanding of pollutants was no less than that of frontline personnel. They even categorized pollutants into different classifications.
"Research indicates that pollutants' direction of mutation ultimately converges. Different classifications of pollutants, at the end of evolution, will exhibit similar forms and commonalities."
"For pollutants of the same classification, even if we haven't encountered them before, we can infer similar weaknesses from them."
This information on the Harbinger forum would easily fetch hundreds of contribution points. Hence, Lu Yan studied diligently.
Some combat-type Harbingers weren't particularly interested and daydreamed or played with their phones.
As a result, once the classes ended, the students caught using their phones were informed by the assistant and penalized with a deduction of 05 points.
Due to the short break times, lunch was delivered by canteen staff to the teaching area.
The staff wore especially kind expressions, as if saying, "Eat well and hit the road."
In the office, Assistant Lone Wolf reported diligently and finally said, "Team Leader, should we really combine the afternoon strength and endurance training? Won't it be too difficult?"
The two sessions in the afternoon added up to three hours.
As per Tang Xunan's instructions, he wanted the students to engage in mountainous weighted cross-country redirection.
Those who awakened as Harbingers, whether in strength or recovery, far surpassed ordinary people. Coupled with omnipresent real-time monitoring, accidents were less of a concern.
Tang Xunan tilted his head slightly and asked, "Is it too hard?"
"Not at all," Lone Wolf replied stiffly, immediately betraying the delicate sensibilities of his students. "It's quite suitable!"
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