Chapter 5 Different Choices

"Strength gains become harder the further you progress," Luo Feng pondered. "Increasing from 23.8 meters per second to 25 meters per second—it'll probably take a year. And punching power, from 809 kilograms to 900 kilograms—I reckon that'll take even longer. If I want to earn the title of 'Warrior,' I guess I'll have to wait until after I enter university."

"If only... if only I could faint again. My physical condition might just meet the warrior's standards," he mused.

Of course, the 'fainting' he sought wasn't from being knocked out. It was the extreme headache that led to unconsciousness.

Luo Feng suffered from migraines. Occasionally, he'd get a bout of head pain each day, but he could endure it. However, when the headaches reached their peak, he'd black out.

Throughout his life, he'd fainted twice. At eight years old, his younger brother's leg was crushed by a car. Overwhelmed with grief, Luo Feng suddenly experienced excruciating headaches and a heart rate that raced alarmingly. Blood rushed through his body at an alarming pace, and it felt like his heart was about to burst from his chest—he fainted from the strain.

At twelve, when his mother was critically ill in the hospital, Luo Feng, terrified of losing her, panicked and fainted again, his head throbbing and heart pounding.

Despite two hospital visits, no one could diagnose the cause. After all, even now, the brain remains a medical enigma.

"But these two fainting episodes strangely boosted my physical abilities significantly," Luo Feng hoped. "After waking from those faints at eight and twelve, my strength, speed, and reflexes improved markedly. That's how I passed the intermediate warrior assessment at the martial arts academy just after turning sixteen, earning the title of 'Intermediate Student.' With such a solid foundation, I earned 'Advanced Student' at seventeen."

"If I could faint again, my strength would surely leap forward!"

Fainting is actually the body's self-protection mechanism—not entirely a bad thing.

Since childhood, Luo Feng had suffered migraines, but after the first fainting episode at eight, he noticed his headaches lessened each time. After fainting again at twelve, the headaches ened further.

"Following this trend, if I faint once more, my headaches should even more... Maybe after one or two more faints, the condition will disappear forever," Luo Feng yearned. After all, each faint reduced his migraine symptoms, and his physical abilities would make a significant leap.

Unfortunately...

Fainting isn't something you can induce at will. It had only happened twice in his life.

"The headaches peak when my heart rate reaches its limit."

Luo Feng glanced at his wristwatch, a device with a 'pulse-testing' function.

"But even during my fastest sprint, my heart rate doesn't exceed 120 beats per minute," he checked. "If only I could get it up to over 200 beats per minute, that would be amazing." The prelude to his faints was intense head pain and a rapid heartbeat.

Regrettably—no matter how intense his workouts, his heart rate couldn't reach the level required to trigger a migraine-induced faint.

...

Inside the training hall, Yang Wu, a man with a scar on his face, stood before the punching machine. Without any pretense, he launched a flurry of punches at the target—thud! thud! thud! A series of low, powerful sounds echoed as the machine displayed a stream of numbers: "956kg, 912kg, 936kg, 981kg..."

After dozens of punches, Yang Wu finally stopped.

Watching from the side, Luo Feng couldn't help but feel envious. His own full-force punch was only 809kg. If he could punch as powerfully and rapidly as Brother Yang, he'd be satisfied.

"Brother Yang, if one day my full-force punch could match the power of your casual strikes, that would be great," Luo Feng said with a smile.

"You kid," Yang Wu approached, patting Luo Feng's shoulder, "you're only 19, just 18 years old. When I was your age, I was still an intermediate student at the martial arts academy. With your rate of progress... no more than two years, and you'll definitely meet the physical requirements of a warrior. A 20-year-old warrior—jealousy-inducing!"

Luo Feng smiled.

The martial arts academy recruits students between the ages of 16 and 30 because that's when growth is the fastest. The earlier one becomes a warrior, the stronger they are perceived to be in the future. Last year, at 17, Luo Feng had already become an advanced student at the academy, earning the envy of many.

"By the way, Crazy, you've got the college entrance exams coming up. What are you planning to do after?" Yang Wu asked with a grin.

"I'm planning to attend the military academy," Luo Feng replied with a slight smile. "Most graduates from regular military academies become junior officers in the army. But for me, joining a special forces unit after graduation shouldn't be a problem."

"Oh!"

Yang Wu pursed his lips, "Joining the military academy has its benefits, sure, but... I feel like it restricts personal freedom. Once you graduate and join the special forces, you have to follow military rules! I couldn't handle that; I'd rather be a free warrior."

"A free warrior has its perks," Luo Feng shook his head, "but I don't want to worry my parents. Joining the military academy and then the army ensures a higher level of safety than being a free warrior."

There are generally four paths for a warrior:

Join the army to become a soldier. The advantage is high security, and the state won't easily send warriors into danger, providing ample welfare for their families.

Join a martial arts academy. With a more relaxed management system and the world's number one powerhouse, 'Hong,' founding the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy, becoming a 'Warrior' there offers many benefits and freedoms.

Join a corporate conglomerate, family, or large faction as a hired thug.

Become a mercenary, living a life of constant life-and-death battles—high risk, but also the most freedom.

"Joining the army is safe, but I don't want to live a life without freedom," Yang Wu shook his head. "This year, I plan to take the 'Provisional Warrior Assessment' again; I should pass. Once I do, I'll immediately take the 'Warrior Combat Assessment' to become a warrior this year."

Luo Feng's eyes lit up: "Brother Yang, are you confident about passing the assessment?"

"Haha!" Yang Wu laughed, "I've already met the standards for strength and reflex tests. My weakness is speed! But now, if I perform well, I can barely reach 25 meters per second. With a bit more effort these days, I should pass the assessment."

"Congratulations, Brother Yang!" Luo Feng was delighted; Yang Wu had struggled for many years to become a warrior. "What will you do after becoming a warrior?"

"Obviously, join the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy," Yang Wu smiled. "With its relaxed system and global presence, there are many senior warriors who can help my development. Plus, I can rest when I want, go hunt monsters when I want—it's so freeing."

Luo Feng nodded.

"Crazy," Yang Wu looked at Luo Feng, "there's a wildness in you. I won't misjudge—you're suited for the path of a free warrior. Joining an academy, how free is that? And the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy will offer us a lot of help."

"I..." Luo Feng hesitated.

Seeing this, Yang Wu smiled and shook his head: "A free warrior constantly lives on the edge of life and death, honing their skills. It's dangerous! But it's also the fastest way to improve. Look around—most powerful warriors are freelancers."

...

At night, the streetlights shone brightly.

Luo Feng, leaving the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy, walked alone on the sidewalk, deeply affected by Yang Wu's words.

"There are actually two paths for me," Luo Feng thought to himself, "One is to enter the military academy, graduate smoothly, and then join the special forces. The other is to become a warrior. Join the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy and become a warrior under its banner, free to hunt monsters."

"The first path offers high security and good family welfare. Even if I die in battle, the state will take care of my parents."

"The second path as a free warrior involves constant life-and-death battles, rapid strength gains, and quick money from hunting monsters—freedom, danger, and all its perks. The only downside is the danger." Luo Feng had been pondering this issue since his senior year of high school.

"My parents only have two sons, and my younger brother is disabled. If I become a free warrior and die in battle, what will happen to my parents in their old age?"

My brother needs care, and my parents are getting older. If I die, what will they do?

"I should join the military academy!"

"In the future, by joining the special forces and combining the 'Military Martial Arts' I learn there with the 'Ultimate Martial Arts' from the academy, my strength should improve even more. I can still hone my skills in the army! And even if I die in battle as a warrior, the state will provide a pension for my parents." Considering his parents' perspective, Luo Feng chose to take the college entrance exam.

But...

Can the military academy be joined just because he wants to? Everything depends on the college entrance exam in June.