Late at night, Lin Zichen lay in bed unable to sleep, his mind filled with thoughts of the Security Team Captain’s death.

The report said he was killed by a giant aberrant rat.

Could the big rat he saw from the car that night have been the same giant aberrant rat that killed the captain?

But that so-called big rat looked no bigger than a cat. How could it have been a giant aberrant rat three meters long?

He couldn’t make sense of it.

He glanced out the window.

The night was deep.

All the streetlights were out. Not a soul was in sight.

‘It’s been a while since I tested my stats. Since I can’t sleep, I’ll go outside and test them now.’

With that thought, Lin Zichen put on a hat and mask and slipped out of the house.

He deliberately took paths without cameras, eventually arriving at an abandoned road.

After a quick warm-up, he pulled out his phone, set the stopwatch and tested his 100-meter sprint.

In just an instant, he finished the measured 100 meters.

The phone displayed: 4.61 seconds.

Last time was 6 seconds. This time 4.61 seconds — an improvement of about 1.4 seconds. Not bad.

After speed, he tested his jump.

He found elevated spots of varying height, tried leaping onto them and estimated his vertical jump.

After about ten tries, he came up with an accurate number.

5.51 meters.

Last time was 4 meters. This time 5.51 meters — an increase of nearly 1.5 meters.

After speed and jump, it was time for strength.

Avoiding cameras, Lin Zichen eyed cars parked along the roadside.

He had memorized all vehicle types and their weights.

He needed to pick the right car to use as a barbell, to see if he could lift it with one hand.

‘You’ll do.’

After checking a dozen cars, he settled on one weighing about 1500kg.

He circled it, found a leverage point and tried to lift it with one hand.

Three minutes later.

Failure.

Too heavy. He couldn’t lift it. He had to try a lighter one.

Next, he picked a car around 1200kg.

Halfway up, he couldn’t hold it.

Finally, he found a small women’s car around 1000kg and managed to barely lift it.

Last time was 700kg. This time 1000kg — a 300kg increase.

All three stats had improved significantly.

It showed how quickly the body grew during puberty, his stats rising in tandem.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

Before he knew it, it was Monday again.

After school, Lin Zichen headed to the gymnasium to train.

Training martial arts meant simple punches and kicks, not the powerful techniques from martial arts novels.

But Lin Zichen didn’t mind.

He had joined the Martial Arts Team only to compete and win prize money, not to actually learn techniques.

“Zichen, your martial arts talent is incredible. No matter what I teach, you’re always the first to master it. Your future is bright!”

Guo Xiangyuan praised with a smile.

He had just taught the eight team members a dodging technique, swaying the head to avoid punches.

And Lin Zichen had mastered it instantly after one demonstration.

The other seven still looked clumsy, needing days to become fluent.

“It’s only because you teach well, coach.”

Lin Zichen accepted a clean change of clothes from Shen Qinghan and headed to the locker room.

It was a quick rinse typical of the south, not the full scrubbing of the north.

Within five minutes, he came back out.

“Xiao Chen, I’ve already packed up your dirty clothes.”

At the locker room door, Shen Qinghan smiled sweetly.

Lin Zichen noticed her bangs were messy, so he gently fixed them, “Let’s go home.”

“Mm.”

She replied softly, walking quietly beside him.

At the bike shed.

As Lin Zichen pulled out his bike, Shen Qinghan showed him photos she had taken during training.

“Xiao Chen, look, you looked so cool punching. Your bangs flicked with the motion, sweat flying — totally handsome. If your fangirls saw this, they’d go crazy.”

She swiped through photo after photo.

Lin Zichen smiled, “It’s only because you captured them well.”

* * *

Days passed by like this.

Unknowingly, Lin Zichen had been in the Martial Arts Team for over a month.

At first, only Shen Qinghan came to watch him train, just waiting to go home together.

But somehow, word spread. His fangirls learned he trained at the gym after school.

So now, within half an hour of training, thirty or more girls crowded in to watch him sweat.

“Wow, Junior Zichen, that kick was amazing! If you kicked me, I’d probably cry from the pain!”

A ninth-grade senior gushed dreamily after he kicked a wooden stake.

Lin Zichen felt awkward and lost interest in training.

He had complained to Guo Xiangyuan.

Asked not to let the girls in, since it disrupted practice.

But embarrassingly, the other seven members all opposed him.

Before, training was just a few boys sweating in boredom.

Now, with so many girls watching, they felt like they were in paradise, brimming with motivation. They didn’t want it to end.

Guo Xiangyuan felt the same.

Since the girls came, the team had worked harder and the Martial Arts Team gained more attention. He thought it was a good thing and asked Lin Zichen to compromise.

Lin Zichen considered it. Since everyone liked it, he didn’t mind.

* * *

Time ticked by.

Soon, it was 6:30 p.m.

Lin Zichen took the clothes Shen Qinghan handed him and headed to the locker room.

But this time, a ninth-grade senior girl stopped him, blushing.

“Junior Zichen, I brought you fresh milk. It’s real milk!”

“No thanks. I’m allergic to milk.” Lin Zichen didn’t want gifts from girls, to avoid misunderstandings. He made an excuse and walked past her.

But after two steps, a displeased voice shouted.

“Zichen, how could you reject a girl’s kindness? Even if you’re allergic, you could’ve accepted it and given it away later. Why hurt her feelings? Can’t you be a gentleman?”

It was Zhang Kai’s voice — the boy who had placed second at the school sports meet.

And the girl with the milk was his crush.

Lin Zichen thought Zhang Kai was being ridiculous and replied coldly, “My business is mine. Worry about yourself.”

But Zhang Kai, hot-headed as ever, felt humiliated. He shouted, “How dare you?! Spar with me then! If I lose, I’ll never bother you again. If I win, you accept the milk!”

At once, everyone perked up.

Even Guo Xiangyuan.

Lin Zichen had trained for over a month without ever sparring. The others were curious about his true strength.

Annoyed by Zhang Kai, Lin Zichen agreed, “Fine. Let’s spar.”

The moment he said it, familiar text appeared in the void.

[Achievement: In official competition, eliminate 1000 different opponents using the most primal methods of life.]

[Reward: Gain biological attribute — Natural Selection]

[Total opponents eliminated: 0/1000]

Seeing the text, Lin Zichen froze, then grew excited.

After so long, his fourth achievement task had finally appeared.

What would Natural Selection do? Would it surpass the first three?