Mental Energy Test

The Haendeng Galaxy has existed in the universe for ten billion years. Twenty thousand years ago, humanity was born here. Through a long evolution, humans developed powerful mental energy, reaching unprecedented heights in intelligence, lifespan, and physical capability. With this, the people of the Haendeng Galaxy conquered space, migrated across the stars, and reached the pinnacle of their civilization.

But the humans of the Haendeng Galaxy never fully unleashed the true potential of mental energy.

When the alien beasts descended, the Haendeng Galaxy faced an unprecedented catastrophe.

With the withering of Rose Star, humanity's potential was finally awakened. Those naturally gifted with immense mental energy emerged in droves, giant mecha appeared out of nowhere, the technology for selling mental energy matured rapidly, and mental energy found its greatest use.

You have arrived in a world of mental energy.

The mental energy system and the ability system are two worlds that never intersect.

But your appearance has briefly brought them together. Mental energy is not unrelated to you. It serves as the fuel and catalyst for your abilities, allowing you to shed the fatigue and physical damage that follow their use, unleashing their true power.

This inner core advises you: collect as much mental energy as you can. The road ahead is long and arduous; cherish the opportunities before you.

Tu Ran tightened her grip on her chopsticks. "How do I collect it? Does buying it from other people count?"

[Yes.]

[Because you have this inner core, you possess a privilege ordinary people lack: by killing alien beasts, you gain mental energy values corresponding to the kill.]

Tu Ran: ...Why does this sound so familiar?

"Is there a limit?" Tu Ran asked casually, picking at the food on her tray while silently inquiring.

[No limit.]

Tu Ran raised an eyebrow. So, in other words, she just had to kill as much as she wanted?

She liked this setup.

"Can other high-level abilities switch modes like you do?"

[Of course not. This ability is not an ordinary one. Not every ability can evolve the way I have.]

"Evolve?" Tu Ran chuckled. "You know what you sound like right now?"

[What?]

"A system. Ever heard of it?"

[I won't issue you tasks, nor will I force you to do anything. I'll only offer advice when appropriate. The choice is always yours.]

"Fair enough."

...

In the afternoon, it was time for the mental energy test.

In this world, there were two ways to obtain mental energy. The first was to be born with it, like Tang Ying—those naturally gifted with powerful mental energy were not a rarity in this world.

The second was to buy other people's mental energy to supplement one's own reserves. The wealthy or those with a need for mental energy acquired it this way.

Though mental energy offered numerous benefits, ordinary people didn't need it in daily life. To unlock its maximum potential—like extending lifespan—required a quantitative change that triggered a qualitative shift, and ordinary people could never reach that threshold. Rather than let it sit uselessly within them, it was better to sell it outright.

The military had dedicated departments for collecting mental energy, funneling everything gathered to frontline soldiers.

In the past, most mecha pilots were natural mental energy powerhouses and had no need for ordinary people's contributions.

But with the endless battles of recent years, powerhouse after powerhouse had fallen to alien beasts. Now, a large portion of the military didn't meet the standard for mental energy powerhouses, ranking only as average, and relied on collected mental energy to keep their mecha operational.

This afternoon's mental energy level test was meant to identify natural mental energy powerhouses among this batch of military reserves—those who would, without exception, receive intensified training afterward.

But with the severe shortage of mental energy powerhouses and the maturity of mental energy trading technology, mental energy was no longer the sole criterion for evaluating a reserve. That was also why the test wasn't held on the first day of training.

There were over a dozen mental energy testing machines. By the time Tu Ran and Ai Meigui arrived, many people were already there. The two joined a shorter line.

For everyone, taking a mental energy test was an utterly routine matter. Who hadn't been tested several times growing up? Everyone had a general idea of their own levels.

Today's test was merely more official and precise, with results going straight into official records.

While Tu Ran waited in line, over a dozen mental energy powerhouses were identified ahead of her.

Each time one appeared, the testing machine flashed a red light and announced, "Congratulations to the Haendeng Galaxy on the birth of its [number]-th mental energy powerhouse," repeating the message three times, ensuring everyone present heard it.

When Tu Ran's turn came, she placed her hand on the machine. Following the instructor's guidance, she closed her eyes, focused her concentration, gathered the mental energy within her body, and channeled it from her left hand into the device.

The machine displayed results as a percentage.

Mental energy powerhouses could reach one hundred percent.

Excellent mental energy users scored eighty percent and above.

Intermediate users ranged from fifty to eighty percent; as far as Tu Ran understood, the vast majority of military personnel fell into this bracket.

Those slightly weaker scored between thirty and fifty percent—the level of most ordinary people, where the advantages of mental energy hadn't yet manifested, and they typically chose to sell it.

The lowest tier was ten to thirty percent, the least talented group, and also the military's minimum recruitment threshold. For those in this bracket, piloting a mecha was like burning money, and they were better off transferring to other departments.

Scores below ten percent hadn't been recorded anywhere in the Haendeng Galaxy in recent years.

Some senior officials had already begun considering readjusting the test machine's tiers—eliminating the below-ten-percent category altogether and further refining the others.

Yet, before everyone's eyes, the reading on Tu Ran's machine settled at two percent—barely rising one point.

The display panel floated upright in the air, with large, clearly visible numbers that even those at the very end of the line could read.

Given Tu Ran's standout performance that morning, many were watching her mental energy level closely, so all eyes were on her panel.

When they saw the two percent, some couldn't quite believe it and rubbed their eyes for another look.

Tu Ran opened one eye and caught a glimpse of her score: ...Just as I thought.

Ai Meigui, standing right behind her, craned her neck to see, then blurted out, "Sister Tu Ran, did evolution just skip you?"

Tu Ran: "..." Speechless.

The instructor couldn't believe his eyes either. It had been years since he'd seen a number like this. Glancing at Ye Hongci, who was not far away, he adjusted the machine again under her subtle signal, ruling out every possible cause of error, then had Tu Ran run the test again.

Tu Ran wanted to tell him there was no point—this was simply her level.

But seeing Ye Hongci watching from the side, she placed her hand on the machine once more.

"Focus all the power in your body. Slowly, very slowly, channel it into the machine. Don't rush—take your time," the instructor's voice came to her ear.

Tu Ran followed his instructions.

The machine's final reading: one percent.

Tu Ran's eyes widened. "Huh? It went down?"

The instructor's face darkened further.

Ye Hongci couldn't stay put anymore. She came over personally to inspect the machine, then had Tang Ying, who was always at her side, place her hand on it.

Tang Ying's reading showed the machine was working perfectly: one hundred percent.

Ye Hongci had never imagined this outcome.

The crowd behind erupted. Tu Ran's morning display of pinning Tang Ying down was still fresh in everyone's minds. They'd all assumed that even if she wasn't a mental energy powerhouse, she'd at least score at the excellent level. But one percent! The mismatch between her mental energy and her combat ability was absolutely staggering.

Everyone whispered among themselves while keeping an eye on Commander Ye's expression.

Any sharp observer could see that Commander Ye highly valued Tu Ran and was likely grooming her as her next Tang Ying. But now this? It was a problem—the military's minimum recruitment standard was thirty percent.

Tu Ran looked at Ye Hongci. Opportunities had to be fought for.

From the moment she'd learned at lunch that mental energy could serve as fuel for abilities, she'd resolved to join the military.

Only by joining the army could she kill alien beasts and gain more mental energy. If she had to rely on buying it, she was broke—she couldn't afford it.

"Commander Ye," Tu Ran said, "isn't mental energy something that can be improved over time? The one percent I have now doesn't mean I'll always be at one percent. I hope you'll allow me to join the military. I'll prove with my strength that I won't stay at one percent forever."

Before Ye Hongci could respond, Tang Ying spoke up from behind her. "Mental energy levels are innate and extremely difficult to improve post-birth. Even if they can be raised, the increase is capped at around five percentage points. One percent plus five percent is six percent—hardly a meaningful change."

Tu Ran smiled faintly at her. "And who's the reference for that statistic? Just because they could only improve that much, does that mean I can only improve as much as they did?"

"This data is compiled from the experiences of many predecessors. How can you be so sure you're different from them?" Tang Ying's voice was cold.

"Because I'm at one percent," Tu Ran said, utterly unashamed, as if this number were something to be proud of. "How many of those predecessors were ever like me?"

Tang Ying was momentarily choked by her shamelessness, unable to find words. She simply turned her face away, refusing to look at her.

Tu Ran shrugged nonchalantly and turned to Ye Hongci. "Commander Ye, you've seen with your own eyes what I can do. I learned all of it on my own on Wasteland Star. I never had a teacher like you to guide me systematically. I've gotten this far through pure trial and error."

Tu Ran played her emotional card well. "I never had any exposure to mental energy growing up. I didn't even know it existed until I came to the Main Planet. Today was the first time I took a test for it."

"Although the result leaves much to be desired, I don't believe this represents my full capabilities. I hope you'll give me a chance to go to the front lines and kill alien beasts. Just give me three days. If my mental energy level doesn't improve by then, I'll leave on my own and won't waste the military's resources. You can even take back the ten thousand mental energy you planned to award me—count it toward the resources I consume during my three-day trial."

Tu Ran's words were earnest and measured, offering both give and take. Three days, even for the most power-hungry mecha, wouldn't drain much mental energy.

After deep consideration, Ye Hongci slowly nodded. "Keep the ten thousand mental energy. Since it's my reward to you, there's no reason to take it back. Train steadily these next few days. Once you're proficient with the mecha, I'll send you to the front lines. For those three days, I'll support you under my personal name, without touching military resources. After three days, we'll test you again. I hope... you truly can improve."

With a final, deep look at Tu Ran, Ye Hongci turned and left the testing grounds.

Tu Ran saw hope and gravity in her eyes.

This undefeated commander was ultimately willing to take a gamble on her uncertain factor. The situation on the front lines must be dire indeed.

Tang Ying didn't leave immediately with Ye Hongci. She was a bit taller than Tu Ran. Their gazes locked, her eyes half-lidded, radiating an imposing aura.

Tu Ran stood before her, her own presence in no way diminished. She remained utterly at ease, a faint smile still playing on her lips, yet somehow she matched Tang Ying's intensity.

The testing continued in orderly fashion, but half the crowd's attention had shifted to Tu Ran and Tang Ying. They watched out of the corners of their eyes—after all, everyone loved a show.

Tang Ying was the first to look away, leaving behind a single sentence: "Don't disappoint the Commander." Then she turned and walked off.

Tu Ran watched her retreating figure, the smile on her lips fading.

"Let's go," she said.

Ai Meigui had already finished her test—seventy-two percent, two points higher than her previous result on Hope Star. She was quite pleased.

...

Two hours later, all the reserves had been tested. Thirty-one natural mental energy powerhouses, two hundred and six excellent mental energy users, and a majority at the intermediate level. Those who scored below thirty percent and hadn't performed notably before were sent away from the training grounds.

The overall level of this batch of military reserves was poor, and Ye Hongci's face was clouded with worry.

With the front lines under heavy pressure, every second at the training grounds mattered. Once the mental energy tests were complete, everyone moved to the simulation room for their first exposure to alien beasts.

For most reserves, it was their first time seeing a 1:1 three-dimensional projection of an alien beast.

In the open space before the sword-shaped building, a projection of an alien beast materialized out of thin air. Nobody cared how it was projected; all attention was on one question: why was this beast so huge?!

The sword-shaped building was two hundred seventy-one meters tall, and this beast, standing before it, was nearly as tall as the structure behind it, with a width three times that of the building's base.

Tu Ran tilted her head back to take it in, mentally comparing it to the largest alien she'd encountered in the Threshold—Kang Zhu.

Next to this thing, Kang Zhu was practically a baby.

These alien beasts were like a fusion of animal and human, their forms grotesque in a thousand bizarre ways, though traces of their original shapes could still be discerned.