From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword

Lu Heng reevaluated his skill set, noting that all four of his current skills were oriented towards attack or supporting attack.

From a skill combination strategy perspective, he now lacked a life-saving skill that could reverse the situation, or a defensive skill.

In the Abyss Era, superpower users possessed a wide variety of powers, and anything could happen.

Moreover, the power of firearms was tremendous, especially ultra-long-range sniping, which was very difficult to defend against.

Or high-explosive bombs, or even missiles; a momentary lack of attention could easily result in injury.

Without a skill to reverse the situation, once injured, he would be extremely passive against the enemy's relentless onslaught.

Therefore, possessing a skill that could reverse the situation was very important.

Previously, the number of skill slots was too small to free up a skill slot to learn a defense skill.

Now, with the number of skill slots increased to five and one slot open, he could consider a defensive skill that could reverse the situation.

Thinking of this, a memory surfaced in his mind.

In his past life, Lu Heng had joined a mercenary organization with official backing.

As the Abyss invasion intensified, superpower user teams would gradually merge into large superpower mercenary organizations.

The greater the survival pressure on humans, the faster superpower user teams would merge.

Because only large mercenary organizations had a competitive edge in this apocalyptic environment.

Even official entities would establish mercenary organizations to participate in military operations.

In this era, to motivate superpower users to exert effort, interests were the greatest driving force.

In fact, before the onset of the Abyss Era, it was common for superpowers to wage proxy wars using mercenaries.

In the Abyss Era, this was even more the case, as superpower users needed to acquire resources to grow stronger continuously.

With this motivation, the formation of mercenary organizations was an inevitable trend.

Even some mercenary organizations would have official backing.

In his past life, Lu Heng had joined one such mercenary organization with official support.

In this mercenary organization, he had met some people, some things.

He had experienced life and death together, as well as suppression and betrayal.

The reason why Lu Heng remembered this was that there was a person in this mercenary organization who had obtained a very strong defensive skill.

And this skill was actually an official reward.

According to the timeline, this skill should appear around this time.

Lu Heng had made two significant achievements and had not yet officially received a reward, but this skill was strong and very suitable for him.

After careful consideration, Lu Heng called Jian Qing, clarified his purpose, and expressed his need for such a skill.

Upon hearing this, Jian Qing laughed and said, "You're quite well-informed. There is such a skill, and we're considering who to give it to. If you want it, come by. I'll send you the address."

...

The next day.

Lu Heng arrived at the Coastal Battle Zone Superpower Soldier Special Training Base following the address.

There were guards outside the base, and ordinary people could not get close.

As he approached the entrance, Jian Qing was already waiting outside.

She greeted the guards, then led Lu Heng into the base.

As they walked, Jian Qing said, "We didn't talk clearly over the phone yesterday. The skill you want is 'Damage Retrospection,' right? The organization is considering who to give this skill to. If you want it, I can only try to get it for you but can't guarantee it."

The skill Lu Heng wanted was indeed 'Damage Retrospection,' a Level A skill that was powerful enough to reverse the situation.

They arrived at the base's fighting training field.

A field officer with two bars and three stars on his shoulder was standing at the edge of the field, watching the superpower soldiers sparring.

Jian Qing stepped forward and greeted, "Commander, Lu Heng has arrived."

Fang Zhengru turned around, extended his hand, and shook hands with Lu Heng, "Welcome to visit the base."

Jian Qing helped to explain, "Commander, Lu Heng is here for the 'Damage Retrospection' skill. He's made two first-class achievements and was promised a reward."

Fang Zhengru nodded and said, "We need to discuss this. Comrade Lu, you might not be aware, but the Skill Crystal Core has already been earmarked for either Jian Qing or Zhuo Hongjun. If you want it, you'll need to discuss it with them."

Hearing this, Lu Heng was somewhat surprised.

His memory was that the skill belonged to Zhuo Hongjun, not Jian Qing.

If the skill had been Jian Qing's, Lu Heng would not have wanted to compete with her for it, as they had been through rescue operations together and were friends.

It wouldn't be right to grab her chance.

However, in his memory, it was Zhuo Hongjun who obtained this skill.

After his rebirth, Lu Heng had always suspected that the betrayal at the Abyss Demon Nest was related to this man.

Moreover, this person was a typical case of mediocre ability but a fast career rise due to strong background connections.

As Lu Heng had not known in his past life that 'Damage Retrospection' was a skill contended by Jian Qing and Zhuo Hongjun, he had only assumed the skill was destined for Zhuo Hongjun.

This additional information confirmed something else, Zhuo Hongjun indeed had a substantial background.

Jian Qing had earned her first-class individual merits solidly, while Zhuo Hongjun was a golden War God, claiming all team medals.

That these two were competing for the skill, and Zhuo Hongjun ended up getting it.

In the future, Zhuo Hongjun would only be meddling from behind, while Jian Qing would be the one diving deep into the battlefield as a super soldier.

Actually, if someone wielded a set of support system skills and assisted the team from behind the lines, there would be no issue.

The problem was, Zhuo Hongjun, using a super soldier's skill set, was doing nothing but giving orders from the back.

That was why Lu Heng wanted to contend for the 'Damage Retrospection' skill.

If the skill had been Jian Qing's, Lu Heng wouldn't have tried to take her chance.

However, this skill was given to someone who could only meddle from the team's back, and why wouldn't he strive for such an opportunity?

...

"Let's do this. Bring Zhuo Hongjun over and ask for his thoughts. After all, this was already settled, so any sudden changes should at least be communicated to them," Fang Zhengru said. He then beckoned towards the training field and called out, "Zhuo Hongjun, come here for a moment."

A superpower soldier training on the field walked over, his gaze sweeping over Jian Qing and Lu Heng's faces before looking toward Fang Zhengru and asking, "Commander, what's the matter?"

Fang Zhengru explained the matter of Lu Heng wanting to compete for the "Damage Retrospection" skill. "This is Comrade Lu Heng, who has been meritorious on multiple occasions with outstanding contributions. Therefore, the organization promised him a reward. The skill that was originally set, can you and Jian Qing step aside for a moment? Give it to Comrade Lu Heng first."

Zhuo Hongjun glanced at Lu Heng and replied, "Sure, we're all contributing to the country, but I'm just curious, from which war zone did Lu Heng come? What merits did he achieve?"

The superpower soldiers at this training base were all pulled from various war zones.

Lu Heng actually didn't belong to the military sequence. He indeed had achievements, but his background in terms of identity wasn't strong.

Of course, in the Abyss Era, strength was the strongest background.

Jian Qing helped explain, "Lu Heng has achieved first-class merit twice, and the organization promised him a reward."

Zhuo Hongjun nodded and said, "Understood. With such great achievements from Comrade Lu, those of us with fewer merits definitely should step aside. Commander, I have no objections. However, since this Crystal Core was originally intended for me and Jian Qing to compete for, if it's now going to be given to Comrade Lu Heng, doesn't the organization have to compensate Jian Qing?"

His words were polite, but there was an underlying tone of sarcasm.

In essence, he was insinuating that Lu Heng, leveraging his merits, was taking away the resource from him and Jian Qing.

Hearing this, Jian Qing quickly said, "I will not participate in this competition for the skill, I'm bowing out."

If it were about taking the Crystal Core from Zhuo Hongjun, Lu Heng would not feel any psychological burden.

However, taking it from Jian Qing was another story.

Though Lu Heng knew that Jian Qing wouldn't be able to obtain the skill.

But that memory came from his reincarnation, it hadn't happened yet.

In other words, if he took this skill now.

In Jian Qing's eyes, it would look as if he used his merits to forcibly take the Skill Crystal Core from her and Zhuo Hongjun.

Lu Heng quite liked Jian Qing and didn't want her to get the wrong impression, so he said, "You don't have to drop out, the skill suits you well too. Maybe I should pick another reward."

Jian Qing smiled and said, "It's okay, you take it if you need it, I really don't mind."

Zhuo Hongjun, showing a seemingly generous smile, put forward another suggestion, "Commander, why don't the three of us compete fairly for it then? What do you think?"

After finishing, he looked at Lu Heng with what seemed to be a friendly smile and asked, "A fair competition, you wouldn't mind, right?"

Actually, in his previous life, Lu Heng knew Zhuo Hongjun, as they had both joined the same official-backed mercenary organization, "Saber-toothed Tiger."

Only, when Lu Heng joined the Saber-toothed Tiger Mercenary Group, he went in as a regular mercenary.

While Zhuo Hongjun dropped in as the deputy commander of the Saber-toothed Tigers.

Because of this, Lu Heng was not unfamiliar with Zhuo Hongjun. Hearing his suggestion, he chuckled meaningfully and replied, "Works for me."

Fang Zhengru showed a contemplative expression, asking, "Comrade Lu Heng, are you sure? With the merits you've achieved, if you want this skill, the organization would definitely allocate it to you."

Lu Heng, seeing Zhuo Hongjun's series of impressive acts, was keen on letting him finish his performance. How else could he enjoy the show?

"It's okay, let it be the three of us."

Fang Zhengru thought for a moment, "If you all agree to this arrangement, then let's have the three of you compete."

Zhuo Hongjun, seizing the moment, said, "Commander, why not just have a contest to decide, whoever wins takes it, that would be the fairest."

Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, not expecting the other party to suggest such a direct form of competition.

If it were really decided by contest, it would be over with a single punch.

However, Fang Zhengru sternly rebuked, "What do you think the army is? Is competition just about fighting?"

Zhuo Hongjun continued with another proposal, "How about this. A few days ago, wasn't there talk about a super soldier from America who entered our country? Moreover, this person's target might be the scientific and technological data of our Academy of Sciences.

"Let's set him as the target, whoever catches him first gets the 'Damage Retrospection' Crystal Core. That would be fair, right?"

After hearing this plan, Fang Zhengru thought it was not bad and that it could motivate his superpower soldiers to engage actively.

If they could catch Alex Austin, that would be even better, as it would count as a significant achievement.

He turned to look at Lu Heng, asking, "What about you two? Do you think this arrangement is okay?"

"Fine by me. I have no problem."

Although it added a bit of uncertainty, Alex Austin was already a target to deal with, and this Level A Crystal Core was just an added bonus.

Jian Qing had wanted to withdraw anyway, so naturally, she had no objections.

Seeing that the three had no objections, Fang Zhengru declared, "Since you all agree, then that's settled. Comrade Lu Heng, don't worry, this Crystal Core will be the reward for capturing that Alex Austin. As for your first-class merit award, the organization will have other arrangements."

After the matter was settled, Lu Heng took his leave.

Jian Qing walked him to the door.

He wandered on the lawn outside the base for a bit.

Lu Heng then asked, "You wanted to withdraw from the competition, it wasn't because of me, was it?"

Jian Qing laughed out loud, responding, "You noticed."

Lu Heng had already guessed, "So, you know you won't get this skill, right?"

Jian Qing nodded and, spreading her hands, replied, "Correct, I'm pretty sure I won't be getting this skill."

That was her real reason for withdrawing from the competition.

It also gave her a reason to lend Lu Heng a hand.

For her, it was an anticipation of a high probability of not receiving the skill.

For Lu Heng, it was a certainty she wouldn't get it.

Things were quite wondrous.

Lu Heng curiously looked at her, asking, "Would you like me to seize this skill?"

Jian Qing shrugged, replying, "It's up to you if you want it, really. I've decided to drop out, but the skill is a good fit for you. If you can get it, that'd be good.

"However, if you do want it, you'll have to work hard. Don't just treat this as a fair competition."

He didn't need her reminder to know that this wouldn't be any fair competition.

Whoever catches Alex Austin gets the 'Damage Retrospection' Crystal Core.

There was one very curious point about this... there was no rule that one must capture him personally.