The initial beam of light took away billions of lives, causing some small countries to disappear from the world map, and even large tracts of land to sink into the ocean.
Social order was on the verge of collapse when supernatural abilities emerged, and with the invasion of monsters, humankind fell into an unprecedented crisis.
Therefore, the remaining regimes in the world united together, abandoning past grievances, integrating their respective technologies and military forces. When the war was won, this alliance became the present Empire.
Li Changan's North City belonged to the scope of the [East Continent], while the next Trial Site was within the Twelve Cities of the [West Continent]. Before the apocalypse, that place was called Europe.
Without the barriers between countries, human technology advanced rapidly, although it did not seem too obvious in daily life, such as transportation, which only became more convenient and faster.
In fact, only 30 short years had passed since the apocalypse, which was just a flash relative to any civilization, and was insignificant in the long river of history.
But in these 30 years, people's identification with the Empire was as if the Empire had existed for hundreds of years. Everyone spoke the same language and wrote in the same script.
There was hardly any entertainment program, and it was extremely difficult to see books from before the apocalypse, but people seemed to take it for granted, as if the time before the apocalypse had passed a long, long time ago.
All of this was a bit abnormal, but no one had ever thought deeply about it.
Because of the attacks by bird-like monsters, airplanes had become true luxuries, which only senior officials could enjoy, after all, each trip required an escort team.
However, the speed of the new electromagnetic trains was not slow either, there was no worry of derailment, and they could steadily travel at 900km/h. The troublesome part was the construction and daily maintenance of the tracks.
Every train had seven Supernaturals accompanying it, including six Class A and one Class S, which was enough to ensure safety along the route. Also, one of the six Class As was definitely equipped with the precious [Information Detection] ability, similar to clairvoyance or clairaudience.
"Excuse me, please move your legs, porridge with melon seeds and peanuts..." said the attendant as he pushed a small cart past.
Li Changan leaned silently against the window with a sensing earphone clipped to his earlobe. The fingernail-sized earphone could play sound without being inserted into the ear.
Civilian technology was limited in its development and very different from military equipment, but it was still expensive.
His first cell phone and earphones were gifts from Jiang Shuibu on his birthday, the year he passed his first Trial for the first time.
At this high speed, there was only a blur outside the window. No one would waste their energy on this. What Li Changan noticed was that someone was lying on the roof of the train.
Since the last stop, there had been someone on the roof. Although the sound was faint, it did not escape his ears. The music playing in his earphones had already stopped, precisely to hear clearly what the guy on the roof was trying to do.
There were still no shortage of extremists in today's world who tried to prove some meaningless things by harming others. These guys were more dangerous than the monsters outside the city, after all, they had learned to use their brains.
There were thousands of ordinary Production Class passengers on the train, as well as some Class C and D Supernaturals. Apart from special abilities, an explosion alone could kill everyone on the train.
"I wonder what kind of ability the ‘Information Detector’ on this train has," Li Changan murmured with a frown. It would be normal for remote viewing abilities like [Clairvoyance] to be unable to detect the person on the roof.
He could only hope nothing happened along the way. He had a way to protect himself, but it would be troublesome to waste time and miss this Trial. He would have to wait for the next round, which was a minimum of one month and up to six months!
The young man next to him who was reading a book happened to have sharp ears and heard Li Changan's murmur. He smiled and interjected, "I happen to know this. It's the [Foresight] ability. I heard it's a newcomer, but very reliable."
[Foresight], that's safe then! Li Changan nodded imperceptibly and smiled, "I see, that's good then."
[Foresight] belonged to the Mystic type of abilities, able to detect impending dangers. Depending on the Supernatural's Class, the amount of advance warning differed.
It was said that Class S [Foresight] Supernaturals could sense danger a whole day in advance. With such an ability user present, this trip would be safe at least.
"Yes, [Foresight] abilities are uncommon. I've had the good fortune to meet a few before. Little brother, where are you headed?" The man put down his book with a smile.
"To the [West Continent], I heard [Luo City] over there has a pretty good environment. Going to find some food to eat there." Li Changan also did not shut the other person out. He knew this guy would soon flip his attitude.
The man nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, of the Twelve Cities, [Luo City] is the most suitable for humans to live in. Here is my business card.
I have a small company in [Luo City] that specializes in introducing jobs to Supernaturals like yourself looking to earn a little money. A talented young man like you, we may have dealings in the future."
"Sorry, I'm just a Production Class." Li Changan smiled faintly, squinting his eyes.
In a flash, the man retracted his card and picked up his book again, murmuring groggily, "Why do I feel a little sleepy..."
Li Changan smiled smugly. Society was just like this. Upon hearing the three words "Production Class", some people wouldn't even waste a second, not even suspecting that it could be a lie. After all, who would willingly call themselves the lowest class?
Eh? Just after turning to look out the window, Li Changan realized the person on the roof seemed to have gone silent. While he was chatting with this man, the guy on top seemed to have left.
Oh well.
Two hours later, the train pulled into [Luo City]. Li Changan got off with his small backpack. He just needed to scan his ID card at the exit before leaving the station.
As a Trial survivor, he got three free train rides every year. He just needed to take a few seconds to swipe his ID card when collecting his 'bereavement compensation'.
Standing on the bustling street, the blonde hair and blue eyes around him did not give Li Changan a feeling of being in a foreign land.
The towering spire of the Trial Site was the most striking landmark of any city, visible from far away, just head in that direction.
"Better eat first. The stuff on the train was too expensive. I only have..." Li Changan suddenly realized something as he clutched his stomach.
I gave Mom 2,000, the remaining 8,000 to the old man, and used my free train pass... So how much money do I have left?
Taking out his translucent ID card, he shook it and looked at the number stopped at 15...
I...have no money for food?
The gluttonous Li Changan finally found that feeling of being a stranger in a foreign land...
The nearby restaurant giving off meaty aromas seemed like a scantily clad woman, shaking her waist as thick as a palm, waving her handkerchief and calling in that spine-melting, tendon-loosening tone, "Customer, come~"
While Li Changan was like a castrated eunuch, willing but unable!
"Save me..."
This sudden voice made Li Changan immediately turn his head to look.
Dozens of meters away, several burly men were dragging a girl toward an alley. The men were all wearing sleeveless shirts in different colors, and each had the same tattoo on their shoulder.
"Great, organized crime, this must be rich!" Delighted, Li Changan hurried over.
The passersby ignored the brutality of the burly men, confirming Li Changan's guess.
"Screw your mother! If you don't tell us where your husband went, I'll do you right here on the street!"
As he approached, Li Changan could already hear the yelling from the alley.
"Stop! Let go of that woman!"
The voice did not come from Li Changan, but from a pink-haired girl who looked to be in her early twenties. Just as Li Changan was about to enter the alley, this short-haired girl with a head of pink hair rushed in first.
Huh? Li Changan was surprised. A competitor?
He quickly poked half his head out to look into the alley.