Chapter 24: Testing Strength
Marcus remained motionless as a message appeared on the tower seal:
[This strength assessment: Tier 1, Intermediate. Upload to personal information?]
Marcus selected No, then slightly gathered his strength and unleashed a set of mixed martial arts techniques. He continued to check the assessment information:
[This strength assessment: Tier 1, Intermediate. Upload to personal information?]
The assessment information remained unchanged, indicating that his overall physical fitness assessment was already at Tier 1, Intermediate.
Marcus took out the pistol he had seized from the middle-aged man, fired a shot, but the assessment still didn't change.
Just as he was about to upload the strength assessment and leave, putting the pistol back into his personal space, he suddenly noticed the reinforced briefcase and the ice crystal sphere in his personal space.
The crystal sphere remained unchanged in his hand, so Marcus picked up the briefcase, which had already been punctured by the demons.
[This strength assessment: Tier 1, Advanced. Upload to personal information?]
"No."
Marcus was somewhat surprised that his assessment would improve while holding the briefcase. After thinking about it carefully, he felt it made sense.
After all, handguns don't pose much of a threat to him right now.
Unless a dozen guns fire simultaneously, and he has no blood reserves or cover, it's unlikely they could break his limbs and leave him alive.
According to the manual, those who reach Tier 1 have already exceeded the limits of an ordinary human body, and a handgun doesn't pose much of a threat.
However, with Marcus's physical abilities, swinging a briefcase like a hammer, capable of blocking and smashing, and with blood energy storage, he's practically an infinitely rechargeable human battering ram.
Marcus understood the issue, put away the briefcase, and his assessment dropped back to Tier 1 Intermediate.
"Upload."
[Upload successful, personal information template updated]
The tower seal displayed personal information:
Lighthouse Number: SL914
Identity: Tower Guardian
Strength: Tier 1 Intermediate
Survival Points: 7597.
"Return."
Marcus's surroundings changed, and he returned to his lighthouse space. Every minute in the testing room costs a survival point, so he controlled the test to end within one minute.
Marcus sat on the sofa and looked at his clothes; not a speck of dust had been brought back.
He then began to check the two pieces of information that the tower seal had just transmitted.
[Strength reached Tier 1, unlocked Lighthouse storyline advance notification privilege]
[Next storyline world: "The Screaming Skull," countdown 29 days, 17:23 (refreshable)]
Marcus frowned. Although he spent his days watching movies in his previous life, he hadn't seen this one. He didn't know if he had missed it or if the movie didn't even exist.
If the movie didn't exist in his previous life, it meant things were developing in an unpredictable direction.
Marcus tried clicking refresh.
[Spend 500 points to refresh the storyline world?]
"Yes."
The information in front of Marcus changed instantly:
[Refresh successful, next storyline world: "The Howling" (refreshable)]
This refreshed storyline world relieved Marcus, because he had seen the movie, which confirmed his guess. The storyline worlds in the Lighthouse space were all horror movie worlds from his previous life, or at least most of them.
This could be seen from "Hellraiser," the Paper Tower Master's creepy presence, and the intel reports mentioning "The Exorcist" and "The Ring."
Marcus continued to check the Lighthouse's 'appraisal' function. He took out his reinforced briefcase, touched the tower seal, and selected appraisal.
"The appraisal fee is 1 survival point. Confirm?"
"Confirm."
[Damaged titanium alloy briefcase, from the world of "Hellraiser 1," made of aerospace-grade titanium alloy, weighing 22 lbs.]
Marcus took out the Ice Crystal Sphere again and tried it. It prompted that it required 940 survival points. He chose to refuse because he already knew what it was. The appraisal was only useful for transactions within the Lighthouse.
After studying the items in the lighthouse, Marcus returned to his room in reality and took out his phone to photograph one of the century-old ginseng roots.
'This phone's camera is garbage; I need to get a new one.'
After much effort, he only managed to take three reasonably decent pictures.
Although he still had the old man's million dollars in his personal space, Marcus planned to take care of everything else while he was out selling the ginseng.
Marcus opened Chrome on his phone, but before he could even use it, the browser automatically redirected to an adult website from his previous browsing history.
He glanced at it, but had no time for that now, so he closed the page and started searching for forums about ginseng trading. He then posted the pictures, claiming they were from his grandfather's generation, and asked for prices.
Now it was just a matter of waiting for buyers to take the bait. Marcus continued browsing the news.
The technological level of this world was similar to his previous life, but the history was somewhat different.
The United Commonwealth, where he lived, had been unified for over three hundred years and was the most powerful nation in the world.
Marcus opened CNN again to check:
'Seven renowned physicists from the National Academy of Sciences have gone insane and been admitted to psychiatric facilities.'
'Police report on major bizarre murder case in Portland: 47 dead, 0 injured, the perpetrator mysteriously disappeared.'
'A 1000-foot tower was built on the summit of Mount Hood; entire internet calls for its demolition and condemns environmental damage.'
'Downtown Seattle under lockdown; unknown influenza virus suspected.'
'A truck transporting hazardous chemicals leaked in Chicago, causing thousands of casualties; emergency rescue still underway.'
The news seemed normal, but the frequency and casualties were far too high.
Marcus felt something was off. At the very least, he knew there were definitely many lighthouse guardians in this world, but he lacked the strength and needed to stay hidden and carefully investigate before making any plans.
Marcus didn't dare search for words related to lighthouses or lighthouse guardians on his phone; he'd heard some search records were monitored, and who knew if searching would expose him?
Marcus continued browsing the news, and before he knew it, it was 9 PM.
The sound of the door opening interrupted his browsing.
Click! The main light in the living room switched on, its white light streaming into the bedroom through the crack under the door.
'Mom must be home by now!' The thought flashed through Marcus's mind.
He felt a sudden, inexplicable tension.
"Marcus, come out for dinner. I worked overtime at the factory today, so it's a bit late. I picked up some Chinese takeout for you,"
his mother, Carol, said, her voice slightly tired.
The sound of running water and utensils could be heard outside.
"Okay, Mom,"
Marcus replied instinctively, then paused, startled.
He felt no awkwardness or distance in that "Mom," as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Marcus had been wondering how to face this newfound family.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed his anxious heart.
He put down his phone, put on the leather jacket hanging on the hook to conceal his enhanced physique, and then pushed open the door.
In front of the living room sofa was a long coffee table with two paper bags of Chinese takeout.
Marcus walked over, his eyes scanning the room, and finally spotted his mother, Carol, washing dishes in the kitchen.
"Why are you out so early today? Usually..."
Hearing the noise, Carol turned to look at Marcus in surprise.
(End of Chapter)
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