Cosmic Origin - Dominator

Chapter 5: Different Choices

"Improving one's strength becomes increasingly difficult as one progresses," Luo Feng pondered. "From a speed of 23.8 meters per second to reaching 25 meters per second, it probably will take about a year. And to increase my punching power from 809 kilograms to 900 kilograms, it'll likely take even longer. I suppose I'll have to wait until after entering university to obtain the title of 'Warrior.'"

"If... if I were to faint again. My physical fitness would probably meet the requirements of a warrior."

Of course, the kind of "fainting" Luo Feng desired wasn't being knocked unconscious by someone else, but rather experiencing severe headaches until passing out.

Luo Feng suffers from headaches.

He experiences occasional bouts of headaches every day, but they usually pass after enduring them for a while. However, when the headache reaches its peak, he faints!

From childhood to adolescence, Luo Feng has fainted a total of two times.

When he was eight years old, his younger brother's leg was crushed by a car. Overwhelmed with sadness, Luo Feng suddenly felt an intense headache, accompanied by an alarming increase in heart rate. His blood circulated rapidly throughout his body, and it felt as if his heart was about to burst out of his chest, until he couldn't bear it and fainted.

Then, when he was twelve years old, his mother fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. Fearful of losing his mother, Luo Feng panicked, experiencing a similarly intense headache and rapid heartbeat, leading to another fainting episode.

Despite undergoing medical examinations after each fainting episode, Luo Feng's family couldn't find any problems. Even now, the brain remains a medical challenge.

"However, those two fainting episodes strangely improved my physical fitness significantly," Luo Feng anticipated. "After waking up from those episodes at the ages of eight and twelve, my strength, speed, and reflexes noticeably improved. It allowed me to become a 'Junior Student' at the age of sixteen shortly after joining the martial arts school. Because of my strong foundation, I attained the title of 'Senior Student' at seventeen."

"If I could faint one more time, my strength would undoubtedly increase again!"

Fainting is actually the body's way of protecting itself, not entirely a bad thing.

Since childhood, Luo Feng has suffered from headaches, but after his first fainting episode at the age of eight, he noticed that each subsequent headache became less severe. By the time he experienced another fainting episode at twelve, the frequency of his headaches decreased.

"Following this trend, if I were to faint again, my headache condition should improve further... If I faint once or twice more, perhaps my headache disease will disappear forever," Luo Feng earnestly hoped. After all, each fainting episode not only alleviated his headaches but also resulted in a leap in his physical fitness.

Unfortunately...

Fainting isn't something that can be induced at will. From childhood to adolescence, he had only experienced it twice.

"When the headache reaches its peak, the heart rate also increases," Luo Feng glanced at the pulse testing function on his wristwatch.

"However, even with intense exercise, my heart rate never exceeds 120 beats per minute," Luo Feng observed. "It would be great if my heart rate could exceed 200 beats per minute. The precursor to fainting is intense headaches and a very fast heartbeat."

Unfortunately—

No matter how intense the exercise, his heart rate couldn't reach the level necessary to induce fainting due to a headache.

...

Inside the training hall, Yang Wu, with scars on his face, stood in front of the punching power testing machine. Without much preparation, he casually struck the punching target with both fists, producing a series of deep punching sounds— "956kg, 912kg, 936kg, 981kg..."

Yang Wu struck dozens of times in a row before stopping.

Watching from the side, Luo Feng couldn't help but feel envious. He could only muster 809 kilograms with all his strength. If he could punch as effortlessly as Yang Wu, each punch might exceed 700 kilograms.

"Yang ge, I wish I could deliver a punch as effortlessly as you do with all my strength," Luo Feng remarked with a smile.

"You brat," Yang Wu walked over, patting Luo Feng's shoulder with a smile. "You're only nineteen this year, just eighteen. When I was your age, I was still just a junior student at the martial arts school. With your progress... Let's not say much, in two years, you'll definitely meet the physical fitness requirements of a warrior. A warrior at twenty years old, that's truly enviable."

Luo Feng smiled.

The martial arts school recruits students aged sixteen to thirty because this period is when growth is most rapid. The earlier one becomes a warrior, the stronger they'll likely be in the future. Luo Feng became a senior student at the martial arts school at seventeen, which indeed made many people envy him.

"By the way, Freak, aren't you taking the college entrance exam soon? What are your plans after the exam?" Yang Wu asked with a smile.

"I'm planning to take the entrance exam for a military academy," Luo Feng replied with a slight smile. "Most students who graduate from military academies become ordinary officers in the army. But for me, entering some special forces after graduation shouldn't be a problem."

"Oh," Yang Wu listened and shrugged. "Entering a military academy is fine, but... I feel like it limits personal freedom. Even after you graduate and enter special forces, you'll still have to obey military regulations! Personally, I couldn't stand it. Being a free warrior suits me better."

"Being a free warrior sounds good," Luo Feng shook his head. "But I don't want to worry my parents. Entering a military academy and joining the army after graduation should be much safer in terms of security."

There are generally four paths for warriors.

The first path is to join the army and become a member of the military. The advantage is higher security; the country won't easily allow warriors to take risks, and the state provides many benefits to the families of warriors, ensuring they have no worries.

The second path is to join a martial arts school. Martial arts schools have relatively loose management systems, and being a warrior under the Extreme Martial Arts School, founded by the world's strongest 'Hong,' comes with many benefits. Additionally, the management is lenient, allowing for more freedom.

The third path is to join a corporation, a family, or a powerful organization, typically serving as muscle-for-hire.

The fourth path is to join a mercenary group, the most dangerous option, involving life-and-death situations, but also offering the most freedom.

"Joining the military provides security, but I don't want a life without much freedom," Yang Wu shook his head. "This year, I'll probably participate in the 'Quasi-Warrior Assessment' again. I should pass this time. Once I do, I'll immediately participate in the 'Warrior Combat Assessment' this year and strive to become a warrior."

Luo Feng's eyes lit up. "Yang ge, are you confident you'll pass the 'Quasi-Warrior Assessment'?"

"Haha," Yang Wu chuckled. "The three tests, strength, and reflexes, I've already met the standard. My weakness is speed! However, with some effort, I can barely reach 25 meters per second now.

With a few more days of hard work, I should pass the assessment."

"Congratulations, Yang ge," Luo Feng felt genuinely happy for Yang ge. After all, Yang ge had been striving to become a warrior for many years. "What are your plans after becoming a warrior?"

"Of course, I'll join the Extreme Martial Arts School," Yang Wu smiled. "The school's system is very lenient, and there are many senior warriors in the school worldwide who can provide us with many benefits. Also, I can rest when I want to, go out and hunt monsters when I want to; it's very free."

Luo Feng nodded.

"Freak," Yang Wu looked at Luo Feng, "you have a streak of madness in you. I'm not mistaken. I think you're well-suited to be a free warrior. Joining a martial arts school, more freedom? And the Extreme Martial Arts School will also provide us with a lot of help."

"I..." Luo Feng hesitated.

Seeing this, Yang Wu shook his head with a smile. "Freak, free warriors often live on the edge of life and death, constantly honing themselves. It's more dangerous! But at the same time, because they often fight on the brink of life and death, their progress is the fastest! Look around, regardless of the location, most of the strong warriors are free warriors."

...

At night, the streetlights were on.

Leaving the Extreme Martial Arts School, Luo Feng walked alone on the sidewalk, silently contemplating the conversation he had with Yang Wu earlier. It had quite an impact on him.

"There are actually two paths that suit me," Luo Feng silently pondered, "One is to enter a military academy, graduate smoothly, and then enter a special forces unit. The second is to become a warrior. Joining the Extreme Martial Arts School, becoming a warrior under the school's name, and being free to hunt monsters."

"These two paths, the first one entering a military academy. It offers high security and good family welfare. Even if I die in battle, the country will take care of my loved ones."

"The second one, becoming a free warrior. Frequent life-and-death battles lead to rapid improvement in strength. Hunting monsters can also earn huge sums of money, making money fast. This path... is dangerous, but strength improves quickly, money is earned quickly, and there's freedom. The only drawback is the danger." Luo Feng continued to ponder. Throughout his senior year of high school, he frequently pondered this question.

"My parents only have two sons, and my younger brother is already disabled. If I die in battle as a free warrior, what will happen to my parents in their later years?"

His younger brother needs care.

His parents are getting older, what will happen to them if he dies?

"I should join a military academy."

"In the future, entering a special forces unit, I can also learn 'Military Martial Arts,' combining it with what I learned at the Extreme Martial Arts School, my strength should increase again. In the military, I can still hone my skills! And even if I die in battle in the military, as a warrior, the country will provide my parents with a monthly pension." Luo Feng considered from the perspective of his parents and decided to choose the military academy.

However...

Getting into a military academy isn't something he can do just because he wants to; he also needs high academic achievements. It all depends on the college entrance exam in June.