Benny nodded and said, "Continue, enhance the energy diffusion level to Level 10."

"Yes!"

As the Black Fog level increased, the environmental concentration gradually began to stabilize.

Benny continued to look up and observe the values on the screen.

It seemed that the remaining three people in the trial had already become familiar with Level 12 combat.

Interesting.

He hadn’t expected them to last so long on their first entry into the trial space.

Was it that player named Fang Heng?

That kid was indeed quite unusual.

During the initial test, Benny had already sensed that his spirit attribute was strong and that he had some resistance to psychic powers. He had likely studied psychic disciplines.

In addition, he had a special talent.

Benny narrowed his eyes.

He had always wondered—why would powerful spawns be willing to cooperate with humans?

After a deeper understanding, Benny gradually realized the reason.

Part of it was for utility.

The spawns were extremely wary of the Black Fog game and generally unwilling to actively engage with it, choosing instead to recruit other races as vanguards to fight on their behalf.

There was also another important reason.

Humans possessed a unique advantage that other races did not.

A one-of-a-kind talent and an exceptional capacity for learning!

Benny said in a deep voice, "Increase the trial level."

"Understood, raising the environmental trial level to Level 15."

Inside the Black Fog trial world—

Fang Heng had quickly gotten used to the upper limits of agility that this body could achieve. Surrounded by several shadow creatures, he repeatedly dodged, occasionally blasting a punch to drive the enemies back.

It was certain.

Inside the trial, his attribute strength was closely related to his foundational spirit, as well as academic disciplines such as the occult, psychic science, and elemental science.

Since that was the case...

Fang Heng sharply seized the opportunity, dodged the shadow creature’s attack, and threw a punch.

His mental strength instantly condensed into his fist, exploding with several times the usual damage!

"Bang!!"

The shadow creature shattered with one punch!

As expected.

Since he was a product of gathered mental strength, using mental strength condensed into his fist could unleash even higher damage.

Fang Heng swept a glance around him.

In just a short moment, there were only Su Guantong and Wayne left in the hall besides himself. The three gathered together, back-to-back, fending off the approaching shadow monsters.

All three were players inclined toward the spirit type.

However, Wayne and Su Guantong’s spirit attributes were far inferior to Fang Heng’s, which made things especially difficult for them.

No wonder the previous test was focused on mental strength.

Without enough mental resistance, there was no point in joining the trial.

"Mr. Fang, Su Guantong, did you notice? The Black Fog is gradually merging into our bodies."

Only then did Fang Heng notice that during the battle, faint auras from all around were unknowingly entering his body.

[Hint: The player has absorbed Black Fog Strength. Current Black Fog Strength absorption rate: 0.1%]

[Hint: Current mission triggered-Awakener.]

Mission name: Awakener.

Mission description: You have accepted the trial of the Awakener. Please refine your spirit will during combat and absorb and fuse with the power of the Black Fog. Reach an absorption rate of 100% to complete the Awakening.

Current Black Fog strength absorption rate: 0.105%

Black Fog strength?

Fang Heng’s heart stirred.

So the glimmering particles around them were part of the Black Fog strength?

Fang Heng immediately tried using perception or mental strength to actively absorb or capture this Black Fog strength.

However, it was ineffective.

The glimmering Black Fog strength remained unmoved.

Su Guantong and Wayne also received the game hint shortly after. They looked at each other and tried to absorb the Black Fog strength.

"No use. This power can’t be actively absorbed. I tried several methods, but none of them worked. What about you guys?"

"Yeah, looks like the absorption method of the Black Fog is completely different from any energy types we’ve seen before."

As they spoke, the surrounding space suddenly flickered.

The environment seemed even darker.

The shadow creatures became slightly more solid under the influence of the dark aura. They slowly moved, shambling toward the center of the domain where Fang Heng and the others stood.

"Whoosh!!!"

Only ten meters away, one of the shambling shadow creatures suddenly burst with speed, transforming into a blur in the air, rapidly pouncing toward Fang Heng!

Fang Heng met it with a punch!

"Bang!!"

Their fists collided with a muffled sound.

Fang Heng staggered back several steps, and the Black Fog was blasted backward again.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!"

Several shadow creatures launched attacks at Fang Heng and the others from all directions.

Fang Heng could still manage on his own, but with two teammates at his back, things became increasingly difficult.

"Mr. Fang, we’re backing out. Good luck."

Su Guantong and Wayne had completely fallen behind. They exchanged a glance, realizing they had become a burden. They nodded at Fang Heng and closed their eyes, directly exiting the trial.

As the two exited the game, the number of shadow creatures instantly dropped by two-thirds. Fang Heng immediately felt a huge reduction in pressure.

But the shadow creatures were still extremely difficult to handle!

Relying on his superior agility, Fang Heng swiftly weaved through the shadow creatures, occasionally striking back with a punch. Each attack was enhanced with mental strength, instantly blasting the shadow creatures to pieces.

He could still hold on!

Outside the game—

Warning lights lit up on Wayne and Su Guantong’s game cabins.

Two staff members quickly stepped forward to help open the cabin doors.

"No need. I’ll do it myself."

Su Guantong’s face was a bit pale. She raised a hand to stop the nearby researcher, intending to stand up.

What?

Su Guantong gripped the handrail inside the game cabin and tried to lift herself but suddenly discovered that her right hand had no strength at all.

What was going on!?

Su Guantong was shocked.

She hadn’t suffered any damage inside the game, so why did her body feel so weak?

Seeing this, the two staff members stepped in to help her up from both sides.

Su Guantong turned to look—Wayne was in the same state. His face was haggard, and he only managed to stand up with the help of two researchers.

"There’s no need to panic, this is a normal reaction after cultivation."

Benny waved his hand, signaling for the research personnel to take the two away, "We’ll conduct a detailed physical examination shortly. There won’t be any issues."

Benny looked back at the data on the screen, his expression becoming heavy.

Everyone had exited the trial environment except for Fang Heng.

The overall trial intensity was level L8, yet the energy diffusion had already reached Level 32!

Currently, the environmental concentration still maintained about 70% stability.

So the problem lay with Fang Heng!

He was absorbing the Black Fog energy far too quickly, in massive amounts.

Benny said, "Report the mechanical operation status."

"Mechanisms have completed self-check procedures. No alarms detected. The machinery is operating safely. No issues found."

Benny glanced again at the top of the screen showing Fang Heng’s current Black Fog Strength absorption rate.

3.88%

Not an exaggerated number. In fact, at Level 18 trial intensity, after half an hour, that number was a little low.

But the amount of Black Fog energy he had absorbed was anything but low!

It was hundreds of times more than an ordinary player!

That meant Fang Heng’s strength was incredibly high.