Chapter Four: Forced Training

"Watching those movies won't help you improve your strength. I can implant some training programs into your mind to help you level up. Time is precious; for every second you start training earlier, you get one step closer to rooting out the Federation's traitors." As Star Dream spoke, the system began to activate. Suddenly, Lei Bin felt a sinking sensation, and he found himself inside a set of ruins.

"Damn it, stop, stop, stop... I didn't say I agreed to help you root out any Federation traitors! By what right are you forcing me into this training?" Looking at his surroundings—which were so realistic they seemed entirely genuine—Lei Bin protested loudly.

"According to Federation law, when the Federation is in danger, I have the authority to compel citizens to carry out necessary orders to assist me in saving the Federation." Star Dream's voice echoed through the empty ruins. Just then, a burly man, nearly two meters tall with bulging muscles, appeared before Lei Bin and, without a word, threw a punch straight at him.

*Bang!*

With a dull thud, Lei Bin was sent flying before he could even utter a word. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest in extreme pain. This didn't feel like a virtual simulation at all; it felt one hundred percent real.

To improve the combat capabilities of its soldiers, the Federation had created virtual games that simulated real-world fighting. However, those were typically designed to train reaction speed and tactical skills, transmitting only faint sensations of pain via brainwaves. What Lei Bin was facing now felt like a completely real opponent in a completely real world, with pain that was entirely authentic.

"Damn it, you... this is a violation of human rights! This is assault, this is murder... you are lawless!" Lei Bin shouted. The big man was already charging again, launching a fierce kick toward Lei Bin's abdomen.

The previous punch had already left Lei Bin reeling. Knowing that another hit would cause even more severe injury, he scrambled to dodge.

*Bang!*

The man’s kick struck the ground, leaving a deep crater in the earth.

"Hell, say something! Do you think forcing people to beat me up doesn't violate the constitution?" Lei Bin yelled as he desperately dodged.

"In extraordinary times, we take extraordinary measures. This is a common occurrence throughout human history and does not violate my programming. You are the only one capable of helping me restore order to the Federation. I must mold you into a well-rounded talent. Work hard." With that, Star Dream fell silent.

"What kind of logic is that? Ah!" Lei Bin let out a miserable scream. He no longer had the energy to debate with Star Dream; the big man’s relentless barrage had already left him rolling on the ground like a dog.

"Damn you, I'll fight you to the death!" Bruised and battered, Lei Bin’s anger finally boiled over. He grabbed a loose brick and hurled it at the man.

He had learned some combat techniques during his years in the military, but the man's programming was simply too powerful—his technique was flawless, his combat ability superior. None of his military training seemed to work against this opponent.

Driven by desperation, Lei Bin resorted to the dirty, brawling tactics he used to use against street thugs. No matter how good the martial arts, they fear a kitchen knife; no matter how skilled, one brick can lay them low. With a brick in hand, fighting became much easier.

*Thud! Thud!*

Lei Bin struck the man's arm twice with the brick. The opponent clearly felt the impact, and his attacks slowed down. Although the man was a virtual system construct, the simulation was based on total realism, so he reacted with recoil and avoidance when injured.

"Low blow!" Capitalizing on the slight advantage gained by the brick, Lei Bin delivered a kick to the man's groin. The opponent seemed to lack recognition of such a move; he hesitated for a split second, took the hit, and his eyes widened as he doubled over.

Lei Bin didn't waste the opportunity. He swung the brick with all his might against the man's head. With a crack, the man went dizzy and collapsed right in front of him.

Lei Bin knew this wasn't a living person, so he showed no mercy. He brought the brick down repeatedly. Seizing the chance to finish him off, he unleashed a flurry of blows, smashing the man's head until it was a bloody mess. Brain matter splattered onto his face, and a pungent, metallic scent hit his nostrils—it was terrifyingly real.

Lei Bin stood there, eyes wide and face twisted into a savage mask, looking like a demon.

"Very good. First stage of combat training complete. Although you used irregular methods and tactics during the fight, in extraordinary times, achieving the result is the top priority, so you are judged as qualified. Now, beginning the second stage of training."

Following Star Dream's voice, the scene shifted dramatically. It transformed into a bustling street filled with flowing crowds and constant shouting—much like the old district where he used to live.

"The second stage of training focuses on your survival skills. To become a top-tier talent, the most important thing is the ability to stay alive. Otherwise, if you are dead, everything else becomes meaningless," Star Dream continued.

"Hell, can you listen to me? This is pure coercion! I'm telling you, I'm done! If you have the guts, just have them kill me. I'd rather die than submit!" Lei Bin was being driven mad by this broken computer host and tried to threaten it with suicide.

Star Dream’s voice did not return. The surroundings remained lively, and everything appeared perfectly normal.

However, just then, a roar erupted: "That's him! Hack him to death!"

Following the shout, several shirtless men wielding machetes charged toward him.

"Damn it... what kind of program is this? A gangster movie?" Lei Bin was no stranger to this scene; in the old district, such things were commonplace.

Although the old district was chaotic and filled with all sorts of people, firearms were strictly regulated. Thus, close-quarters combat with cold weapons had become the norm there.

Now, Lei Bin was facing exactly that. Before he could react, the men were already upon him, slashing with their machetes.

Almost instinctively, Lei Bin hoisted a nearby table to block them before turning to flee frantically. There were over a dozen men chasing him, all armed with blades; he didn't stand a chance.

The pursuers stayed close behind. Fortunately, Lei Bin had experience in this kind of environment, which kept them from catching him immediately.

However, there were too many of them, and their stamina was clearly far greater than his. Even though this was a virtual training session, Lei Bin’s body was governed by his own consciousness. After running for so long, his mind began sending signals of exhaustion, and his physical movements began to slow.

"Dammit, are they really trying to hack me to death?" Lei Bin cursed Star Dream’s ancestors to the eighteenth generation, but it was useless. Star Dream was cold and ruthless; it didn't care how much he cursed.

*Slash!*

Finally, one of the men caught up and buried a machete deep into Lei Bin's back.

"Ah... you bastards..." Lei Bin was livid. He grabbed an iron pot from a nearby stall and hurled it at his pursuers.

But Lei Bin was outnumbered. These virtual attackers were all incredibly powerful, and he was no match for them.

Eventually, he was cornered. Countless machetes rained down on him. He could clearly see his own arms and legs being severed, his intestines spilling out. It was a gruesome sight. The pain transmitted by his nerves brought him to the verge of suffocation, and the sheer terror of death left him in despair.

"Damn it... looks like I'm done for..." Lei Bin was in too much pain to move, his heart filled with the absolute despair of death.

But just then, everything around him vanished instantly. His body was restored to its original state, and he found himself lying in a void.

"Failed to escape pursuit. Second stage of training failed," Star Dream’s voice announced.

"I curse your ancestors to the eighteenth generation..." Lei Bin was truly furious. The sensation just now was far too real—it was impossible to distinguish from reality. The physical agony and the psychological terror were identical to facing death, which was a form of extreme mental torture for him.

"Second stage incomplete. Continuing in one minute," Star Dream said, completely indifferent to Lei Bin's state, having already set the time for the next session.

"Hell, continuing? I'll XX%%&￥#!"

Lei Bin jumped up, hands on his hips, pointing at the sky and swearing at Star Dream, cursing every relative it might have. But Star Dream remained utterly unaffected, ignoring him completely.

"Second stage, second test beginning..."

As Star Dream spoke, the scenery transformed back into the previous scene. A dozen men charged from a short distance away, hacking at him viciously.

"Damn it..." Lei Bin didn't have time to curse anymore. The feeling of being hacked to death was far too painful—it was agony beyond measure, like being sliced open over and over again. He had to run; getting caught was out of the question.

Yet, ten minutes later, he was caught again and hacked into dozens of pieces.

"I XX%&*#@!" Lei Bin unleashed another torrent of abuse, only to receive the same reply from Star Dream: "Second stage incomplete. Continuing in one minute."