The Unvanquished: Child of Nihility-Chapter 61: Physique Test – Strength

Soon, they stopped in front of a teleportation booth entrance. She slid the permit card across the screen before stepping aside.

---

"You can go in. Since you’re heading to the new recruit quarters, I’ll send you there," she said.

Clearly, she was speaking to Leo this time.

Leo stepped forward into the booth and she slid the permit card again. The door closed with a hiss. The same thing happened – blue light flashed inside the booth, and Leo vanished.

’Activating a teleportation portal with just a card, instead of an energy source or something of equal scale... how magical. This academy is filled with wonders. First, the building’s structure, then that Monument Tower, and now this teleportation booth. Who knows how many more things there are to discover?’

Morca was truly amazed by his findings. In his previous life, everything operated like in any other ancient civilization – transporting by horse or wild beasts instead of vehicles or airships, receiving messages through crows instead of mobile devices, and many other primitive ways.

"I really need to adjust my thinking," he thought inwardly.

Soon, they entered another teleportation booth – this one silver – and disappeared from sight.

’Huh? She took the silver teleportation booth to the Physique Test Facility?’

’Hasn’t this year’s trial already concluded?’

’And who are those kids?’

These were the thoughts running through the minds of the nearby students.

---

Elsewhere, in a spacious hall that looked like a dream from another world – shining with soft white light and glowing golden patterns that moved gently across smooth walls – everything felt alive, as if the room itself could breathe. The floor was made of polished brown stone, warm to the touch and smooth like glass, reflecting the light in gentle waves.

Four tall gateway stood in perfect alignment, each glowing faintly in a distinct color. The frames pulsed with energy, and just above each entrance, glowing words floated in the air, clear and sharp:

Strength – Body Test

Reflex – Movement/Reaction Test

Genetic – Compatibility Test

Comprehension – Mind Test

Each word hummed with power, resonating with something deep inside the soul. These were not mere doors – they were gateways to the four physique trials: the second trial of the Eden Domineer Academy. They were crafted to test the limits of the candidates’ bodies and minds. The air in the hall buzzed with energy, thick with mystery, hovering on the edge between technology and magic.

Right in the middle of the hall stood a circular transparent glass booth that stretched to the high ceiling. Soon, it lit up as strange, intricate blue runes – ancient yet technological – appeared on the booth walls. With a soft snapping sound, two figures materialized inside. Moments later, with a hiss, Maya and Morca stepped out of the booth.

’How magical. There’s no discomfort or irritation... it was as if nothing happened,’ Morca marveled at the teleportation booth’s function. Unlike what he knew, spatial travel usually came with nausea or unpleasant sensations. But here, none of that existed – thanks to the teleportation booth (T.P). His mismatched eyes then scanned the hall again, another wave of awe rising in his chest.

"The second trial – the Physique Test—is divided into four parts: Body Strength Test, Reflexes Movement/Reaction Test, Genetic Blood/Marrow Test, and Comprehension Mind Test. You can see the glowing words floating above each entrance. All trials are designed to test the body’s limits, reaction speed, genetic potential, and mental capacity," Maya explained, doing her best to recall the words she had once been told two and a half years ago. ’How weird... explaining something I once found so overwhelming myself,’ she thought.

Morca frowned. "Is there a way to measure the test results – and are they accurate?" It was a pressing concern. He didn’t want to reveal too much of his talent. That would bring unnecessary attention – something dangerous. Before, he wanted to act unrestrain... but now, after that strange dream or whatever it was, he had to tread carefully.

’It’s better to stay cautious than to regret later,’ he reminded himself.

"Yes, there is. Every test result is ranked from Common, Transcendent, Rare, Epic, to Mythical grade. And yes, the results are always accurate – no tricks. All you have to do inside is push yourself beyond your limits," Maya replied.

Morca nodded and walked toward the Strength Body Test entrance. ’Forget it. Let’s just see what the trial has in store for me.’ He stepped through the entrance – and everything turned dark.

---

In that brief moment of blackness, something stirred within him, something that shook his very soul. This was no ordinary gateway. In one word – it was primordial. Though he didn’t see it clearly, he felt it: an ancient aura, vast and heavy, hidden deep within the folds of darkness.

---

Moments later, he appeared in the middle of a chamber buzzing with ethereal hums. Its walls, made of polished steel, glowed with neon glyphs and ancient runes that whispered secrets of sight and silence. This was the Body Strength Test – the Gravitational Chamber of Strength. Not only used for testing new candidates, it also served as a training ground for upper-year students. Though the version for trial candidates was a miniature replica of the original, it was still connected to the main system.

Standing on the central platform, Morca’s ink-black hair stirred like drifting shadow. His blood pulsed quietly beneath his skin. Around him, silver pillars floated in perfect stillness, etched with shimmering ancient runes, bound by unseen arcs of power. The gravitational pressure began pressing on him, yet he stood with slightly parted legs – firm, unmoved, unbothered.

From the viewing gallery above, a pair of cold eyes observed him.

Dale Earnhardt, an instructor known for his unshakable scrutiny, was in charge of the Strength Test. Arms folded, jaw clenched, he stared through the layered lens interface, his voice humming through the comms.

"Subject: Morca Sherman. Breathing Blood Codex practitioner. Evaluation commencing: Trial of Strength. Expected output: Common to Epic."

He narrowed his gaze at Morca’s calm stance.

"He doesn’t look nervous... but they all crack when the pressure hits. Especially ones with backgrounds as murky as his." Dale knew exactly who Morca was – the One-Eyed Librarian’s fool from the Sherman family. Though he’d heard the rumors about Morca slaying a 3-Star monster, he dismissed it as a fluke.

Morca’s left eye swirled faintly–a shiver of ancient power hidden beneath his composed breath.

’This is the first time I’m testing my physical strength... Let’s see what my body is truly capable of.’ He clenched his fist. His muscles tensed –coiled like vipers. The pressure in the chamber began to rise. The gravity runes intensified tenfold by the second.

Clang.

A massive crystalline pillar materialized before him. Runes danced across its surface. This was the Strength Conduit Core – an artifact that measured not only brute force, but also willpower, bloodline, and latent potential.

Morca exhaled slowly.

He stepped forward.

A voice echoed coldly through the chamber – automated, unfeeling:

"Initiate Phase One: Common Grade Threshold – 150 strength units."

With a grunt, Morca launched his fist into the core. The impact shook the room, and the pillar flashed amber.

"Result: 235 strength units, Passed."

Dale raised an eyebrow. "He’s holding back."

The voice resumed:

"Phase Two: Transcendent Grade – 500 units."

Morca’s breath deepened. The gravitational pressure has doubled from the starting force, and the required strength has tripled from the first phase. He could feel the room pressing against him. His blood churned unnaturally. He activated the Breathing Blood Codex, using the pressure to refine his body. Crimson veins slithered beneath his skin, threading power through his limbs. He struck again – this time, the core flared bright white for a breath.

"Result: 817 strength units, Passed."

’He shattered the threshold by a large margin this time, almost reaching the threshold for Phase Three. Is he still hiding his true strength, or is he nearing his limit?’ His frown deepened.

One should know that an unawakened human in Eden, even after intense muscle training, can only reach a maximum of 70 strength units. A genius awakened expert may measure between 100 to 500 units, and only in rare cases does one reach 1000. Only prodigies from the ancient families, who trained in strength or possessed strength-based supernatural talent, could reach 2,000 strength units. As for beyond that... only a saint-ranked expert could draw such power, and not just any ordinary saint-ranked expert.

"Phase Three: Rare Grade – 1,000 units."

The gravity was now suffocating. Even with his unnatural physique, Morca felt his joints strain. His vision blurred for a moment – but the cold pressure behind his eye surged. The Blank skill pulsed quietly within him. He didn’t activate it, but it responded, shielding his focus from collapse. His heart rate skyrocketed, beating incredibly fast, but he steadied his stance.

He inhaled through clenched teeth and then –

One punch – resounding, like thunder cracking through stone.

The pillar trembled. The light turned deep blue.

"Result: 3,000 strength units, Passed."

Dale’s frown shifted into a slight expression of surprise. "This isn’t normal. He’s adapting too fast. And he even passed the fourth phase without realizing it." As an EDA instructor, how could he not feel Morca’s breathing rate? Moreover, Dale knew a bit about the wonders of the Sherman family techniques, which allowed practitioners to cultivate while battling. But clearly, this wasn’t a battle yet Morca could still apply the technique, which was rare, even within the Sherman family. Looking closely at him, Dale almost mistook Morca for a cultivator practicing the original version of the Breathing Blood Codex (though he wasn’t far from the truth).

"Phase Four: Epic Grade – 2,500 units."

The still-breathing Morca couldn’t react before the voice resounded again

"Result: Passed."

"Huh, passed?"