Evolving infinitely from ground zero

Rock-paper-scissors?

Lin Zichen was a bit dumbfounded by the prompt on the display screen.

Could rock-paper-scissors even be called an intelligence test?

Was there some kind of mistake?

It probably wasn't as simple as it appeared on the surface.

There must have been some hidden mechanism...

With that thought in mind, Lin Zichen seriously took in the surroundings of the room to see if there was anything special.

The walls were made of pure metal.

There was a lamp on the ceiling, and the light was very glaring.

On the right side of the wall, there was a window.

The glass on the window was thick and opaque; it could serve as a mirror.

To the left, on the wall, there was an exhaust fan, buzzing as it circulated air between the inside and the outside.

Beyond that, there was nothing else in the room.

After such a simple survey of the room, three methods for clearing the level flashed through Lin Zichen's mind.

As for whether they would work and if they could clear the level, he would have to verify them to know.

However, there was no rush to verify them.

He decided to let Shen Qinghan have a go first to give her a sense of participation.

At the same time.

The four people behind him were puzzled after reading the text on the display screen.

"Rock-paper-scissors?"

Shangguan Yueying was thoroughly confused, "How does this have anything to do with intelligence?"

Zhao Yuanzhong scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat naïve, "I think it's a bit related to intelligence, after all, it's somewhat a psychological gamble."

Zhang Kai was unconvinced, "We're playing against a virtual character, just a cold computer program without emotions, where's the psychological gamble in that?"

Shen Qinghan didn't offer an opinion. Her beautiful, slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she was deep in thought.

Zhang Kai turned to Lin Zichen and asked, "Zi Chen, you did really well in school during junior high and racked up awards in various city-level competitions. Do you have any clue?"

"No,"

Lin Zichen lied with his eyes open.

Zhang Kai looked somewhat disappointed and then turned to Shen Qinghan, "Xiao Shen, I remember your grades were pretty good too. Any insights?"

Shen Qinghan replied uncertainly, "I think it might be a pattern recognition problem."

"A pattern recognition problem?"

Zhang Kai was confused.

He had always struggled academically since childhood, and after finishing junior high, he went on to become a street thug; he couldn't quite grasp what Shen Qinghan was saying.

Zhao Yuanzhong didn't understand either; he had dropped out of middle school to become an apprentice at a martial arts school, where he excelled with his exceptional physical aptitude and was then introduced to the army by his master.

Unlike the two boys, Shangguan Yueying was a genuine top student.

She understood Shen Qinghan's words and said, "You mean, the virtual character that plays rock-paper-scissors on the display screen has a pattern to it?"

Shen Qinghan nodded, "Yeah, that's what I'm guessing, but to be certain, we'll have to verify it in the game."

After listening to the two girls, Zhao Yuanzhong offered himself up eagerly, "I'm not as quick-witted as you, so I'll be the guinea pig and play against the virtual character to provide you with data to analyze the pattern."

Zhang Kai added, "Count me in too."

Seeing that both men had offered, Lin Zichen had no choice but to follow, "Me as well."

"I'll go first, and if I can't handle it anymore, you two can take over."

Zhao Yuanzhong wanted to impress Shangguan Yueying, showcasing his masculine charm to see if there was a chance to develop a relationship with her.

Soon, he walked up to the display screen, stopping opposite the virtual character and raising his hand to make a gesture for rock-paper-scissors.

As he raised his hand, the virtual character on the screen also lifted its hand to make a rock-paper-scissors gesture, looking very intelligent.

"I'm going to start playing now. You all stand back a bit in case I lose and get attacked; I don't want to accidentally hurt you."

Zhao Yuanzhong considerately told the two girls.

The girls weren't being difficult and immediately retreated a few steps away from Zhao Yuanzhong.

But their eyes stayed fixed on the display screen, ready to remember each move the virtual character made in rock-paper-scissors, to see if they could discern any pattern.

Seeing that the girls had stepped back, Zhao Yuanzhong didn't want to waste any more time and immediately began to play rock-paper-scissors with the virtual character.

Perhaps due to beginner's luck or for some other reason, he won the first game.

He threw rock, and the virtual character threw scissors.

[Congratulations, you've won.]

Those words flashed on the display screen.

The next second, the metal door automatically moved upward by 2 centimeters, forming a small gap at the bottom.

"Not bad, lucky start,"

Zhao Yuanzhong revealed a smile on his face.

Just as he was smiling, a 10-second countdown appeared on the display screen.

[10s]

[9s]

[...]

[3s]

[2s]

[1s]

[The new round of rock-paper-scissors begins]

With the conclusion of the countdown, the virtual character on the display screen immediately raised its hand to play again.

Its actions were no longer synchronized with Zhao Yuanzhong's. It independently threw scissors with an expressionless face.

Zhao Yuanzhong didn't manage to react in time to play, and didn't make a move.

[Unfortunately, you've lost.]

As this text prompt appeared,

The next second, the metal door that had opened a 2-centimeter gap abruptly dropped down and closed, sealing tightly against the floor.

At the same time,

All but Lin Zichen suddenly changed expression and cried out in pain.

As punishment for losing the rock-paper-scissors game, the entire room was electrified.

The intensity of the electric current was very high.

Shen Qinghan and Shangguan Yueying, with their relatively weaker strength at the ordinary Sixth Order, were directly shocked into collapsing on the floor, their faces filled with agony.

Zhao Yuanzhong fared better, managing to stand up with the support of the metal door.

Zhang Kai got the worst of it. His body contained many precision electronic components, which were now malfunctioning due to the electric shock, leaving him paralyzed on one side.

In comparison to the other four, Lin Zichen seemed to be in a much better condition.

He had completed the Third-stage Body Refinement, and his physical strength was comparable to that of an Advanced Second Rank creature.