Elen Hawkins was stumped by the question and scratched his head. "Olivia Brooks, what were the categories again?"

Olivia Brooks smiled sweetly and said, "This classification comes from Professor Wang, a top researcher at the base, who analyzed a large number of abilities and categorized them based on their external manifestations."

"There are six types in total:

Elemental: Includes abilities like ice, fire, and electricity.Self-Enhancement: The most common type, which enhances the user's own body.External Manipulation: Abilities that influence objects, living beings, or matter outside the body.Spatial: Very rare, involving control or manipulation of space.Mental: Related to the mind and consciousness, also rare.Miscellaneous: Abilities that are too unique or strange to fit into the other categories."

Teresa Taylor carefully memorized this information.

Knowledge like this was incredibly rare.

The six categories of abilities all sounded extraordinary.

And yet, her abilities were only in the most common Self-Enhancement category. She resolved to obtain more abilities.

Teresa Taylor asked seriously, "Alright, how do I take the test?"

Elen Hawkins lifted his chin proudly and said, "Fight me. I'll evaluate whether you qualify to receive a new ability fruit!"

Teresa frowned. "Fight? Barehanded or with weapons?"

Elen Hawkins replied nonchalantly, "Your choice."

Unsure of her opponent's strength, Teresa decided, "Barehanded."

Elen Hawkins nodded. "Alright. Let's begin."

Teresa Taylor quickly assumed an offensive stance, taking a low, solid horse stance.

"Hah, fancy footwork," Elen Hawkins said dismissively, standing lazily. "Give it your all. Don't hold back. The higher your score, the better your reward."

How arrogant!

Teresa Taylor was irritated.

She decided to teach this so-called general a lesson.

"I'm about to attack. Watch yourself, Brigadier General Hawkins."

Elen Hawkins grinned. "Go ahead. No one has ever broken through my defense."

Hmph! Teresa's eyes narrowed.

The last time she fought James Lone, she had held back, which had ended in disaster for her. This time, she wasn't going to make the same mistake.

She would go all out!

"Fine! Let me see the strength of the military's finest!" Teresa Taylor exploded with power, her body seeming to grow a size larger. Even her short hair seemed to lengthen slightly!

Elen Hawkins froze in shock. "Damn it! Wait—"

But it was too late.

CRACK!

The ground beneath Teresa shattered as she launched herself like a meteor toward Elen Hawkins.

Elen barely saw a blur before Teresa's iron-like fist smashed into his abdomen.

BOOM!

The powerful force erupted.

Elen's back bent outward from the impact, his eyes bulging like those of a cow.

His body was sent flying backward.

BANG!

He crashed into the wall, creating a massive dent.

Then, with a loud DUANG, he rebounded off the wall and hit the floor hard.

Another DUANG sounded as he bounced again.

He repeated this a few times before finally coming to a stop, unable to move.

Olivia Brooks was dumbfounded.

How could this woman be so violent?!

Even the soldier holding a massive iron shield shivered, looking at his shield as if it provided no protection whatsoever.

Teresa Taylor's expression also changed. "Crap! I went too hard!"

How could he be this weak?!

If he was so fragile, why did he boast so much earlier?!

Panicked, Teresa rushed over to Elen Hawkins, awkwardly patting his back. "Hey, hey, are you still alive?"

Elen Hawkins was a brigadier general in the military. If she had accidentally killed him, she'd be in serious trouble!

After a long while, Elen Hawkins finally caught his breath and coughed up a mouthful of blood. SPLAT!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

He struggled to his feet, his voice weak but defiant. "No... impossible! I can't die! That was just a fluke. I wasn't ready!"

Teresa frowned. "Does your ability take time to activate? Fine, activate it, and I'll go again."

"No need!" Elen Hawkins quickly waved her off.

Are you kidding me?! Another punch, and I'll be dead for real!

This girl looks sweet and delicate, but she punches like a savage beast!

Elen Hawkins quickly said, "Teresa Taylor, congratulations. You passed the test and will be rewarded with an ability fruit."

Without hesitation, Elen made the decision on behalf of his superiors.

As for Mike Brown, there was no need to test him. He was just a support type, with no combat prowess to speak of.

Elen called over a soldier. "Escort these two to the rest area to wait. Once Taylor receives her ability fruit, we'll assign housing."

"Brigadier General?" Teresa asked, puzzled.

Elen Hawkins explained briefly, "In our base, anyone who becomes an Alpha-class ability user automatically receives the rank of brigadier general."

So that's how he became a brigadier general!

Teresa finally understood, though she found it absurd.

A small base like this could arbitrarily grant military ranks? What a joke!

Once everyone left, Elen Hawkins collapsed to his knees, coughing violently.

A door in the hall opened, and several people with different appearances walked out.

At the forefront was a square-faced officer with sharp brows and an imposing aura. "Brigadier General Hawkins, how did it go?"

Still clutching his stomach, Elen replied, "Look at me, and you'll know! If I didn't have rubber-like resilience, I'd probably be dead! Doctor Sanders, come treat me!"

An old man with a frail appearance stepped forward, placing a hand on Elen's stomach. After a brief examination, he handed him a box of painkillers. "You're fine."

Elen Hawkins stared in disbelief. "Painkillers?! My intestines are nearly torn apart!"

Dr. Sanders replied impatiently, "I checked. You're fine. You also have self-healing abilities. What are you afraid of?"

Elen didn't dare argue further. No one wanted to offend a doctor with abilities.

The square-faced officer nodded. "Very well. I saw Teresa Taylor's destructive power myself. She qualifies for an ability fruit. Brigadier General Hawkins, you'll personally deliver it."

After resting briefly, Elen Hawkins recovered and escorted Teresa Taylor to the warehouse area.

Seeing him back on his feet, Teresa couldn't help but admire him. "Impressive. I've never seen anyone take a punch from me and still stand afterward."

Elen's mouth twitched, and he forced a smile. "Haha, my only strength is that I can take a hit!"

The two descended deep into a tunnel, walking downward for what seemed like an eternity.

The base, located near the foot of a mountain by the TV station, appeared to have been an old military air-raid shelter.

A warehouse manager joined them as they entered.

As they advanced, Teresa noticed that the violet mist within the base was extremely thin, allowing her to see several meters ahead with ease. She asked curiously, "Why is the mist so light here?"

Elen shrugged. "I don't know. It's been like this since I got here."

"Do you have many ability fruits?" she inquired.

Elen shook his head. "Not at all. Just a few. Most have been used for experiments or given as rewards."

"How do you preserve them? Don't they rot after being picked?"

"Why would we pick them? We just move the entire plant back here, roots and all."

Teresa nodded in understanding. So that's how they do it.

Glancing around the tunnel, she asked, "Aren't you worried someone might steal them?"

The warehouse manager replied confidently, "Absolutely not! This place may look ordinary, but it's full of traps and surveillance. We have six ability users specializing in security and fifty elite soldiers guarding the area. Anyone who tries to steal from here will never make it out alive!"

"I see!" Teresa said, nodding in admiration.

Elen agreed, "Exactly! Our warehouse has the highest level of security!"

Meanwhile, in his subspace, James Lone noticed that Teresa Taylor's anchor point had moved to a new location.

This time, she was walking underground with a man in military uniform.

Curious, James muttered to himself, "Where are they going?"