The prelude to the midterm exam (side story)

The prelude to the midterm exam (side story)

A month of grueling training has finally come to an end.

In the final standings, Qin Feng's Dragons team secured first place by a narrow margin, while Lu Chen's Wolves team finished second, just two points behind.

Although they didn't win the championship, Wolves' performance earned everyone's respect. They proved that the power of a team can make up for a lack of individual ability.

The team that ranked last had two members eliminated, in accordance with the rules.

When the two boys took off their uniforms and tearfully said goodbye to their comrades, all the new recruits fell silent.

For the first time, they truly felt the cruelty of the word "elimination".

In the military, tears are not believed.

Here, only the strong are respected.

After a brief summary meeting, Lu Zhanting announced news that made everyone even more nervous.

"In three days, we will conduct the first comprehensive practical assessment of this semester. It will also be the last assessment for you as new recruits."

"This assessment will last for three days and two nights, and will take place in an uninhabited mountainous area codenamed 'Island'. You will be randomly divided into ten five-person combat teams and airdropped into the area."

"You have two tasks. First, survive. Second, within the assessment area, find and destroy as many 'enemy' targets as possible. Each target represents a different number of points."

"The assessment will end in three days. The top three groups in terms of total points will qualify for selection into the elite reserve team. The bottom three groups will have all members... disqualified from being assigned to a unit and sent back to their hometowns."

"boom!"

Lu Zhanting's words were like a bombshell, causing an uproar among all the new recruits.

Will their eligibility to work in the next district be revoked, and they be directly returned to their place of origin?

This is a hundred times more brutal than the previous eliminations!

This means that all their efforts over the past two months will have been in vain.

Everyone's face was filled with solemnity and unease.

"This assessment has no rules, no restrictions. Except for not intentionally harming your comrades, you can use any means necessary." Lu Zhan-Ting's gaze swept over everyone, cold and sharp. "On this deserted island, there are no instructors, no backup. Your only reliance is yourselves and your teammates."

“You will face not only competition from other groups, but also harsh natural conditions, and… the ‘surprise’ we have prepared for you.”

"Remember, this is not a drill."

"This is the most realistic rehearsal you'll ever have before going into battle."

"Dismissed! Go back and prepare your equipment!"

The new recruits returned to their dormitories with heavy hearts.

Everyone was silently packing their backpacks. Compressed biscuits, water purification tablets, first aid kits, ammunition... each item could be crucial to their survival over the next three days.

The atmosphere in the dormitory was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

That night, Lu Chen lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

He mentally simulated all the possible scenarios he might encounter during the assessment.

The terrain and climate of the "isolated island," the wild animals that might appear, and the so-called "surprise" his father mentioned.

He knew that this assessment would definitely not be as simple as it sounded.

This is not only a test of their technical and tactical skills, but also an extreme test of their will and mentality.

There were light footsteps outside the door, and then the dormitory door was pushed open a crack.

A figure flashed in.

It's Qin Feng.

"Still not asleep?" Qin Feng walked to his bedside and asked in a low voice.

"I can't sleep." Lu Chen sat up. "What about you?"

"Me too." Qin Feng sat down beside his bed and handed him a bottle of water. "Want to chat?"

"good."

Neither of them turned on the lights; they sat in the darkness, relying on the moonlight streaming in from the window.

"What do you think of this assessment?" Qin Feng spoke first.

"Nine times out of ten, one chance at life." Lu Chen said succinctly.

"I agree." Qin Feng nodded. "Instructor Lu is definitely not going to let us get through this easily."

“I’m not worried about the difficulty he’s arranged,” Lu Chen said. “I’m worried about our own people.”

Qin Feng fell silent.

He understood what Lu Chen meant.

This assessment abolished all rules and was crucial to everyone's future. Faced with immense pressure and the lure of personal gain, the darkest side of human nature might very well be unleashed.

In order to gain points and avoid elimination, there is a high possibility that people will stab each other in the back or abandon their teammates.

"What if...we get grouped together?" Qin Feng suddenly asked.

Lu Chen glanced at him and said, "Then I'll entrust my back to you."

Qin Feng was stunned; he hadn't expected Lu Chen to answer so decisively.

In the darkness, he couldn't see Lu Chen's expression, but he could feel the trust in his words.

"Okay." Qin Feng laughed, a hearty laugh. "If we really end up in the same group, I'll entrust my back to you too."

At this moment, the two former biggest rivals reached a silent understanding.

...

Three days later, at dawn.

All the new recruits, fully armed, assembled on the tarmac.

Ten helicopters were already running, their huge rotors whipping up a fierce wind that made it impossible to open one's eyes.

Lu Zhanting stood at the front of the group, holding a list in his hand.

"Now, I announce the group assignments!"

"First group, group leader, Li Hao..."

Those whose names were called immediately ran to the designated helicopter.

Lu Chen's heart was in his throat.

"...Fourth group, group leader, Zhao Hai..."

"...Seventh Group, Group Leader: Qin Feng..."

Qin Feng's name was called. He glanced at Lu Chen, then strode towards Unit 7.

They were not assigned to a group.

A feeling that was hard to describe—whether it was disappointment or relief—flashed through Lu Chen's heart.

"...Ninth Group, Group Leader: Lu Chen!"

It's finally his turn.

Lu Chen immediately stepped forward.

"Team members: Wang Lei, Chen Mo..."

Hearing the names Wang Lei and Chen Mo, Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had two teammates he knew and trusted.

“…Sun Yi…”

Lu Chen was taken aback. Sun Yi was the former captain of the Leopard Team, a calm but somewhat overly conservative person.

"...Zhang Mang."

When Lu Zhanting read out the last name, not only Lu Chen, but almost everyone was stunned.

Zhang Mang was a notorious troublemaker in the recruit camp. He was quite capable, but undisciplined and impulsive, and had clashed with instructors and other recruits many times during previous training.

To assign such a person to his team?

Lu Chen subconsciously looked at his father, trying to glean something from his face.

But Lu Zhanting's face remained unchanged, with that icy expression that never changed.

Lu Chen understood.

This was a difficult problem his father deliberately created for him.

One overly conservative team member, one impulsive and undisciplined troublemaker, plus two familiar comrades-in-arms.

With such a diverse team, can he, as the captain, lead them well?

Lu Chen took a deep breath, stopped thinking about it, and strode towards Helicopter No. 9.

Wang Lei and Chen Mo were already there. Sun Yi nodded to him as well.

Finally, Zhang Mang strolled over, looking nonchalant. He glanced at Lu Chen sideways, a cynical smile playing on his lips.

"Captain? Ha."

He snorted and found a seat to sit down.

Lu Chen ignored his provocation and silently checked his equipment.

Soon, everyone had boarded the plane.

The helicopter slowly took off and flew towards the distant mountains.

Inside the cabin, the deafening roar made it impossible for anyone to speak.

Lu Chen looked out the window. The city below was getting smaller and smaller, and in its place were endless primeval mountains.

The area is shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland.

But Lu Chen knew that beneath this beautiful scenery lay endless danger.

After nearly an hour of flight, the helicopter reached the designated airspace.

The tailgate of the cabin slowly opened, and a cold mountain wind rushed in instantly.

Below lies a bottomless canyon and a dense primeval forest.

"Prepare to jump!"

The instructor's voice came through the earpiece.

Lu Chen stood up, checked the parachute pack, and then turned around to look at his four teammates.

Wang Lei and Chen Mo's faces showed a mixture of tension and excitement.

Sun Yi's face showed solemnity and unease.

Zhang Mang, on the other hand, looked completely indifferent and was even chewing gum.

Lu Chen knew that from the moment they jumped, the fates of the five of them would be tightly bound together.

He patted Wang Lei on the shoulder and nodded to the others.

Then, he walked to the cabin door.

The wind howled, stinging his face.

He looked at the unknown, perilous land beneath his feet, his eyes filled with no fear, only burning fighting spirit.

"Go! Go! Go!"

At the instructor's command, Lu Chen did not hesitate for a moment, leaping from a height of a thousand meters.