Standing there in the cold wind, the female soldiers of Third Squad looked energized. The squad leader's eyes went a little red with excitement, and his voice rang out louder than usual as he led them in their chants.
People from other classes now looked at the Class differently!
After everyone had lined up, the Captain called out loudly, "You all performed well today, and you showed up on time." He gave Hedy a pointed look before continuing, "I expect you to do even better on the next ten-kilometer mountain cross-country run."
Ten kilometers over mountains, with a heavy rucksack! Every recruit silently groaned.
And then the Captain added, "Run! Don't dawdle! Anyone who comes back late won't get breakfast!"
A wail of protest rippled through them. But training orders weren't up for negotiation. The squad leaders shouted slogans and led their teams out.
Not far from the army gate, the winding mountains were already visible. There were said to be several training grounds nearby, but the recruits had never been there before.
Competition was fierce among the squads. They didn't just want to shout louder slogans they wanted to be the first to reach the turning point.
The third squad leader led today's charge with great energy, completely forgetting about Hedy in the back.
Physical fitness doesn't improve in a day or two. It wasn't long before Hedy fell far behind the group.
Exhausted, she finally slowed to a walk to catch her breath.
She looked up. The east was a smoky gray, and stars still sparkled in the deep blue sky above. The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and grass, and the woods echoed with the sounds of birds and insects.
As a killer, she had never seen such peaceful beauty before. Back then, all she saw was brutal slaughter, her hands stained with blood…
A cold wind blew past. Soaked with sweat, Hedy shivered.
She forced herself to keep running, but soon her stomach began to growl.
At her current pace, she would definitely miss breakfast.
Glancing at the lush forest around her, she suddenly had an idea. She judged her direction, then slipped deeper into the woods.
Her figure quickly vanished into the shadows.
For the former Killer Alpha, survival was everything.
To survive, you needed to be able to feed yourself in any environment.
Entering a mountain forest was like stepping into her own kitchen.
Inside, the darkness was thick, the shadows of the trees almost invisible.
Hedy picked up a handful of stones, moving forward carefully while watching her footing and listening intently for the sounds of prey.
After a while, she heard rustling in some distant bushes something edible had to be hiding there.
A pheasant? A hare? Even a small snake would do.
Holding her breath, she crept closer, pinpointed the sound, and flung a stone with precision.
The stone sliced through the air and struck its target.
She was sure she'd scored a meal until she heard an unexpected, muffled "thump".
Hedy froze in surprise.
That sound… had she just hit someone?
Then she noticed a strange glint of light in the distance.
The reflection from a gun scope!
Instantly, her killer instincts kicked in. Her body tensed. Life or death right now!
Someone was lying in ambush in these woods!
She dove behind a thick tree trunk, merging with the shadows.
Four gunshots cracked in the dark.
Hedy frowned. Those shots… something was off!
Suddenly, a big hand clamped over her mouth.
At the same moment, the man fired four shots back in the direction the original shots had come from.
Under the dim moonlight, Hedy saw four tendrils of smoke rising from the bushes.
Her eyes widened in shock.
He wasn't even wearing night vision goggles!
In pitch darkness, he'd located the shooters by sound alone, fired accurately, and killed them!
He'd completely suppressed his presence, blending perfectly into the environment.
Hedy considered herself sharp even now, but she hadn't sensed him at all.
He was like a ghost.
She couldn't help but admire him in secret. Amazing!
The man released her mouth and spoke in a low, magnetic voice.
"Night exercises. They're using training rounds. Don't be scared."
She listened carefully, he was right. The shots were from simulated training guns.
His voice also sounded strangely familiar…
A faint light fell between them, revealing his striking features,a strong chin, a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, a straight nose, and clear, deep eyes.
"It's you!" Hedy exclaimed in surprise.
It was Arthur.
Arthur raised a cold light stick to inspect her face.
Knowing the recruits had cross-country training tonight, he asked, "Are you lost?"
Hedy shook her head.
Surviving in the wild was her specialty. She'd never lost her way before, whether in mountains, ancient forests, or deserts.
This little forest was nothing.
"Then why are you here?" Arthur pressed, suspicion in his eyes.
Hedy made a "shush" gesture, listening carefully. Once she was sure the others were gone, she stepped out from behind the tree and told Arthur, "You didn't see me tonight. I didn't see you either. We have nothing to do with each other. Goodbye!"
She tried to slip away, but Arthur grabbed her arm.
"If you don't explain yourself now…" he leaned close to her ear, his voice cold, "…I'll have to take you back for questioning."
Hedy shot him a glare. "Threatening me? I won't do it!"
But before she could react, Arthur stepped forward, lifted her by the waist, and slung her over his shoulder.
He moved so fast!
And this humiliating position again!
Furious, Hedy pounded his back twice and shouted, "Bastard! Put me down!"
Arthur's mouth curved in amusement. "If you keep squirming, I'll spank your ass."
"You.."
She almost blurted out 'How dare you!', but swallowed it back.
Because he 'would' dare.
She had no choice but to give in.
"Okay! Put me down first! I'll explain!"
Arthur smiled, pleased by her quick surrender, and set her down.
Hedy straightened up, shot him a murderous glare, and warned, "If you dare touch my ass again, I'll make yours bloom!"