Han Ruoxi was looking down, drinking a nutrient solution. When she heard her name called, she looked up at Sun Yang and said coolly, "Hurry up and finish that meat skewer. Don’t even think about skipping training!"
"Hey, I’m still eating..."
Sun Yang grumbled, shoving the meat skewer into his mouth in a few bites, a look of resignation on his face. "I have no idea what kind of new torture he has for us today. Yesterday was just running—thirty laps around the base!"
Bai Lin sat silently to the side, fingers swiping rapidly across a datascreen, seemingly studying some data.
Hearing Sun Yang complain, he didn’t look up, just said flatly, "Stop complaining. It’s probably simulated combat training today."
"Simulated combat? Isn’t that even worse than running?!"
When Sun Yang heard that, his entire posture sagged, as if he could see his impending nightmare. "Brother Li, can’t we talk to the instructor and ask for an easier training session?"
"You go talk to the instructor."
Li Chang’an stood up and rolled his shoulders. "You seem pretty brave. Why don’t you give it a try?"
"Alright, alright, I’ll just accept my fate!"
Sun Yang immediately chickened out, quickly swallowed the last bite of his skewer, and stood up to follow Li Chang’an’s pace.
The group walked toward the training grounds together. Han Ruoxi glanced at Shen Qiuyue beside her and whispered, "Do you think it’s really combat training today? I thought we’d get a bit of a break after all that running yesterday."
"A break? You expect a break under Instructor Wei?"
Shen Qiuyue snorted. "He never lets up."
On the training grounds, the members of the Insect Hunter Squad stood in a line. Instructor Wei Zhuang was already waiting for them, hands clasped behind his back, pacing. He glanced at Li Chang’an and the others and said, "Today’s training is simple. Simulated combat. In teams."
"Instructor, you really don’t know the meaning of the word ’simple’!"
Sun Yang muttered from the side. The moment the words were out, Instructor Wei’s sharp gaze swept over him, and he immediately stood ramrod straight and shut his mouth.
"Sun Yang, you’ll get yours in a minute."
Wei Zhuang said coldly, continuing, "Captain Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue, one team. Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang, one team.
Simulated combat. The match will not exceed fifteen minutes.
Bai Lin, you’re in charge of observation and recording!"
"I’m on a team with Ruo Xi?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Yang’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Instructor, this is a great arrangement. I like it!"
"Like it, my ass. Just wait and see how you get knocked flat on your back!"
Han Ruoxi shot him a glare and turned to walk toward the center of the training grounds.
Li Chang’an glanced at Shen Qiuyue, casually hung the Saw Chain Sword at his waist, and said coolly, "Let’s go. Let’s end this quick."
Shen Qiuyue nodded, tightened her grip on the High-Energy Dueling Sword in her hand, and stood beside Li Chang’an, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
Wei Zhuang announced loudly, "Begin!"
Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue charged out at the same time. Sun Yang immediately took a step back, raised his Pulse Gun, and aimed it at the approaching Li Chang’an, muttering, "Brother Li, don’t blame me for playing rough!"
Han Ruoxi stood beside him, gathering a ball of blue electrical light in her hands. "Don’t run around," she said coldly. "Coordinate with me!"
"Relax, I’m standing my ground, aren’t I!"
Sun Yang waved a hand with a smile and quickly took aim at Li Chang’an.
Li Chang’an suddenly sidestepped, dodging the Pulse Bullet from Sun Yang. He then closed the distance in a flash, and with a light flick of his Saw Chain Sword, Sun Yang’s Shield immediately let out a piercing alarm.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, go easy on me, Brother Li!"
Sun Yang hurriedly hopped back a step and shouted in a panic, "My Shield can’t take a hit from you!"
Just then, Han Ruoxi finished charging her Electric Energy. With a raise of her hands, she sent several arcs of electricity striking toward Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue.
"Dodge!"
Li Chang’an shouted, retreating abruptly. Shen Qiuyue’s reaction was also extremely fast; her figure blurred, and the electric arcs grazed past her shoulder.
"Ruo Xi, are you trying to electrocute me?!"
Sun Yang yelled, jumping to the side, nearly getting hit by Han Ruoxi’s blast of electricity.
"Shut up and focus!"
Han Ruoxi frowned. "Stop running around and attack with me!"
"Okay, okay, I *am* attacking!"
As he spoke, Sun Yang raised his Pulse Gun again and pulled the trigger on Shen Qiuyue.
Shen Qiuyue’s eyes sharpened. With a flicker of movement, she dodged the Pulse Bullet that grazed past her shoulder, then swung her sword back at Sun Yang.
Just then, Li Chang’an had already rushed in front of Han Ruoxi, his Saw Chain Sword sweeping down.
"Brother Li, have mercy!"
Sun Yang cried out and scrambled backward. Han Ruoxi also dodged back quickly, gathering electricity again to counter-attack.
On the training grounds, the figures of the squad members darted back and forth. Pulse Bullets, flashes of sword light, and Electric Energy wove together in a fierce and fast-paced battle.
"Sun Yang, fall back, now!"
Han Ruoxi reminded him coldly, her hands flashing with electricity as she once again unleashed a powerful arc of lightning straight at Li Chang’an.
"I am running!"
Sun Yang yelled, quickly dodging to the side, but his Shield was still grazed by Shen Qiuyue’s Sword Qi, letting out a BZZZT warning sound.
Li Chang’an, however, was completely unfazed. He quickly rolled across the ground, dodging the arc of lightning, then sprang back to his feet, thrusting his Saw Chain Sword directly at Han Ruoxi.
Han Ruoxi’s gaze turned cold. She gathered the electricity in her hands into a barrier, blocking Li Chang’an’s attack, then immediately sent a current surging toward his chest in a counter-move.
Li Chang’an easily dodged to the side, shattered the barrier with a casual swing of his sword, and continued to press his advance on Han Ruoxi.
"Brother Li, you’re so ruthless!"
Sun Yang had already run to a safe distance, clutching his Pulse Gun with a miserable look on his face.
"Ruthless?"
Li Chang’an sneered. He paused his advance for a moment, then with a light flick of his Saw Chain Sword, forced Han Ruoxi to retreat again and again.