"Cut the crap!"
Li Chang’an glanced at him. "If you’re really worried, then hurry up and improve your combat skills. Stop making me clean up your messes every time!"
"Clean up my messes? Captain, you’re underestimating me!"
Sun Yang protested indignantly, "I’m the future king of fire support!"
"I don’t care if you’re the king or not!"
Han Ruoxi taunted as she wiped her Electric Gloves, "As long as you stop missing, the whole team will be grateful!"
Just then, Bai Lin looked up and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Sun Yang, you should really consider upgrading your Pulse Gun.
Your weapon is a previous-generation model, so the Energy output is a little unstable.
I can help you calibrate it when we get back and improve its accuracy!"
"Bai Lin, you’re a true gem on this team!"
Sun Yang’s face immediately lit up. "Just name it! Whatever you need, I’ll run any errand for you!"
"You don’t need to run any errands."
Bai Lin replied calmly, "I need some time to sort through the Insect Race data we collected today. Then I’ll optimize the weapon’s parameters based on my findings."
"No problem. I’ll give you the gun as soon as we’re back!"
Sun Yang declared, patting his chest confidently.
The combat vehicle quickly reached the base, where Liu Na was already waiting for them in the command room.
The Insect Hunter Squad had barely stepped out of the vehicle before Liu Na summoned them.
"Good work on the mission."
Liu Na looked at Li Chang’an. "You cleared out the outer Insect Hive thoroughly, and the biological data you collected is complete.
However, things are about to get a lot busier for you."
"Busier?"
Han Ruoxi frowned. "Commander, what do you mean? More missions?"
"The Insect Race’s sphere of activity is currently expanding. High command has decided to intensify the cleanup efforts on Lion’s Fang Star.
Your squad’s performance has been outstanding, so you’ll be taking on more missions."
Liu Na pointed to the mission briefing. "This is just the beginning. The real challenge is yet to come."
"Alright. More missions means more pay, anyway."
Sun Yang scratched his head. "But can we get a couple of days off? We can’t keep going around the clock like this!"
"You’ll get some downtime, but don’t expect it to be long."
Liu Na turned to leave. "Squad dismissed. Get yourselves sorted out and be on standby."
Back in their dorms, Han Ruoxi plopped down on the sofa and let out a long sigh. "I’m dead tired! Sun Yang, go get some food. I’m too lazy to move a muscle!"
"Why me?"
Sun Yang pouted. "You’ve got your own hands and feet. Why don’t you go?"
"Want me to zap you?"
Han Ruoxi raised her hand, and faint electric sparks began to crackle at her fingertips.
"Whoa, okay, okay! I’ll go, I’ll go!"
Sun Yang shot to his feet and scurried off toward the mess hall. "Why do you guys always like to pick on me!"
"We’re not picking on you. You’re just asking for it,"
Shen Qiuyue said calmly, twisting open a bottle of water.
Li Chang’an sat at the table, head bowed as he inspected the gears of his Saw Chain Sword, casually wiping away some bloodstains.
Bai Lin leaned in a corner, quietly studying the data he had just compiled.
"Captain!"
Han Ruoxi suddenly looked up at Li Chang’an. "Do you think the expansion of the Insect Race’s territory means they’re planning something big?"
"It’s very likely."
Li Chang’an answered coolly without looking up. "But that’s not our concern.
We just need to do our job."
’So brutally simple!’
Han Ruoxi muttered, leaning back into the sofa.
Sun Yang quickly returned with a mountain of food and dumped it on the table. "Don’t fight over it, there’s plenty for everyone! My treat today, I’m feeling generous!"
"Your treat?"
Shen Qiuyue glanced up. "With the supplies issued by the squad, right?"
"Hey, that hurts!"
Sun Yang grumbled. "Who cares who it came from? I’m the one who brought it, so it’s my treat!"
"Alright, let’s eat."
Li Chang’an looked up and grabbed a piece of bread. "Don’t get lazy this afternoon. We still have to complete the training schedule."
"Captain, you really don’t know how to relax, do you!"
Sun Yang mumbled through a mouthful of crackers, "We just got back from a mission. Can’t you let us catch our breath?"
"There’s no time to catch your breath on the battlefield."
Li Chang’an replied coolly, "Times like these are when you need to be most alert."
"Sigh... I give up."
Sun Yang shook his head and went back to his food.
After their meal, the Insect Hunter Squad returned to their dorm for a short break.
"Captain, what’s the training plan for this afternoon? We’re not just doing physical conditioning again, are we?"
Sun Yang asked nonchalantly as he lay on his bed polishing his Pulse Gun, "We just got back from an Insect Hive. Running is hardly what I’d call relaxing!"
"If you don’t want to run, we’ll practice tactical coordination instead."
Li Chang’an leaned back in his chair, holding a mission planning sheet. "Sun Yang, remember those three mutated insects this morning? If you hadn’t been out of position, we would’ve been surrounded."
"Captain, stop picking on me! The bugs were just too cunning. Who would’ve thought they’d pop out from behind us?"
Sun Yang quickly argued, "Besides, you were there to hold them off. It’s not like my fire support failed!"
"Whether you failed or not, you know the truth."
Li Chang’an shot him a look and placed the planning sheet on the table. "This afternoon for training, you’re with Han Ruoxi. You’ll practice coordinated combat.
Shen Qiuyue and I will be a team; we’ll run attack and defense drills.
Bai Lin, you’ll continue with tech support and adjust the tactical plan as needed."
"Wait, why am I with Han Ruoxi?"
Sun Yang shot up from his bed. "Captain, that’s not fair! She’s always picking on me! I feel like she’s going to electrocute me to death one of these days!"
"You scared?"
Han Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, a scornful look on her face. "Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I’ll just make you hurt for a couple of days, tops."
"See? That’s a threat!"
Sun Yang pointed at Han Ruoxi. "Captain, aren’t you going to do something about this?"
"If you two could just learn to work together, I wouldn’t have to do anything."
Li Chang’an stood up and stretched. "Get your gear. Meet on the training grounds in ten minutes."
"Alright, alright. You’re the Captain, after all."
Sun Yang sighed in resignation and began to sort his gear. "Miss Han, please don’t be too rough this afternoon. We are teammates, you know!"
"Teammates? That depends on your performance."
Han Ruoxi sneered as she calibrated her Electric Gloves. "Just try not to drag me down."
"Hmph, we’ll see about that!"
Sun Yang gritted his teeth, a spark of defiance in his eyes.
On the training grounds, the Insect Hunter Squad split into two groups and began their simulated battle.
"Sun Yang, move a little to your left! Stop standing directly behind me!"
Han Ruoxi yelled at Sun Yang as she manipulated her Electric Grid. "Don’t get in my way when I release a charge!"
"How can I not be in the way? You’ve laid out the Electric Grid like a spiderweb! Where am I supposed to move?"
Sun Yang said with a helpless expression, holding his Pulse Gun. "Captain, I think Han Ruoxi’s doing this on purpose! She’s targeting me!"
"One more word out of you and you’re not eating dinner tonight."
Li Chang’an’s voice came from the other side of the field. His tone wasn’t harsh, but it made Sun Yang shut his mouth instantly.
"Alright, alright! No more talking! I’m getting back to it!"
Sun Yang muttered under his breath as he operated his Pulse Gun, ’This is tyranny.’
Han Ruoxi glanced at him, not bothering to argue further. She unleashed her full Electric Energy on the imaginary targets.
Sun Yang gradually got into the zone as well, providing fire support in sync with Han Ruoxi’s rhythm. Their coordination slowly became more fluid.
Meanwhile, Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue were engaged in a close-quarters combat simulation.
"Qiuyue, your Swordsmanship is good. You’re faster than last time."
Li Chang’an easily blocked one of Shen Qiuyue’s fierce attacks with a swing of his Saw Chain Sword.
"Don’t get too cocky!"
Shen Qiuyue gave a cold smirk. The Dueling Sword in her hand suddenly swept horizontally, aiming straight for Li Chang’an’s waist.
Li Chang’an pivoted on his feet, dodging the attack as his Saw Chain Sword swung in a backhand strike toward Shen Qiuyue’s shoulder.
Shen Qiuyue parried with her sword, and the two were locked in a stalemate.
Suddenly, Shen Qiuyue leaped back. As she created distance, she launched a thrust so fast it was a blur.