Shen Qiuyue interjected quietly, lowering her head to continue polishing her Dueling Sword with meticulous care.
"Sister Qiuyue, that’s not exactly fair!"
Sun Yang protested, "I didn’t mess up this time! Didn’t we complete the mission in the end?"
"You didn’t mess up because the Captain and the rest of us covered for you!"
Han Ruoxi retorted without mercy, "Without our cover, you wouldn’t have even had time to pull back!"
"Alright, alright, I give up!"
Sun Yang waved his hands in surrender. "Captain, you see? They gang up on me every time, and you won’t even help a brother out!"
"You get called out because you really aren’t good enough."
Li Chang’an looked up, his tone calm but allowing no argument. "Combat is a team effort. Every mistake you make puts the entire squad in danger.
On the next mission, I don’t want to hear any of this bullshit again!"
Sun Yang flinched, not daring to say another word. He could only lower his head obediently and fiddle with his Pulse Gun.
By the time their armored vehicle returned to base, the sky was completely dark. The members of the Insect Hunter Squad dragged their weary bodies into the dorms, too tired for even their usual bickering. All anyone wanted to do was collapse and rest.
"Don’t go to sleep yet."
Li Chang’an sat in a chair, his eyes sweeping over them. "Mission debrief. Now."
"Captain, a debrief now? Can’t we do it tomorrow?"
Sun Yang collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes barely able to stay open.
"Now."
Li Chang’an’s tone was non-negotiable. "Wait a night, and you’ll forget the problems you had on the battlefield."
"Fine, fine! A debrief it is!"
Sun Yang sat up straight and looked at Li Chang’an. "Captain, I’ll go first. What did I do wrong today?"
"Your marksmanship has improved, but your positioning is still a problem."
Li Chang’an stared at him. "Specifically, during the first wave of Sentinel Insects, your position exposed the angle of Han Ruoxi’s Electric Grid deployment. You wasted a perfect opportunity to lock them down."
"I..."
Sun Yang scratched his head. "I wasn’t paying attention. Captain, I’ll get it right next time!"
"It’s not about ’getting it right,’ you *must* get it right."
Li Chang’an’s tone was cold. "Make that mistake again, and don’t blame me when I make you run thirty laps by yourself."
"Understood!"
Sun Yang nodded at once.
"Han Ruoxi."
Li Chang’an turned to her. "Your Electric Grid placement was solid, but the Insect Race’s reaction speed at the second defensive line was faster than expected. You need to adjust the current’s intensity, or you’ll have trouble fully restricting their movement."
"Got it."
Han Ruoxi nodded. "I’ll optimize the Electric Energy-release pattern."
"Shen Qiuyue."
Li Chang’an looked at her. "Your offensive precision is fine, but your defense has gotten sloppy.
At the second defensive line, your back was exposed for two seconds. If it weren’t for Sun Yang’s suppressing fire, an insect would have hit you."
"Mm."
Shen Qiuyue gave a slight nod. "I’ll work on it."
"Bai Lin."
Li Chang’an finally looked at Bai Lin. "Your inputs are fast, but you were still a bit slow connecting to the jamming device.
Was it an equipment issue, or is the Insect Race’s signal encryption getting more complex?"
"The signal encryption is more complex."
Bai Lin’s tone was calm. "I need higher-grade equipment. The current terminal is maxed out."
"I’ll submit a request to command for upgraded equipment."
Li Chang’an nodded. "But until the new equipment arrives, you have to do your best to adapt to what we have."
"Understood."
Bai Lin replied quietly.
After the debrief, Li Chang’an stood up and looked around at the team. "We haven’t received tomorrow’s specific orders yet, but based on what happened today, we need to ramp up our training, especially tactical coordination."
"Captain, more training?"
Sun Yang immediately groaned. "We just made it back from the Ghost Gate. Can’t we get a couple of days off?"
"Rest?"
Li Chang’an scoffed. "Do you think the Insect Race will give you time to rest? On the battlefield, only the dead get to rest forever."
"Alright, whatever you say."
Sun Yang muttered, crestfallen, "My life belongs to the squad anyway. Use it as you see fit."
"Then make sure you put that life to good use."
Li Chang’an said coolly, turning to walk toward the other side of the dorms. "Dismissed. Training field, 0500 tomorrow."
The next morning, the alarms in the Insect Hunter Squad’s dorms blared right on schedule.
"Captain! It’s not even light out!"
Sun Yang’s voice came from his bunk, his entire body buried under the covers without even his face showing. "Can’t we train a little later? My back is still killing me!"
"Sun Yang, how about I give you a reason to be excused?"
Han Ruoxi stood by his bed and flicked a finger, a spark of electricity dancing at the tip. "Want to bet a little jolt from me will make that soreness go away?"
"Don’t! Don’t you dare!"
Sun Yang scrambled out of bed, yelling, "Miss Han, I’m starting to think you’re the squad’s wellness consultant! Curing all our ailments with electrotherapy, are you?"
"Cut the crap."
Han Ruoxi shot him a cold glance. "Get up. Assembly is at 0500.
Be late, and you’ll see how the Captain deals with you."
"Alright, alright, I’m up, I’m up!"
As Sun Yang put on his gear, he muttered under his breath, "This early every day... Are we soldiers or robots?"
"If you were a robot, you’d have short-circuited by now."
Shen Qiuyue said calmly as she walked past him.
Sun Yang pouted but didn’t dare talk back, so he just focused on getting his gear ready in silence.
The Insect Hunter Squad arrived at the training field on time. Li Chang’an was already waiting in the center, Saw Chain Sword in hand, his cold gaze sweeping over them.
"Today’s training will focus on tactical coordination and adaptability."
He began, "The intelligence of the Insect Race is evolving. Our tactics must evolve with them.
Today, you will complete a designated objective on a simulated battlefield while simultaneously evading my attacks."