A loss is a loss, there's nothing more to say.
He waved to his comrade who was helping him, indicating that he could manage, and then limped away on his own.
"Zhang Kui!"
When the name was pronounced, a barely perceptible commotion arose in the crowd.
The arrogant and domineering soldier, whose arm Su An had instantly crippled, was ashen-faced. He kept his head down the entire time, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Su An.
He quickly stepped out of the line and stood next to Wang Hu, wishing he could bury his head in his chest.
...
One name after another was coldly read out by Lei Kuan.
Each name is like a heavy hammer, striking hard into everyone's hearts.
More and more people stepped forward.
They walked silently to the center of the playground with their heads down, like a group of prisoners awaiting their final judgment, forming a silent and oppressive area.
The name called out signifies the despair that has finally settled.
Those whose names haven't been called yet are suffering the agony of uncertainty.
Suppressed, faint sobs began to be heard from the crowd.
Some people gave it their all in previous assessments, enduring countless injuries, yet still failed at the last hurdle.
Some people stand side by side with their best brothers, only to hear their brother's name called out, while they themselves are temporarily safe. That feeling is even more painful than being eliminated themselves.
Beside Jiang Yan, his bunkmate Meng Shi, a burly man from a rural area in Shandong Province who was usually cheerful, was now clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles were white and his fingernails were almost digging into his flesh.
His name hadn't been called yet, but he knew perfectly well that he had lost in the first round and had only managed to win against an exhausted opponent in the second round, accumulating a total of three points. His chances were so slim they were almost nonexistent.
Jiang Yan didn't speak, but simply reached out and pressed heavily on Meng Shi's trembling shoulder, conveying silent comfort.
Su Tang's gaze swept calmly over the students who stepped forward.
Several of them were faces she had fought alongside in previous exercises with Battalion Two. Back then, they had trekked through the swamp together and shared captured equipment.
Now, they are leaving.
This training camp is just that brutal.
It doesn't believe in tears, it doesn't believe in the process, it only believes in the result, it only believes in strength.
"Du Jinshan...Sun Li..."
Lei Kuan's voice continued.
Gao Kai's expression grew increasingly grim as he heard a familiar name.
"Li Si!"
"Damn it!" one of the police officers next to Gao Kai muttered under his breath.
Li Si, the tall, thin guy who always followed Gao Kai around, calling him "Brother Kai" repeatedly, froze. He looked sharply at Gao Kai, his eyes filled with resentment and guilt.
"Brother Kai...I...I've let you down..." His voice was choked with sobs.
Gao Kai's eyes instantly reddened. He slammed his fist into his thigh, gritting his teeth, unable to utter a single word. He knew that Li Si's fighting was his weakness; he had encountered a tough opponent in the first round and lost. Although he won the second round, he didn't have enough points.
Li Si sniffed, forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace, and punched Gao Kai hard in the chest.
"Brother Kai, you have to stay! Take the brothers' share with you!"
After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the line without looking back.
"...Meng Shi!"
Meng Shi, standing next to Jiang Yan, trembled violently. What was bound to happen had finally arrived. His tense shoulders slumped instantly, and he finally managed a bitter smile.
He patted Jiang Yan's hand on his shoulder to indicate that he was alright.
"Brother Yan, I'm leaving. Take care."
Meng Shi turned around, not dejected. He straightened his back and strode out as he had come. But his figure, under the gray sky, looked particularly desolate.
Jiang Yan's lips pressed into a hard line, and she slowly withdrew her hand from Meng Shi's shoulder.
Lei Kuan continued, his gaze sweeping over the list in his hand, then paused for a moment.
That one moment made everyone's hearts leap into their throats.
Who will be next?
Liu Landi, who was standing next to Su Tang, was so nervous that her palms were sweaty.
Su Tang's heart tightened inexplicably.
She had a bad feeling.
Lei Kuan, standing on the high platform, seemed somewhat reluctant. He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the female soldiers' ranks with a complex expression. Finally, he uttered the name in a tone devoid of any emotion.
"...Chen Xiaocao!"
When Lei Kuan uttered the name, Liu Landi, who was standing next to Su Tang, trembled violently.
Su Tang's heart sank.
She knew this outcome was inevitable.
Rationally, she knew better than anyone else.
Chen Xiaocao was severely injured and knocked unconscious by Bai Wei in the second round, and was immediately sent to the infirmary without scoring any points. She also lost the first round.
With two rounds of zero scores, she will inevitably be eliminated according to the rules.
This is an undeniable fact, an unalterable logic.
But……
But reason is one thing, and emotion is another.
When that name was actually pronounced, a sharp, subtle sting still rose from the softest part of my heart.
Countless images flashed through her mind in an instant.
The girl who, in the mud, used her frail body to protect herself and prevent anyone from getting close.
The girl who awkwardly put food into her bowl in the cafeteria, smiling foolishly and saying, "Sister Su An, eat more."
The girl who was knocked down by Bai Wei time and time again in the fighting arena, but with a stubborn determination to "not embarrass Sister Su An", she stood up tenaciously and finally launched a counterattack like an enraged little beast.
That girl who always followed behind her like a little tail, her eyes filled with admiration and trust...
She clenched her fists, feeling a cold touch on her fingertips.
For the first time, she felt a pang of disgust towards the rules of this training camp. She lowered her head, her bangs obscuring her eyes, making it impossible to see her expression.
After reading out more than forty names, Lei Kuan finally put down the list in his hand.
In the center of the playground, a dense crowd had already gathered, almost four-fifths of the original number of people.
The once crowded queue was now sparse and appeared unusually empty.
Looking at the dejected and desperate young people in front of him, Lei Kuan's heart, which was usually as hard as steel, couldn't help but soften, and he sighed.
He raised the megaphone and said in a deep voice, “I know many of you are unwilling and resentful. But that’s how the army is! Selection is about survival of the fittest! Leaving here doesn’t mean you’re weak; it just means you’re not quite right for this place yet. When you return to your original units, you will still be soldiers of the people, warriors who defend our country! I hope you will cherish the sweat and blood you shed in the Third Battalion as the most precious treasure of your military career! Take back what you’ve learned here! Wherever you are, be a good soldier who stands tall and upright!”
"Now, you have one hour to pack your belongings and say your final goodbyes to your comrades!"
"Now, I announce the final list of ten people who have passed the assessment and will remain in Battalion Three!"
...
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