C14 First Training

Several Sergeant Majors stayed behind to wrap things up, allowing the new recruits to return to their quarters to prevent any further mishaps. Lee Xinru also came to, her head feeling heavy as if she had forgotten something. This lapse in her memory meant that Zhuge Yao narrowly escaped another predicament.

The following morning, as dawn barely broke, the stir outside roused everyone in Battalion Three Class Ten. After tossing and turning all night, it was understandably irritating to be awakened so early.

"One, two, three, four." The chant echoed from the parade ground once more. Without the collective voices of at least a hundred people, the impact wouldn't have been the same.

Feeling a wave of nostalgia, Zhuge Yao rose, donned his camouflage training gear, and meticulously folded his blanket into a neat square. After exiting the barracks, he headed to the washroom to brush his teeth and wash his face before making his way to the parade ground.

The class monitor was nowhere to be found, likely off drinking somewhere. Observing Zhuge Yao's departure to the field, his classmates hurriedly dressed and followed suit. Blankets were left unfolded, teeth unbrushed, and clothes put on haphazardly. To avoid bad breath, Lei Xun generously shared a pack of chewing gum, lending a touch of respectability to the group.

The crisp morning air was invigorating. Zhuge Yao inhaled deeply before jogging around the perimeter of the parade ground. Nine other classes were already running, each class monitor leading nine recruits through a physical fitness routine. Adhering strictly to the day's training schedule, the camp operated with precision and order.

Today's agenda for Battalion Three included physical fitness in the morning, Mecha familiarization before noon, Mecha Driving training in the afternoon, and studying military regulations and discipline in the evening. Class Ten of each battalion was unique; they had the freedom to plan their own training. They could even sleep all day without any interference.

Members of this class were typically skilled mechanics, part of the logistics crew. After leaving the training camp, they wouldn't be expected on the battlefield but would more likely be repairing damaged Mechas behind the lines. Their placement in the New Soldier Battalion was simply to provide these mechanics with a transitional period to acclimate to military life.

In the Tank office, Tang Hao was briefing the regiment commander on the previous night's events when he suddenly sneezed, despite feeling fine moments before.

"You've probably caught a cold, with that strong body of yours serving as nothing more than decoration," Lee Feng joked, clearly pleased to see his old comrade-in-arms rallying once again.

Tang Hao sniffled and responded with a grin, "I bet the new recruits in the class are talking about me again. Quite amusing, isn't it?"

Out on the field, the members of Battalion Three Class Ten had also started running in formation. Cylinder repair was tough work, so they all boasted robust physiques, which allowed them to chat while jogging.

"Our Sergeant Major is likely holed up in the warehouse drinking. He's probably drunk as a lord by now," Lei Xun declared confidently, his face etched with scorn. His irritation was understandable; while other Sergeant Majors were out leading their teams in training, his had vanished at the crack of dawn without a trace.

"Our Sergeant Major is actually quite good. You didn't see him last night—his Mecha Driving skills are top-tier. Don't be so quick to judge. If you think you can do better, why not take on the Crypt Devil with that old relic of a control panel?" Xia Yan countered Lei Xun's remarks, holding firm to the belief that might makes right and that the strong deserved respect.

Their heated discussion continued, but after another ten laps, they were all visibly drained. As they watched other classes outpace them, Xia Yan and his peers grew frustrated. Despite their superior physical fitness, they couldn't seem to outrun the new recruits from the other classes. The ten classes within the battalion rarely interacted during training, yet there was an unspoken rivalry among them.

Zhuge Yao, looking completely at ease, finally spoke up as he noticed the mood in his class souring. "Endurance in long-distance running isn't solely about physical strength; it requires technique as well. You need to take proper steps and maintain steady breathing."

The Battalion Three Class Ten recruits cast skeptical glances his way—all new recruits, they wondered why they should take his advice. But the evidence was clear: Zhuge Yao was running with ease, and that was hard to ignore. They decided to give his tips a try, and to their surprise, running became much easier for them.

In the morning, the members of Class Ten typically run five kilometers. During their final lap, they managed to overtake Class Three and were the first to cross the finish line. The triumphant individuals from Class Ten embraced each other joyfully, their faces beaming with pride.

The remaining nine classes were not pleased, with some individuals so frustrated that they threw their hats to the ground. Being outperformed by the Machine Maintenance Class was indeed an embarrassing affair. Class Three, seeking to restore their honor, challenged Class Ten to a pole-standing exercise. With their class monitor absent, Zhuge Yao stepped in to lead and accepted the challenge on behalf of his classmates.

In the military, pole training is categorized from one to ten levels. New recruits typically reach the third level, while those fresh to the army only manage the first. At the New Soldier Battalion, it was everyone's first day of training. Wang Kai, the Class Three monitor, demonstrated pull-up techniques on the pole. Both Class Three and Class Ten watched, seemingly unimpressed by the simple act of pulling oneself up and down on the bar.

Wang Kai gestured for the members of Class Three to start first. Nine individuals took turns, collectively achieving 106 pull-ups, averaging a bit over 11 per person. He nodded in approval; possessing such stamina shortly after enlisting was commendable. Moreover, he was confident that the other classes would do well to manage half that number.

After some deliberation, Zhuge Yao decided to set a strong example and chose Lei Xun to lead off. The new recruits of Class Three burst into laughter upon seeing a chubby soldier from Class Ten step up, while the members of Class Ten, looking rather displeased, nonetheless rallied behind their comrade.

Lei Xun approached the bar, leaped slightly, and hoisted himself up. Thankfully, the military-grade bar held firm despite a slight wobble. What followed was a surprising display of pull-ups, one after another. It wasn't until he reached the 30th rep that his pace began to slow.

"Thirty-nine times! Way to go, big guy!" Xia Yan cheered, impressed by the agility of the stout soldier.

Xia Yan didn't wait for Zhuge Yao's cue; he dashed to the bar and ripped out 23 pull-ups in quick succession. The others followed suit, each performing between 15 and 20 pull-ups, for a total of 162. On average, each person from Class Ten did 20 pull-ups.

Class Ten's average was double that of Class Three, leaving the new recruits of Class Three red-faced with embarrassment. Wang Kai, sensing the morale dip, announced he would demonstrate the second and third exercises to give everyone a proper show.

The recruits from Class Three, feeling defiant, paid no heed to Wang Kai, clamoring instead for Zhuge Yao. Class Ten's reaction was one of scorn; they saw this as an outright challenge. Wang Kai, sidelined by the commotion, felt awkward and at a loss for words.

"No worries. Since you've extended such a heartfelt invitation, I'll reluctantly accept and show you how it's done," Zhuge Yao stated with composure, already positioning himself beneath the bar.

When Wang Kai saw Zhuge Yao stepping up to demonstrate, he was baffled. He silently wondered if the kid had learned this before, noting Zhuge Yao's apparent confidence.

The crowd was taken aback. This guy really had the guts to step forward. We were just ribbing you; could it be that he's not sharp enough to pick up on that?

Lei Xun was nervously rooting for Zhuge Yao. Engaging in scientific research or tinkering with a Mecha was one thing, but physical prowess was another matter entirely. Lei Xun had little faith in Zhuge Yao's physical abilities; their past training sessions had always ended with Zhuge Yao giving up halfway. It was no wonder the old man insisted on having Lei Xun accompany him, fearing that the frail young master might run into trouble.

The members of Class Ten were on edge. They were torn between wanting Zhong Yao to dazzle everyone and being reluctant to see him demonstrate. They feared that a misstep could lead to a loss of face, which would be a minor issue, but any injury would be too high a price to pay.