Soon, all the new recruits assembled at the foot of Jinan Mountain.
Instructor Hong stood before them with his hands behind his back, glanced around, and then slowly said:
"Next, we're going to begin extreme training!"
"See that mountain range behind us? I'll give each of you 35 kilograms of weights in a bit. Your task is to cross this mountain range before dawn tomorrow!"
"Report!" Zheng Zhong shouted.
"Speak!"
"Is it just regular weighted off-road running?"
"It's not that simple..." Instructor Hong smiled slightly, waved his hand, and suddenly a dense array of drones flew out from the last bus, each drone equipped with a miniature gun port on its underside.
"The loads you're carrying have built-in tracking capabilities. Once training begins, these drones will enter the mountains and hunt you all. Being hit by the paint guns they're carrying means failure..."
"And failure will bring cruel, very cruel... very cruel punishment!"
Instructor Hong couldn't help but smile, as if he had thought of something interesting. He emphasized the word "cruel" three times in a row, making the scalps of the new recruits tingle.
"There are a few rules I want to emphasize." Instructor Hong held up three fingers.
"First, you can exchange your loads. For example, if one of you can't run anymore, you can give some of your load to someone else, and you can take it back at any time. But you must be careful not to discard your loads without permission, otherwise, if you are found to have done so, you will fail immediately!"
"Second, you must not attack or even touch the drone in any way, nor can you carry anything on your person that might obstruct the paint gun's fire. You must not hide in any blind spot and remain motionless. There is only one thing you can do when facing the drone... and that is to run!"
"Third, you can stick together, but you cannot attack each other or forcibly interfere with the actions of others."
After stating these three points, Instructor Hong shouted, "Did you understand?!"
"I understand!"
"Everyone, take your packs and let's head into the mountains!"
After the order was given, the new recruits took turns carrying the weights and were each given a tactical knife.
"This knife is for you to use to overcome the terrain, not for you to kill each other, remember that!" Instructor Han Li, who handed out the knives, earnestly instructed.
When the knife was handed to Cao Yuan, Instructor Han Li silently put down the small knife in his hand and pulled out another one from behind his back...spoon.
"Instructor, this..." Cao Yuan was dumbfounded.
"You can't use a knife, and we can't find any other weapons right now, so just make do with this for now." Instructor Han Li patted him on the shoulder.
Cao Yuan:...
People use a knife to cut weeds, but what can I do with this spoon? Dig a hole for myself?!
"Oh right, that fat guy over there!" Instructor Hong seemed to remember something and called out to Baili Pangpang, who was about to go into the mountains.
"Um?"
"Take off the [Free Space] and all the necklaces, bracelets, and beads you're wearing, and keep them with me." Instructor Hong stretched out his hand.
Baili Pangpang's body trembled, and he covered his chest with his hands. "Instructor... these things are very valuable!"
"...I'm not taking yours, just keeping it temporarily, understand? If you go in and leave contraband everywhere, what's the point of training!"
"...Okay."
With a long face, Baili Pangpang took out another small white pouch from his pocket and handed it to Instructor Hong. He also handed over all the loose pendants he was wearing.
"Okay, go ahead." Instructor Hong solemnly put the things away and waved to Baili Pangpang.
Once all the new recruits had entered the mountain, Instructor Hong leisurely sat down in the newly erected tactical tent and yawned.
"Instructor Hong, it's just a weighted cross-country run, is it really necessary to make it so complicated?" Instructor Han Li walked over and sat down next to him with a puzzled look on his face.
"Heh heh, this isn't just a simple cross-country run with weights," Instructor Hong chuckled. "Do you really think they can run out of this mountain range?"
"Huh?" Instructor Han Li was taken aback, seemingly not understanding what he meant.
"We have used forbidden materials to seal off this entire mountain range, and the original terrain within this area has been completely altered."
"You mean…"
Instructor Hong watched the direction the new recruits had left in, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"The entire mountain range has become an inescapable maze; no matter how they run, they can't get out."
"Therefore, they could only endlessly be hunted by drones in this complex maze until everyone's physical strength was completely drained... This effect was far better than ordinary weighted cross-country running."
Instructor Han Li pondered for a moment, "You want to create a desperate environment, but allow them to exchange loads, testing their mentality, exhausting their physical strength, and then building trust between them?"
"As expected of Instructor Han, his insight into problems is truly profound." Instructor Hong gave a thumbs up.
"But can drones and paint guns on them really put that much pressure on them?" Instructor Han Li couldn't help but ask.
Instructor Hong gave a mysterious smile. "You'll find out then. The punishment for failure... is far more terrifying than you can imagine."
...
Jinnan Mountain.
Lin Qiye and Cao Yuan, carrying heavy loads, nimbly traversed the forest. The trees on Jinan Mountain were ancient, tall, and dense, with dappled sunlight falling on the ground, making it feel like being in a primeval jungle.
"You...you wait for me!" Baili Pangpang's round body made it very difficult to move forward in this deep mountain forest full of plants.
"This thing is so heavy... Why don't you two help me carry it?" Baili Pangpang looked up at the two people in front of him with a hopeful expression.
"No." Lin Qiye refused decisively.
"Get lost." Cao Yuan replied coldly, then turned to Lin Qiye, pleadingly asking, "Qiye, how about I help you carry some?"
"...No need."
Baili Pangpang:...
Buzz, buzz, buzz——!!
As soon as he finished speaking, the dense sound of drones flying around came from behind them, and Lin Qiye's expression changed slightly.
"The drones are coming in; we need to speed up, or we'll definitely be overtaken."
Cao Yuan turned to look around. The new recruits who had entered Jinan Mountain from the same direction were starting to scatter. After all, if they were gathered together, the probability of being hit by the drone's stray bullets was actually greater.
"Huff, huff, huff... Why don't you guys go first? This thing is too heavy. I feel like I can't outrun the drone!" Baili Pangpang said with a mournful face as he felt the buzzing getting closer and closer to him.
"Aren't you afraid of getting shot and then being punished?"
"Let them punish me then... but the punishment shouldn't be too terrible, right?" Baili Pangpang said somewhat uncertainly.