"Now that everyone is here, congratulations. The eight of you are officially members of our special forces unit."
By six in the morning, dawn had nearly broken. The eight recruits who had passed selection were brimming with energy.
The sixteen who had been eliminated stood in stark contrast.
Everyone headed back down the mountain to the base.
On the training field.
"Starting today, the eight of you are officially part of the special forces."
Frost's expression was cold and severe.
Adrian and the other recruits who had passed the assessment stood in a line, unable to hide the delight in their eyes.
"Passing the assessment was only the first step. Right now, you are nothing more than special forces recruits."
"Over the next month, the veterans will teach you how to become qualified special forces operators."
"When you enter frontline Battlefield Instances, you may face other nations' special forces directly. They are not NPCs. Their marksmanship and resolve are among the best their countries have to offer."
At that, Frost paused and gave Adrian a meaningful look.
"Today's first lesson is hand-to-hand combat."
Eight instructors acting as sparring partners were already waiting on the training field.
They were all close-quarters combat experts within the special forces.
They would pass on their fighting experience to the new recruits.
"Damn it. What do I know about fighting techniques?"
The System had only given Adrian firearms experience. This kind of close-quarters fighting required years of accumulated practice.
It looked like he was about to get his ass kicked.
"Garrett, give us a demonstration."
Frost called on him.
"Yes, ma'am."
Garrett answered and stepped forward.
An instructor about Garrett's size stepped out from the instructors' line.
"This is Instructor Cole. He specializes in close-quarters combat and silent takedowns."
It was clear that Cole, the special forces operator, had tremendous confidence in his close-combat skills.
Garrett was one of the larger recruits, and he was equally confident in his own fighting ability.
Their eyes met, and an invisible spark seemed to crackle through the air.
"Please go easy on me."
After bowing to each other, both men assumed fighting stances.
One minute later.
"You all right, Garrett? Need to see the medic?"
Garrett lay on the ground while Cole stood beside him, wearing an expression of concern.
"I didn't think you'd go down that easily."
The words sounded concerned, but they dealt Garrett's pride a devastating blow.
At first, the two had tested each other out.
Garrett had even held the advantage.
But then Cole had suddenly rushed in, closed tight against Garrett's body, and driven a fist into his stomach, dropping him on the spot.
After that blow, Garrett had not gotten back up.
"I-I'm fine."
Garrett lay there for a full five minutes before he barely managed to stand.
"Hand-to-hand combat is just as important for special forces personnel. When you are fighting in confined quarters or your ammunition runs dry, close combat may be your only way to kill the enemy."
Adrian could not help feeling that Frost had far too much free time. She was the commander of a special forces group, yet she was personally training recruits.
"Wonder who it was that got so scared in the last instance that she collapsed on the ground," Adrian muttered.
"Hmm? Adrian, do you have something to say?"
Unfortunately, Frost heard him.
"Ma'am, I was just marveling at how skilled Instructor Cole is."
Adrian immediately snapped to attention and answered.
"Oh? In that case, why don't you experience it for yourself?"
Frost truly could not see through Adrian.
He commanded subordinates that elite, yet he was supposedly just an ordinary student.
More importantly, he had even had the nerve to take part in special forces selection.
Everyone had kept their identities as Mercenaries confidential, and the Federation did not investigate a Mercenary's true identity.
But Adrian's performance last time had given Frost the wrong impression.
She knew that Adrian was an excellent shot and possessed strong combat instincts.
Her first assumption was that he simply had no interest in the hand-to-hand training before him.
She also wanted him to come out and offer a few pointers.
"That won't be necessary, Commander Frost. I've already seen how capable Instructor Cole is."
Adrian had no desire to become the second Garrett.
The guy had taken only one punch and still could not straighten his back.
But to Frost, his words sounded like this:
I have no interest in hand-to-hand combat training.
That displeased her somewhat.
I know you're capable, but I'm the unit commander ordering you to train. You could at least listen.
"Adrian, that is an order."
Frost directly invoked her authority as unit commander.
With no other choice, Adrian stepped forward.
"Hello, Adrian. Remember me?"
Adrian froze.
"What's this about? Have we met before?"
he asked in confusion.
"Remember the recruit assessment? I still remember that little jacket-throwing stunt of yours."
Adrian remembered now.
During the recruit assessment, it had been Cole who was positioned on the stairwell landing to pick off the trainees.
If Cole had not brought it up, Adrian would have nearly forgotten about it.
"Don't tell me you're planning to settle both old and new scores at once."
Instinctively, Adrian took a step back.
But to Cole, it looked as though Adrian was opening up and preparing for an all-out fight.
With lightning speed, Cole raised both hands in front of his chest, spread his legs, lowered his center of gravity, and settled into a fighting stance.
Looks like I can't avoid this beating. I just hope he doesn't hit too hard.
Adrian felt a surge of despair.
His performance during the recruit assessment had made these instructors overestimate him. Cole clearly would not handle him as gently as he had Garrett.
If Cole had used only thirty percent of his strength against Garrett, then he was now bringing his full power to bear against Adrian.
He lashed out with a roundhouse kick toward Adrian.
Adrian did not dodge and let the kick land on the outside of his thigh.
Hiss.
Adrian took the kick squarely.
It was only a probing strike, and Cole had not put much force behind it.
Yet even that testing kick made Adrian feel as though his femur might snap.
He endured the pain without making a sound, and his face showed no expression at all.
No. Even if I lose, I have to lose with some dignity.
Despite the pain, Adrian maintained the same stance.
"Not bad. I didn't expect you to be this good at close combat too."
Cole's kick had indeed been a test.
If Adrian had made any move at all, Cole would either have leaped back immediately or seized the opening to counterattack.
But Adrian had done neither. He had simply taken the kick head-on.
That only convinced Cole further that Adrian was also a master of close-quarters fighting.
He lowered his body even further.
His stance shifted from a wide-legged guard to small, bouncing steps.
Come on. I have absolutely no fighting ability. Can't you see that? You're really going all out now?
Adrian roared inwardly once again.
He had thought that taking that strike would make the other man realize he could not fight.
Instead, it had ignited Cole's fighting spirit.
"Look at that. Cole's getting serious. That kid is in for it," the other seven instructors said behind them.
Cole's close-combat ability ranked among the best in the entire unit.
Forcing him to use his full strength usually required either a formidable opponent or at least three attackers.
"Mm. Adrian really isn't as simple as he looks."
Frost was interested now as well.
One arm crossed over her chest, she rested her other hand beneath her chin and watched with intense concentration.
"Wait."
Just as everyone was anticipating a vicious close-quarters brawl between Adrian and Cole, Adrian suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
Cole stopped moving, though he continued to watch Adrian warily.
"Instructor Cole, the fighting techniques I know are lethal techniques. It could get dangerous if we spar, so I think we'd better call this off."
After a frantic burst of brainstorming, Adrian had finally come up with this plan.
If all of you think I know how to fight, then I might as well bluff it all the way through.
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