nycdaug Chapter 415 Training Camp Challenge (Page 12)
Chapter 415 Training Camp Challenge (Page 12)
Shangjing City, deep in the mountains.
A massive steel fortress stood amidst the misty mountains, its heavy metal gates emblazoned with the Night's Watch emblem, flanked by fully armed guards whose sharp eyes scanned every approaching individual.
This is the Night's Watch recruit training base; today is the day they report for duty.
The long line stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the base gate. The new recruits dragged their luggage, their expressions varied—some were excited, some were nervous, and some looked bewildered.
At the registration desk, an instructor sat at a table and asked without looking up:
"Name?"
"Li Zhenzhen!"
The instructor looked up and saw a girl with a high ponytail and a determined look in her eyes, holding a book titled "Basic Theories of Mysticism".
"Pass, go in."
Li Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief and dragged her luggage through the base gate.
"next."
"Long Tiesheng!"
The instructor looked up and saw a burly, dark-skinned boy standing there with a serious expression, holding a small flag that read "Spokesperson for Mortals and Immortals".
Instructor: "...?"
Long Tiesheng said earnestly, "I am the representative of the immortals in the mortal realm, and I wield the fire of humanity!"
The instructor paused for two seconds, then wrote "Passed" on the registration form and waved his hand: "Go in."
Long Tiesheng nodded in satisfaction and strode inside.
The line continued forward, and soon it was the turn of a boy wearing a black baseball cap and with gloomy eyes.
"Name?"
"Lu Baoyou."
The instructor suddenly looked up, his eyes sharpening: "Lu Baoyou?"
Lu Baoyou frowned: "Yes."
The instructor sneered, "Your training qualification has been revoked."
Lu Baoyou was stunned for a moment, then shouted angrily, "Why?!"
The instructor slammed the registration form shut: "Yesterday you used the power of the Divine Ruins without permission, causing a train to break down. We haven't even settled the score with you yet! We're only sparing you from being sent to the fasting center because you're a minor!"
Lu Baoyou gritted her teeth: "That was just an accident! I want to become a Night Watchman!"
The instructor said coldly, "Go back now. You'll have a two-year probationary period. Come back if you pass."
Lu Baoyou clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, but in the end, he took a deep breath, dragged his luggage, and turned to leave.
—But he didn’t go far.
In the woods outside the base, Lu Baoyou found a secluded corner, stared at the steel fortress, and murmured to himself:
"They won't let me join? I'll insist on getting in!"
Li Zhenzhen had just put her luggage away and was about to familiarize herself with the surroundings when she suddenly heard a familiar voice:
"Hey, Zhenzhen, long time no see!"
She turned her head and exclaimed, her eyes wide: "Li Mo?! What are you doing here?!"
Li Mo leaned against the doorframe with a smile: "I'm a new recruit too!"
Li Zhenzhen's lips twitched: "Didn't you say you wanted to be an archaeologist?!"
Li Mo shrugged: "What archaeology is as mysterious and exciting as playing games?"
Just then, a loud voice came from the corridor:
"Fellow countrymen! Greetings! I am Long Tiesheng! The spokesperson for immortals among mortals! I wield the flame of humanity!"
Li Zhenzhen and Li Mo turned their heads at the same time and saw Long Tiesheng standing at the door, holding up that small flag.
Li Mo: "...?"
Li Zhenzhen sighed, "Oh no, there are so many weirdos in this year's recruits..."
As night fell, the base's patrol teams began their shift change.
Lu Baoyou hid in the bushes, observing the base's defensive layout.
"If we can't get in through the front gate, we'll climb over the wall!"
He took a deep breath, and the power of the Divine Ruins surged slightly, making his body feel light. With a few leaps, he flipped over the high wall.
However, as soon as he landed, he heard a lazy voice:
"Hey, isn't this the kid who got disqualified?"
Lu Baoyou suddenly looked up and saw a man wearing sunglasses leaning against the wall, holding a cup of milk tea in his hand.
—Shen Qingzhu!
Lu Baoyou's pupils contracted: "...Who are you?!"
Shen Qingzhu took a sip of her milk tea and said slowly, "Trespassing on the Night Watch's base is an even more serious offense."
Lu Baoyou gritted her teeth: "I just want to participate in the training camp!"
Shen Qingzhu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Do you know the consequences of misusing the Divine Ruins?"
Lu Baoyou remained silent.
Just then, another voice came:
"Brother Qingzhu, what fun thing did you catch?"
—Bai Li Pangpang peeked out from around the corner, holding a bag of potato chips in his hand.
Shen Qingzhu pointed at Lu Baoyou: "A rebellious brat."
Baili Pangpang's eyes lit up: "Hey! Isn't this the one who started the train derailment?"
Lu Baoyou: "..."
Baili Pangpang came over and looked Lu Baoyou up and down: "Kid, you've got guts, daring to break into the Night Watchers' base at night?"
Lu Baoyou coldly replied, "It's none of your business."
Shen Qingzhu scoffed: "Don't care? When the patrol comes, you'll be going to the fasting quarters for tea."
Lu Baoyou's expression changed.
Suddenly, Baili Pangpang slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "How about this! You come and join us!"
Shen Qingzhu: "...?"
Lu Baoyou was also stunned: "...What?"
Baili Pangpang chuckled: "Since you have nowhere else to go anyway, why don't you come with us for now, and then find a chance to sneak in once the training camp officially starts!"
Shen Qingzhu frowned: "Fatty, are you serious?"
Baili Pangpang shrugged: "What else? Let him be arrested by the patrol?"
Lu Baoyou looked at them suspiciously: "...Why are you helping me?"
Baili Pangpang grinned: "Because—it's interesting!"
Lu Baoyou: "..."
...
the next day.
More than 600 new recruits stood in neat rows, and on the high platform in front, Instructor Hong solemnly announced the rules.
At the very back of the group, Lu Baoyou, wearing a borrowed hat, discreetly blended in.
Beside her, Li Zhenzhen muttered softly, "Something feels off..."
Li Mo leaned closer with a smile: "Maybe it's just your imagination?"
Long Tiesheng suddenly raised his fist: "May the immortals of the mortal realm protect us!"
The surrounding recruits: "..."
In the distance, Baili Pangpang and Shen Qingzhu were hiding behind a tree, peeking at them.
Baili Pangpang: "Tsk tsk, this batch of new recruits is really interesting."
Shen Qingzhu: "Especially the one holding the flag."
"Everyone get ready, it's almost our turn to go on stage!"
...
Instructor Hong stood on the high platform, solemnly explaining the Night Watch's disciplinary regulations. The six hundred new recruits stood in neat rows, listening with growing drowsiness.
Sudden--
"Crack!"
A dark crack appeared in the sky!
The recruits looked up sharply and saw a massive portal to the underworld unfolding in the clouds. A sinister aura instantly enveloped the entire base, as if even the sunlight was being swallowed up.
Holy crap! The sky has split open!
"Enemy attack?! Enemy attack!"
"Run!"
The recruits instantly descended into chaos. Some crouched down with their heads in their hands, some turned and ran, and some even pulled out their frying pans (Long Tiesheng: "Essential for self-defense!").
Instructor Hong's lips twitched: "..."
at this time--
"Tack, tick, tick..."
Eight figures slowly emerged from the Netherworld portal, their blood-red cloaks fluttering in the wind, their faces adorned with hideous ghost masks, each step seemingly treading on the heartbeats of the crowd.
The whole place was dead silent.
The masked man at the head chuckled softly, his voice deep and magnetic:
"Good afternoon, new recruits. We are... Nightfall Squad!"
The recruits stared wide-eyed, their breath catching in their throats.
—The Nightfall Squad! That legendary special squad! The ones who slay gods!
On the instructors' bench, Yuan Gang stood up, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:
"Now, I announce a challenge—"
He raised his hand and waved it, and an ancient stone tablet crashed to the ground, covered with obscure runes.
"The Town-Suppressing Stele!"
"The rules are simple—"
"Among the new recruits, whoever can shoot off the mask of any member of the Nightfall Squad..."
"Graduate immediately! Become a member of the Night's Watch right away!"
"otherwise--"
"Just participate in the year-long intensive training!"
The recruits were taken aback at first, then burst into a commotion.
"Graduate directly?!"
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
But they quickly calmed down—
The other side is the Nightfall Squad! Eight people taking down six hundred doesn't seem impossible...
Seeing this, Yuan Gang sneered:
"What? Over six hundred people, and you don't even dare to fight eight of them?"
"If you don't even dare to do this, then go home and raise pigs!"
"The Night's Watch has no useless men!"
"Shh!"
The Zhenxu Stele was activated, and an invisible wave spread out, suppressing everyone's cultivation level to the Pool Realm!
"Brothers! Orcs will never be slaves! Charge!!!"
Long Tiesheng raised the banner of "Mortal Immortal" high and charged out first!
The new recruits: "..."
But his words ignited everyone's passion!
"Fuck him!"
"Six hundred against eight, the advantage is on my side!"
"For graduation! Let's go!!!"
Six hundred new recruits surged toward the Nightfall Squad like a tidal wave!
Zhang Yun stood at the very front, a slight smile playing on the corners of his mouth beneath his mask.
"interesting."
He raised his hand and waved—
"boom!!!"
A thick, blood-red mist erupted from the Gate of the Underworld, instantly engulfing the entire base!
The recruits' vision was completely blocked, and they could only hear the shouts of their comrades around them:
"Holy crap! I can't see!"
"Who stepped on my foot?!"
"Don't push me! I'm going to fall!"
In the mist, the recruits were in complete disarray, while the Night Squad moved through the fog like ghosts.
Jiang Er's figure appeared and disappeared in the mist, and she chuckled, "Let's play hide-and-seek~"
Just as the new recruits rushed forward, she nimbly slipped behind them and gave them a gentle push—
"thump!"
"thump!"
"thump!"
The three of them fell together like a human pyramid.
On the other side, Baili Pangpang, holding a frying pan, shouted excitedly, "Come on! Let's fight head-on!"
A dozen or so new recruits surrounded him. He chuckled and flipped the pot over—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The three recruits were so dizzy from being filmed that they spun around in circles.
Shen Qingzhu leaned lazily against the wall, her eyes behind her sunglasses scanning the new recruits rushing towards her, and said indifferently, "Too slow."
As soon as the recruits approached, they were pressed to the ground by an invisible gravity, unable to move.
An Qingyu adjusted her glasses, holding a small notebook in her hand, recording the recruits' reaction data. Occasionally, she would sidestep attacks, muttering, "Hmm, fear level increased by 30%, interesting..."