New Recruit Assessment

With the end-of-month evaluation approaching, the new recruits grew increasingly tense, and their training loads rose considerably across the board.

Kuro's threat was indeed terrifying.

But for recruits who had enlisted for over three months, failing to complete the basic physical fitness assessment for too long meant they would likely be discharged.

That was even harder for them to accept.

Especially since many recruits had joined the Navy to support their families. Only after becoming official Third Class Soldiers would they receive a salary.

The only ones taking it easy were the newcomers who had just enlisted.

On the day of the assessment.

In the newcomer training area, the others exchanged looks in disbelief when they saw Luo Ya heading toward the assessment registration desk.

It was only his first month.

"Luo Ya, are you taking the assessment?"

"That's right."

Luo Ya turned to look at the newcomers from his batch and smiled encouragingly. "You should work hard too. Become official Navy soldiers as soon as possible."

"Uh, we... yeah!"

The newcomers silently watched Luo Ya leave.

The gap between them had grown this wide already.

Yet strangely, they did not feel as unwilling to accept it as they had imagined.

The newcomers looked at one another and broke into bitter smiles.

When they had first arrived, they had indeed been rather hostile toward Luo Ya. More than anything, it had been jealousy. But as they spent time with him, that jealousy had gradually turned into admiration.

They had watched every bit of Luo Ya's effort and sweat. Honestly speaking, even now, they could not do what he did.

Damn it, no wonder he got stronger!

"Go, Luo Ya!"

"You have to pass the assessment!"

"Show those stuck-up old-timers what newcomers are made of!"

The newcomers cupped their hands around their mouths and shouted at Luo Ya's retreating back, drawing quite a bit of attention.

Luo Ya did not turn around. He raised his hand, held his index and middle fingers together, and swept them from beside his ear toward the front, signaling that he had heard them.

He absolutely would not fail.

At the training ground, nearly all the recruits taking part in the assessment had arrived. There were over twenty in total, and they were somewhat surprised to see Luo Ya.

It was very rare for a newcomer to take the assessment after only one month of training, but considering it was Luo Ya, it did not seem all that strange.

A week ago, Luo Ya had already caught up with their training pace.

That kid really worked himself to the bone!

Luo Ya walked over to stand beside Fullbody, his posture straight as a rod.

"Yo, Luo Ya."

Without shifting his gaze, Fullbody teased him in a barely audible voice.

"You looked pretty cool just now."

"Not bad."

Luo Ya curled his lips into a smile.

After training hard for a month, it was finally time to test the results. This physical fitness assessment was not only a challenge for him, but also a recognition of himself.

He firmly believed that effort really could make one stronger!

The first round: standing at attention for half an hour.

A row of tables and chairs had been set up in front of the formation. Including Colonel Rhode, more than a dozen officers from the branch had all arrived.

Not even the slightest movement could escape their eyes.

The recruit assessment was an important event for the branch, and also a good thing. The branch's future main force would emerge from among these recruits.

Colonel Rhode smiled as he swept his gaze across the recruits. When he saw Fullbody, he paused slightly before looking at Luo Ya beside him.

His expression gradually turned strange.

Thirty percent pleased, thirty percent approving, thirty percent gratified, and ten percent gnashing with anger—like some kind of pie chart.

"Morgue, is that the kid?"

"Yes."

Morgue replied sullenly, his gaze toward Luo Ya filled with confusion.

Before coming here, Colonel Rhode had specifically asked him about how the recruits' miscellaneous duties were assigned, especially the recruit responsible for the top two floors of the Tower.

He had no idea why.

"Mm, not bad indeed."

Rhode offered his praise without changing expression, but inwardly, he was cursing furiously.

Little bastard!

For the past month, every time he went to the bathroom, he had to climb two extra flights of stairs. Who knew why that brat scrubbed the toilets so spotlessly every day.

There were not even any female soldiers in the branch. Who here was not a rough old man?

Fortunately, the kid was about to become an official Marine and would no longer be responsible for chores. His hard days were finally over.

"Take better care of him during training later."

"Understood!"

Morgue's gaze shifted slightly.

What did that mean? Was he supposed to keep a close eye on him?

Could Luo Ya have offended the colonel?

That was entirely possible. He had heard that recently, whenever the colonel needed the bathroom, he specifically ran down to the bottom floor of the Tower to fight the Marines for a toilet.

It was probably because the upstairs bathrooms had not been cleaned properly.

He understood.

Still, even without the colonel's instructions, he would strictly supervise the new recruits. No shortcomings could be tolerated!

Half an hour quickly passed.

All the new recruits, standing like statues, successfully completed the military posture assessment. If they could not even pass the first test, they would truly become a laughingstock.

Next came the running drill!

Twenty laps in total, ten kilometers. Completing the full course within thirty minutes counted as passing, while finishing within twenty-five minutes was considered excellent.

"Begin!"

As the order was given, the new recruits immediately began running around the training ground. Luo Ya followed at the very back of the group, gradually accelerating at an unhurried pace.

When he had first arrived, he and the other newcomers had completed ten laps in fifteen minutes. Considering the average physique of people in this world, they could manage it if they pushed themselves.

But completing twenty laps within thirty minutes was not as simple as doubling the difficulty. Even many veterans who had trained for three months struggled to accomplish it.

And this was only the beginning. There were another five or six physical assessments afterward. He had to conserve enough strength if he wanted any chance of passing them all.

A few minutes later.

"What's going on?"

As he ran, Luo Ya felt a chill crawl down his spine, his hairs standing on end as if some wild beast had fixed its gaze on him.

Luo Ya quickly found the cause.

Sergeant Morgue!

His burly body stood beside Luo Ya like an iron tower, running at the same pace. Every step left a footprint in the sand.

That kind of weight could crush someone to death!

Besides, perhaps it was only his imagination, but Luo Ya felt that Morgue's attention had been fixed on him the entire time. It was genuinely unsettling.

"Gulp!"

Luo Ya swallowed.

During the running assessment, several lieutenant officers ran alongside them to record the new recruits' training conditions.

He had not expected Morgue to single him out.

"Haah... my breathing rhythm is getting a little messy."

Luo Ya adjusted his breathing and stride. With such a menacing figure watching him, it was impossible not to feel pressured.

Although Morgue had been nothing more than an insignificant stepping stone in the story, the fact that he would one day become the leader of the 153rd Branch was proof of his strength.

Putting everything else aside, the giant axe on his back alone had to weigh several hundred pounds. Luo Ya probably could not even lift it.

Wait, the giant axe?

Luo Ya turned slightly to look at Morgue, and his heart shook once more.

Carrying such a heavy weapon, he could still run so steadily, without even shedding a drop of sweat.

So strong!

For the first time, Luo Ya experienced true strength from such close range. Even when he had met Colonel Rhode before, he had never felt anything like this.

Truly as immovable as a mountain!

"Whew..."

Luo Ya grew excited.

Instinctively, he focused his attention and observed Morgue's running posture—how his feet landed, the range of his arm swings, the center of his body's balance.

And, most importantly, his breathing rhythm.

"Hmm?"

Morgue had been watching Luo Ya all along and immediately noticed the change in him. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

This kid... was learning from him?