Fast on the Bend, Truly Fast

In just ten minutes, the New Recruits undergoing the assessment had split into three echelons on the Training ground, their strengths and weaknesses obvious at a glance.

Fullbody was in the First Echelon. Under his parents' guidance, he had undergone systematic training from a young age and had an excellent foundation.

If he had not become obsessed with dancing after growing up and shown no interest in becoming a Marine, his angry parents would not have thrown him into the branch to start over.

When he rounded the bend and spotted Luo Ya a dozen meters ahead, he froze, even slowing his pace considerably.

"Luo Ya?"

Wasn't Luo Ya behind him?

Could he have fallen an entire lap behind?

Fullbody frowned. Other than falling a full lap behind, there was no way to explain what he was seeing. But based on what he knew of Luo Ya, he should not have fallen this far behind.

He said nothing.

Fullbody accelerated and passed Luo Ya.

This was a New Recruit assessment. The only person who could help him was himself. If he could not complete the assessment within the allotted time, it only meant that he was not strong enough.

Get yourself together, you little brat.

Fullbody muttered inwardly.

Luo Ya had met the assessment standard days ago, and he had seemed to be in good spirits today. The fact that he had fallen so far behind now was most likely due to some outside interference.

The other New Recruits in the First Echelon caught up as well. When they saw Luo Ya and Sergeant Morgue moving forward side by side, their hearts skipped a beat.

"It's Luo Ya!"

"And Sergeant Morgue!"

"Oh no, Luo Ya's been targeted by the demon!"

If the Marines at the branch were asked to vote, the superior officer they respected and feared most would undoubtedly be Sergeant Morgue.

Sergeant Morgue always wore a cold expression and was extremely strict in everything he did. Anything that displeased him could earn a scolding.

At the same time, Sergeant Morgue was incredibly strong. Even some Lieutenant Officers were no match for him. Within the branch, only Colonel Rhode could suppress Sergeant Morgue.

The true demon of the 153rd Branch.

Respected and feared by all!

"Luo Ya's really unlucky."

As they passed Luo Ya, everyone revealed a trace of pity in their eyes. Although being overtaken by New Recruits was humiliating, they actually liked Luo Ya quite a bit in private.

If Sergeant Morgue had his eye on them instead, they would probably perform abnormally too.

Soon, the Second Echelon passed Luo Ya.

Even the worst Third Echelon had reached right behind Luo Ya.

"I'm a whole lap behind."

Watching the New Recruits pass him, Luo Ya knew very clearly that he had fallen far behind. Yet he did not panic, doing his best to keep himself calm.

"My body is adapting."

Observation and thought were among the best ways to learn.

Rather than blindly copying Sergeant Morgue, Luo Ya combined the techniques Morgue displayed with the running principles taught by the Instructor. He continuously adjusted his posture, searching for a rhythm that suited him.

Repeated trial and error had caused him to fall far behind the others, but it had also gradually allowed him to grasp a more efficient way of moving.

He had figured it out!

His ragged breathing gradually steadied.

His chaotic steps found their rhythm once more.

"My body feels so much lighter!"

Luo Ya could clearly feel how much more relaxed his body had become. Previously, he could at most reach a passing level. Now, perhaps he should try chasing excellence.

A radiant smile bloomed across his face.

"Sergeant Morgue, I'm going to speed up."

"Hmm?"

Before Morgue could react, Luo Ya had already shot several meters ahead, his speed surging far beyond what it had been before.

This brat!

Morgue's eyes brightened slightly as he quickly chased after him.

Behind them, the New Recruits of the Third Echelon were dumbfounded.

"So fast! Why did he suddenly speed up?!"

They had just been secretly delighted at the thought of catching up to Luo Ya, but in an instant, he had left them far behind.

Damn Luo Ya! When the First and Second Echelons caught up to you, you didn't do this. You're treating us differently!

One minute later.

The Second Echelon stirred.

"The newbie's caught up!"

As they rounded the bend, the Second Echelon watched in stunned disbelief as Luo Ya overtook them from the inside, then swiftly widened the gap.

Why had this kid suddenly gone berserk?

Could he really keep up that pace? He'd better not burn out in a moment.

"Look, Luo Ya's about to catch the First Echelon!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Luo Ya caught up to the tail end of the First Echelon, then quickly overtook them from the inside at the next bend.

Hiss—he really passed them!

The New Recruits in the First Echelon were all aiming for an "Excellent" rating. Overtaking them was no small feat.

"It's fine. That kid is a whole lap behind us. He won't catch up that easily. At that speed, he'll run out of steam soon enough."

The New Recruits consoled themselves.

If Luo Ya overtook them, where would they put their old faces?

By now, more than half the assessment time had passed.

The weakest Third Echelon had slowed dramatically. Every member had burned through a great deal of stamina and could only keep running at a reduced pace.

They knew full well that the gap between them and the other echelons would only continue to widen. Unless something unexpected happened, the First Echelon would lap them again and again in order to finish within twenty-five minutes.

"Coming through!"

A voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

He's here!

The New Recruits of the Third Echelon turned around gloomily. When they saw the lone Luo Ya, they all froze, thinking they were hallucinating.

What happened?

Hadn't this kid just left them behind?

"Coming through, coming through!"

Only after Luo Ya swaggered straight through the middle of them did the Third Echelon's New Recruits understand what had happened.

FUCK!

They'd been overtaken by a newbie!

The Second Echelon also spotted Luo Ya rapidly closing in. Every one of them felt a chill down their spine, their sense of danger surging.

"How is this kid so fierce?!"

They had thought Luo Ya would quickly run out of steam after sprinting so fast, but the bastard only ran faster and faster, as cheerful as a wild horse let loose.

Damn it. Losing to a newbie in formal training was anything but honorable. They had to defend the Veterans' dignity.

"Brothers, don't let him pass us!"

"Got it!"

The Second Echelon tightened their formation, blocking the track so completely that Luo Ya could only try passing from the outermost lane—but doing so would waste a great deal of stamina.

Luo Ya realized this and hung behind the Second Echelon without rushing to break through, silently waiting for an opportunity.

Fifteen seconds later, Luo Ya suddenly accelerated.

Ahead was a bend!

"Not good!"

When rounding a bend, the echelon formation stretched into a line in order to conserve stamina, exposing plenty of openings.

Luo Ya had overtaken them through the bends before!

However, before they could shore up their defensive formation, Luo Ya drove straight into the innermost side of the track. Packed tightly among them, he ran with his head down. When the next bend came, Luo Ya accelerated again and broke free from the formation.

They'd been passed!

The New Recruits of the Second Echelon turned dark-faced.

To be overtaken so easily by a newbie—they wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury themselves in it, rather than come out and make fools of themselves.

Were all newbies monsters these days?!

"Don't worry, there's still the First Echelon!"