Pistol Match

Chapter 3: Pistol Match

On the first day of enlistment, a new recruit challenges an officer to a pistol match!

This news was like throwing a high-explosive grenade into a pond, sending shockwaves through the entire training base.

What made it even more sensational was that the recruit had fainted from heatstroke after running, and the officer was a captain-level professional training officer. This contrast caused an earthquake-like commotion at the base.

Whether soldiers or other officers, everyone was stunned upon hearing about the match, and then couldn't help but feel sorry for the recruit.

"Who else could he offend but Captain Brant? I heard that officer was in the top three in military shooting competitions before."

"Is that recruit crazy?"

"He's given up on himself. He's going to be utterly humiliated now."

Regardless, this was something onlookers delighted in. Just before five o'clock, almost everyone in the training base headed towards the shooting range, hoping to witness the disgrace of the soldier named Kyle.

"Kyle, you're too impulsive," Steve sighed repeatedly. "You've barely used a gun, how can your marksmanship possibly compare to an officer who's been in the military long-term? Go back and apologize to Captain Brant now, maybe you still..."

"Don't worry, after this match, no one here will look down on us anymore," Kyle said nonchalantly, showing no sign of nervousness.

Because he had already drawn a card that could grant him victory in this match!

Training Base, Open Field Shooting Range.

The spectator stands at the shooting range were already packed with soldiers in military green uniforms and steel helmets. Many officers in military uniforms were also present to watch the spectacle.

Captain Brant took his position first to test his firearm, while the female agent diligently stood by with her file. Seeing Steve bring Kyle in, Captain Brant gestured towards the various military firearms displayed on the table: "Here are all the American military rifles, pick one yourself."

Kyle nodded but didn't walk towards the table. Instead, he approached the female agent and asked with a smile, "May I ask what kind of gun Agent Carter is using? Could I borrow it for a moment?"

Agent Carter looked up. In the bright sunlight, her exquisite European features, red lips, and fair skin combined to exude a captivating charm.

After leaving the officer's office, it was from Steve that Kyle learned the female agent's name – Carter. She was even more beautiful and moving than the one who appeared in the movies.

"Of course. But are you sure you want to use it in the competition?" Agent Carter said coolly as she took out the special pistol she carried. It was a small, black, custom-made handgun.

"Soldier, are you joking? You want to use a pistol against my rifle?" Captain Brant's face showed anger.

Even at fifty meters, how could a pistol's accuracy compare to a rifle's?

"Please, just let me borrow it." Kyle confidently took the custom pistol from Carter's hand. The exquisite handgun seemed tailor-made for a woman, its craftsmanship far surpassing the rifles on the table. The gun's body gleamed with a cold light under the sun, undoubtedly a deadly weapon.

"Nice gun," Kyle praised, and began to swing the handgun.

"Three shots to decide the winner. No need to waste the country's bullets on you," Captain Brant said. He cocked the safety on his rifle and walked onto the shooting platform.

"Three shots it is. Officer, please, you shoot first," Kyle said with a smile, making a gentlemanly gesture.

"You young whippersnapper who lives in a greenhouse, let me show you what marksmanship is."

Captain Brant moved swiftly, gripping the rifle firmly. After a few seconds of aiming, he fired three shots at the target fifty meters away.

After shooting, he stood up with satisfaction. Shooting at a fifty-meter target with a rifle was basic, and with over twenty years of shooting experience in the military, it was effortless.

Soon, the instructor reported the results of the target: "Captain Brant. Fifty-meter target, two shots bullseye, one shot inner circle, a total of twenty-nine points!"

Twenty-nine points, almost a perfect score!

The surrounding soldiers at the range gasped. Captain Brant felt pleased internally, but maintained a serious expression, shaking his head and saying, "My condition isn't optimal, otherwise thirty points would have been easy."

"As expected of Rifle Mastery," Kyle shrugged and walked to the shooting platform on his own.

In his past life, he lived in a peaceful era. He had never even touched a handgun, let alone practiced with one. But now, holding the card related to handgun skills, he felt an unprecedented sense of familiarity.

Looking at the distant target, Kyle's movements weren't exactly fluid, but he raised his arm, aimed, and fired in less than half a second, also three consecutive shots!

"He's really putting on a show," Captain Brant shook his head. Fifty meters was already a long distance for a handgun, and the difficulty of hitting the target was more than one level higher than with a rifle.

To win, he would have to hit the bullseye with all three shots, a probability close to zero for a rookie recruit.

Indeed, the instructor took a while to inspect the fifty-meter targets before announcing loudly: "Soldier Kyle. Fifty-meter target, three shots missed, score: 0."

The shooting range fell silent, and then the audience erupted in laughter.

Captain Brant was also stunned. He had expected Kyle to be confident, and even if he couldn't win, he would at least hit the target. He never expected all three shots to miss.

"A farce, a complete farce. Kyle, pack your things and get out," Captain Brant said with a mocking shake of his head. But Kyle, still standing on the shooting platform, suddenly shouted, "Instructor, please check the hundred-meter target."

"Hundred-meter target? What more do you want? Haven't you had enough fun?!" Captain Brant finally lost his temper. He stepped forward with his rifle, his face turning ashen with rage, the muzzle almost touching Kyle's head. "Believe it or not, I'll shoot you!"

Kyle said calmly, "Before you shoot me, could you wait for the instructor to report the hundred-meter target results?"

"Are you crazy? Do you really want me to shoot you?!" Captain Brant said angrily. Just then, the instructor's hurried report from a hundred meters away rang out:

"Re-report, Soldier Kyle, hundred-meter target, three shots bullseye, thirty points!"

Hundred-meter target, three bullseyes!

The shooting range, which had been full of laughter, fell silent again. The soldiers and even officers outside the field looked astonished.

Captain Brant wore an expression of disbelief and astonishment. He asked the instructor again, and after the instructor confirmed it was correct, he slowly lowered his rifle.

"In that case, I win this match. Officer, I will continue my training at the base," Kyle said, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. Almost getting a gun pointed at his head was no joke.

However, the result was that he had won. It was a close call, but that was enough.

Without waiting for Captain Brant's response, Kyle walked directly off the shooting platform towards Agent Carter to return the custom pistol.

Carter looked at him in amazement, saying with emotion, "I didn't expect you could do this with a pistol."

"With the range of this special pistol, you could do it too," Kyle replied with a smile.

"How did you know?" Carter couldn't help but ask.

"Just a guess. But today, you were my goddess of victory. I'll definitely thank you properly next time I have the chance." After speaking, Kyle turned and left the shooting range, leaving Carter standing there bewildered, along with the dazed Captain Brant.

Outside the shooting range, Steve saw Kyle emerge and quickly ran over, giving him a hug. "Kyle, you scared me to death!"

"Come on, don't be so gay about it, I'm straight," Kyle said, but after the hug, he still placed his hand on Steve's slender shoulder.

"I didn't expect your marksmanship to be so good. Teach me properly in the future," Steve said happily.

"Of course, who are we to each other? Let's go eat."

The two walked towards the mess hall with their arms around each other. Watching them leave, someone in the audience of the shooting range started it, and soon thunderous applause erupted.

The new recruits from the same dormitory who had been mocking and ridiculing them lowered their heads in shame.

A pistol at a hundred meters versus a rifle at fifty meters, a complete victory! Such sharpshooting skill deserved applause and respect from everyone in the barracks.

"The army's meals are nutritious, but the taste is still not great," Kyle said after eating, returning to the barracks dormitory to rest. After this astonishing gamble, the attitude of the new recruits in his dormitory had completely changed by 180 degrees.

In Steve's words, those who used to ignore them now couldn't wait to get close and ask for his friendship. Those who used to bully and tease them were now walking on eggshells.

This was the deterrence of strength and talent.

Having enjoyed the convenience and benefits of drawing cards, Kyle loved this feeling of constantly enriching and strengthening himself even more.

With nearly twenty people in the dormitory, he was like a dry sponge, continuously drawing various card abilities from his surroundings, accepting them all.

However, these soldiers were all young new recruits. Even if they had cards, most of them were limited to white cards, with very few green cards. And among the green cards, there were very few with practical value.

Agent Carter was so much better. She had over twenty green cards. When would he be able to draw all of them?

After collecting, Kyle leaned on his bed and was thinking when Steve suddenly leaned over his bed and asked curiously, "Kyle, what are you thinking about?"

Still lost in thought, Kyle blurted out, "Thinking about Agent Carter."

"Ah, Agent Carter." As soon as Steve heard the name, his face instantly stiffened.

"You guy, you like Agent Carter, don't you?" Kyle chuckled inwardly and comforted him, "Don't worry, I won't steal the woman you've set your sights on."

"You really are." Steve's face showed a hint of emotion, but soon he became dejected again. "I'll forget about it. I'm not worthy of a woman like her."

"Never underestimate yourself, Steve. You must believe in your talent and your future," Kyle said, patting Steve's shoulder and encouraging him like he was giving him a pep talk. "If you want to pursue that woman, maintain your will and drive, and tap into your potential. I don't want to be on the battlefield in the future without you by my side."

After all, you are Captain America! In this World War II era of Marvel, he was practically the main character.

"Thank you, Kyle," Steve nodded forcefully before getting off the bed.

Just keep striving to become stronger. Although, with my ability to draw cards, I will always be one step ahead of you.

Kyle watched Steve's retreating figure, his thoughts returning to the ability cards he had collected.

Putting aside the over a hundred white ability cards covering various fields, he now only held five green cards.

[Rifle Mastery]

[English Mastery]

[Military Boxing and Combat Mastery]

[Psychology Mastery]

[True Pistol Mastery]

Among them, [True Pistol Mastery] shone far brighter than the other four green cards.

[True Pistol Mastery]: Master pistol skills to near perfection. Green rare ability card.

This was the most valuable ability card Kyle had drawn from Carter. With this rare card, he could easily defeat the officer who possessed Rifle Mastery.

Otherwise, with both of them mastering Rifle Mastery, Kyle and the officer's gamble would have been a mere fifty-fifty chance.

"Green rare card > Green card > White card."

"Green ability cards are harder to encounter than white cards, and the requirements for both drawing distance and time have increased significantly."

"I don't need to go to the battlefield yet, so the other green cards aren't very useful. Right now, what I need most are green ability cards that can enhance physical fitness!"

Kyle thought to himself, his original body's physique was terrible. Otherwise, he wouldn't have collapsed from heatstroke on the first day. To adapt to the high-intensity training in the barracks, he needed to improve his physique.

Directly drawing talent abilities related to physical fitness from others, such as the green card [Military Boxing and Combat Mastery], the white card [Running Specialty], and the white card [Swimming Specialty], drawing them would indirectly improve his own physique.

It was a pity that white ability cards provided only a small boost, while green ability cards provided a significant physical enhancement.

"Tomorrow, I'll continue searching for ability cards. The focus will be on green ability cards related to physical fitness."

Kyle's eyes gleamed green. Everyone in the military training base was his hunting target!