There's a Monster Among the Recruits

Chapter 4: There's a Monster Among the Recruits

The next morning.

After breakfast and their weighted morning exercises, the recruits were neatly dressed in their uniforms and assembled in the plaza.

However, their training officer wasn't the usual Captain Brant, but another robust, tall, middle-aged officer. His white skin was tanned to a bronze, his physique was that of a bear with a powerful back and muscles, and a palpable aura of killing intent emanated from him.

"Captain Brant is resting today, so I'll be taking over to lead your combat training. My name is Joseph Kingsley, you can call me Instructor Joseph," the substitute instructor announced loudly.

"Understood!" the recruits responded in unison.

"Oh, right, that new soldier who made quite a stir yesterday, he's in your squad, isn't he?" Instructor Joseph asked with some interest. At this, the recruits' gazes all shifted towards Kyle in the second row. Steve looked nervously at his buddy.

"Soldier Kyle, step forward!" Instructor Joseph commanded. Kyle marched out of the formation.

"You're quite handsome. Yesterday, your pistol shooting was indeed that of a sharpshooter—" Instructor Joseph praised, but then changed his tone, "But being just a sharpshooter is a far cry from being an excellent American soldier! If an enemy gets close, they could take you down in less than a round!"

Looks like he's here to dampen my spirit.

Kyle thought to himself, but his expression remained humble as he asked, "May I ask if Instructor Joseph could personally show me?"

A blatant provocation!

The recruits behind Kyle felt their scalps tingle.

Instructor Joseph's lecture was interrupted, and he felt a surge of anger. No wonder Captain Brant was so angered he had to rest; this new recruit was too sharp!

Instead of showing anger, Instructor Joseph laughed heartily and said, "Very well, I'll let you see what close-quarters combat is all about."

"What if I accidentally injure you, Instructor?" Kyle asked with feigned concern.

"I permit you to counter-attack freely, that is an order!" Instructor Joseph waved his hand, signaling Kyle to make the first move.

"Then I won't hold back, Soldier."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kyle moved. He covered the few steps to combat range in a single breath. His hands formed fists, and he unleashed the decisive and skillful Military Boxing and Combat Mastery!

[Military Boxing and Combat Mastery]: Master military-practical boxing techniques, focusing on close-quarters combat methods with fists. Green Ability Card.

An expert's move is instantly recognizable. Instructor Joseph hadn't expected Kyle to have perfectly mastered Military Boxing and Combat Mastery. He could only hastily defend, and as a result, he was at a disadvantage and being suppressed.

Kyle didn't care about Instructor Joseph's rank, nor did he employ any flashy moves. He flowed through a set of Military Boxing and Combat Mastery techniques, treating Instructor Joseph like a punching bag for practice.

"This is incredibly embarrassing!" Instructor Joseph's expression changed slightly, feeling the gazes of the recruits on the field had shifted. Because he also mastered Military Boxing and Combat Mastery, he could parry most of Kyle's punches, but on the surface, it looked like Kyle was dominating him.

"Had enough? Just knowing Military Boxing and Combat Mastery won't let you fight me!" Instructor Joseph changed his stance, his hands and feet unfolding in a display of combat techniques, and he began to gain the upper hand against Kyle.

"He really does have some skill," Kyle panted, struggling to resist the instructor's attacks while also diverting attention to Instructor Joseph's ability cards.

[Military Boxing and Combat Mastery], [Endurance Combat Mastery], [Counter Combat Mastery], [True Physique Mastery]—

There were four green cards related to physical training alone! And one of them was a green rare card!

"No wonder he could counter me so quickly after falling behind," Kyle's eyes lit up, and his mind began to focus on extracting the cards from the instructor.

Extracting a green ability card requires being within one meter and continuously reading for three minutes.

This was Kyle's true objective in sparring with the instructor; there was no better excuse for close proximity than a sparring match.

Kyle was at a disadvantage, but he resisted tenaciously. Instructor Joseph couldn't take him down quickly. He intended to stop, but as soon as his body relaxed, Kyle would entangle him again and unleash Military Boxing and Combat Mastery.

"Soldier, are you really forcing me to injure you?"

Instructor Joseph gritted his teeth, but Kyle seemed to gain more energy as the fight went on, persistently clinging to him.

After three minutes, [Counter Combat Mastery] was successfully extracted.

Kyle felt a warm power coursing through his body, enhancing his physique. At the same time, the techniques of counter-combat felt as if he had practiced them for over a decade, becoming ingrained in his mind.

"Go down!" Instructor Joseph increased the force of his punch, intending to knock Kyle to the ground. But Kyle suddenly clasped his hands, trapping the instructor's arm, and launched a counter-attack!

Counter Combat Mastery! Military Boxing and Combat Mastery!

Empowered by the extracted card, Kyle's gap with the instructor continued to close, allowing this battle, which was nearing its end, to continue.

Instructor Joseph and Kyle exchanged blows, dust flying. For a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.

A duel between masters!

The recruits watching from the sidelines were dumbfounded. The continuous, intense close-quarters combat also attracted more troops from the training plaza. Soon, they were surrounded by a dense crowd.

"What's going on over there?" Agent Carter, passing by, saw the scene and curiously asked an officer heading in that direction. The officer shrugged and replied helplessly, "A recruit is sparring close-quarters combat with Joseph."

"Joseph?" Carter's sensual lips parted slightly in surprise.

"Yes, Joseph, the specialized training instructor for combat subjects," the officer said with a wry smile. "I don't know how that recruit managed it, but he's lasted nearly ten minutes against Joseph."

"What's the recruit's name?" Carter opened the document book in her hand.

"Kyle. Soldier Kyle."

Card extraction successful.

[True Physique Mastery]: Maintain a strong and superior physique, be healthier than ordinary people, and enhance certain stamina and physical strength. Green Rare Ability Card.

"Success."

Kyle gasped for air, his uniform soaked with sweat. He had finally obtained the last physical ability card, and though the power that surged into his body was clearly enhancing his physique, soreness and fatigue were deeply ingrained in him.

He pushed off with his legs, leaping back as if disengaging from combat. Instructor Joseph growled and continued to pursue him. Kyle suddenly raised his hands. "Alright. I'm out of strength. I surrender."

"Huh?" Instructor Joseph, also panting, stopped his fist just before Kyle's nose at the last moment. His mustache bristled as he said, "What, you can't go on?"

"As expected of you, Instructor. Your strength, speed, and combat skills are all superior. Soldier, I admit defeat. If you hadn't been holding back, this soldier would have lost limbs long ago." Kyle plopped onto the ground, not forgetting to flatter him.

"You rascal," Instructor Joseph cursed, then, disregarding the onlookers, sat down on the ground, equally exhausted. "I was holding back at first, but after that, I was fighting seriously. I have to say, soldier, your talent for combat is the first I've seen in my twenty years of military service. You're already at an absolute monster level."

In the past ten-plus minutes of sparring, Instructor Joseph felt as though Kyle was learning from him, his close-quarters techniques improving at lightning speed. This couldn't help but surprise him.

"That was exhilarating. Let's spar again when you have time," Instructor Joseph said with a smile. He genuinely liked soldiers who picked up combat skills so quickly.

"No problem," Kyle nodded, not backing down. Instructor Joseph had several other green ability cards besides the three physical ones he had just drawn.

"You soldiers—" Instructor Joseph raised an eyebrow and scanned the surroundings, then shouted, "What are you looking at? Don't you have training to do? You want to spar with me one-on-one, don't you!"

We're not monsters like Kyle.

The surrounding recruits dared not reply and scattered like a disturbed beehive.