Fifth Squad

Song Chen looked out through the window. A gigantic city wall stretched across the scene before him.

This was not the brick-and-stone wall from some ancient costume drama, but a super defensive fortification cast from alloy and concrete.

The wall stood eighty meters tall, its surface covered in densely packed spirit-energy patterns—the defensive formations inscribed by formation masters.

Powered by spirit energy, it could withstand the ferocious impact of high-rank mutant beasts.

A gun emplacement stood every few dozen meters atop the wall, its pitch-black barrels aimed straight beyond the city.

At the center of the wall, a gigantic alloy gate was slowly opening.

The gate was a full five meters thick, with dried bloodstains still clinging to its edges, left there who knew how many years ago.

The armored vehicle drove through the gate. After a brief spell of darkness, the light brightened once more.

They had completely passed through the city wall and left the Base City.

Song Chen looked back to see the massive gate slowly closing, utterly separating the city from the Wilderness.

The driver was a middle-aged man with a cigarette between his lips. Without turning his head, he said, "Stop looking. Everyone's like this the first time they leave the city. Stay out here a few days, and you'll know just how good life in the city is."

No one in the vehicle responded.

The armored vehicle continued onward, and the landscape outside changed rapidly.

The first thing they saw was a vast open area, its ground covered in alloy plates. Watchtowers stood every few hundred meters.

The open ground was filled with military vehicles and armored transports, along with temporary tents and fortifications.

Soldiers moved back and forth. Some carried supplies, some maintained equipment, and some were drilling.

The driver began introducing the area. "This is the Defense Zone. It's guarded twenty-four hours a day and is the safest area outside the city. Mutant beasts have a hard time breaking through here."

The armored vehicle passed through the Defense Zone and continued forward.

Ten kilometers later, the view changed again.

The alloy ground gave way to a compacted dirt road. Sparse barbed-wire fences lined the roadside, and small sentry towers stood at intervals.

People in the towers were using binoculars to watch the distance.

"This is the Alert Zone."

The driver continued, "There are no permanently stationed troops here. Patrol squads inspect it during the day, but no one dares stay after dark."

"Lone mutant beasts occasionally appear here. They aren't much of a threat, but even First Rank mutant beasts are lethal enough for you."

No one replied. The atmosphere inside the vehicle grew increasingly oppressive.

After another hour of driving, the view outside had completely become that of the Wilderness.

Weeds grew everywhere, reaching as high as half a person.

In the distance lay rolling hills and sparse woods. Now and then, collapsed buildings could be seen, covered in vines and moss, buried beneath years of dust.

The driver's voice lowered. "This is the Patrol Zone, the borderland between humanity and mutant beasts. Both sides move through here frequently. There is no absolute safety."

"Your field training will take place in this area. You won't go deep inside, but don't let your guard down."

He pointed into the distance. "See that gray outline over there?"

The students looked in the direction he indicated.

On the horizon, the ruins of a shattered city faintly emerged.

High-rises had collapsed and broken apart, leaving behind only ruined skeletons that cast twisted shadows beneath the sun.

"That is Evergreen City. Twenty years ago, it was a major city with a population of five hundred thousand. Now, it is a paradise for mutant beasts."

Dead silence filled the vehicle.

Everyone stared at those ruins, their minds shaken to the core.

Song Chen looked at the ruins as well. This was his first time witnessing such an apocalyptic scene with his own eyes.

The broken towers were like shattered bones, stabbing toward the heavens.

The once-prosperous streets were overgrown with weeds and vines, while twisted wrecks of vehicles lay scattered everywhere.

Occasionally, flocks of birds flew up from the ruins, circled for a moment, then settled back where they had been.

"How many mutant beasts... are there in there?"

Someone asked in a trembling voice.

The driver fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "No one knows the exact number."

"But the military estimates that Evergreen City and its surrounding area contain at least two hundred thousand First Rank mutant beasts, several thousand Second Rank ones, and as for those of even higher rank... no one can say."

A chorus of sharp breaths echoed through the vehicle.

Song Chen noticed that Zhao Wei's expression had changed as well. His usual arrogance had vanished without a trace, replaced by a face drawn tight with tension.

The driver glanced at them, his tone softening somewhat. "Relax. The field training will only be on Evergreen City's outskirts. Every squad has a Second Rank martial artist leading it. Retreat immediately if danger arises."

"As long as you don't act rashly, there basically won't be any threat to your lives."

He stubbed out his cigarette and said, "All right. We're here."

The armored vehicle stopped in an open area.

Several armored vehicles of the same model were already parked there, along with a few temporary tents.

Several martial artists stood outside the tents, heads lowered as they examined documents.

The vehicle door opened, and the students climbed out one after another.

The air outside the city was cooler than within it, carrying the scent of grass and trees along with a faint, barely perceptible stench of blood.

"Fall in!"

A booming voice rang across the open ground.

A burly middle-aged martial artist stood at the center. He had a square face, thick brows, and a scar over his left eye, his expression stern and imposing.

He wore a black combat uniform, and a Third Rank Martial Artist Badge was pinned to his chest.

The martial artist swept his gaze over the sixty students and said, "My name is Chen Tieshan. I am the chief instructor for this field training."

"I know some of you came to fight for a future, while others came to gild yourselves with family backing. But here with me, none of that means anything."

"I have only one rule: come back alive."

"You will be divided into ten squads of six, each led by a Second Rank martial artist."

"The field training will last ten days. Your task is to hunt First Rank mutant beasts around Evergreen City. You must return to camp every night. Unauthorized action is strictly forbidden."

"At school, you may be the cream of the crop. But outside the city isn't school. At school, if you lose, you can start over. Outside the city, if you lose, you die."

"Now, squad assignments will begin."

He took out a list and began calling names one by one.

"First Squad: Zhang Lei, Wang Hao, Liu Yang, Chen Xue, Zhou Ming, Li Xuefeng."

"Leading martial artist: Zhou Hai."

"Second Squad: ..."

One name after another was called. Song Chen waited quietly.

"Fifth Squad: Song Chen, Zhao Wei, Sun Qiang, Li Wei, Wang Jun, Liu Tingting."

"Leading martial artist: Zhang Zhenyun."

Song Chen's brow rose slightly.

He and Zhao Wei had actually been assigned to the same squad.

He turned to look at Zhao Wei. Zhao Wei was looking back at him too, a smile with an unreadable meaning hanging on his face.

Zhao Wei walked over and sneered in a lowered voice, "Song Chen, Song Chen, we really are fated, aren't we? Don't worry. Outside the city, I'll take good 'care' of you."

Song Chen could not be bothered to respond. He only felt that this man still did not know whether he was dead or alive, even after coming outside the city.

He looked toward the martial artist leading Fifth Squad.

He was a man around thirty, tall and lean with a cold, stern face, leaning against an armored vehicle as he smoked.

Song Chen noticed two swords hanging from his waist. Their hilts had been worn bright, clearly bearing the marks of countless battles.

Zhang Zhenyun sensed his gaze, raised his eyes to meet it, then blew out a mouthful of smoke and looked away expressionlessly.

"Fifth Squad, gather over here."

Song Chen stepped forward, and the other squad members gradually gathered as well.

Zhao Wei stood pressed close beside Song Chen. Sun Qiang and Liu Tingting were tense-faced, Li Wei remained calm, while Wang Jun kept staring blankly at the distant ruins.

Zhang Zhenyun looked over the six of them, his tone indifferent. "Six people. Lowest vitality, 0.6. Highest, 1.3. A textbook suicide lineup."

The squad members' expressions changed in unison.

Zhang Zhenyun crushed out his cigarette beneath his boot and said coldly, "Since you're here, don't think about dying. In my squad, if anyone dies, they die behind me."

"Now, follow me."

He turned and walked toward a small armored vehicle.

Song Chen followed close behind.

After taking a few steps, he cast a deep look at the distant ruins of Evergreen City.

The setting sun slanted westward, dyeing the ruins a dark crimson.

Song Chen withdrew his gaze, touched the combat saber on his back, and bent down to climb into the vehicle.