The Contest

"Time is running out. The beast hordes are stirring, and Hope Star and Jiuzhou Star are beset by tigers and wolves, teetering on the brink of disaster. Even the Main Planet's safety cannot be guaranteed. Our military urgently needs new blood, and our Haendeng Galaxy needs an invincible force."

"Children, you are the hope of the Haendeng Galaxy, the most promising strength for reclaiming the three Wasteland Stars. Since you have come here, I will not disappoint the expectations you have placed in me. I will mold you into seeds of hope, so that you may one day plant roses on those desolate worlds."

Ye Hongci's calm, soothing voice wrapped around everyone's ears—no frantic shouting, yet it stirred every heart.

In that moment, their fighting spirit surged to its peak. To fight for the Haendeng Galaxy, to sacrifice for the recovery of the three Wasteland Stars, became a mission of supreme honor.

Ye Hongci swept her gaze across the assembled faces with satisfaction. "From this moment on, I will train alongside you and participate in every step of your selection process. I look forward to your outstanding performances."

As she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd below.

To receive personal instruction from Commander Ye—that was an opportunity no military reserve had ever been granted before.

"We're so lucky!" Ai Meigui couldn't contain her excitement, sharing her joy with Tu Ran.

Tu Ran nodded without much emotion.

"Time is short, and we cannot waste a single second. My speech ends here. Training begins now."

With that, Ye Hongci raised her hand, and Tang Ying, who had been standing at the edge of the crowd, strode over. She passed by Tu Ran, stirring a cold gust of wind.

Cold. Tu Ran remarked inwardly.

Tang Ying walked expressionlessly to Ye Hongci's side and stopped, sharing the crowd's admiring gaze alongside her commander.

"This morning, let's take a look at everyone's basic hand-to-hand combat skills." Ye Hongci patted Tang Ying on the shoulder. "Assistant Tang will serve as your instructor during this period. You may step up and spar with her. Winning or losing doesn't matter—the main goal is for me to understand your current level, so I can prepare the next training plan."

The reserves sitting on their stools exchanged glances. One man raised his hand and stood up. "Commander Ye, I want to try."

"Very well, please step to the center."

Tu Ran looked at the man approaching—it was Xiang Qian, the elder of the two brothers.

From their earlier casual chats, Tu Ran had learned that their parents were military personnel, strict with them since childhood, and had taught them many skills used in the armed forces.

Tang Ying stepped out from beside Ye Hongci, standing in the center as she awaited Xiang Qian's approach.

Once Xiang Qian came over, a physical training instructor Tu Ran had seen a few days earlier pushed over a cart laden with all sorts of melee weapons.

Tang Ying spoke. "You may choose any weapon you like."

"What about you?" Xiang Qian scratched his head, asking naively.

Tang Ying's face remained impassive as her red lips parted slightly. "I don't need one."

She clearly didn't regard Xiang Qian as a threat—or, for that matter, any of the reserves present.

She had been to the battlefield, killed alien beasts with her own hands, felt the searing heat of their blood, and been wounded by them, hanging by a thread. She had watched with her own eyes as living people were swallowed whole by beasts. She was truly battle-hardened, tempered by countless trials—she had every right to look down on everyone here.

Xiang Qian didn't take any offense. He carefully examined the weapons before selecting a dagger as long as his forearm. He weighed it in his hand, gave it a couple of test swings, and found it suitable. He looked at Tang Ying. "Assistant Tang, I'm ready."

Tang Ying raised her fists in front of her, speaking coldly. "Don't hold back. Treat me like a beast, and I won't go easy on you either."

"Alright." Xiang Qian nodded, gripping his dagger tightly.

The next instant, Tang Ying charged.

At that moment, Tu Ran thought—she truly lived up to her name.

Her form moved so fast it left only afterimages, a speed nearly impossible for the human eye to track. If Tu Ran hadn't seen that there was no ability panel hovering above her head, she would have suspected Tang Ying had some kind of "flash step" ability like her own.

At this point, though Tu Ran knew this world had something called Mental Energy, she still hadn't grasped its tangible manifestations.

Xiang Qian against Tang Ying was like a fledgling facing an eagle—the whole thing was just the eagle's play, while the fledgling had to give everything it had.

Xiang Qian had no power to resist. All his moves, every technique, collapsed under Tang Ying's phantom-like speed.

She finished with a kick to his chest that sent him flying three meters away, slamming hard onto the ground.

The reserves nearest to him choked on the dust kicked up by his impact.

Xiang Qian got up from the ground, clutching his chest, his face flushed red. He took a long while to ease the pain before standing straight and returning his weapon to the cart, then silently walked back to his seat.

Ye Hongci spoke up to console him. "Trainee Xiang has a solid foundation. Your speed and reaction time need improvement, and we'll focus on those two points going forward."

"Thank you for your guidance, Commander Ye." Xiang Qian bowed in gratitude despite the pain.

Everyone had seen how ruthless Tang Ying was.

Yet still, some were willing to spar with her, because the chance to receive personal guidance from Commander Ye was too rare to pass up.

The second person to step up was a burly man with rippling muscles. He didn't pick a weapon, walking straight up to Tang Ying instead.

"Assistant Tang, I've heard so much about you." The man cracked his neck, letting out a grinding pop, then twisted his wrists and ankles in turn.

Tang Ying watched him expressionlessly, waiting until he'd finished cracking every joint that could make a sound before asking, "Are we ready to begin?"

"Of course." The man said, and the next second, he threw a punch straight at Tang Ying.

Tang Ying easily sidestepped, spinning to kick his knee. But the man stood firm as a mountain, entirely unaffected by the blow, and threw another punch her way.

Tang Ying leaped back to dodge, then closed in again, wrapping her leg around his arm. Her body moved like a snake, coiling fluidly up his limb, both hands seizing his neck as she used her whole body's weight to flip him, hurling his massive frame to the ground.

All of it took less than thirty seconds, and exactly how she'd done it—except for Tu Ran and Ye Hongci—no one could clearly tell.

Everyone was baffled.

Tang Ying stood up coldly from the man's body and returned to her original spot.

The man lay on the ground. Given his heavy build, being slammed down like that hurt enough to make him spasm, especially in the neck and arms—the points Tang Ying had exploited, and the key to her victory.

Two instructors came in to help him up and escorted him to the infirmary.

"Trainee Shi has strong core strength, suited for shield-type mecha," Ye Hongci commented on the bout.