Chapter 67: Training Base

“Welcome to the X Squadron Training Base!”

Lian Ruixue remained cold and indifferent. Her tactical camouflage uniform was a bit loose, hiding her impressive figure. She leaned against the door of a military jeep, her arms crossed over her chest, and her face showed no expression. The only lively thing about her, perhaps, was her long hair; when the wind blew, her beautiful hair fluttered.

Zhou Liming carried his backpack, waved goodbye to the car that had brought him, and then stood in front of Lian Ruixue.

Lian Ruixue glanced at Zhou Liming, who did not look like a soldier at all. She shook her head slightly, gestured with her head, and said, “Get in the car!” She pulled the door open herself and sat inside.

Zhou Liming pulled open the back door, sat down, and then looked around curiously. What met his eyes was endless desolation. A small amount of weeds grew on this yellow sandy ground. Although it was only summer, many of these weeds were already withered and yellow, giving people a sense of melancholy.

Thinking of his current self, this sense of melancholy grew even stronger.

There were many things that could not be chosen.

It seemed like there were several options given, but some choices were impossible to make. Just like Zhou Liming now, not to mention the issue of destroying the armed helicopter and tank, the mere fact that his secret was exposed meant that if he was not used by them, he would be eliminated. The country would not allow uncontrolled people or forces to appear.

Zhou Liming was just a very ordinary high school student. If he had not experienced these events, perhaps he would have followed the path of millions of ordinary people, living a life of obscurity until he died of old age. But the events of this month had changed his entire life; the track of his life had deviated from the route of ordinary people. Ambition? Zhou Liming did not think he possessed it at the age of eighteen. To put it bluntly, his body was special, but his mind was ordinary.

He had also been confused, but the final choice was not his to make.

Seeing Zhou Liming’s low spirits, Lian Ruixue said indifferently, “With great ability comes great responsibility. Since heaven has chosen you, you must bear some responsibilities that you should bear.” She seemed to recall something and murmured to herself, “Just like me, born in an extraordinary family, I must shoulder extraordinary responsibilities.”

Zhou Liming smiled bitterly and stared blankly at the desolate scenery outside.

The X Squadron Training Base was only about 20 kilometers away from Yu A City. It used to be a secret underground base. With the arrival of the Fierce Beast Era, it became the temporary station for the newly established X Squadron. It was also listed as a military restricted area and possessed a classification of A-level.

The jeep sped all the way and soon arrived at a military camp.

Dozens of tanks were parked here, accompanied by a large number of armored vehicles and a dozen armed helicopters. Squads of soldiers were running in formation, and their chanting of “one, two, three, four” was deafening. On the periphery of the camp, a huge number of air defense weapon s could be seen. Based on Zhou Liming’s estimation, at least over ten thousand soldiers were stationed here.

Lian Ruixue stopped the jeep and said, “Although we are called a squadron, our organization level is very high. This independent mixed division belongs to the leadership of our X Squadron.”

Zhou Liming did not quite understand the concept of a mixed division, but anything that could be called a division was probably not small in scale.

Getting out of the jeep, Lian Ruixue led Zhou Liming into a barracks building that looked very ordinary. The soldiers on guard saluted Lian Ruixue, and she just nodded slightly. It was Zhou Liming’s first time walking into a military camp, so he was naturally a bit curious, looking everywhere and feeling that everything was new.

Inside the barracks, it was empty, which made Zhou Liming a bit strange. He wondered why Lian Ruixue had brought him here.

Lian Ruixue walked to the center of the barracks, and Zhou Liming followed. Lian Ruixue said indifferently, “Stand still.”

Zhou Liming did not understand what she meant, but he felt the ground beneath his feet sink. The spot he was standing on suddenly dropped. If he had not seen Lian Ruixue standing there calmly, Zhou Liming would have almost flown up. Without needing Lian Ruixue to explain, Zhou Liming understood that this should be an elevator, and it was now taking him underground.

In a few seconds, the elevator stopped. With a “swish,” the metal wall in front of him opened, revealing a passageway.

Lian Ruixue walked in first, and Zhou Liming hurriedly followed.

The passageway was short, and they reached the end in just a moment. What came into view was a space the size of a football field, filled with various training equipment. More than thirty people were currently training.

“The members of the X Squadron are all composed of the elite from the military. Before joining the X Squadron, every one of them was the ace of their respective teams. Taking ordinary soldiers as an example, ten of them might not be able to defeat one ace. Those who can join the X Squadron are undoubtedly lucky. Out of the one hundred people selected, no more than twenty can successfully make it through.”

Lian Ruixue stood on the training ground with her hands behind her back and turned to look at Zhou Liming. “You are the only one who did not come from the military, someone who learned on their own.”

Zhou Liming was stunned by the selection conditions of the X Squadron. The initial screening selected the ace soldiers from various teams. The final addition was even more brutal. Under the Genetic Modification using extracted Fierce Beast genes, the success rate would only be between 20% and 30%, and that was just the most optimistic estimate. After a successful modification, 20% of people would still die because they could not withstand the gene fission.

Those who could truly enter the X Squadron were definitely incredibly lucky.

Thinking about it now, it was indeed too lucky that he had survived being hit by a meteorite back then. It could be said that the probability of survival was no greater than 15%.

“To them, you are like a rookie. Whether it is shooting or fighting, or your physical fitness in a normal state, there is a big gap between you and them. Therefore, when there are no missions, you will focus on training, and I will personally supervise your training,” Lian Ruixue said indifferently. “Don’t think that just because you can transform into a Fierce Beast Form, you are very powerful. Anyone here can beat you down in just a few moves. Powerful strength also requires sufficient control to be brought out.”

Zhou Liming certainly understood what Lian Ruixue was saying. Compared with these people who had trained for several years or even nearly ten years, the number of people they had killed was more than the dead people he had seen. Compared with them, he had nothing outstanding. The reason he could join the X Squadron and be valued by the higher-ups was probably just that he could possess a Fierce Beast Form.

Zhou Liming asked, “When can I start training?”

Lian Ruixue pointed to a passageway on the edge of the training ground and said, “Your room is right there, Room 3303. It has all the daily necessities. You rest today. When it is time to train, I will naturally come find you. Also, the lowest military rank for X Squadron members is Major. That is to say, you are now a Major officer.”

Major?

Zhou Liming scratched his head. He seemed to have no concept of the rank of Major.