First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Double Kill

The infantry captain in charge of their squad called out ahead, having everyone reposition.

After forming ranks, the heavy infantry with shields moved forward, light infantry with weapons took the middle, while archers positioned themselves behind the group. It was roughly a five-hundred-strong formation.

The archers here all used crossbows that didn't require drawing a bow. Their operation was similar to the firearms they usually used - cock the string, load the bolt, aim, pull the trigger, and release the string to fire.

"Intra-team fighting is prohibited. I trust you all know what's appropriate," the infantry captain said with a meaningful glance toward Lian Sheng's direction. "This is an open competition that will be graded by professors. Though we're all just grunts, let's happily farm some points."

The infantry captain counted off the troops and waved his arm: "Move out!"

Lian Sheng carried her wooden staff amidst the crowd, reopening the map to check.

The upper left section of the map had stopped expanding halfway, showing hostile red dots instead. Their scouts must have encountered enemy forces and been eliminated. Meanwhile, a green marker in the right front indicated their current destination.

After leaving the campsite, several winding mountain trails branched out ahead. The infantry captain marched straight ahead without hesitation, leading them onto the more difficult path.

This was clearly not the most direct route to their objective - they were deliberately taking a detour.

Lian Sheng obediently followed orders. Currently, she had no information about enemy forces or even the purpose of this march. Were they probing the situation? Providing reinforcements? Intercepting supplies? Or setting up an ambush?

This uncertainty didn't sit well with her.

Given the map's size and the match just starting, they marched for over fifteen minutes without encountering enemies.

Mountain climbing was strenuous. From the start of combat exercises until now, nearly twenty days had passed. The effects of intensive training were evident - her stamina and agility had improved dramatically.

With others wearing heavy armor slowing the group's pace, Lian Sheng easily kept up.

When stepping forward, she could feel solid ground beneath her feet. It seemed something was supporting her, making the equipment feel incredibly realistic.

Head down while walking, she didn't notice the column halting until she bumped into the soldier ahead.

"Prepare!" the infantry captain shouted ahead. "Archers take elevated positions! All infantry forward!"

At the path's bend, they spotted enemies.

The foes hadn't entered visual range yet but appeared on the map - likely from scout intelligence.

Judging by red dot numbers, it was a similarly-sized infantry unit. The opposing side would detect them too, setting up an imminent clash.

Archers immediately scrambled up both hillsides to secure high ground. Heavy infantry raised shields as the group advanced.

The marked red dots drew closer, suddenly accelerating. A synchronized, heavy stomping approached rapidly.

Lian Sheng's view was blocked by those ahead, only hearing enemy shouts and arrows whistling overhead before metallic clangs indicated blocked shots.

Both sides raised shields for a head-on collision. The infantry captain bellowed: "Hold! Front line hold! Push them back! Spearmen attack the gaps! Take their heads!"

But the enemy didn't attempt encirclement - their shield wall was impenetrable. Chanting in unison, they brute-forced their way into friendly ranks.

The formation broke as crowding forced gradual retreat. Enemies pressed the advantage.

Nearly a thousand soldiers clashed violently in the narrow mountain pass, instantly descending into bloody primitive warfare.

Even with elevation, archers couldn't act freely amidst the chaotic melee where friend and foe were indistinguishable, forced to hold fire.

Everyone drew weapons while Lian Sheng cautiously maneuvered through the crowd with her staff. The weapon was supposedly fragile, but she didn't know its limits. Unarmored, she carefully retreated to open ground to avoid stray blades.

"No retreating!" the infantry captain roared ahead. "Attack! No deserters here! Kill! Regain momentum!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

This made sense - in such confined space, a routed force could collapse completely if enemies capitalized.

The terrain was unsuitable for battle, better suited for ambushes. Unfortunately, both sides were aware of each other, eliminating that possibility.

Lian Sheng tilted her head, hearing distant combat sounds. The main force engaging?

A teammate bumped her sharply: "Model Soldier Lian, what are you doing? Move! Don't freeze up! We're counting on you to carry us!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

Lin Lie watched Lian Sheng cautiously weaving through the crowd without engaging, shaking her head with a sigh.

A commander? Did she understand the vast gap between a soldier and commander? In this state, she couldn't even perform as a basic grunt. Why pursue this path?

The department head noticed her expression: "When she first requested Command Department transfer, I was surprised too. But I believed she could excel, so I approved."

Lin Lie shifted posture, frowning: "Her weapons research showed more promise. I hoped she'd recognize her strengths rather than become another faceless soldier."

"No, she's no ordinary grunt," the department head pointed at the screen. "With no points or gear, she's assessing the situation. Charging blindly forward would be the real mistake."

Lin Lie wasn't combat personnel. Though holding colonel rank, she was a researcher - their rankings weren't comparable.

Lin Lie inhaled: "Without equipment now, mere observation won't change that."

"She won't end like this," the department head said. "When I saw her, her eyes burned with determination. She has her own plans - a reliable child."

Lian Sheng had boarded at school since elementary, only returning weekends when Lin Lie was often working. They barely spoke yearly.

But Lian Sheng was studious, somewhat introverted, reluctant to socialize.

She was better suited for research.

Lin Lie said: "She takes after me. I understand her."

"Really? I see Major Lian in her too. Had he lived, he'd have been an outstanding commander." The department head paused. "He was my instructor. He said: 'Being at disadvantage doesn't define a commander - how one overcomes it does.'"

Lin Lie clenched her fists silently.

In the mountain pass, Lian Sheng held her staff horizontally, maintaining distance while scanning ahead.

A teammate asked excitedly: "Model Soldier Lian, what's the plan?"

Someone sneered: "Asking an unarmored rookie for tactics mid-battle? Doesn't Alliance University teach combat?"

The teammate retorted: "None of your business! Alliance University teaches brains over brawn - got any?"

Lian Sheng said: "Simplest frontal assault - pure strength."

With battle already joined, what strategy was needed?

While running, Lian Sheng heard a whistling sound. Survival instinct made her duck as an arrow grazed her shoulder, nearly disabling her unarmored arm.

Heart pounding, she turned to look back.

Archers hid in elevated woods - impossible to identify who fired.

Someone shouted: "Front lines dodge! Unarmored rookie, watch out!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

Were these her troops, she'd execute that archer immediately.

The infantry captain bellowed: "Archers, confirm targets before firing! You're panicking our own ranks!"

Peering through the crowd, Lian Sheng noticed enemy light infantry advancing while heavy infantry fell back due to mobility issues.

Time to acquire proper weapons.

Her bare legs in shorts and sandals stood out conspicuously among the rear ranks. Before she could act, an enemy volunteered.

"I found their zero-pointer! First blood haha!" An enemy soldier charged through the crowd, leaping at her with a broadsword aimed at her head: "Historic moment - screenshot this!"

Teammates shouted: "Biaobing, danger!"

Lian Sheng sidestepped, raising her staff with a disdainful "Hmph."

As the blade descended, she remained calm. Left hand sliding to grip the staff's end, knees bending to lower her center of gravity, she lunged forward to strike the attacker's face.

The boy staggered back, gazing blankly at the sky with a confused "Huh?" questioning life's mysteries.

Lian Sheng followed up, striking his elbow before transferring the staff to her left hand. Her right hand seized his weapon, smoothly reversing the blade to slash his throat.

The soldier stood dumbly, staring at his empty hand in bewilderment.

Teammates reminded: "He's not dead yet!"

Lian Sheng obligingly delivered the finishing blow.

The soldier collapsed, ejected from the system.

First blood achieved.

Her staff movements were lightning-fast with impeccable timing. Onlookers saw the blade nearly touch her neck before she countered.

A seamless combo - strike, twist, reverse strike - executed in an eyeblink left an enemy dead.

But it wasn't over.

She spun, hurling her staff at the nearest enemy who instinctively raised his arms to block. As he belatedly brought up his sword, Lian Sheng leaped forward, slashing his arm before decapitating him.

Bystanders gaped as she scored a double kill within seconds, their minds still processing the first strike while their movements lagged.

Testing the sword's weight under everyone's gaze, Lian Sheng said: "Relax, I won't steal from allies."

She began stripping the "corpse" of its armor.

Distant enemies cried out: "Don't strip my bro, girl! Not that hardcore! Is this game rated R now? You're scaring me!"

Lian Sheng glanced around, telling teammates: "Cover me."

Several allies jumped forward, laughing uproariously.

Enemies protested: "What kind of tactic is this? Start with a stick, loot all gear? Those are our points!"

"How is this allowed?!"

Spectators in the gymnasium watching the livestream were equally stunned.

While others fought fiercely, a ragged soldier stripped corpses. What kind of playstyle was this?

The imagery was... uniquely captivating!

---

Shoutout and huge thanks to Rei for picking up the complete EPUB book on the Ko-fi shop! Really appreciate the support!

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