SCOM - Chapter 86
Chapter 86
During the skeletal armor training, the two hundred selected military cadets were joined by students from the weapons department. Their task was to record the cadets' training data and ultimately match them with weapons suited to their individual strengths.
Zuo Luohuan was a primary focus. She often completed training exercises ahead of the other cadets, leaving her surrounded by a group of weapons students asking questions. However, Qian Mao stood out among them; once he started asking questions, the others naturally dispersed.
"What kind of weapon do you want?" Qian Mao knew Zuo Luohuan better than the others. There wasn't a weapon she couldn't use, only ones she preferred or disliked.
Zuo Luohuan's gaze fell on Ji Yuezhi, who had just finished his training set. Hearing Qian Mao's question, she replied casually, "A scimitar."
"Huh?" Qian Mao was stunned. "You want to use a scimitar?"
The Gashro were most proficient with scimitars, which led many in the Federation to subconsciously avoid this type of weapon.
"Since they use scimitars, I'll use one too." Zuo Luohuan retracted her gaze, speaking calmly. "Use the enemy's preferred weapon against them."
Hearing her explanation, Qian Mao suddenly found the idea exciting. "Then I'll make you a scimitar just like theirs. That's simple. Aren't you ambidextrous? Maybe pair it with a light gun for your other hand. But current light guns can't be compressed yet; that needs more research."
"Okay," Zuo Luohuan had no objections.
After asking his questions, Qian Mao squatted in a corner to research light guns and scimitars. Although the scimitar needed to resemble those used by the Gashro, he still wanted to add some unique features.
Zuo Luohuan walked over to Ji Yuezhi. "You're faster today than before."
"I don't feel much abnormality wearing the skeletal armor now," Ji Yuezhi turned to look at her. "I should be fully adapted soon."
Although heavy, the skeletal armor fit the user's body snugly. For someone like Zuo Luohuan, already accustomed to its weight, it felt like little more than an extra layer of metal clothing.
Seeing the sweat on Ji Yuezhi's temples, Zuo Luohuan felt the urge to ask if he had any regrets.
Alphas and Omegas inherently differed in physical ability. If he had differentiated as an Alpha, his progress would likely be even faster than it was now.
"Why can't we have cannons?" Guan Xue walked over to them, complaining irritably. "I just want to blast those Gashro people to bits with one shot."
"Light cannons are fixed installations on specialized warships and vehicles. Mobile cannons are artillery pieces, unsuitable for use on the border," Jiang Hong approached, adding, "Don't get your hopes up. Maybe ask them to develop a rapid-fire light gun instead."
"Can they actually make that?" Guan Xue sounded skeptical.
"Just make the suggestion. Whether they can build it is the weapons department's problem," Jiang Hong said nonchalantly. "Anyway, everyone's still figuring things out."
Before the group could chat much longer, Kang Guang called for everyone to assemble.
"It seems the second and third years aren't convinced of each other's abilities," Kang Guang grinned. "Today, I'm giving you a chance. A hundred-versus-hundred mock battle. As for guns... the weapons department students brought them. They're at the library entrance. You have two hours. The objective is to capture the large bronze clock on the library's top floor."
Before anyone could fully react, Kang Guang blew his whistle.
"Let's go." Zuo Luohuan turned her head and pulled Ji Yuezhi along. They immediately donned their skeletal armor and sprinted towards the library.
Seeing Zuo Luohuan and her group take off, the third years quickly followed.
Kang Guang shouted a warning from behind, "Those few who ran without putting on their skeletal armor, stop running! You're eliminated!"
Over a hundred cadets clad in skeletal armor dashed towards the library, startling many bystanders.
These two hundred were part of an elite experimental class selected by the school. Of course, it wasn't just this class; fourth years were involved too, and outstanding first years were currently being selected.
Most military cadets had some exposure to skeletal armor, but this was the first time seeing so many running wildly in it on campus. Many craned their necks, eager to watch the spectacle.
Zuo Luohuan ran at the forefront, one hand still pulling Ji Yuezhi, who was already relaying the plan for entering the library. The third years, however, weren't as coordinated. Guan Yuan was assertive, shouting out his plan, but many within the group trusted Xiang Chengping more. The hundred cadets had already split into two factions.
Xiang Chengping felt this wasn't ideal and ultimately relinquished command to Guan Yuan. He didn't care about leading, as long as they could win.
As expected, two large baskets of guns sat at the library entrance, labeled "Second Year" and "Third Year" respectively.
Zuo Luohuan was the first to grab a gun, handing it to Ji Yuezhi behind her before taking one herself and charging straight inside.
"Stop her!" Guan Yuan yelled.
Guan Yuan ordered Xiang Chengping and others to escort him inside to pursue Zuo Luohuan.
Meanwhile, Ji Yuezhi led the cadets skilled in shooting into the library first, aiming to secure high ground. Any third year entering would be immediately targeted.
Although the skeletal armor was all the same color, the guns they held were different: red for second years, blue for third years, making identification easy.
"Ji Yuezhi is inside," Xiang Chengping reminded Guan Yuan.
"I know, that's why you need to cover us going in," Guan Yuan replied impatiently.
Before even getting inside, the two teams clashed at the library entrance. Jiang Hong directly confronted Xiang Chengping at the doorway.
The guns fired paint pellets that left large splotches of color but caused no damage to the skeletal armor.
Only after entering did Zuo Luohuan realize the library hadn't been cleared of regular students; many were still inside reading.
This couldn't be just a simple hundred-versus-hundred mock battle. Zuo Luohuan's mind raced. Instead of heading straight upstairs, she leaped onto a table. "Enemy attack! Everyone head upstairs!"
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, people stood up, pulling paint guns from under tables and spraying indiscriminately at the library occupants, including her.
They came from four directions.
Zuo Luohuan simultaneously jumped sideways off the table, raised her gun, and fired, eliminating the attackers near the staircase. She shouted to the others, "Everyone upstairs!"
By this time, Ji Yuezhi had rushed in. He left three cadets behind to help Zuo Luohuan deal with the blue-gun holders on the first floor while he hurried upstairs.
Gunfire erupted on every floor, confirming this wasn't just a mock battle between the two groups, but a test involving everyone in the library.
As Ji Yuezhi ascended, he saw some students starting to resist, even attempting to snatch guns barehanded.
"There are guns distributed in the corridors on each floor of the library," Ji Yuezhi reminded everyone after hitting a blue-team member.
Since the Gashro night raid, the First Military Academy had established weapon caches in major buildings. However, for this test, the guns inside had been replaced beforehand.
Guan Yuan had entered and was firing wildly up the staircase.
Zuo Luohuan ducked to avoid the shots, glancing back at Guan Yuan. He was certainly playing the part of a ferocious Gashro enemy convincingly.
The library had nine floors, each vast in area. Reaching the top within two hours wasn't the issue; the problem was the blue-team members blocking every level, firing paint guns everywhere.
Fortunately, many cadets quickly realized what was happening and either sought out the distributed guns or boldly teamed up to seize weapons from the attackers, though this carried the risk of friendly fire.
"Is Jiang Hong still downstairs?" Zuo Luohuan asked, catching up to Ji Yuezhi.
"He probably won't make it up. Xiang Chengping stayed below," Ji Yuezhi replied, unsurprised. In reality, Jiang Hong and his group were destined to be 'sacrificed' on the first floor.
Guan Xue had already led her team to the fifth floor, setting up an ambush at the stairwell to block the blue team's advance.
"The first floor can't hold everyone from the library," Ji Yuezhi glanced back. "Floors one through four should converge on the fifth floor. Don't go higher yet. If Guan Xue can't hold back the blue team, let them come up. Everyone else, avoid the stairs. We continue upwards. We just need to reach the large bronze clock first."
Zuo Luohuan acted as the vanguard, charging straight up. In truth, the shooting accuracy of cadets in skeletal armor, even skilled snipers, was appallingly low. This was because the armor encased their fingers; despite the metal layer being as thin as possible, it still lacked the necessary tactile feedback.
The real danger came from those ambushers without skeletal armor who had been positioned in the library beforehand. However, even their dense fire couldn't truly harm Zuo Luohuan. Under the cover of Ji Yuezhi and others, she charged all the way to the ninth floor, hit only once by a paint pellet on her arm.
A gong stood before the large bronze clock. Zuo Luohuan struck it directly with the butt of her gun.
At that moment, a voice came over the library's broadcast system: "Federal First Military Academy successfully defends."
Blue-team participants on all floors ceased fire. Only on the seventh floor did Guan Yuan, right in front of Ji Yuezhi, slam his gun down in frustration. "Consider yourselves lucky."
Ji Yuezhi retracted his skeletal armor, glancing coolly at him. "If Senior Xiang had been commanding, perhaps you might have reached the eighth floor."
Guan Yuan retorted, "...You just won one match, don't get cocky."
Everyone exited the library, where Kang Guang and the weapons department students were waiting.
"I'm embarrassed for you third years," Kang Guang clicked his tongue.
The attackers who had suddenly initiated the assault in the library were also third-year students. Hearing this, they all lowered their heads.
"Every single one of you has a full year more training than them, plus experience from external missions, and this is the best you can do? You should have at least dragged it out for the full two hours, yet you just let the second years win?" Kang Guang's tone shifted, directing his criticism at Xiang Chengping. "Did a Gashro dog kick you in the head? Why yield command at a critical moment? Trying to be the nice guy? If you thought Guan Yuan's plan was flawed, either seize control or take your people on a different path. Don't treat the competition lightly."
Xiang Chengping lowered his head. "...Yes, sir."
Guan Yuan, however, wore a look of defiance, clearly disagreeing with Kang Guang's words, though he didn't dare voice it.
But Kang Guang noticed. He walked right up to him. "You think I'm wrong? Are Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi not stronger than you? Showing off blindly. Is this how you'll act when you face the Gashro in the future?"
After reprimanding everyone, Kang Guang dismissed them and turned to leave.
It was only then that people discovered the paint pellets wouldn't wash off.
Not just on the skeletal armor, but also on the skin of those caught in the library – the paint stains remained.
"It's special paint. It'll fade naturally after at least ten days," Qian Mao chuckled.
Jiang Hong's skeletal armor was covered in blue paint. His situation was relatively minor compared to the cadets caught in the surprise test inside the library; many had paint splotches on their faces, turning them into blue-faced figures.
"The instructor wants you all to be vigilant, don't get 'headshot' so easily," Qian Mao kindly told the paint-splattered students.
The area around the library descended into chaos, even more bustling than during the sudden attack simulation.
Zuo Luohuan found Ji Yuezhi in the crowd. "Where did you get hit?"
"Just the shoulder." Ji Yuezhi looked up at her. "Shall we leave campus tomorrow after my classes finish?"
"Okay." Zuo Luohuan remembered his Friday afternoon class, and a fleeting shadow of gloom crossed her brow.
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