The transport dropped them at the edge of a dark training zone far from the main academy grounds, and the moment Lin Chen stepped off, he could tell this exercise was different. There were no bright floodlights, no clear markers, only dim guidance beacons scattered across uneven terrain and the quiet hum of distant drones watching from above. Han Rui scanned the area and muttered, "So this is where they finally stop holding our hands." Zhao Wei adjusted the brace under his pant leg and said, trying to sound calm, "I really hope they still want us alive after this."
An instructor's voice came through their comm units, telling all squads that objectives would be assigned dynamically and that extraction times would change without warning. Han Rui tilted his head and said, "So basically, we move until they tell us to stop." Lin Chen replied, "And we do not assume anything is safe just because it looks quiet." Zhao Wei glanced between them and said, "Then let us not wander too far apart, because I do not like surprises in the dark."
They moved into the terrain carefully, keeping formation tighter than usual. The ground was uneven, scattered with debris and broken structures meant to simulate urban collapse. Han Rui took point, light on his feet, scanning ahead, while Zhao Wei stayed slightly behind, covering their rear and sides. Lin Chen stayed in the center, tracking their route and timing. For a while, it was quiet enough that Zhao Wei whispered, "This is making me nervous. I would almost prefer someone shooting at us." Han Rui replied, "Do not say that. The field hears things like that."
Their comm units crackled suddenly, and a new objective flashed onto Lin Chen's display. Secure a relay beacon and hold position for three minutes. He signaled to the others and said, "Beacon ahead, likely inside that structure." Han Rui peered at the silhouette and said, "That place looks like it is waiting to fall on us." Zhao Wei took a slow breath and replied, "Then let us be quick and polite guests."
Inside, the structure was cramped, with narrow corridors and broken stairways. Han Rui moved first, silent and controlled, while Lin Chen followed, checking angles. Zhao Wei stayed near the entrance, anchoring their exit route. Lin Chen reached the beacon and started the activation sequence, but before it could finish, movement sensors flared on his display. "Contacts," he said quietly. Han Rui tensed. "How many?" Lin Chen answered, "Multiple, moving fast."
Simulated hostiles rushed in from two directions. Han Rui shifted instantly, intercepting the first wave with sharp, efficient movements, while Zhao Wei blocked the corridor, forcing the others into a narrow approach. Lin Chen stayed with the beacon, watching the timer and glancing up every second. "One minute," he said. Zhao Wei grunted as he took a hit to the vest but held his ground. "They are pushing harder," he said through clenched teeth. Han Rui replied, breath steady but focused, "Then we push back just enough to breathe."
More targets appeared, and this time one slipped past Han Rui's angle. Lin Chen saw it too late and felt the impact against his shoulder. He stumbled but stayed upright. Han Rui snapped, "You good?" Lin Chen nodded quickly. "Timer is still running." Zhao Wei shifted his stance to cover both of them and said, "Then do not let them touch you again. I do not want to explain that to the instructors."
The beacon finally activated, and Lin Chen shouted, "Objective complete, move." They pulled back immediately, retreating through the entrance they had secured. As they cleared the structure, Zhao Wei slowed for just a moment, his ankle protesting, and Han Rui caught his arm without even looking, steadying him while still moving. Zhao Wei muttered, "I hate that you always notice." Han Rui replied, "Then stop giving me reasons."
They did not get far before the next update hit their comm units, and Lin Chen felt his stomach tighten as he read it. Relocate to zone C, assist allied squad under pressure. He looked at the others and said, "Another squad is in trouble. We are supposed to support." Zhao Wei frowned. "That is not close, is it?" Lin Chen shook his head. "No, and they would not ask if it was not serious." Han Rui did not hesitate. "Then we go."
They picked up speed, but Zhao Wei's limp became more noticeable the longer they ran. Lin Chen kept glancing back, worry creeping into his chest, but he did not slow them yet because he knew the call meant someone else was already falling behind. Finally, Zhao Wei said through strained breathing, "If I slow you down, you leave me at cover and keep moving." Han Rui shot back immediately, "Not happening." Lin Chen added, "We will not abandon our own to save someone else. We find another way."
When they reached zone C, the situation was already bad. Another squad was pinned, taking repeated hits, unable to advance or retreat. Han Rui crouched behind cover and said, "They are trapped in a cross angle." Zhao Wei studied the layout and replied, "If we push from the right, we can draw fire, but that puts me in open ground." Lin Chen felt his chest tighten. "There is another option," he said quietly. "I can move left and pull attention, you two support from here." Han Rui stared at him. "That is exactly what you promised not to do again." Lin Chen met his eyes and said, "I promised not to act alone when it hurts the squad. This helps the squad."
Zhao Wei looked between them, conflicted, then said, "If you go, you do not go without coverage. I will hold right here and force them to split focus." Han Rui shook his head. "Your ankle cannot handle that." Zhao Wei replied, voice firm now, "Then it will have to." Lin Chen felt a heavy weight in his chest as he realized what they were all doing. They were each choosing risk for themselves to protect the others.
Before either of them could argue more, simulated fire cracked nearby, forcing their decision. Lin Chen took a breath and said, "We move on my mark." Han Rui tightened his grip and said, "You better come back." Zhao Wei added quietly, "All of you, stay alive. That is an order."
Lin Chen raised his hand, counting down in his head, knowing that whatever happened in the next few seconds could change everything about how this exercise ended for them.
Lin Chen dropped his hand and moved.
He broke left, sprinting across open ground as simulated fire immediately tracked toward him. He felt impacts slam into his vest and shoulder, the system marking hits, but he kept running, cutting behind a fallen wall and popping up just long enough to fire back and keep attention locked on him. He could hear Han Rui shout his name through the comm, sharp and tight, and he answered with a short, "I'm good, keep pressure," even though his lungs were already burning.
Zhao Wei stepped out on the right, forcing himself into the open despite the pain in his ankle, firing controlled bursts that dragged part of the hostile focus toward him. Han Rui shifted positions fast, moving between cover points, striking whenever he saw an opening, his movements sharper and more aggressive than before. "They're splitting," he said, voice intense. "Chen, do not stop moving." Lin Chen replied, breath rough but steady, "Not planning to."
The pinned squad took the chance to move, scrambling toward safer cover, and for a moment it looked like the plan had worked. Then Zhao Wei staggered as another impact hit his side, and he dropped to one knee before catching himself on the wall. Han Rui saw it and froze for half a second too long. "Wei," he shouted. Zhao Wei forced himself up and said through strained breathing, "Do not look at me, keep them busy."
But the hesitation was enough. Several simulated hostiles shifted toward Zhao Wei's position, sensing weakness. Lin Chen saw the change in movement patterns on his display and felt a surge of alarm. "They're switching to you," he warned. Zhao Wei shook his head. "Then you finish drawing them off. I can hold for a few seconds." Han Rui snapped, "You cannot hold anything if you collapse."
Before they could argue further, Zhao Wei pushed himself fully into the open, drawing fire on purpose, his stance solid even as hit indicators flashed across his suit. Lin Chen felt something twist painfully in his chest when he realized what Zhao Wei was doing. He shouted, "Stop, fall back now," but Zhao Wei did not move, only said, "Get them out. That is what matters."
Han Rui moved without thinking, breaking formation and rushing toward Zhao Wei's position, intercepting attacks meant for him, his breathing loud and uneven over the comm. "You do not get to decide this alone," he said, almost angry, almost desperate. Lin Chen saw both of them exposed now, both taking hits, and for a moment his mind went blank because there was no clean answer anymore.
Then the instructor's voice cut through the channel, sharp and commanding, ordering all units to disengage and hold positions. The simulation froze, targets vanishing as the system shut down. The sudden silence felt louder than the chaos before it. Han Rui grabbed Zhao Wei by the shoulder and half-supported him back behind cover, breathing hard, eyes wide with leftover tension. "Are you out of your mind," he said, voice shaking. Zhao Wei tried to smile but winced instead. "You were not listening to orders either."
Lin Chen reached them and knelt in front of Zhao Wei, checking the brace, his hands trembling slightly even though he tried to hide it. "You do not get to sacrifice yourself like that," he said quietly, anger and fear mixing in his voice. Zhao Wei looked at him and answered, just as quietly, "I was not trying to be brave. I was trying to make sure you two did not have to choose."
Han Rui looked away, jaw tight. "That is not your decision to make," he said. "We are a squad. That means we take risks together, not alone." Zhao Wei exhaled slowly. "Then stop acting like you can protect everyone without getting hurt yourselves."
They were still catching their breath when an instructor approached, expression unreadable. He looked at Zhao Wei's ankle, then at Han Rui, then at Lin Chen. "Your execution was messy," he said. "But your priorities were clear." Han Rui tensed, waiting for the cut that never came. The instructor continued, "You protected allied units and did not abandon your own, even when it cost you performance scores." He paused, then added, "That is not something we ignore."
Zhao Wei swallowed and said, "Am I being pulled from the exercise?" The instructor studied him for a moment. "Medical will decide. But understand this, cadet. Courage does not excuse recklessness, and loyalty does not replace discipline." Then he looked at all three of them and said, "However, units that fracture under pressure are useless. You did not fracture." With that, he turned and walked away.
Han Rui finally let out the breath he had been holding. "So we are not done yet," he said softly. Zhao Wei leaned his head back against the wall and replied, "Not yet, apparently." Lin Chen sat back on his heels, relief hitting him so suddenly his hands felt weak. "Do not ever scare me like that again," he said, voice low. Zhao Wei looked at him and said, "Then do not run into fire like that either." Han Rui huffed quietly. "Both of you are impossible."
Medical staff came to check Zhao Wei, reinforcing the brace and warning him again about pushing too far. When they were finally released to rest area holding, the three of them sat close together, too tired to talk for a while. The noise of other squads faded into the background, and for the first time since the exercise began, there was nothing pressing on them except exhaustion and the aftershock of what had almost gone wrong.
After a long silence, Han Rui spoke, voice calmer now. "When I saw you drop, I forgot where I was," he said to Zhao Wei. "I was not thinking about scores or drills. I was thinking that I was not letting you stay there." Zhao Wei looked at him and replied, "When I stepped out, I was thinking that I was not letting either of you get trapped because of me." Lin Chen listened to both of them and finally said, "And I was thinking that if either of you got taken out, I would not forgive myself." He paused, then added, "So maybe we are all making the same mistake."
Han Rui frowned slightly. "What mistake." Lin Chen answered, "We keep trying to protect each other by taking the danger ourselves instead of trusting the squad to handle it together." Zhao Wei considered that, then nodded slowly. "So what do we do next time." Han Rui gave a small, tired smile. "Next time, we trust that none of us has to be the one who falls so the others can stand."
Lin Chen felt something settle inside him at those words, something steadier than the constant tension he had been carrying. "Then we stop acting like this is three separate fights," he said. "It is one fight. And we are in it together."
Around them, instructors were already preparing the next phase of the field exercise, and Lin Chen knew this night was far from over. But now, when he looked at Han Rui and Zhao Wei, he did not see weak points he had to cover alone. He saw partners who were just as stubborn and just as unwilling to leave anyone behind.
And that made him both worried and strangely confident at the same time.