Chapter Twelve: The Unexpected Trial

The two men, each confined in separate silent chambers, were the ones who best understood what they had endured over the past ten days. In such absolute stillness, enduring it was not merely a matter of willpower; even Xu Yan found it challenging.

While Duan Peng relied solely on his personal resolve, Xu Yan was in a different state—this was the true Xu Yan, as revealed by seven consecutive days of brainwave monitoring.

The coveted life-sign waves were in a state of heightened tension. He was not afraid of the detection equipment harming him; rather, he realized that there was a discrepancy between his own life-sign waves and those recorded by the monitor. If the device tracked his genuine life-sign waves, he would soon be flagged as abnormal.

He had no choice but to borrow Xu Yan’s life-sign waves. Fully focused, he paid no heed to the consequences of this action. When Xu Yan’s life-sign waves took the lead, the two sets of waves merged to control the body. Fortunately, the monitor only issued an alarm; otherwise, it would have clearly detected two sets of signals appearing simultaneously.

It was this alarm that averted suspicion.

Xu Yan, now in control of the body, was exhilarated. This was nothing less than a genuine rebirth—and he had gained the enhanced physical capabilities of the other entity. Compared to his original body, this new one was superior in every respect.

In the following days, the training that Duan Peng and Xu Yan began gave them a subtle sense that the curriculum was not that of the Jinjiang Special Forces. Instead, it was at a higher level, akin to the training regimen of an interstellar combat unit.

Just as they started to speculate, Jing Zhimin interrupted their centrifuge training.

“Both of you, proceed immediately to Equipment Depot Zero to collect your gear.”

Equipment Depot Zero was a place they had never entered before. Previously, whenever they needed equipment, Jing Zhimin had personally prepared everything for them, as he had on their first weighted cross-country exercise. Now, they were sent to the numbered depots to collect their gear themselves.

This meant they were bound to encounter other recruits who had joined the Jinjiang Special Forces simultaneously. These two had been singled out for special training, making them known within the unit.

This also meant that only ninety-eight slots remained in the Jinjiang Special Forces, which, while enviable, only stoked the competitive spirit among the remaining 498 recruits.

What those still undergoing basic training did not realize was that many of the confirmed slots might not even belong to the Jinjiang Special Forces elite squad.

For example, today at Equipment Depot Zero, not only Xu Yan and Duan Peng but even Jing Zhimin himself was collecting gear.

Three large crates, each protecting the equipment like delicate instruments, surprised the two men.

However, upon opening the crates after collection, they realized the truth: their training was not following the Jinjiang Special Forces curriculum.

The exoskeleton suits made of non-reflective metal were standard issue for the interstellar combat team.

This exoskeleton-style combat suit was the tenth-generation battle armor from Blue Star, which had evolved beyond simple lightness to include enhanced functionality.

Equipped with a built-in respiratory circulation system, the non-reflective metal not only guarded against attacks from dark matter but also reduced the chance of detection.

It could withstand impacts three times the force of the wearer’s own body without damage, and most crucially, it contained an integrated flight propulsion system.

To power this, the exoskeleton needed its own internal power source, which was the heaviest component of the entire suit. In space, this device was as essential as the emergency medical kits carried by the Jinjiang Special Forces on Blue Star.

Because life was worth more than anything.

If separated from the interstellar combat vehicle without this life-saving system, one would become nothing more than space debris, doomed to be shattered by meteors and asteroids.

Removing the exoskeleton’s protective stealth function would be like throwing oneself into an uninhabited primordial jungle on land—survival would be nearly impossible.

In this dilemma, the propulsion system was the last lifeline.

Of the three crates, one contained the exoskeleton, another the external power fuel, and the last held firearms.

Both Xu Yan and Duan Peng were seeing these for the first time, their excitement evident on their faces.

After donning the suits according to the manual and inspecting their weapons, Jing Zhimin spoke gravely.

“Remember, you have only one chance. If you fail this time, you will remain merely elite members of the Jinjiang Special Forces and will never have the chance to join the interstellar combat team.”

Neither Xu Yan nor Duan Peng paid attention to anything else—hearing “interstellar combat team” electrified them like a jolt of adrenaline.

Jing Zhimin shook his head helplessly. News like this would excite every member of the Jinjiang Special Forces, including himself, a retired interstellar combat veteran.

Despite his words, he was somewhat nervous. Under the Jinjiang Special Forces’ training conditions, granting them a trial with the interstellar combat team so soon was a gamble.

His statement was both a form of high-pressure motivation and a desperate attempt to see if these two had any chance of success.

If their opportunity was validated, the Jinjiang Special Forces would likely become the second training base for the interstellar special forces.

Such an honor would be unprecedented.

This simulated interstellar combat trial was arranged by high-ranking officials from above. It served both as a demonstration and an evaluation.

Those who excel would become key candidates for the interstellar combat team assessments—essentially earning favorable impressions.

Success would mean a bonus for the real interstellar team exams; failure would mean a deduction.

Thus, Jing Zhimin was even more anxious than Xu Yan and Duan Peng.

Yet, he could not share these thoughts with them. Even with their strong mental fortitude, such pressure would be overwhelming for new recruits of the Jinjiang Special Forces.

Once they had finished suiting up and checking their firearms, the three clad in exoskeleton suits boarded a Skyfire vehicle.

This was a combat vehicle capable of flight, able to maneuver freely up to a thousand meters in altitude, swiftly reaching any destination without terrain constraints.

The only issue was that low-altitude flight still posed challenges due to turbulent airflow.

Even so, it was the favored transport vehicle of the Jinjiang Special Forces.

A standard Skyfire could carry five people, including the driver and operator, while the large Skyfire model could accommodate thirty. This was why the Jinjiang Special Forces trained recruits in thirty-person squads—they would eventually operate the large Skyfire vehicles on missions.

The standard Skyfire was used by mobile units, that is, the elite squads.

Jing Zhimin personally piloted the Skyfire. After departing from the Jinjiang Special Forces base, they ascended to a thousand meters before starting their flight.

For Xu Yan and Duan Peng, this was their first time aboard a Skyfire. Everything felt unfamiliar yet irresistibly alluring.

But the greatest shock was still to come.