Chapter 515: Chapter 250: Sparring with the Veterans
"Hold on. A little longer," Li Changâan said, carefully observing the opposing formation and making a calm assessment. "Wait for them to expose more weaknesses!"
Shen Qiuyue stood by Li Changâanâs side, ready to strike at any moment.
Her Sword Skill was incredibly fast. She was a close-combat expert, and once she broke through the enemyâs line of defense, almost no one could withstand her attacks.
The standoff continued for several minutes. Finally, Li Changâan saw his chance. "Now! Attack!"
Han Ruoxi struck without warning. A brilliant flash of Electric Energy cut through the air, hitting several of the veterans directly. They were knocked down by the blast before they even had time to react.
"Nice one!" Sun Yang yelled excitedly, simultaneously laying down more fire to suppress the enemyâs counterattack.
Shen Qiuyue was right behind him. With movements as fast as lightning, she thrust her sword at their weak points.
Caught off guard, several veterans were quickly forced back by her advance.
Li Changâan wasnât idle, either. He swung his Saw Chain Sword, each strike precise and powerful.
Though the veterans were experienced, the Insect Hunter Squadâs coordination gradually put them at a disadvantage.
By the end of the engagement, the veterans were nearly wiped out, while the Insect Hunter Squad had only sustained minor injuries.
"We won!" Sun Yang shouted excitedly.
After the training session, the Insect Hunter Squad returned to the rest area. Despite their victory, Li Changâan didnât let anyone relax.
Everyone was adjusting their gear, reviewing the battle, and preparing for the next mission.
Sun Yang was still buzzing with excitement. Wiping down his Pulse Gun, he couldnât stop replaying the fight in his head. "Hey, Captain Li, those veterans today were total pushovers, werenât they? I dropped two of them with one shot. They were nothing special!"
"Donât get cocky," Li Changâan said, giving him a cold glance. "You were too reckless. You charged in way too hard at the beginning. If the enemy had been any stronger, you wouldâve been hit several times over."
"Come on, Captain Li, thatâs harsh!" Sun Yang said with a helpless expression. "But charging in is what I do best! The more intense the firefight, the more I can prove my worth!"
"Thatâs not proving your worth, thatâs being reckless!" Han Ruoxi said, shaking her head with a scoff. "Look at you out there. Your tactics were suicidal. If it werenât for my Electric Energy and Shen Qiuyueâs close-combat support, you wouldâve been surrounded and overwhelmed!"
"Hey, Han Ruoxi, give me a break!" Sun Yang whined. "I was leading the charge for the team! Who else is going to run point?"
"Thatâs not how you run point," Li Changâan cut in, interrupting Sun Yangâs complaining. His tone was calm but held an undeniable authority. "If you keep charging in that recklessly, I canât promise Iâll be able to save you next time."
Sun Yang scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "Okay, okay. Iâll tone it down next time."
Wiping her sword, Shen Qiuyue looked up at Li Changâan. "Todayâs training was a test. Will the Commander have a new mission for us soon?"
"Weâll probably get a new operation soon," Li Changâan nodded. "But as for the specifics, weâll have to wait for the Commanderâs orders."
"I hope itâs not another boring mission," Han Ruoxi sighed. "Iâm tired of all this basic training. Combat is where the Insect Hunter Squad really shines!"
"Combat is our strength, yes, but basic training is just as important," Li Changâan said gravely. "Donât be impatient. We need to take this one step at a time.
When a bigger mission comes along, it will be our turn."
Just then, Bai Lin walked over. He had been quietly checking his own equipment. Though he didnât speak much, he was constantly providing the team with technical support.
He spoke up. "Captain Li, thereâs a message from the Commander."
"What is it?" Li Changâan asked, immediately getting to his feet, his expression turning serious.
"The Commander wants us in the command room for a meeting," Bai Lin said quietly. "It might be a new mission assignment."
Li Changâan nodded. "Everyone, get ready. Follow me to the command room."
Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang immediately gathered their gear. Shen Qiuyue also got to her feet. The squad quickly fell into formation and headed for the command room.
Instructor Wei Zhuang was already waiting outside when they arrived at the command room.
"Captain Li, go on in. The Commander is waiting for you," Wei Zhuang said, nodding at Li Changâan with a look of appreciation. "You all performed well today. The Commander is very pleased with your combat effectiveness."
"Thank you, Instructor," Li Changâan nodded in response, then led the squad into the command room.
Commander Chen Hao was standing in front of a map, discussing something with several other officers. When he saw Li Changâan and his team enter, he stopped his conversation and walked over.
"Captain Li, the Insect Hunter Squadâs performance was outstanding," Chen Hao said with a slight smile, his voice full of praise. "You fought well in the training exercise today. It makes me even more excited for your future."
"Thank you, Commander," Li Changâan said, lowering his head respectfully. "Weâll continue to work hard and live up to your expectations."
Chen Hao nodded and then pointed to the map. "I have an important mission for you.
Recently, weâve detected traces of a group of Alien Martial Artists near Lionâs Fang Star. It seems theyâre planning a raid, and their target is our baseâs energy station."
"Alien Martial Artists?" Han Ruoxi frowned. "Why is their target the energy station?"
"The energy station is a critical part of the baseâs infrastructure. If itâs destroyed, our power supply will be severely compromised," Chen Hao said gravely. "The enemy obviously intends to weaken our defenses by taking out the energy station."
"Then whatâs our mission?" Li Changâan asked, his expression as calm as ever.