Chapter Twenty-Three: Persevere!

"Thank you," Qin Feng replied with gratitude. He glanced at the square, where a considerable number of soldiers were already assembled. These were the candidates for the Fierce Tiger Special Forces selection. The square was vast enough to accommodate over a thousand people. Each soldier stood tall and proud, brimming with fighting spirit. They had come here to compete for a place among the special forces, determined to give their all in hopes of passing the test and earning the right to stay.

More soldiers gradually arrived at the square. After about an hour, roughly a third of the space was filled—three to four hundred men, a considerable number. All of them were gathered for the special forces selection.

At that moment, a man approached the entrance. He exuded a commanding presence, his bearing both imposing and vigorous. Turning to the sentry, he spoke with authority, "Sentry, the time is up. The recruitment window is now closed. If anyone else tries to come in, tell them to turn back. If they ask who gave the order, tell them it was me." His tone left no room for doubt.

In his eyes, those who could not even adhere to the schedule were unworthy of participating in the selection for the special forces.

"Yes, Captain," the sentry replied.

This man was none other than the captain of the Fierce Tiger Special Forces. Casting his gaze over the training ground and the assembled soldiers, he addressed a nearby officer, "Lieutenant, form them up."

"Yes, sir," the lieutenant acknowledged before jogging over.

The lieutenant swiftly organized the men, restoring order and quiet to the ranks. Everyone stood still, aware that the captain of the Fierce Tiger Special Forces was about to make his entrance.

Once the formation was complete, the lieutenant jogged back and called out loudly, "Captain, the formation is ready. Please proceed!"

The captain nodded.

He strode toward the assembled ranks under the watchful eyes of all present. Qin Feng, like the others, fixed his gaze on the captain, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes. He realized he recognized this man—the captain of the Fierce Tiger Special Forces. He had seen him before, and now, the captain seemed even more extraordinary, radiating an aura unique to special forces soldiers. A formidable presence emanated from within him.

The captain quickly reached the front of the formation. Standing before the men, he showed no sign of nervousness. His expression was calm, his cold and piercing gaze sweeping over the group as if he could see straight through them. There was a sharpness about him, like a sword unsheathed yet held in check, gathering power in the breeze, ready to strike at any moment.

"Lieutenant, how many men do we have?" the captain inquired.

"Reporting, sir. There are 331 candidates for the special forces selection. 305 have arrived in person. Awaiting your orders. Duty team leader: Sun Changhai."

"At ease," the captain commanded, his presence unmistakable.

"Yes, sir." The lieutenant snapped his heels together, saluted, then turned, hands at his sides, and jogged to the front of the formation. He shouted, "At ease!"

There was a rustle as all 305 men placed their hands behind their backs, feet shoulder-width apart, facing the captain with calm attention. Though not yet official members of the special forces, they exuded a powerful aura and a sense of conviction. They had come here full of hope, prepared to give their utmost in the selection. The aura they projected was not that of ordinary soldiers.

They regarded the captain coolly. From his earlier display, they could tell he was no ordinary man, but none could predict what he would do next. They waited, curious and apprehensive, but none dared to let their nerves show. From the moment they had set foot in the Fierce Tiger Special Forces training base, the selection had already begun. They knew that becoming a special forces soldier would not be easy. The tests ahead would likely be brutal, but they were ready. Each had resolved to persevere, even knowing that in the end, very few would remain.

The captain stepped before the 305 candidates, surveying them with a powerful voice, "Greetings. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the captain of the Fierce Tiger Special Forces. From now on, you may address me as Captain. Introduction over. Now let me explain this selection process."

At his words, everyone straightened with renewed intensity. They knew this would be a harsh ordeal, and the captain’s next words would be vital. They listened intently, eager to learn the details of the test.

Seeing he had their full attention, the captain spoke in a cold, commanding tone, "Let me be blunt: right now, you are all rookies. At best, you are provisional candidates for the special forces—far from the real thing. The gap is enormous. From the moment you set foot on the training base, the selection process already began.

"From here on, you will face the most brutal tests in history.

"My task is to choose the very best, those who will remain here, undergo rigorous training, and become powerful, valuable members of the special forces. As for the rookies who fail, they will be eliminated. Whether you succeed and remain here depends entirely on yourselves."

He swept his gaze over the group again and saw that all were tense and ready. Each man here had come with hope and unshakeable resolve. No one wanted to be eliminated, and the fighting spirit within them burned fiercely.

"Tell me—do you want to stay, or do you want to go home?" the captain shouted.

"Stay!" the men roared, their voices echoing over the square.

"Very good! Then, from this moment on, you will undergo the most rigorous special forces selection in history. Prepare to endure hardship. Show your true strength—the strong will remain."

The captain’s voice rang out, powerful and commanding, his entire being radiating strength.

The assembled men knew that what lay ahead would be a grueling test, and only by passing it could they hope to become members of the special forces.

Listening to the captain’s speech, Qin Feng felt his blood surging with excitement. As the selection began, a beautiful image flashed through his mind, and his eyes filled with determination. "No matter what, I will pass this test and become a special forces soldier," he vowed silently.

A formidable aura emanated from him, his gaze unwavering and full of spirit. His fighting will blazed within him, momentum unbroken. He told himself that he must persevere, that he must become a member of the special forces.