Chapter 2: The Novice’s Welcome Gift-Você, um loirinho qualquer, como é que já abriu uma árvore genealógica só pra você?(Sundae de sorvete com enguia cozida)

Three days later.

A recruit training base in the southeastern war zone of the Dragon Nation.

Several army-green trucks pulled up in succession at the entrance. More than a hundred young men, still retaining a trace of boyishness despite their camouflage uniforms, stepped down one after another and lined up in formation.

Opposite them stood ten seasoned veterans, each with an upright posture and a soldier’s bearing.

The leader of the new recruits, Company Commander Xu Guoqing, swept his gaze over the crowd and quickly found the one he was looking for. The young man had handsome, refined features and a tall, slender build, with an open and sunny disposition. He looked nothing like a soldier—more like a fresh-faced celebrity from the entertainment world.

"Qi Tian!"

Xu Guoqing recalled his name. This was the person the higher-ups had instructed him to pay special attention to, and Xu Guoqing had already memorized his file by heart.

After a brief glance, Xu Guoqing didn’t let his gaze linger long on Qi Tian but began sizing up the other recruits. He’d heard that several of them were graduates from sports academies—physically formidable, to say the least. Naturally, these were the ones Xu Guoqing was most interested in.

Meanwhile, Qi Tian, who had just gotten off the troop transport, looked around the base with wide-eyed curiosity, much like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate for the first time.

Suddenly, a crisp notification sounded in his mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully enlisted and awakened the Ultimate Soldier King System! The system will automatically deliver your rookie gift package. Please check your rewards.]

Startled by the unexpected voice, Qi Tian couldn’t help but blurt out a profanity, loud and clear.

His exclamation was so conspicuous that all the recruits around him froze for a moment, and the faces of the ten squad leaders opposite instantly darkened.

No discipline. No respect for order. Foul-mouthed from the start.

A classic example of what not to do the moment he stepped off the truck. These criticisms flashed through the instructors’ minds. Their eyes, when they looked at Qi Tian, became tinged with disdain.

Even the new recruits who had gotten off the truck behind Qi Tian edged away from him, eager to distance themselves.

Realizing his outburst, Qi Tian quickly shut his mouth and snapped to attention.

Just then, the system spoke again:

[Rookie gift package: Initial physical enhancement will be delivered shortly. Please prepare yourself.]

The moment the system’s voice fell silent, a warm current began to flow through Qi Tian’s body.

If he hadn’t been bracing himself, focusing all his will on controlling his reactions, he might have made another scene and drawn even more ire from the instructors.

That wave of warmth surged rapidly through his bones and tendons, and Qi Tian could feel his physical abilities improving at an astonishing rate. Most noticeable was the sudden surge in strength, as if it were multiplying geometrically, swelling to the point of tension, almost ready to burst.

He felt like a balloon inflated to its absolute limit—if he didn’t find a way to let it out, he would explode.

[Rookie gift package delivered. Conducting health assessment of the host…

Assessment complete. Host Qi Tian’s physical indicators are as follows:

Endurance: 85 (average conscript: 60)

Strength: 50 (average conscript: 60)

Reflexes: 55 (average conscript: 60)

Military acumen: 20 (average conscript: 60)

First mission unlocked: Five-Kilometer Race Champion!

Successfully completing the mission will earn you elite-level barracks skills.]

Within a minute, his body underwent a complete transformation.

Qi Tian suppressed his excitement, maintaining a rigid soldier’s stance.

At that moment, the ten instructors stepped up in front of the recruits. One of them, with dark skin, a rifle slung over his shoulder, and thick, muscular arms, cleared his throat and barked out,

"My name is Zhou Zhuang. I am first platoon leader of the recruit company, and some of you will have me as your squad leader. You may call me Old Black Sergeant. But let me be clear—this nickname isn’t because of my skin. It’s because I’m ruthless when it comes to training recruits.

I have one motto: as long as you’re not dead, I’ll train you to the limit.

Now, everyone, right face! Prepare for a five-kilometer cross-country run!"

"What? Five kilometers right after getting off the truck?"

"That’s brutal! Not even a moment’s rest—I’m still carsick!"

"I can barely manage a thousand meters in PE class. Now I have to run five kilometers with my gear? Just kill me now!"

As soon as Old Black finished speaking, the recruits burst out in complaints, and the line dissolved into chaos.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Old Black’s eyes bulged with fury as he roared, "If I hear one more word of whining, lunch is canceled!"

That threat silenced the ranks immediately. Running five kilometers was already tough enough for new recruits. If they couldn’t even eat afterward, it was as if they were being sentenced to death.

"Everyone, double time—move out!"

Old Black barked another order and jogged to the head of the column.

This time, the recruits said nothing more. They turned and set off after the lead, the line straggling into motion.

Xu Guoqing and the remaining veterans stayed behind, watching coldly.

Old Black’s actions, of course, had been at Xu Guoqing’s instruction. This five-kilometer run wasn’t just to intimidate the new recruits—it was a small test to assess their physical condition. Through this, they could easily gauge the recruits’ fitness levels, which would help plan future training.

After three kilometers, the already disorganized line had completely fallen apart. Most of the recruits were drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, struggling to keep up with Old Black.

Some, less fit, stood off to the side, gasping for breath, while a few collapsed to their knees, carsick and exhausted, vomiting on the spot.

At this, the eight other veterans with Xu Guoqing sprang into action. They hurried to those left behind, urging them to get up and continue the run.

Xu Guoqing, eyes narrowed, kept his gaze locked on a few recruits running just behind Old Black.

"Zhang Meng, Jiang Chong, Song Wei—these must be the athletes Old Zhao mentioned. Their physical condition is impressive!"

In Xu Guoqing’s mind, physical fitness determined one’s potential. Most military training depended on strong physical foundations—distance runs, the four-hundred-meter obstacle course, forced marches, rapid descent—these all required excellent fitness.

Those three clearly stood out among the new recruits. While physical prowess didn’t guarantee a truly outstanding soldier, no outstanding soldier was lacking in it.

Old Black’s pace was far from slow, yet the three kept up, faces contorted but showing no sign of giving in. With proper training, they’d become exceptional soldiers.

"Wait, where’s Qi Tian?"

Suddenly, Xu Guoqing remembered the recruit he’d been told to keep a special eye on and scanned the group.

Soon, he spotted Qi Tian not far behind the three athletes.

But in that instant, Xu Guoqing’s expression froze in shock.