Not long after, the second match commenced.
Students from various military academies gathered in the preparation hall of the Southern Military Academy.
When Ren Qingqiu and her group arrived, several students from the Eastern Military Academy approached them.
The commander of the Eastern Military Academy, Dai Zhiyu, was a third-year student. Although she was somewhat shorter than Ren Qingqiu, standing a head shorter, anyone who had watched the recordings knew her mental strength was rated S-rank, making her a formidable opponent!
As she approached, Lin Zhimi and Tang Xing shifted into alert mode, wary that the Eastern Military Academy students might act like those from the Western Military Academy and throw a knife out of nowhere.
However, just as they anticipated Dai Zhiyu might provoke them, her first words were a compliment: “The last match was thrilling.”
Her demeanor reflected that of the Eastern Military Academy.
Unlike the Western Military Academy, the Eastern Military Academy wouldn’t treat the Northern Military Academy with the same hostility, nor would they nitpick over trivialities.
In their eyes, losing one match was simply that—one match!
They wouldn’t lose their composure or dignity over a single defeat. Even if they didn’t score in one match, there was no need to panic; they believed they could turn the tide.
Calm and composed.
This was the essence of the Eastern Military Academy.
However, while Dai Zhiyu’s words seemed complimentary, they carried a subtle undertone, as her praise was directed not at Commander Bai Yuxi of the Northern Military Academy, but at Ren Qingqiu.
Ren Qingqiu smiled casually at Dai Zhiyu and replied, “You all performed well too; keep it up next time.”
Dai Zhiyu’s teammates furrowed their brows slightly. Although the words were kind, they felt that Ren Qingqiu’s tone sounded off—almost as if she were mentoring the younger generation.
“What year is she in? Just winning one match, how can she be so bold as to act high and mighty? They are the true champions of previous years!”
However, Dai Zhiyu regarded Ren Qingqiu, who remained unfazed, and smiled.
“Are you interested in joining our Eastern Military Academy?”
Everyone present was momentarily taken aback by this statement.
Ren Qingqiu was stunned for a moment but quickly laughed it off.
“Thank you, but I think I’ll pass.”
“You’re only a freshman, with endless potential ahead. Our academy can provide you with a better environment, superior resources, and a more inclusive attitude towards team members.”
Dai Zhiyu spoke earnestly about the advantages. While she was stating facts, it also subtly mocked the conditions of the Northern Military Academy.
Bai Yuxi’s expression turned cold as she listened from the side.
Ren Qingqiu glanced at her and playfully tapped Bai Yuxi’s pinky with her finger.
Bai Yuxi stiffened for a moment, turned her head, and saw Ren Qingqiu smiling at Dai Zhiyu.
“Rather than merely being a gatekeeper, wouldn’t it be more interesting to topple the gatekeeper and create a new history? Don’t you think so?”
Dai Zhiyu paused at Ren Qingqiu’s words and then laughed heartily. Although she laughed freely, she didn’t say anything further, merely handing Ren Qingqiu a card.
“This is my contact information.”
Then, Dai Zhiyu turned to leave.
“Good luck to you all.”
Dai Zhiyu genuinely wanted to recruit this newcomer from the Northern Military Academy, but that was not her top priority.
The purpose of her visit was partly to provoke some reactions among the members of the Northern Military Academy team. However, seeing them remain indifferent, with Ren Qingqiu even handing her contact information to Bai Yuxi, Dai Zhiyu could only smile helplessly.
It seemed that aside from their commander, Bai Yuxi, showing some emotional fluctuation, her words had little effect.
Ren Qingqiu checked the time and noticed the second hand had just reached the number ‘12’ when the door was pushed open.
A man with a side-part hairstyle and silver-rimmed glasses entered.
He glanced at Jing Ran, nodded slightly, and then turned to head towards the venue without saying a word.
Lin Zhimi and Tang Xing couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh!” upon seeing him, patting Jing Ran on the shoulder.
“You two really look alike.”
Jing Ran shot a glance at Lin Zhimi, as if to say, “No kidding,” wrinkling his brow.
This man was Jing Zhuo.
He was Jing Ran’s brother, originally a reconnaissance soldier, but he was extremely inept in combat and was now working at the Development Bureau.
Ren Qingqiu thought this job suited him better, as Jing Zhuo had always possessed the unique demeanor of a researcher.
For instance, even now, he kept glancing at his watch, seemingly timing every step down to the second.
—A clock-like person.
Ren Qingqiu smiled at the thought.
“This is your second match, and the venue is Nibiru.”
As the time had come, Jing Zhuo got straight to the point. Unlike Kong Youxi, he wouldn’t smile, engage in small talk, lighten the mood, or exchange pleasantries.
The venue was eerily quiet. This outcome wasn’t particularly surprising to the four military academies; everyone had prepared to some extent.
Nibiru.
This was once a fairly prosperous city in the south.
However, due to rapid urban development, issues like industrial emissions and fossil fuel pollution led to environmental degradation, and war ultimately turned the entire city into a wasteland.
The city had been abandoned for years, and its original lakes had dried up.
There were almost no polyploid organisms left here, as the level of pollution and the barren soil could not support human or polyploid survival.
Yet, amidst the concrete and steel of this city, plants had thrived. In recent years, the city had been sealed off as a dangerous zone, and no one had entered since. The presence of vegetation made reconstruction impossible, gradually turning it into a forbidden area, a wasteland.
Here, it resembled neither a city nor a forest.
Everyone felt it was just eerie and strange.
“The content of this match is a variant of a capture-the-flag competition, and I haven’t prepared flags for you at the start.”
As Jing Zhuo checked his watch, he flipped through the material in his hand.
“The rules of the match are as follows: First, you need to find an object similar to a flag, and at the end of the match, the team that possesses this object and brings it back will earn five points.”
One student immediately raised their hand.
“Director, what is this object?”
“What the object is, you will know as soon as you see it for the first time in Nibiru at night. Its location is random, just like your starting position.”
—Why? How would you know that?
Everyone fell silent; this information was as good as nothing, leaving everyone confused.
“At the same time, once you find the object, your current score will be displayed on your terminal.”
Jing Zhuo glanced at his watch again.
“Second, this match will be time-limited. It officially starts at three o’clock in the afternoon after you arrive and will end after a certain period. You will be notified of the countdown at the end, so please exercise caution.”
Jing Zhuo adjusted his glasses.
“The duration of this match will not be as long as the first one, so please manage your time wisely.”
Many students breathed a sigh of relief. If every match were as long as the one at the Eastern Military Academy, it would be exhausting both physically and mentally.
Jing Zhuo continued without pause, flipping through the documents in his hands.
“Thirdly, according to the principle of prioritizing life, if one person from each team survives, they earn one point.
“In other words, a complete team can earn five points simply by surviving until the end of the match, even if they haven’t found the target.
“Similar to the previous match, if any issues arise, you can use your terminals to notify the league’s rescue team, and we will provide assistance promptly. Additionally, you can communicate within the venue using your devices; we have blocked outside signals, so you won’t be able to call anyone outside.
“Regarding the scoring, the points for the targets can be cumulative.
“That is, a team can earn points for up to four targets, totaling twenty points.
“In the best-case scenario, when a complete team secures all four targets and finishes the match, they can earn twenty-five points.”
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
Some teams had already glanced toward the Northern Military Academy, starting to whisper among themselves—clearly, with this new information, the Northern Military Academy’s lead of just ten points didn’t seem significant anymore.
Winning the second match could completely overturn the results of the first!
“The rules are as stated. Are there any questions?”
Jing Zhuo closed the list in his hands.
No one spoke up.
“Since there are no questions, you can prepare to depart.
“I hope all of you will demonstrate the spirit and caliber expected of the finest students from each military academy during this competition, overcoming challenges through teamwork to achieve the scores you deserve.”
Jing Zhuo glanced at his watch and nodded.
Ren Qingqiu checked her watch as well; it was exactly ten minutes—not a second more, not a second less.
This must be the time Jing Zhuo had planned for his briefing.
“Well then—”
Jing Zhuo adjusted his glasses, signaling for the large door behind him to be opened. Light flooded into the venue, revealing four large military vehicles to everyone.
“Good luck to you all.”
Several students from various academies were led onto the military vehicles, their eyes covered and ears blocked, as they were taken to Nibiru.
The journey lasted quite a while. By the time the members of the Northern Military Academy arrived at the starting point in Nibiru, it was still some time before three in the afternoon.
A wind carrying a scent of smoke passed between them.
They didn’t hear the footsteps of other teams nor see any signs of their presence, which temporarily eased Tang Xing’s mind.
—It seemed that this match didn’t have a common starting point with the other teams.
However, as they looked around, several of them held their breath.
Before them lay a scene of devastation…
Buildings stood crookedly on the ground, a forest of steel melded with real trees, and the corroded concrete structures made one feel that there was no safety even beneath the rubble.
No vehicles, no sounds of engines running, not even a single crow; the traffic lights had ceased functioning, covered in moss…
When a city is laid bare in such a desolate state, devoid of life, it undeniably shocks the senses.
Gazing at the scene of ruin, the group was left speechless.
The Bas Desert could be described as a place eroded by wind and sand, but it didn’t compare to what they saw now.
That place had turned into a desert, a nation that had vanished without a trace—yet now, this battered city stood before them, revealing the extent of the devastation it had suffered…
Ren Qingqiu calmly surveyed the scene before her—she was the most unaffected by this grim sight.
“How tragic…” Lin Zhimi sighed.
The others remained silent, staring without speaking.
—It felt like the end of humanity.
This scene served as a stark reminder: This is the reality that war brings.
It showed them the path they would have to traverse.
After a moment of silence, their terminals beeped.
It was three in the afternoon—the second match officially began.
Tang Xing immediately began to observe the environment, assessing the soil and inspecting the issues with the concrete buildings.
“This place is heavily polluted.
“The land is contaminated, with plants adapted to acidic soil. If it rains, it’s likely to be acid rain.”
Bai Yuxi glanced at Ren Qingqiu.
“What do you think the target mentioned by Director Jing is?”
“What could it be?” Ren Qingqiu smiled and looked at Jing Ran. “Senior, do you know?”
Jing Ran frowned, “I don’t know; Jing Zhuo and I are just brothers, not the same person.”
“What do you think it might be, commander?”
Ren Qingqiu quietly loaded bullets into her gun.
After a few seconds of silence, Bai Yuxi shared her reasoning.
“Director Jing said it’s something that can be seen at night. I believe it’s likely a source of light.”
“If it’s a source of light, we might as well rest for now and search during the night.”
Ren Qingqiu nodded thoughtfully.
The instructor from the Northern Military Academy watched anxiously.
If everyone was moving at such a slow pace, it might have been fine, but on the other side, the surveillance cameras showed students from the other three military academies already moving swiftly!
Their students appeared to be casually strolling around as if they were out for a leisurely walk, truly following Ren Qingqiu’s suggestion to rest aimlessly!