Tempest of the Battlefield

Ye Zi remained silent, her face darkening with many questions in her mind. Who was this man, and what was he hiding underneath that smile?

Ye Zi bit down her lip and then bowed. ”I am sorry, Captain.” Ye Zi wanted to say many more, but no other words came out.

Wang Tong was surprised by this turn of events as warmth rose inside him. Loneliness was one of the deadliest killers of a man, especially when one was with the persons he cared about. Wang Tong had lived the happiest moments in the five years when he was with Battle Wolf, and the imminent resentment from the group would have been his nightmare.

But everyone had eventually realized that his intentions were was good, and that he really cared about them.

The ability to caring for each other was what separated humans from the Zergs.

”What is the meaning of this? You think I will go easy on you tomorrow? Donʼt worry, my goal is to build the best team on Mars. So, you better work your a8s off until our goal is achieved.”

The soldiers laughed at Wang Tongʼs sarcastic joke. After the training, Ye Zi had gathered the soldiers to condemn Wang Tongʼs inhumane training methods. But, before she was able to finish listing the crimes that Wang Tong had committed, Duo Lun and Tan Bu rose to her comment and defended Wang Tong. The debate quickly turned into a heated argument.

Tan Bu made it clear that what Wang Tong was doing was no different than Ye Ziʼs job as a medic: saving peopleʼs lives. Ye Zi could cure a wounded soldier, while Wang Tong was able to teach the soldiers to avoid getting injured altogether. Duo Lun further explained that although Wang Tong might appear to be insensitive to othersʼ feelings, he was a very kind person, and had helped him many times.

In the end, both soldiers announced that they trusted Wang Tong with their lives not because he was strong, but because he had made them strong.

…

The next day morning, when Wang Tong was brushing his teeth, he saw his furry face in the mirror. After yesterdayʼs event, he knew that he had gained everyoneʼs trust, and therefore, he thought that it was about time to put things in the past behind him. He took out a razor and shaved off the beard.

When he walked into the training room, he found that Ross had already lined up all the soldiers and was waiting for him. Everyone stared at his new face with surprise and some confusion.

This handsome young man had sharp features that were chiseled out, and his eyes were two pools of darkness. Who was he?

”Hey bro, this is our training room.” Ross asked as he failed to recognize the young man in front of him.

”I know what it is.” Wang Tong said with a smile.

”Captain? Is it really you?”

A swell of gasps rose in the room. Everyone had thought that Wang Tong was close to his thirties. But without the beard, he looked barely twenty years old.

Castro threw his head back and exclaimed, ”I am no longer the most handsome man in Battle Wolf anymore... Why?”

”Because you were never the most handsome one.” Tan Bu said with a broad smile.

”Well, I mean among the METAL fighters,” Castro said as he brushed his hair with his fingers.

Wang Tong couldnʼt suppress a snicker, and then announced, ”Jokes aside, we are going to focus on the Divine Burst technique today. I gave you guys some time yesterday to practice, so show me your improvement now. Letʼs start with you Lie Xuan.”

Lie Xuan sauntered to Wang Tong and announced with a sassy smirk, ”Piece of cake!”

Lie Xuan carefully channeled out his soul energy and pulled off the Divine Burst with ease. A smug look hung on her face after she was done, and she cast Wang Tong a glance that could almost pass for a taunt.

Wang Tong nodded. ”Excellent! Next, Ross!”

Ross had completed the technique without any difficulties, but Wang Tong knew that he was still far from able to use the technique amidst the chaos of a real war.

”Tan Bu and Duo Lun, it is your turn. I want you to use only level eleven soul energy.”

”Yes, Captain!”

”Look carefully, everyone! I want you to remember that this trick is only useful when you were able to deploy it under pressure, such as in real combat.”

As Tan Bu and Lun Duo unsheathed their blades, the belligerence in the air wafted in all directions. Lie Xuan was shocked by such strong Battle Qi coming off from the two low-level warriors.