Special Forces: From the very beginning, I can upgrade the entry

Chapter Thirteen: A Soldier’s Honor—A Promise Made Is a Promise Kept

The silence at the shooting range was broken only by the rhythmic sound of heavy breathing and the occasional shuffle of boots against the dirt.

Up on the observation platform, Miao Lian lowered his binoculars, a rare flicker of intrigue in his sharp eyes.

“What do you think? Could he earn a Second-Class Merit?”

[Second-Class Merit (二等功): A high military honor in China, often awarded for major achievements.]

Standing beside him, Chen Guotao blinked, momentarily thrown off by the question. Then, his mind raced to connect the dots.

“Sir, are you planning to send him to the All-Army Military Skills Competition this summer?”

[All-Army Military Skills Competition: A real competition within the Chinese military, testing soldiers in shooting, tactics, endurance, and combat skills.]

It was an unprecedented thought.

The All-Army Competition was the most prestigious military contest within the Eastern Military Region. Veterans trained for years just to place in the top ranks. And the champion didn’t just earn glory—they were directly awarded a Second-Class Merit Citation. In an era of peace, it was near impossible to earn battlefield commendations unless one was in special operations. But this competition was different. It was a battlefield of skill, discipline, and raw ability.

Miao Lian’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

“Think about it, Guotao. If a fresh recruit takes first place in the competition, don’t you think our ‘Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company’ will go down in history?”

Chen Guotao felt his heart skip a beat.

If Lin Yi pulls this off, it won’t just be a personal achievement—it will make the Night Tigers and even the entire Special 8th Regiment a legend. And it isn’t just about a single competition. If Lin Yi can secure both the Eastern Military Region’s “Outstanding New Recruit” award and win the All-Army Competition, then in just six months, he will leapfrog over every standard military promotion—skipping the ranks of Private, Private First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, and even Staff Sergeant—and directly become a Candidate Officer.

That was unheard of. In a time where the military was undergoing rapid modernization, securing talent like Lin Yi wasn’t just important—it was a necessity.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The cheers had died down, the dust had settled, and now—

All eyes turned to Zhuang Yan.

His breath came in uneven bursts, his grip tightening around his weapon.

After what Lin Yi had just accomplished, everyone’s expectations were suffocating him.

His hands trembled slightly.

The pressure was immense.

“Begin!”

With a deep breath, Zhuang Yan shot forward.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Bullets ripped through the air, striking the moving targets as he sprinted through the course.

His footwork was clumsy, his form lacked the smoothness of a veteran, but he refused to stop. He kept pushing, his willpower carrying him through. But then, as his first magazine emptied, his hands fumbled with the reload.

A second.

Then another.

The precious seconds ticked away as he struggled to slap in the new magazine. He was losing too much time. Still, he gritted his teeth, raised his rifle, and fired the final shot and missed. The last target swayed but remained standing. A hushed silence fell over the crowd.

Zhuang Yan froze.

No… no, no, no…

His magazine was empty. His mind screamed for a solution.

Then, without thinking, he yanked the rifle off his shoulder and hurled it forward like a spear.

BAM!

The butt of the rifle slammed into the target, knocking it over. The entire range went dead silent.

Then—

Laughter, loud, genuine, uncontrollable laughter.

Lin Yi was the first to double over, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

“This guy—HAHA! Absolute genius!”

Even the hardened veterans couldn’t hold it in.

Some shook their heads in disbelief, while others smirked in amusement.

Even Miao Lian, watching from above, chuckled.

“Thirty-six seconds. All targets down,” the range officer finally called out, shaking his head in exasperation.

A beat of silence was followed by thunderous applause. Zhuang Yan exhaled shakily, looking down at his empty hands, and then at the still-swaying target.

He had done it. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t flawless. But he had done it. And at that moment—for the first time since joining the army—he felt like he belonged.

Miao Lian smirked, nudging Chen Guotao.

“Eight years in the army, and Sanpao just lost to a fresh recruit. You see that?”

Chen Guotao couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sir, does that really count as a win? He didn’t even shoot the last target—he threw his rifle at it!”

Miao Lian’s expression turned serious.

“Tell me, Guotao—what is war?”

The mood shifted.@@novelbin@@

The air felt heavier.

“A battlefield isn’t about rules. It’s about survival.”

“Say a reconnaissance soldier is deep in enemy territory, and his ammo runs out. What does he do? Walk up to the enemy and ask for more bullets?”

Chen Guotao swallowed.

“Zhuang Yan didn’t just panic. He adapted. He figured out a solution—no matter how unconventional.”

“That kind of thinking?”

Miao Lian’s eyes glinted with something close to admiration.

“That’s the thinking of a future special forces soldier.”

Chen Guotao let out a low whistle.

Then—both men turned their eyes back to Lin Yi.

Zhuang Yan had potential. That was clear.

But Lin Yi?

Lin Yi wasn’t just a recruit with potential.

He was a monster in the making.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Back at the range, Zhuang Yan turned, his chest rising and falling, sweat dripping from his forehead. Across from him was Sergeant Zheng Sanpao. Without a word, the veteran soldier stepped forward.

He dropped down and started doing push-ups.

“One!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

The new recruits gaped. Zheng Sanpao was actually doing it. Two hundred push-ups—not a single one less. Because a soldier’s honour is absolute, a promise made is a promise kept. Zhuang Yan’s smug grin slowly faded. As he watched his sergeant complete the punishment, the realisation hit him: This is what it means to be a soldier. No ego. No excuses. No backing down. The only thing that matters is honour and duty.

The recruits lined up, shoulders squared. And as they marched back to base, their voices rang across the sunset-lit fields—

“The red sun sets behind the mountains, and the soldiers return from training…”