Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”This change is a warning for us. It means future battles will be more complex!”

”What a real pain...”

Han Ruoxi leaned back against the wall and let out a long sigh.

”If even the Insect Race is starting to use tactics, we’re going to have a hard time from now on!”

”What’s there to be afraid of? No matter how much they evolve, they’re still just insects, right?”

Sun Yang fiddled with his Pulse Gun, squeezing out a confident smile.

”We’re called the Insect Hunter Squad for a reason! No matter how many of them there are, I can take them out one shot at a time. Quick and clean!”

”Then how come you only hit three of them just now?”

Shen Qiuyue twisted the knife out of nowhere. Her tone was calm, yet her words were like a sharp blade stabbing straight into Sun Yang’s pride.

”Shen Qiuyue! Can’t you cut me some slack?”

Sun Yang glared at her, his face flushing with anger.

”That was a tactical... a tactical conservation of ammo! Get it?”

”That’s enough. Stop arguing!”

Li Chang’an’s voice suddenly came from the lounge doorway.

His hands were in the pockets of his combat suit, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone.

”It’s only been two hours, and you already have the energy to argue? I guess the next training round can start early.”

”No, no, no, Captain! We were just joking, really!”

Sun Yang shot to his feet, a fawning smile plastered on his face.

”Please don’t take it seriously. Everyone’s dead tired; we don’t have the energy to argue!”

”That’s right, Captain. We were just debriefing, discussing the last battle!”

Han Ruoxi quickly chimed in, afraid that Li Chang’an would actually give them extra training.

”After all, with your excellent guidance, we felt we should reflect on our performance!”

Li Chang’an ignored their excuses, walking to the center of the room and raising a hand to activate the holographic projector.

The battlefield simulation data reappeared in midair, clearly displaying each person’s combat performance.

”First, let’s review your recent performance.”

Li Chang’an said coldly, pointing at the data on the projection.

”Han Ruoxi, the range of your Superpower control is too small, which allowed three from the second Insect Race wave to break through your containment.

Shen Qiuyue, your clearing speed on the left flank was a bit slow. No mistakes, but there’s still room for improvement.

Sun Yang, your accuracy was down by 15%. You wasted too much ammo.

Bai Lin, your battlefield support reaction time was delayed by three seconds. In actual combat, that’s a fatal mistake!”

”Captain... isn’t this just a training simulation?”

Sun Yang said in a low voice, his tone slightly fawning.

”Can’t we relax just a little?”

”Relax?”

Li Chang’an turned to look at him, a chill in his gaze.

”Is the Insect Race going to ’relax’ for you? Combat is a matter of life and death. Any lapse comes with a price.

If you don’t want to die, you’ll fix these problems!”

”...Understood!”

Sun Yang lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

”That goes for the rest of you, too!”

Li Chang’an’s gaze swept across everyone, his tone low and grave.

”The Insect Hunter Squad isn’t a place just anyone can be.

If you want to stay, you’ll turn your weaknesses into strengths.

If you can’t, then get out!”

The lounge fell silent, and everyone’s expression grew serious.

They knew every word Li Chang’an said was the truth.

The threat from the Insect Race was growing, and the only ones they could rely on were themselves and each other.

”Alright, the next training exercise is a simulated raid mission.”

Li Chang’an switched off the projector and turned to face them.

”The target is an Insect Race resource outpost.

You have twenty minutes. The objective is to annihilate the enemy while minimizing your squad’s exposure time!”

”Twenty minutes again?”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but blurt out.

”Captain, what’s your deal with ’twenty minutes’? Why is it always that long?”

”You can choose not to participate.”

Li Chang’an said coldly.

”The consequence, however, will be your removal from the squad and a transfer to the logistics department as a regular soldier.”

”Never mind, never mind! I’ll shut my mouth. I’ll go, alright?”

Sun Yang immediately waved his hands in surrender and obediently stood aside.

”Good. The training begins now.”

Li Chang’an pressed a button on his terminal. The holographic projector reactivated, and the entire room instantly transformed into a simulated Insect Race resource outpost.

The moment the holographic projection activated, the Insect Hunter Squad’s lounge was completely replaced by another scene: a desolate quarry, surrounded by piles of ore being mined by the Insect Race. A few worker insects could be seen crawling slowly, hauling ore to transport pods in the distance.

In the center of the quarry stood a structure resembling a command post, with several massive guardian insects patrolling back and forth.

”Your target is the Insect Race command post in the center of the quarry.

Your mission is to destroy the command post, minimize the possibility of enemy reinforcements, and protect yourselves.”

Li Chang’an stood at the ”entrance” to the simulated battlefield, pointing to the target building highlighted in the projection.

”There are at least thirty members of the Insect Race in this outpost, including two Commander Level individuals and eight guardian insects. The rest are ordinary workers.

You have twenty minutes. Understood?”

”Understood!”

The squad members answered in unison, though their voices betrayed a mix of emotions.

Sun Yang sounded resigned, Han Ruoxi seemed impatient, Shen Qiuyue was as calm as ever, and Bai Lin remained quiet as always.

”Good. Operation begins now!”

With a wave of his hand, Li Chang’an led the squad into the simulation. The ground beneath their feet was so realistically simulated they could even feel the rough texture of the ore.

Everyone quickly got into the zone, adjusting their gear as their gazes sharpened.