Chapter 52: The Unluckiest Little Pup

This assessment involved a total of 421 Alpha freshmen, taking place in a large-scale simulated battlefield.

Each Alpha was outfitted in a form-fitting combat suit and protective goggles.

On their backs was a randomly distributed black backpack, containing supplies such as a dagger, food, and common medical serums. If luck was on their side, they might even receive an S-tier quantum gun.

In this free-for-all competition, the objective was to shatter the red marker affixed to the left side of an opponent’s chest. Doing so would eliminate them and earn a point.

To Ji Laili, the setup felt a bit like a battle royale game he had played before.

However, compared to a typical 100-player game, this battle had even more participants. Instead of a shrinking safe zone, the dangers came from the harsh environment and mutant beasts.

Mutant beasts were one of the Federation’s greatest threats, second only to the Empire.

However, unlike conflicts with the Empire, the mutant beast crisis was now mostly under control, and Alphas were well-trained to handle them—otherwise, they wouldn’t be included in the assessment.

Additionally, instructors would assign unpredictable missions.

Performing exceptionally well could earn the instructors’ recognition, providing an additional advantage.

However, whether these missions would lead to encounters with other Alphas or increased danger was uncertain.

The only way to leave was to have the red marker on your chest shattered, confirming “death.”

Otherwise, even if severely injured, withdrawal was not an option.

Moreover, pain was experienced at full intensity in this simulation.

Ji Laili doubted that any Alpha would willingly shoot their own red marker to “suicide out”—that would be an absolute disgrace to a military cadet.

In other words, this battle was going to be brutal.

Ji Laili’s lips curled into a confident smile—a real challenge was what made things interesting.

He had faith in himself, and confidence in the personalized training he had been receiving from Shen Yu over the past few days.

Now, first things first—let’s see what supplies he got!

Ji Laili eagerly unzipped his backpack, but the smile on his face froze.

Inside the pitch-black interior of the bag, there were only three items—

• A pair of wooden chopsticks
• A box of bear-shaped cookies
• A smoke grenade

Ji Laili: “……”

His face fell, staring at the backpack in stunned silence.

Unwilling to accept this, he closed the bag and opened it again.

Still the same three things.

No miracle happened.

The boy slumped in defeat.

What the hell?! His luck was awful! The most useful thing in his kit was probably the smoke grenade.

But what could he even do with it? He didn’t even have a proper weapon!

If he ran into an opponent, he’d be wiped out in seconds.

He couldn’t just use it to run away, right?

Ji Laili couldn’t think of a single practical use for the smoke grenade.

If this had been Lei Po’s loot, maybe it would be slightly useful—he could at least throw it down for a dramatic entrance.

Also—who the hell eats bear-shaped cookies with chopsticks?!

Who was in charge of these supplies?!

Ji Laili sighed and resigned himself to fate. At the very least, he wouldn’t go hungry, right?

Securing his backpack, he surveyed his surroundings.

He was currently in a desolate forest. Tapping the left side of his goggles, a blue holographic screen appeared, displaying a detailed map constructed from a dense web of blue energy lines.

The nearest city was about 1,000 kilometers away.

Far.

He needed to start moving fast.

Just as Ji Laili was about to set off, a sudden gunshot rang out in the distance, startling a flock of birds from the trees.

His eyes sharpened, locking onto the source of the sound.

He muttered under his breath, “Gunfire?”

Could it be an airdropped supply crate?!

Without hesitation, Ji Laili abandoned his original route and sprinted toward the gunshots.

If he was lucky, he might be able to steal a gun.

Unbeknownst to him, at that very moment, gunfire erupted in multiple locations across the battlefield.

The first mission had already begun.

—

The first Alpha to arrive at the source of the gunfire was both excited and cautious. Hiding behind cover, he scanned the area carefully.

He had gotten here quickly, which meant that whoever fired the shot was likely still collecting their supplies—too distracted to escape in time.

His strategy was simple—whoever fired the gun was likely still hiding nearby, hesitant to make a move.

And indeed, he was right.

The opposing Alpha remained in place, but his gaze sharpened the moment he detected movement. He counterattacked instantly.

He was skilled—after several exchanges, the first Alpha began losing ground.

His opponent had a gun, and he didn’t dare underestimate him. Soon, he was completely on the defensive.

Realizing he was about to be eliminated, the Alpha cursed inwardly—he had been too reckless charging in.

However, just as he braced for defeat, the opponent suddenly stopped attacking.

His tone was unexpectedly friendly—

“Hey, you’ve got some solid moves. How about we work together?”

“We can team up for now and split up when there are fewer players left. What do you think?”

The Alpha froze, eyeing him with suspicion.

“You’re not going to eliminate me?”

His opponent clicked his tongue impatiently. “I just said you’re skilled. If you don’t want to team up, I’ll just take you out and find a different partner.”

With that, he aimed his quantum gun directly at the red marker on the Alpha’s chest.

“Wait!”

Hearing the offer, the Alpha didn’t hesitate. He immediately blurted out, “Of course, I’m willing!”

His reasoning was simple—he couldn’t win against the other guy. If someone with a gun was willing to team up instead of eliminating him, then it was a no-brainer—there was no downside for him.

Most of the other participants thought the same way.

They all chose to ally with those who had weapons.

This development was exactly what the instructors had anticipated.

“A perfect opening.”

“At such a crucial moment, let’s have their seniors handle the first wave of eliminations for them.”

In the monitoring room, all of the Federal Military Academy instructors were gathered, watching the scene unfold with amused smiles.

One of the instructors operated a control panel on the large holographic screen, as if issuing a new command.

The moment he did so, something changed.

On the blue screen displayed inside the participants’ goggles, the Alpha who had just survived barely had a moment to process his relief—before his expression froze in shock.

A new mission notification had appeared:

[Mission Update: The Deceptive Mutants]

[A cunning mutant has infiltrated the simulation. These mutants will disguise themselves as your allies.]

[If you are touched by them or form a team with them, you will be infected and transformed into a mutant, leading to automatic elimination.]

[Warning!! Mutants will not leave the battlefield. Be extremely cautious when identifying those around you.]