Chapter 10 - A Slight Difference

Finn was about to die from exhaustion!

His ears buzzed and his heart felt like it was about to explode out of his chest. Golden stars flickered before his eyes. A dense cluster of snowflakes bounced in a circle in his peripheral vision.

His limbs no longer obeyed him. It felt like his bones would break with each step forward he took.

As part of the daily mandatory physical training, the trainees had to do long-distance running. Ordinarily, each trainee was required to run five laps around the field. Cassius and Finn, on the other hand, had to run ten laps each.

It was difficult not just because they had to do double the amount, but because the further they went, the less stamina they had, making it increasingly strenuous the longer they ran. This was a test of sheer perseverance.

Huff, huff, huff

...

Finn felt like his throat was about to catch fire. The burning sensation surged from his nostrils through his windpipe and straight into his lungs.

Tap, tap, tap

...

tap, tap, tap

...

He heard footsteps coming from his left and a slender figure appeared in Finn's peripheral vision.

Cassius, who was in the same boat as him, was running steadily in the other trainee formation. Though he was equally drenched in sweat, his steps seemed much lighter and he was visibly faster than Finn.

At first, Finn forced himself to go faster so he wouldn’t look bad running next to Cassius, but as they ran more and more laps, his strength left him and all he could do was run with his head down.

Just as Finn was about to start his eighth lap, Cassius, who was on the left side of the field, had already stepped off the track and was in the shade. Using the tree as support, he massaged his legs, occasionally glancing in Finn's direction.

He's finished already?!

No sooner had that thought sprang into Finn's mind than the overwhelming fatigue from his limbs instantly dispelled it. He was so tired at that point, he could care less about anything else. Hot sweat oozed from his pores and dripped continuously from his forehead all the way to his chin.

"Ninth lap... I really can't do this anymore..." Finn's hands began to flop around. With each wavering step, his chest heaved violently, almost like a panting ox.

"Get back onto the track!!! Keep running! You still have two more laps!"

A towering figure, nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a crew cut and a very stern face walked over from the nearby shade. It was Instructor Danton whose rigid and serious reputation preceded him. Of the five main instructors, he was the strictest and followed the rules to a tee.

Finn's drunken harassment of a female trainee had left a terrible impression. Although some instructors interceded in his punishment, the official in charge of the youth training camp couldn't just let it slide. So, after Finn recovered, he was sent directly to Instructor Danton for ten days of double training who would ensure that Finn was strictly abiding by the terms of the punishment. In other words, Instructor Danton would never save food for Finn like how Instructor Lisa did for Cassius.

"Get back to the track right now!" Face coldly apathetic, Instructor Danton raised a muscular arm and pointed.

"Instructor, I can't run anymore... I...

Kukh, huk, huk...

" Finn coughed, gasping for breath. His mouth tasted bitter and his throat was so dry he couldn't speak properly.

"I'm only going to say it one more time! Get back right now!"

Finn looked up. Instructor Danton’s tall shadow completely covered him. The trainees under the nearby tree started pointing and whispering.

"I'll count down from three. I don't have a good temper, so don't make me personally come over there and teach you how to run!" Instructor Danton lowered his head slightly to stare at Finn.

"Three..."

"Yes!" Finn instantly folded and sprinted back. There seemed to be faint laughter coming from the shade.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Finn gritted his teeth and resumed running.

After a whole morning of physical training, Finn was ready to collapse. Him hitting puberty early gave him a stronger physique compared to his peers, allowing him to complete his training. Otherwise, he would’ve cried for his mom a long time ago.

Lunch time soon arrived. All five trainee groups left for the canteen. Aside from the two teaching assistants who were supervising them, Cassius and Finn were the only ones left still training.

"

Aish

, what bad luck. I wanted to sleep a bit more at noon but now our lunch break is going to be shorter." Finn's teaching assistant stood at the boundary line dividing the groups, hands on his hips. He glanced at the other teaching assistant.

"It's alright, I'm not that sleepy," Cassius's teaching assistant replied with his arms crossed, looking somewhat bored.

"No slacking off, Finn!" Group Three's teaching assistant suddenly turned and shouted.

The weather was cloudy so it was quite cool. The two assistants passed the time by chatting intermittently for over an hour while supervising.

Cassius ran up and stood before the Group Four teaching assistant. "I've finished the last set of squats, sir."

"Nice, you finished pretty quickly today. It only took you a little over an hour, half an hour earlier than usual." The Group Four teaching assistant glanced at the pocket watch he borrowed from Instructor Lisa and patted Li Wei on the shoulder. "Not bad. Let's go eat."

He turned around and said, "We're leaving."

"Okay." The Group Three teaching assistant nodded slightly and watched the two leave the field. All of a sudden, he whipped around and glared at Finn.

"Hurry up! You still have three sets of squats, two sets of push-ups, and one set of pull-ups left! So damn slow... Are you planning on training until tomorrow?! You still have Combat Techniques training this afternoon!!"

"Yes." Finn gritted his teeth and continued the exercises.

In the afternoon, everyone was training basic Combat Techniques. The most exhausted of them all were, of course, Cassius and Finn. However, there was a slight difference. One was unwilling and indignant, while the other was being proactive, and even...seemed like he was enjoying it?

The sun gradually moved through the clouds, and unfortunately, it started to rain.

Cassius stretched out his hand to catch a few raindrops, inwardly cursing the lousy weather. Then he raised his arms and forcefully struck the wooden stake.

[Combat Technique (Beginner): 9.2%]

[Martial Stance (Part One): 8.7%]

He had hoped to reach 10% in Combat Technique today, but his training efficiency was likely going to be significantly reduced due to the rain.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"What do you think this is? You’re being punished! If Li Wei over there can do it, what makes you think you can avoid training in the rain?"

In the distance, the faint sound of arguing could be heard.

Cassius squinted and looked over. The trainees on the field had already dispersed. Tiny raindrops fell from the gray sky, gradually growing larger and larger before eventually soaking the ground.

Over in Group Three, Finn was arguing, or rather, receiving a one-sided scolding from Instructor Danton. It was too far away for Cassius to hear clearly, but his name seemed to pop up every now and then.

The sky grew darker, the clouds condensing into a massive ocean of black waves. The rain intensified.

Under the eaves of the building next to the field, Cassius and Finn continued striking their respective wooden stakes, fifty or sixty meters apart from each other.

Raindrops hit the ground, occasionally splashing onto the hem of their pants. This was where Li Wei had pinned Finn down that night. Finn's expression stiffened slightly as he recalled that particular scene. His gaze occasionally swept toward Li Wei, an inscrutable expression on his face.

It had been about an hour and a half since dinner time.

Cassius lowered his fists and requested leave from Instructor Danton as he was done training for the day. He walked briskly through the rain toward the dormitory.

As for Finn, he probably still had another hour or two to go.