Dawn broke over the Qin Empire's outskirts, painting the dense forest in shades of gold and green. The squad moved silently in formation, Alex and I leading from the front. Twenty-eight men, equipped with swords, spears, and mana-enhanced armor, were our first true test outside the courtyard.
"This forest," I said, voice low, "is Grade 1. Basic-tier beasts. Fast, aggressive, unpredictable. But even though they're not deadly individually, you must treat every strike seriously. One misstep can be fatal."
Alex nodded beside me. "Stay alert. Mana users, remember your control — don't waste your energy. Fighters, maintain formation. Trust your comrades, and the forest won't overwhelm you."
The squad moved as a single unit, footsteps barely disturbing the underbrush. Every rustle, every snap of a twig, was scrutinized. Spatial mana users projected slight distortions ahead, revealing potential ambushes. Fire users kept low-level flames flickering to illuminate shadows without attracting attention.
Suddenly, a massive boar, double the normal size and with piercing red eyes, charged from the undergrowth. Its tusks gleamed, glinting in the sunlight as it roared.
"Positions!" I shouted, stepping forward. Spears formed a barrier, shields locking together.
The boar crashed into our formation. One soldier was thrown backward, narrowly avoiding the creature's tusks. I adjusted my mana flow, fire flickering along my sword, and struck the beast's flank. It roared in pain but charged again, faster and more furious.
Alex bent space to make the boar stumble slightly, giving me the opening to land a precise strike to its shoulder. Another soldier, Liang Hao, thrust his spear in perfect timing, and together we drove the beast back. The fight was short but brutal; our squad had to work in perfect synchronization to survive.
No sooner had we recovered than a wild bull emerged, horns glinting. This one was larger than any normal bull, muscles rippling under thick hide. The squad moved as one again, shield walls forming, fire bursts illuminating weak points. Alex created spatial traps behind the beast, forcing it to stumble, while I delivered a series of precise mana-empowered sword strikes.
The bull fell, but not without taking two soldiers down in its initial charge. Their groans reminded us all that even basic-tier beasts could kill unprepared men.
As we advanced deeper into the forest, a leopard, as large as a bull and faster than any normal feline, leapt from the trees. Its claws slashed at the air, eyes locked on Alex. I threw myself between them, blocking the attack with a mana-enhanced shield, sparks flying as claws scraped metal. The squad quickly formed a circle around us, cutting off escape routes and allowing coordinated strikes.
Alex's spatial mana distorted the battlefield, making the leopard miscalculate jumps. I struck at its legs, the energy of my blade searing through fur and muscle. After a tense, high-speed battle, the beast collapsed, panting heavily. Several squad members had minor injuries, but no one had died.
Finally, an ape with extremely tough fur, nearly impossible to pierce with ordinary weapons, appeared on the ridge above us. Its massive arms swung with deadly force, and its roar echoed through the forest. We circled it, spears jabbing, fire strikes chipping away at its defenses, while Alex created spatial distortions to slow its movements.
The fight stretched on for nearly an hour. The ape's fury and raw strength tested every recruit's skill, coordination, and courage. Slowly, through patience and teamwork, we wore it down. The final strike came from a combined assault — Alex bending space to redirect a fire strike directly into the beast's chest while I pierced its shoulder with a mana-charged sword, bringing it down.
Breathing heavily, I looked at the squad. Faces streaked with sweat, dirt, and blood, but eyes shining with exhilaration. They had survived. They had fought, learned, and grown.
"Good work!" I shouted, clapping a hand on Liang Hao's shoulder. "You all survived your first real combat mission. Remember this feeling — fear, adrenaline, triumph. That's what being a soldier is."
Alex surveyed the forest, spatial threads still lingering in the air. "And this is just the beginning. Tomorrow, we move to intermediate-tier beasts. The real challenges are coming. But today, you've earned your confidence."
The squad set up camp for the night, tending wounds, practicing minor drills, and sharing quiet laughter. The bonds had begun to form — trust, respect, and a shared understanding of life and death in the wild.
From above, the sunlight filtered through the trees, glinting off blades and armor. The forest had tested them, and they had survived. The brothers knew it would be the first of many trials, but for the squad, this was the day they became real warriors.