At this moment, the entire training grounds fell into absolute silence.
Not a single person dared breathe too loudly.
Even the faint whisper of the wind brushing across the field could be heard clearly.
After a long stretch of dead quiet, a trembling voice filled with rage and disbelief finally broke the air:
"You… you little brat… were you yawning just now…?"
Evan Cross had no idea why the instructor was asking such a strange question,
but he still nodded honestly:
"Yeah. The sun feels pretty warm."
"...The su "
Instructor Keith Shadis let out a sound like his spine almost snapped from pure frustration.
"What's your name… brat…"
BANG!
The moment he asked, Evan's eyes sharpened.
He clenched his fist and struck it firmly against his chest in a sharp salute.
"Sir! New recruit Evan Cross!
From the Shiganshina District!
It's an honor to receive your guidance, sir!"
His voice rang across the field clear, strong, powerful
no weaker than Keith's own thunderous bark.
It stunned the instructor for a brief second.
He clearly hadn't expected a kid who had just yawned in his face to respond with such intensity.
But then Keith's eyes narrowed.
A cold, razor-like glare sliced straight across Evan's face.
"Guidance, huh…?
Fine. Then I'll make sure you receive PLENTY OF IT TODAY!"
In an instant
Keith raised his hand high, gathering strength in his arm.
A fierce gust surged off his palm as he brought it crashing down toward Evan's shoulder.
BAM!!!
The impact echoed like a stone slab shattering.
Many recruits winced just hearing the sound.
Everyone knew:
that strike wasn't light.
A normal recruit would've had their shoulder smashed to pieces from a hit like that.
But before anyone could imagine the damage
A shocked whisper slipped out:
"H-He's… fine? He isn't even flinching?"
Keith Shadis himself was the most stunned.
His eyes flickered with disbelief.
Evan stood there like an immovable statue
Perfect posture.
Unshaken.
Expression unchanged.
As if the man hadn't even touched him.
Keith's mind reeled.
He had used eighty percent of his full strength
more than enough to cripple any ordinary recruit.
Because this kid… had pissed him off.
And yet
Nothing.
Not. A. Reaction.
Keith forced his expression back into cold neutrality.
He leaned down, eyes sharp and voice low:
"Don't pretend you're fine.
Your shoulder must be killing you right now."
"…Why would it hurt?"
Evan blinked, confused.
"Was that supposed to be the 'guidance'?
That little tap just now?"
Then he suddenly leaned in, whispering at Keith's ear:
"Should I pretend it hurt a lot?
Fall over and roll on the ground screaming?
I don't mind helping you save face, sir."
"PUH !"
Keith felt his chest tighten
A mouthful of blood nearly exploded out of him.
Somebody drag this brat away and shoot him already!
How dare he insult the dignity of the Training Corps Commander?!
Keith's veins bulged.
He clamped both hands onto Evan's head and roared into his ear with a voice like thunder:
"YOU LITTLE SHIT
GET YOUR ASS ON THAT FIELD AND RUN!
RUN LAPS UNTIL DINNER NO!
RUN UNTIL YOU HAVE ONLY ONE BREATH LEFT!!
DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
HISSSSS
Every recruit watching trembled violently.
Run until his last breath?
Isn't that basically a death sentence?!
Evan rubbed his ringing ear, baffled.
"Sir… if I run until I only have one breath left…
won't that take until next week?
Also, what about meals? Water? My training courses "
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
"Whoa !"
Evan flinched as Keith lunged at him like a deranged gorilla.
But before Keith could grab him
A cold voice came from the side.
"Still standing here?
Unless you want him targeting you for the next three years."
Annie glanced sideways at him expression bored but words sharp.
Truth be told, even she couldn't stand watching anymore.
She'd met fools…
But never someone willingly provoking a furious instructor.
Evan blinked.
Annie had a point.
Also Keith was already mid-pounce.
SWOOSH!
Evan's silhouette vanished like a disappearing shadow.
Keith froze mid-air, landing awkwardly.
"…What the hell…
What is that kid…?"
Even he who'd trained countless soldiers
had never seen a recruit move like that.
~~~~~~~~~~
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!