Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1248 - 605: The Mountain Run Exam (Part 2)
Previously on Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups...
The somber dark green camouflage fabric lay alongside tactical vests, protective gear, and sturdy military boots.
At the piercing sound of a whistle, hundreds of individuals quickly assembled, their measured steps soon forming orderly phalanxes.
The chief examiner's gaze was piercing, like two unsheathed blades, sharply surveying the candidates who had been grumbling earlier.
"Enough talk; everyone check your gear, don your marching packs, and proceed forward with the guide vehicle."
"From this moment, anyone who falls behind will be immediately disqualified!"
Fang Cheng rose swiftly.
With a swing of his arms, he effortlessly settled the twenty-kilogram marching backpack onto his shoulders, adjusting the chest strap buckle with practiced ease.
Ma Donghe and Hou Peng moved with equal speed, flanking him, one on the left and the other on the right.
Over eight hundred candidates commenced their movement, escorted by armed military police.
The procession advanced through several military checkpoints.
As they penetrated deeper into the restricted zone, the environment grew noticeably more imposing.
At every junction, heavy artillery pieces and twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns, concealed beneath camouflage netting, stood sentinel.
The chilling metallic glint from the gun barrels pointed skyward resembled poised steel beasts, ready to unleash fiery destruction.
Simultaneously, searchlights from numerous watchtowers continuously swept the terrain.
Their intense beams sliced through the air like converging swords, forcing everyone to squint.
The scent of gunpowder intensified, becoming increasingly potent in the air.
It felt as though a brutal battle had just concluded or could recommence at any instant.
The candidates, who were joking merely moments before, were now awestruck by the pervasive atmosphere of war.
An unconscious silence fell over the entire group.
Only the rhythmic crunch of hundreds of pairs of military boots on the gravel path and the candidates' progressively heavy breaths could be heard within the vast formation.
The convoy continued onward for approximately twenty minutes.
They rounded a substantial mountain bend, proceeding along a narrow mountain-carved path for several hundred meters.
A moment later, a formidable alloy iron gate materialized directly ahead.
Dark red moss clung thickly to both cliff faces, resembling dried bloodstains.
An unidentified plant emitted a vague, unpleasant odor.
"Open Gate B3!"
The chief examiner's cold command crackled through the walkie-talkie.
With a grating metal shriek, gears engaged and machinery whirred to life within the mountain.
Rumbling—
Amidst a muffled roar, the half-meter-thick alloy iron door slid open sideways.
A dark tunnel entrance was revealed.
Its interior was impenetrably deep, appearing as though half the mountain had been hollowed out, leading directly into some chasm.
A chilling gust of wind suddenly surged from the tunnel's depths, striking everyone's faces.
The wind carried an inexplicable foulness, causing exposed skin to erupt in goosebumps instantly.
Fang Cheng's gaze narrowed slightly as he attempted to pierce the darkness and observe the interior.
"Is this... an air raid shelter?"
Ma Donghe's eyes widened at the light-devouring tunnel entrance, and he couldn't help but swallow audibly.
Hou Peng nervously drew his neck inwards, a peculiar expression crossing his face:
"Brother Fang, Brother Ma, why does this place feel so unsettling? Could it be haunted?"
The surrounding candidates began whispering amongst themselves, their murmurs amplifying the tense atmosphere.
"Enter!"
Unmoved by their astonishment, the chief examiner ordered firmly.
The group, like a flock of sheep, formed lines and bravely stepped into the dark passage.
The tunnel was intensely humid.
Water droplets continuously fell from the ceiling, striking heads and shoulders.
Military boots splashed through puddles on the ground, creating distinct sounds.
If only one or two people were inside, it might have been manageable.
The issue now was over eight hundred individuals marching together.
The dense sound of their footsteps echoed within the confined space, merging into a thunderous cacophony that assaulted everyone's eardrums.
After marching for about ten minutes, a faint, natural light began to appear from the darkness ahead.
Everyone quickened their pace, moving towards the tunnel's exit.
Their vision suddenly expanded.
Yet, this newfound openness brought no relief or hope, but rather an even more profoundly eerie sensation.
An incredibly dense, primordial forest stretched out before them.
Twisted branches interlaced overhead, forming a massive, impenetrable canopy.
Thick vines hung down like predatory serpents, almost entirely obscuring the already dim daylight.
This was the true West Mountain No Man's Land.
By this point, the sky had completely darkened.
In the early summer forest, humidity hung heavy.
As the temperature plummeted, a layer of gray-white mist began to rise from the damp earth and decaying leaf litter.
The mist rapidly expanded, snaking through the low-lying areas until the entire forest was enveloped.
Within mere minutes, the visibility plummeted, rendering distances beyond ten meters imperceptible.
A chilling wind whispered through the tree canopy, rustling the leaves with sounds akin to mournful cries.
The chief examiner descended from a pre-positioned off-road vehicle, advancing to the front of the assembled group.
"Listen up carefully!"
He lifted his hand, indicating a bronze bell, no larger than a baby's fist, suspended by a red string from a nearby dead tree branch.
Each breeze caused the bell to sway, emitting clear, melodious chimes into the air.
Activating a loudspeaker, the chief examiner's voice cut through the hushed, misty expanse with remarkable clarity:
"This zone lacks any established trails. Your sole navigation aids are these bells and the reflective markers affixed to the branches."
"The examination is straightforward: proceed with your issued backpacks, following the markers. Success is achieved if you reach the designated endpoint, Black Wind Gully, by five o'clock tomorrow morning, regardless of your chosen method!"
Lowering the loudspeaker, his gaze swept across the anxious faces, a cold smirk gracing his lips:
"Lastly, I wish you all the best of luck."
Beep——
A piercing whistle suddenly sliced through the fog.
"The examination commences now!"
Over eight hundred candidates remained frozen, exchanging uncertain glances.
The majority were visibly filled with apprehension and a fear of the unknown.
No one moved initially; instead, they cautiously surveyed their surroundings.
"Run!"
In the next instant.
A sudden shout erupted from within the crowd.
This single cry acted as a spark to a powder keg, instantly snapping everyone's strained nerves.
Boom——
The entire assembly erupted simultaneously with a cacophony of shouts.
Numerous candidates hastily activated their flashlights and drew their weapons.
Accelerating their pace, they plunged into the forest ahead, following the faint gleam of the reflective markers.
Like an unleashed torrent, they surged into the mist-shrouded wilderness.
A singular thought occupied everyone's mind: complete this relatively short five-kilometer race, endure this grim trial, and then return home for a much-needed rest.
Hundreds of flashlight beams danced erratically within the dense fog, startling numerous flocks of birds that took flight with noisy flapping toward the darkened sky.
Dark shapes stirred from the upper reaches of the trees, forming a dense canopy that obscured the heavens.
This chaotic spectacle bore a resemblance to a village being raided by enemy forces.
Noisy silhouettes and audible curses filled the air, somewhat diminishing the inherently eerie and oppressive ambiance of the ancient Old Lin forest.
Fang Cheng, however, did not surge forward, his feet planted firmly as if rooted to the ground.
He extended his arms, gripping the backpack straps of Ma Donghe and Hou Peng, who were poised to charge blindly ahead.
"Don't scatter. Conserve your strength and stay close to me."
Fang Cheng advised calmly, subtly drawing a dagger from his side. He held the handle in a reverse grip.
Employing his sharp Spirit perception, he could distinctly detect an unusual fluctuation in the magnetic field permeating the area.
The swirling, thick fog around them seemed almost sentient, voraciously consuming the body heat of everyone present, degree by degree.
This five-kilometer cross-country challenge was evidently more than just navigating arduous mountain terrain or contending with a few hidden mutated beasts.
To successfully reach their objective before sunrise, a constant state of vigilance was imperative with every single step taken.