The air was thick with tension as the Aurum soldiers staggered back to the battlefield, their bodies aching, lungs burning, and minds racing from the first mock battle.

Though given only twenty minutes to recover, the weight of exhaustion bore down on them like a relentless tide. Yet, as battered as they were, they returned with the fire of determination flickering in their eyes.

Team Unknown stood at their elevated platform, masks concealing any hint of emotion. They were unreadable shadows looming over the field, watching, evaluating, and silently judging.

Dr. Lewis stepped forward, his clipboard absent but his commanding presence unmistakable. "Round two," he began, his tone leaving no room for complaint. "New teams. New objectives. This time, you'll swap roles. Team One will defend; Team Two will infiltrate. You have ten minutes to strategize. Clock starts now."

The Aurum soldiers didn't hesitate, splitting into their new groups with grim efficiency.

Serra was now leading the defense. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the layout of the bunker zone. Unlike before, she wasn't going to rely solely on barricades and sniper perches.

"Listen up," she barked, her voice slicing through the groans of fatigue. "No static defenses this time. We'll force them to come to us. Keep moving, set up distractions, and always cover each other. If we hold the bunker, we hold the line."

Her team nodded, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of her resolve.

Kieran, now leading the infiltration team, crouched over a rough map of the terrain. His voice was steady but tinged with a hunger to win. "Forget brute force. We go silent, stay low, and hit fast. Serra knows how I work, but she doesn't know how I adapt. Use the mist. If you're caught, don't stop moving. One weak link breaks us all."

His teammates exchanged glances, nodding tightly.

The whistle pierced the air, and the two teams sprang into action.

Serra's team scattered into the terrain around the bunker, leaving minimal forces inside. She stationed her most agile soldiers in the trenches, their weapons aimed at likely approach points. Snipers climbed higher ground, but she positioned them farther apart to avoid clustering.

"Remember," Serra hissed into her comms, "don't stay in one spot. Move after every shot. Stay unpredictable."

Kieran's team fanned out in small groups, disappearing into the mist like phantoms. They moved in near silence, their breathing controlled and weapons held close. Kieran took point, his sharp eyes scanning for weak points in Serra's defenses.

The mist thickened as the two teams collided.

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A soldier from Kieran's squad reached a trench, only to find it empty. Confused, he turned to call for backup but was immediately struck by a blinding flash of light. He stumbled back as one of Serra's soldiers, hidden in the shadows, tackled him to the ground.

"Down one," Serra's voice crackled over her comms, satisfaction evident.

Elsewhere, Kieran's team navigated through the uneven terrain. One soldier slipped on loose gravel, dislodging a rock that tumbled noisily down the slope. The sound was enough to alert a sniper.

A shot rang out, the bullet embedding itself inches from the infiltrator's head. He froze, his breath hitching as the sniper's scope glinted in the faint light.

"Move!" Kieran barked, dragging the soldier behind cover.

The defenders were relentless, setting traps and ambushes with ruthless precision. Tripwires snapped, smoke grenades erupted, and false signals lured infiltrators into dead zones.

On the platform, Ember tilted his head, observing the defenders' movements. "Serra's learning," he muttered, his tone neutral.

Bo nodded slightly. "She's not just holding the line. She's hunting."

"Still too cautious," Val said, his fiery red eyes fixed on Kieran's team. "She's controlling the field, but not her enemy."

Fon crossed his arms. "And Kieran's adapting faster. He'll find the weak spot soon."

Kieran's team regrouped near a cluster of jagged rocks, their breathing ragged but controlled.

"They're spread out," Kieran noted, wiping sweat from his brow. "We hit their flank hard, draw them out, and storm the bunker while they're scattered."

His team nodded, following his lead as they moved toward the western flank.

Serra, perched in a hidden sniper nest, spotted the movement. Her heart pounded as she adjusted her scope, her finger hovering over the trigger.

She hesitated.

That split-second pause cost her.

Kieran's team launched smoke grenades, obscuring her view. By the time she fired, they were already gone.

"Flank compromised!" Serra shouted into her comms. "Regroup at the bunker—now!"

Her team scrambled to respond, but Kieran's squad was faster. They breached the bunker in a coordinated assault, taking down the remaining defenders with ruthless efficiency.

Serra arrived too late, her weapon raised as she faced Kieran at the bunker entrance.

"You hesitated," Kieran said, his tone almost mocking.

Serra clenched her jaw but didn't lower her weapon. "And you left your flanks exposed."

The whistle blew, signaling the end of the round.

The soldiers staggered back to the staging area, their bodies trembling with exhaustion.

Team Unknown descended from the platform, their presence like a storm rolling over the battered field.

Ember's gaze swept over the soldiers. "Better. But not good enough."

Riggs gestured toward Serra. "You had the advantage and lost it. Hesitation gets you killed. Fix it."

Bo pointed at Kieran. "You adapted, but you left your team exposed during the final push. Lucky Serra didn't capitalize on that."

Dr. Lewis stepped forward, his tone firm but not unkind. "Progress. That's what matters. But you're not there yet. Rest for thirty minutes, then we go again."

The soldiers groaned but didn't argue. Their determination was battered but unbroken.

As they trudged away, Team Unknown regrouped on the platform.

"Thoughts?" Dr. Lewis asked.

"Serra's learning, but too slow," Ember replied. "She won't make it at this rate."

"Kieran's got potential," Fon said. "But he's reckless. He needs refinement."

Val's fiery red eyes glinted in the fading light. "Make or break, tomorrow will decide."

Dr. Lewis sighed, glancing at the exhausted soldiers below. "Let's just hope HQ's med bay doesn't fill up before then."

The day was far from over, but for the Aurum soldiers, every step forward felt like a small victory. Day Four had become more than just a trial—it was a crucible, forging them into something stronger. Whether they could endure the heat of the final day remained to be seen.