The echoes of the soldiers' labored breathing filled the training grounds as the afternoon sun bore down mercilessly, casting sharp shadows across the rugged terrain. The hour of reprieve had been fleeting—a cruel tease before Team Unknown turned up the intensity.

The Aurum soldiers lined up again, their postures stiff with fatigue, uniforms drenched in sweat. Yet, despite their exhaustion, they stood resolute, determined not to falter under the piercing gazes of Clareo's deadliest force.

Ember stepped forward, his fiery gaze scanning the group. His presence alone was enough to draw a tense silence. "This morning was your introduction. This afternoon, we push. Don't expect warnings. Don't expect mercy. If you hesitate, you fail."

Val stood at his side. "We're not here to babysit you. Adapt. Move. Survive. Or don't."

The green-eyed soldier from earlier, standing in the front row, swallowed hard, but her expression remained defiant.

Bo stepped to the side, arms crossed, as his calm voice cut through the tension. "This isn't just about strength or endurance. It's about thinking while your body screams for you to stop. If you can't do that, you're already dead."

"Position yourselves," Ember ordered, his tone sharp enough to snap the group into motion.

The soldiers moved with shaky resolve, taking their places at the revamped obstacle course. The sight before them was enough to make several hesitate.

The course was unrecognizable from the morning. Towering walls now gleamed with slick oil, making the climb nearly impossible without perfect grip and balance. Spinning platforms hovered over pits of shifting gravel, their edges lined with jagged spikes. Drones hovered close, programmed to react to any sign of hesitation with bursts of disorienting light.

"Move!" Ember barked, the sheer force of his voice making one soldier flinch. "Or do you need an invitation?"

The first soldier lunged forward, scrambling toward the wall. His boots slid against the slick surface, his hands clawing for a hold. He slipped halfway up, his back slamming against the ground with a dull thud.

Ember was there in an instant, towering over him. "On your feet! The enemy won't give you time to feel sorry for yourself. Move or stay down."

The soldier groaned but forced himself upright, his muscles trembling as he attacked the wall again.

Nearby, Riggs pointed to a narrow beam suspended high above the ground. "Next!"

A soldier hesitated, eyeing the swaying beam. "It's—"

"It's what?" Riggs interrupted, stepping forward until he was nearly nose-to-nose with the man. "You don't get to think here. You act. Now move!"

The soldier swallowed hard and leapt onto the beam, his arms flailing as he fought for balance. Every step was a battle, his boots slipping on the smooth surface.

"Eyes ahead," Riggs snapped. "Focus on where you're going, not where you might fall."

The soldier gritted his teeth, his muscles screaming with effort as he made it to the other side.

Amidst the chaos, a soldier near the back, his face streaked with grime, clenched his fists as he approached the slick wall. His pace slowed, a momentary hesitation breaking through his otherwise stoic exterior.

"Move, or stay out of the way," Ember snapped.

The soldier took a deep breath, muttering under his breath, "For Eliza," before launching himself at the wall. His fingers clawed at the oiled surface, slipping and scraping against it. Each failed attempt was met with a hiss of frustration, his whispers growing louder, "For her, for her…" With a final surge, he hauled himself over, collapsing on the other side.

Nearby, another soldier, barely out of his teenage years, fought to steady himself atop the rotating platform. His face betrayed his terror, the whir of drones adding to his unease. "Come on, Liam, you've got this," he whispered to himself, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge.

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Riggs noticed, his sharp gaze narrowing. "Talking to yourself won't save you. Let go of the damn edge and *move!*"

Liam bit his lip, nodding slightly, as if Riggs' words had pierced through his fear. He took a shaky step, then another, each movement a testament to his raw determination.

By mid-afternoon, the soldiers were drenched in sweat and smeared with dirt. The air felt heavier, the heat oppressive, pressing down on them as if the very atmosphere conspired against their survival.

One soldier tripped over a collapsing bridge, sprawling into the dirt.

Bo strode toward him, his expression unreadable. He didn't offer a hand. Instead, he leaned down, his voice low and chilling. "On your feet. Or do you plan to stay there until someone finishes the job for you?"

The soldier groaned, his arms trembling as he pushed himself upright. Bo stepped back, watching impassively as the man staggered forward.

At another section, Fon stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze following every movement. A soldier hesitated before stepping onto a rotating platform, his nerves getting the better of him.

Fon's voice cut through the air like a whip. "The enemy won't wait for your nerves to settle. You either move, or you don't. Pick one."

The soldier took a shaky step, then another, his movements growing steadier with each pass. Fon said nothing more, his silence a heavier judgment than any words could have been.

In another section of the course, a sharp cry pierced through the air. A soldier navigating the rotating platforms lost his footing entirely. His body slammed against the jagged edge, a shallow gash opening along his arm as he barely managed to grab hold of the edge. Blood trickled down, staining his sleeve as he gritted his teeth in pain.

Fon was the first to approach, his movements calm but unyielding. "You want to quit?" he asked, voice low.

The soldier's breath came in sharp gasps. "No, sir."

"Then climb." Fon didn't offer a hand, his gaze like steel.

The soldier groaned, his injured arm trembling as he hauled himself back onto the platform. Every step forward left a smear of blood, but he didn't stop.

As the soldiers pushed forward, the members of Team Unknown observed, occasionally exchanging clipped words.

Val crossed his arms, watching the green-eyed soldier claw her way up the incline. "She's too hesitant. She'll break before the week is out."

Riggs, standing a few paces away, scoffed. "You're blind, Val. She's got grit. She just needs someone to shove it to the surface."

Val's fiery red eyes flicked toward Riggs, his tone icy. "And what do you think you're doing? Shoving? Or just barking?"

Riggs stepped closer, his grin sharp. "Both work. At least I'm getting results."

Bo, leaning against a nearby tree, let out a low chuckle. "If you two are done comparing strategies, maybe focus on the ones still falling behind?"

Fon, silent until now, gestured toward a soldier struggling in the sand trench. "He's not making it," he said flatly.

Val turned toward the soldier, his gaze unreadable. "Not today, maybe. But tomorrow's another chance. If he's still standing by then, he'll prove you wrong."

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the soldiers reached the final leg of the course. Their faces were pale, their breathing ragged, their bodies trembling with exhaustion. Yet, none of them stopped.

The green-eyed soldier clawed her way up a steep incline, her nails digging into the dirt as her arms screamed in protest. A drone hovered close, its whirring mechanical voice announcing, "Target locked."

Ember's voice rang out, sharp and unforgiving. "You hesitate, you get hit. So, what's it going to be? Move or drop?"

She let out a guttural growl, surging upward with a final burst of energy. As she reached the top, she collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Ember stepped beside her, his fiery gaze unyielding. "You made it. But if you ever hesitate like that again, you won't. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," she panted.

"Good."

Nearby, Riggs watched as another soldier navigated a maze of spinning platforms. His steps were unsure, his movements shaky.

"Stop thinking about it!" Riggs shouted. "Every second you hesitate is another second closer to failure. Move your damn feet!"

The soldier pushed forward, his foot slipping at the last second. He barely managed to catch himself on the edge of the platform, his arms straining as he pulled himself back up.

Riggs grinned faintly. "Not bad. Now do it again—without the drama."

By the time the course ended, the soldiers were barely standing. Their faces were streaked with dirt and sweat, their uniforms torn, their bodies trembling with exhaustion. Yet, they stood.

Team Unknown watched them silently, their expressions unreadable beneath the mask.

Dr. Lewis approached, clipboard in hand. "Day One: Phase Two is complete. Get some rest. You'll need it."

One soldier, barely able to stand, managed to croak, "We… have to do this… four more days?"

Riggs smirked, stepping forward. "Oh, it gets worse. This was just us being nice."

Ember crossed his arms, his fiery gaze sweeping over the group. "You wanted to learn from the best. That means surviving the worst. Rest while you can. Tomorrow will make today look like a walk in the park."

The soldiers staggered to their resting area, their exhaustion palpable. Yet, in their eyes burned a determination that refused to be extinguished.

In the shade, Bo leaned against a tree, his voice low. "They're not bad. Still rough, but not bad."

Fon nodded. "They've got grit. But grit only gets you so far."

Val remained silent, his fiery red eyes fixed on the soldiers as they rested. He saw the fire in their gazes—the refusal to quit, even when their bodies screamed for it.

"They'll make it," he said finally, his voice quiet but certain.

Ember tilted his head, his smirk faint but present. "If they don't, it won't be because we didn't try."

Day One of the bootcamp drew to a close. Yet, for the soldiers, it felt as if their journey had only just begun.