Chapter 979 Might Not Live Up to the Noble Armor I Wear

Watching the teams try to take advantage of the situation and flee in disgrace, the members of Dragon Soul Special Forces couldn't help but laugh. Even the usually serious Gavin let out a quiet chuckle.

A long-lost smile appeared on his face, once cold and stern for 20 years.

He exhaled deeply, and the biting cold of Area Three seemed to crystallize his frustration and helplessness that had been building up for two decades.

It condensed into a misty, swirling column of vapor, a symbol of the bitterness leaving his chest. In an instant, a refreshing, cleansing energy swept through him. This was truly a soul-refreshing relief!noveldrama

A man, a true warrior, should stand tall, unyielding to shame and not afraid of death.

A soldier carries his weapon, always ready to charge, eager for battle, never content to rest.

As a human, how can one cower and live in fear?

When donning armor, how can one forget their mission?

How can our people, as a whole, prioritize profit over the honor of our nation?

We, the warriors, lay aside the concerns of personal glory or loss and stand united, a sharp blade of cold light.

What room is there for the petty to step forward, hoping to take advantage?

Looking up at the towering trees reaching for the sky, a single beam of light broke through Gavin's somber eyes.

In that moment, his smile was one of genuine joy.

This is a cause for celebration!

At an age of certainty, he had witnessed once more the radiant honor that belonged to soldiers.

He thought back to his younger days, full of heroic ambition and youthful vigor.

The moment he donned his armor, his commanding officer had asked: "Gavin, what is the duty of a warrior?"

Gavin had answered loudly, "To ensure the peace of our nation, to fight as long as we live!"

The officer had asked, "Are you afraid of death?"

To which Gavin had responded, "Sir, I fear neither hardship nor death, only that I might not live up to the noble armor I wear!"

...

Time passed quickly, and 20 years seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. The fleeting youth gradually faded into the past. Yet, on countless dark nights, he still found himself asking-was the passionate spirit of his younger self still within him? Now, Gavin had his answer.

The warrior's soul still burned within him!

"Dragon Soul Special Forces, listen up! Gather all energy supplies from Wild Wolf and Sakuranian Special Forces. We will take a three-minute break here!" Gavin looked at the faces of his young soldiers, their passion shining through. It felt as though his lost youth had returned to him.

"Eat, drink, and get ready. We'll head for Area Four next!"

"Yes, sir!" the entire Dragon Soul Special Forces responded in unison.

"Bill, step forward! We leave immediately. Report back with a full survey of Area Four's terrain!"

"Understood. I'll complete the mission!" Bill grabbed enough supplies and quickly disappeared into the dense jungle.

The soldiers of Dragon Soul Special Forces swiftly gathered all the energy supplies from Wild Wolf and Sakuranian Special Forces, organizing them efficiently.

Then, they took a short break to replenish their energy.

Three minutes later, every soldier of Dragon Soul Special Forces was ready to go, fully recharged.

Nearby, several other teams watched, envious and impotent, as Dragon Soul Special Forces swaggered through the area, collecting all the energy supplies from Sakuranian and Wild Wolf Special Forces. No one dared to stop them.

Even though they knew their own energy supplies wouldn't last for the demands of Area Four, the earlier display of confidence and fearlessness from Dragon Soul Special Forces had instilled a deep fear. The soldiers of Dragon Soul Special Forces finished their rest and quickly moved into the deeper areas of Area Three.

In the depths of Area Three, an untamed jungle teeming with dangerous beasts and perilous obstacles, the Dragon Soul Special Forces pressed on.

The warriors hacked their way through thick foliage and fought off vicious predators, advancing at breakneck speed across the dense forest.

Finally, they reached the edge of Area Three. Gavin received a message from Bill, who was stationed at Area Four.

Area Four was a canyon area, devoid of light, where fierce winds and sandstorms made the temperature plummet to freezing levels.

The canyon's terrain was treacherous, with rugged roads, steep cliffs, and bizarre rock formations that posed constant challenges. Traversing the canyon would consume an enormous amount of energy. In such conditions, one had to carry ample energy supplies.

Without them, even if one didn't fall prey to the beasts lurking in the area, exhaustion or the freezing cold would be enough to finish them off.

There was no way to survive the journey through the dark, freezing canyon without sufficient energy.

But it wasn't just the terrain that was dangerous. The canyon was also home to unnamed, vicious predators, clever and elusive creatures that hid in the shadows, ready to pounce on any unwary traveler.

To deal with these beasts would require immense stamina from the warriors.

Therefore, in order for the Dragon Soul Special Forces to navigate Area Four successfully, they would need to be vigilant at all times, ready for sudden attacks. But more than that, energy supplies would be the key to victory. Not long after Dragon Soul Special Forces arrived in Area Three, the L2 Mystic Realm Command Center announced that 38 teams had successfully passed through.

Meanwhile, all 38 teams received messages from their advance scouts.

The commanders of each team were well aware that in such a hostile and harsh environment, survival depended on having

sufficient physical strength to reach the end. But that strength relied on one crucial factor: enough energy supplies.

The remaining 38 teams had already expended a significant amount of their energy while crossing Area Three. If they hadn't, they would have already been eliminated.

The energy supplies left behind by

the eliminated teams in Area Three were quickly seized by several strong, veteran teams like Autreynia's Sea Lion Force,

Tanqueria Special Forces, Kinol net

Hawk Special Forces, and Centraline Special Forces. These powerful teams had already stripped the supplies bare. No second-rate team

dared to challenge them.

To provoke teams like Sea Lion or Tanqueria would lead to utter devastation. As a result, the second-rate teams set their sights on the Dragon Soul Special Forces.

Despite Dragon Soul's formidable strength, they were known for their fair and diplomatic approach to conflicts, built on years of experience in competitions.

More importantly, Dragon Soul had secured far more energy supplies in Area Three than Sea Lion, Tanqueria, or the others.

So, the remaining 37 teams decided to approach Dragon Soul Special Forces. If they could negotiate a deal with them, sharing some of their energy supplies, they might just manage to make it through Area Four.

After a discussion, the commanders of the 37 teams sent a joint message to their respective commanders-in-chief, explaining the urgent situation. The most pressing issue was the lack of energy supplies.

Due to the extreme physical exertion, many soldiers were collapsing from shock and exhaustion. Without replenishing their energy, they wouldn't be able to continue the competition.

With their current energy reserves,

they couldn't possibly make it

through Area Four. As a result, the commanders-in-chief decided to approach the competition's organizing committee, requesting that the logistics team facilitate a discussion with Dragon Soul Special Forces, hoping they would agree to share some of their energy supplies to help the other teams cross Area Four.

However, the organizing committee flatly rejected the request.

Some members, though, felt that the 37 teams' demand was too widespread to ignore. If ignored, the survival pre-qualification round in such a harsh environment could easily fall apart.

The committee still considered the possibility of negotiating with Dragon Soul to find a solution ...