Alice found herself lying in a vast space, spanning several hundred square meters. The lighting was very dim, and many people were around, standing, crouching, or lying down. As she scanned the room, she estimated there were at least a hundred individuals. Their faces were haggard, and their expressions were filled with terror, as if they had experienced a great shock. An overwhelming sense of unease enveloped Alice.
She struggled to recall what had happened earlier. It seemed she had been kidnapped. Panic welled up in her eyes as the recent events played back in her mind. This was far beyond what she could handle. She was only a middle school student, just 13 years old, and had never even had a boyfriend.
Curling up in a corner, she nervously surveyed her surroundings. It appeared that the others had also been kidnapped, and she had no idea what their captors intended. She thought of the kidnappings she had seen on TV, and a chill ran down her spine. Her family wasn't wealthy; there was no reason to kidnap her.
Suddenly, the steel door emitted a soft beep and swung open with a thud. Five men in black, armed with light machine guns, entered. The men who had been pounding on the door hurriedly retreated, their faces full of fear. One of them stumbled and fell in his haste. A black-clad man strode over and began to kick him mercilessly while cursing.
The man on the ground rolled and screamed like a pig being slaughtered, begging for mercy. Blood started to flow from his body, increasing steadily until he was barely alive and motionless. Alice shrank further into her corner, pressing tightly against the wall, seeking a semblance of safety.
One of the burly men in black spoke expressionlessly. "Oh, Mike! Stop playing games and kill him. Your efficiency is too low. We have a lot to do later. Right, after you kill him, throw him into the incinerator."
"Damn, another one of these jobs. You pigs better behave, or you'll end up like this guy." He unlocked the safety and emptied a magazine into the man. The man's body convulsed briefly, then lay still.
Silence fell over the room. Everyone was frozen with fear. The black-clad men seemed pleased with the effect. The leader, a muscular man, walked forward. The crowd retreated as he advanced, stopping after five meters and shaking his light machine gun.
"Don't be nervous. Unfortunately, you've been kidnapped." The room erupted in noise. He paused and continued expressionlessly. "Also, I don't like it when people talk while I do. This is your warning; next time, you'll meet your maker."
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Silence returned. The black-clad men seemed satisfied, and the leader spoke again. "We don't need money, so don't worry about ransom. Enough talk. Everyone, form two lines—men in one, women in the other. I hate wasting time." He raised his gun.
Everyone moved quickly, forming two lines in no time. Alice, weak and frail, was the slowest, huddled in her corner.
The black-clad man was clearly displeased. He unlocked his safety and strode towards Alice.
Fear washed over Alice's face, her eyes filled with despair, and tears began to roll down her smooth cheeks.
The man's steps faltered. This little girl was obviously still a child, small and cute, probably still in elementary school. If his daughter hadn't died, she would be this age too.
He lowered his machine gun slightly and fired a burst of bullets at Alice. Terrified, Alice closed her eyes.
Alice's expression suddenly became serene, with not a trace of fear left in her heart. She began to mutter softly, offering a devout prayer to the dragon. In her mind, a resplendent dragon appeared, so radiant it was impossible to look at directly. Alice felt a profound calm wash over her, and strength began to fill her once-weak body.
After the gunfire ceased, Alice opened her eyes and realized she was still alive. She stared blankly at the man in black, then quickly walked to the back of the line.
"Oh, poor little girl, this time it's a warning. Next time, you won't be so lucky," he said loudly, glaring at Alice. The other men in black looked surprised.
"Everyone, stand still! From now on, you'll undergo brutal training. Any unqualified members will be eliminated, and you'll soon see what that means. We'll be splitting into two groups. Ladies, follow me; you're about to experience hell. Kurt!" He turned to another man in black. "You take charge of the men's group!"
All the women were led to a large area, the size of a sports hall, fully equipped like a mercenary training camp. Before they could take it all in, the man in black started shouting at the top of his lungs, startling them.
He took off his suit, loosened his tie, and revealed a tight tank top that displayed his muscular physique. A lifelike dragon tattoo on his arm made him look even more menacing.
He yelled, "From now on, you can call me Instructor, or my name, Jack! Or you can call me by my nickname—Devil. Now, everyone run 20 laps around this area. As for the last one to finish, you can guess what will happen. Don't doubt whether I can kill. The elimination rate is 60%, which means most of you will disappear forever from this world." The instructor shouted fiercely.
Alice had never experienced anything like this. Her body moved involuntarily with the crowd. But her young body couldn't keep up with the adults. She ran desperately but gradually fell behind. Her legs felt like they were filled with lead, growing heavier and heavier.
After just one lap, she was already at the back. Suddenly, a sharp pain seared across her back. She turned to see Instructor Jack wielding a whip, cursing viciously. Her eyes welled up, but she held back her tears. She kept running, unaware of how many laps she had completed. She only knew she was always at the back, her back covered with whip marks. Her whole body ached!
The instructor kept shouting in her ear, his voice gradually seeming to come from far away, growing fainter and fainter.