Noise filled his ears, like sitting at an open-air cafe near an airport, the deafening clamor relentlessly assaulting him. Renly subconsciously waved his hand, as if trying to shoo away the irritation. But he realized that his stiff muscles wouldn't budge, inducing a sense of panic. Despite his efforts and struggles, he remained frozen, unable to even move a finger, as if pinned down by an otherworldly force.
"Get up! Formation!"
A thunderous roar exploded in his ears. Renly jerked up to a seated position, his eyes barely opening before the searing brightness pierced through them, causing his pupils to ache. He squeezed his eyes shut and gradually opened them again, finally adjusting to the light. Several soldiers appeared before him, roughly yanking away everyone's blankets, shouting, "Formation! Formation!"
Before they reached him, Renly swiftly got off his bed, the pain in his thighs and arms nearly suffocating him. Clenching his teeth tightly, he managed to suppress any cries. He quickly pulled on his socks, and with a second thought, he put on another pair as well. At least it would reduce friction. He slipped on his boots and clumsily stood up.
Glancing back, Renly saw Rami putting on his shoes. On the other side, James had also risen. However, his two large suitcases occupied the aisle, making his movements somewhat comical. James and Renly exchanged a glance. James offered a helpless smile. "I don't think I'll make it to the end."
Renly couldn't help but chuckle. "It's just the first day."
The few of them swiftly stepped outside the barracks, the chants around them growing harsher and more fierce, showing no signs of easing up. Renly managed to cast a quick look around. Richard lay on the bed like an actual corpse, utterly still. But Renly had neither the time nor the energy to think about others. He retracted his gaze and hurriedly left.
The outside world remained shrouded in darkness, the night sky filled with stars, a chill that made one involuntarily shiver. This was still summer, yet it felt like early winter.
It was probably around two or three in the morning, far from the scheduled 6 AM assembly. Renly recalled Tim's advice. Indeed, what Tim had mentioned wasn't the schedule for the upcoming nine days. The first day hadn't even ended yet, an elongated day that seemed to have no end.
A four-mile weighted cross-country run.
At three in the morning, he began a four-mile weighted cross-country run. He had no idea if he was carrying guns or stones in his backpack. Even the water bottle he had seemed like a burden. Thankfully, he retained some sense, not discarding the bottle. Although he felt like he couldn't even muster the strength to throw it away.
Perhaps due to his muscles being completely numb, devoid of pain, or perhaps it was due to prior exercises that began to acclimatize him to this intensity. His thoughts gradually started to function again.
Renly knew that compared to soldiers who had truly experienced war, what they were going through now was merely a drizzle. Even though this was a ten-day boot camp for new recruits, it was just the beginning. Still, he couldn't help but contemplate whether Eugene's initial zeal, marching onto the battlefield with fervor, eventually saw the horror of inhuman hell on Earth. Did his emotional journey go from shock to nausea, to fear, numbness, and finally, to being lost?
Just like how he had witnessed Richard earlier.
Setting aside his insignificant altercation with Richard, once his mental exhaustion reached its peak, he began to gradually lose his ability to perceive his surroundings. Perhaps, initially, he only lost his fear, much like forensic experts or police officers who, after frequent contact with death, became accustomed to it. But over time, those emotions that defined humanity also began to fade. He couldn't feel pain, couldn't empathize, couldn't hold onto firm beliefs anymore. He grew indifferent, numb, taking it all in stride.
Renly distinctly remembered a scene from "The Pacific": Eugene prying open a dead man's mouth to extract the gold teeth.
Before that, Eugene had always refused to do such a thing, even finding it nauseating and painful. It contradicted his beliefs—respect the deceased adequately. There was no need to reveal the most base, greedy, and ugly aspects of humanity over a bit of gold. This also contributed to his initial strong aversion towards the apathetic Merriell Shelton. Their relationship was anything but friendly.
But that day, Eugene's world finally crumbled. After witnessing a Japanese soldier use a civilian pregnant woman as a human bomb, he seemed to lose his sanity. He disregarded all reason, desperately attempting to pry open a long-dead, decaying corpse to retrieve its gold teeth. In that moment of madness and obsession, he was completely out of control.
At that moment, Renly sensed for the first time the struggle and collapse deep within Eugene's heart, as if his soul was being torn apart. However, it was just a faint glimpse, difficult to accurately describe with words. Perhaps, for those who had never truly experienced the battlefield, they couldn't genuinely feel the shattering despair, the agony of such transformation, or see beneath the calm surface the tumultuous waves within. It weighed heavily on his mind.
Renly's thoughts turned to Tim. Perhaps, they could become friends, engage in conversation. Tim could help him gain a deeper understanding of the realities of the battlefield, beyond what books and movies portrayed.
Looking at Rami and James standing steadfastly beside him, they inadvertently became each other's companions. James grinned, panting, "I know I'm charming, but I'm not interested in men." This playful remark prompted laughter from Renly and Rami, even a small crowd nearby joined in chuckling. Someone playfully retorted, "Too bad men aren't interested in you either." This elicited even more laughter from everyone.
Apart from brief introductions, they had no time to talk. Yet, a sense of familiarity gradually spread in the air between them.
At least Renly was right about one thing. The boot camp for new recruits was just a beginning. After the four-mile weighted cross-country run, they had only a two-hour break before being thrust back into training. Renly couldn't even recall what he had for breakfast; he simply gobbled it down.
During the meal, Renly learned that the entire camp hadn't been served dinner the previous night. Everyone went to bed hungry. He initially thought he was the only unfortunate one who missed dinner due to falling asleep. However, upon hearing the news, he found a strange sense of comfort. "At least I got a good night's sleep."
James, seated across from him, looked as if he was about to roll his eyes into the back of his head.
The training on the second day remained just as lengthy. In addition to the basic drills they had previously undergone, they engaged in simulated combat training. It was similar to a field game using paintball guns, except they held blank-firing guns. While the impact wouldn't cause injury, the force was akin to being struck by a heavy hammer, enough to bring one down.
Even more daunting was the fact that, due to it being their first real combat training, there was no coordination among them; everyone fought individually without tactics. Faced with an enemy team comprised of actual soldiers, they were defeated within fifteen minutes, with only two of the opposition injured.
Before the start of the second round of training, the leading lieutenant provided them with tactical instructions. This included analyzing terrain, enemy formations, and distributing firearms and ammunition, with everyone coordinating based on their roles in the series. Despite still being defeated, this time they lasted for thirty-five minutes and managed to take down three opponents from the other side.
It was progress, albeit quite minor.
As evening approached and training for the 800-meter cross-country obstacle run ended, they finally had a break. Since entering the camp yesterday, they had hardly had a proper rest in the past twenty-four hours. Most actors believed there wouldn't be any more drills tonight. However, Renly remained cautious.
Three hours later, the occupants of Room 3 were sprawled haphazardly, limbs akimbo, in a dilapidated ruin. The wilderness surrounded them on all sides, and they had just been on a forced march through the night. They didn't know the direction or the time; apart from a compass, they had no means of orientation.
The lieutenant informed them that an ambush would commence in forty-five minutes.
Renly tugged at his coat futilely. The ruins had holes everywhere, like a sieve, allowing the piercing cold wind to pass through. He was wearing only a snug undershirt, a shirt, and a jacket, which provided no defense against the cold. The absurdity was that it was still July. How ironic.
Turning his head, he looked at Rami huddled in a corner, clutching his backpack to his chest like a koala, seeking warmth. Sitting nearby, James wasn't doing much better. He had removed his socks and was using them as makeshift gloves while attempting to tuck his hands into his sleeves.
Renly shook his head in disbelief, then removed his boots and took off a pair of socks, handing them over. Seeing James's puzzled expression, he explained, "I wore two pairs of socks when we set off."
James's eyes immediately widened in surprise, his expression under the moonlight appearing somewhat comical. "Man, you're my savior."
"Two cigarettes." As James reached for the offered socks, Renly pulled them back and spoke. It was common for comrades to help each other on the actual battlefield, and the only thing they could exchange here was cigarettes, a luxury item. Renly had brought this habit with him.
James ground his teeth for a moment, then snatched the socks and handed one to Rami, placing it in his embrace. "One cigarette." Following that, he rolled up the remaining sock, stuffed it in his backpack, and finally squeezed his feet into it. The sight was quite comical; even Rami couldn't help but lift his head.
Amidst the cold wind, they were like autumn leaves hanging on the branches at the end of the season, shivering yet unwilling to fall. This was starting to feel a lot like an actual battlefield.