On the vast parade ground, the soldiers stood straight as an arrow, beautifully blending their camouflage color with the environment, not a single sound could be heard emanating from them.
"Flossie Wright, step forward!"
Rowdy Brightwill's voice was calm and dignified echoing clearly in the emptiness of the parade ground and reaching every ear present.
From within the crowd, Flossie Wright furrowed her brows slightly. Amidst many perplexed gazes, she loudly affirmed, "Yes, sir!" and proceeded to walk to the center of the field in standard posture, standing straight and tall facing Rowdy Brightwill.
"I hear you're the worst in hand-to-hand combat." Rowdy Brightwill patted her shoulder amicably as if they were on great terms. His radiant, captivating smile made the other female soldiers green with envy, wishing they were the one sharing such a report with the Instructor.
Flossie's eyes darted around, then she deliberately raised her voice yelling in Rowdy Brightwill's ear, "Instructor, correct!"
"…"
The hand on her shoulder involuntarily tightened. Flossie's sudden outburst left a faint buzzing in his ears, muffling any other noise. He tightened his grip slightly on her shoulder, his brows instinctively furrowing.
After a delay of several seconds, Rowdy Brightwill's stunned hearing began to improve. He gave Flossie Wright an indirect glance, catching sight of her indifferent expression. His lips twitched minutely, and in the next moment, his hand fell from her shoulder.
"Jamson Eldeanor, fall in!"
Rowdy Brightwill casually waved at a group of male soldiers from behind, gesturing someone to step forward.
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, a feeble and hollow voice replied, and a tall figure emerged. A few lighthearted laughs came from the male soldiers, but mostly there were looks of disdain, from which one could easily perceive Jamson Eldeanor's combat ability.
Yet, as Jamson Eldeanor, almost six feet tall, stood before Flossie Wright, their height disparity become glaringly visible, leaving no room for questioning their difference in combat abilities.
"I heard, your performance isn't much either?" Rowdy Brightwill, matching Jamson Eldeanor in height, stood beside him, his fit image and cool pose leaving the female soldiers' hearts thumping.
"Yes, sir." Contrasted with Flossie's solid bravado, his confidence appeared significantly weaker. Although his superior physique suggested otherwise, he was like a timid woman standing next to Flossie's calm and composed demeanor, inadvertently inspiring admiration.
Despite her appalling situation, she seemed so calm and tranquil, one had to commend her thick skin and mental fortitude.
"As a man, do you have the confidence to defeat her?" Rowdy Brightwill looked over at Flossie with a smile in his eyes, yet his words were directed towards Jamson Eldeanor.
"I..." Jamson Eldeanor hesitated a while, then glanced surreptitiously at Flossie before finally saying with false bravado, "Sir, she's a woman, I can't strike her!"
"There's no gender distinction on the battlefield!" Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Rowdy Brightwill's stern voice, his once jovial face now serious. "Will you avoid combat or even die under a woman's gun just because she's female?"
Unsettled, Jamson slowly shook his head with determination, "No, I won't."
"Then answer me, are you confident you can win against her!" Rowdy Brightwill's tone was unmistakable.
Instinctively puffing out his chest, Jamson Eldeanor replied in a louder voice; "Yes, sir!"