**The Next Day.**
Long Zhan officially joined the third phase of training. During the morning's indoor military classes, he was treated no differently than the other recruits, receiving no special sessions or extra attention. The stellar performance he had displayed during the B Team operation brought him no special privileges.
The training sessions he missed over the past week still needed to be made up on his own. If he failed to catch up in time, the consequences would be his alone to bear—whether that meant elimination or something else entirely.
Clay was treated no differently. Any missed subjects also had to be compensated for through his own efforts.
It might seem unfair, but that was the hallmark of the Green Team, notorious as a devil's training camp. No one was allowed special treatment here.
No matter how great your achievements, until you "graduate," you remain just another recruit.
Fortunately, the third phase of training was essentially an upgraded version of the Navy SEALs' regimen, with the core principles unchanged.
Given that both Long Zhan and Clay were quick thinkers, especially with Long Zhan's cognitive abilities far exceeding the average, they estimated they could catch up on the missed content within three to five days using their off-hours. This ensured that their ongoing training progress wouldn't be disrupted.
After the routine midday break, the Green Team recruits gathered at the Kill House for the afternoon's Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training.
"First group: Clay and Long. Mission objective: Area clearance."
Falling behind in training, Clay and Long Zhan were the first names called by the special forces instructor, Yadan, to step into the Kill House.
CQB was a foundational discipline in special operations. Since joining the Navy SEALs, Long Zhan and Clay had already logged hundreds of hours in both live and training scenarios. They were thoroughly familiar with the rules.
Even without direct guidance from an instructor, the two picked up their respective simulated training gear and entered the wooden-constructed training field with practiced ease.
The CQB approach and tactics used by the Green Team weren't drastically different from those of the Navy SEALs.
The main distinction lay in the types of simulated targets. These included both static dummies and role-playing adversaries played by instructors.
The former were more ruthless, smarter, and far more cunning than the latter.
This heightened difficulty was directly tied to the kind of enemies the DG (Green Team) was expected to face in actual combat—foes who were exceedingly tough and unpredictable.
Long Zhan and Clay had already experienced the "perils" of Green Team training and suspected that CQB here would be anything but simple.
Adding to the challenge, it was their first time entering this simulated training field, and the unfamiliarity of the environment demanded heightened vigilance.
Long Zhan led the way. Before officially entering the training field, he noticed a hallway ahead, which they had to traverse before passing through a closed door.
The door was a shabby piece of plywood with no handle, riddled with dents and holes, making it look like it had seen better days.
Considering the sheer strength of the burly recruits undergoing Green Team training, the fact that this door had survived a week without being smashed into splinters was a testament to their restraint.
If Long Zhan had been tasked with breaching the door, he likely would've kicked it—frame and all—clear off its hinges.
However, since the CQB mission involved area clearance—typically scenarios where rooms are secured for allies or repurposed—minimizing destruction was a priority.
Instead of violently breaking through, Long Zhan opted for a stealthier approach.
He crept up to one side of the door, placed a gloved hand on it, and gave it a gentle push. The plywood door swung open easily.
Rather than charging in, Long Zhan paused at the threshold to observe.
There wasn't much to see, but the setup was clear.
Beyond the door lay a long corridor. The walls on either side were made of discarded wooden sleepers, designed to withstand live-fire training if necessary.
After ensuring there were no immediate threats in the corridor, Long Zhan advanced with his weapon at the ready.
He maintained his signature stance, maximizing his field of view while sweeping the muzzle of his gun in an arc to ensure control over the area ahead.
He didn't glance back, relying instead on the sound of Clay's footsteps through his earpiece to confirm that his teammate was following closely.
Though Long Zhan didn't fully trust Clay—an independent-minded maverick—he had no choice but to rely on him for now. He held out hope that, like in TV dramas, Clay would eventually overcome his flaws and grow into a dependable partner.
The two advanced in single file for about two meters before reaching the first door on the left.
Curiously, this door wasn't closed. Using an angled view, Long Zhan easily surveyed the interior.
The room was square, empty, and devoid of any furnishings.
"What the hell is this?"
Puzzled by the barren setup, Long Zhan suspected some kind of hidden mechanism or trap. Unwilling to leave it to chance, he stepped inside to investigate.
But after thoroughly checking the room, he confirmed that it truly was empty.
"So, I was just overthinking things, huh? Turns out I've been demonizing Green Team's CQB training. There's no way they'd throw us into the deep end right at the start of a three-month cycle."
Long Zhan silently mocked his own nerves, lowered his weapon, and exited the room.
"Move," he called out the tactical command, his tension easing as he continued forward.
But just as he let his guard down, an unexpected situation arose.
Barely two meters ahead, a target dummy resembling a gunman suddenly emerged from a room on the right, holding an automatic rifle.
The distance between them was less than four meters—so close that Long Zhan didn't even need to aim.
"Pop-pop-pop!"
In a swift motion, he adjusted his muzzle and fired three simulated rounds, neutralizing the target instantly.
Remaining vigilant, he approached the dummy, stopping at a one-meter distance to deliver a follow-up shot for good measure. Only then did he lower his weapon and announce, "Clear!"
Meanwhile, Clay had entered the room on the right and taken out another gunman dummy. He called out, "Target down, all clear!"
Both demonstrated impressive skill, handling the first sudden incident with ease.
Their initial collaboration had gone smoothly.
Building on this positive start, Long Zhan and Clay continued their cautious advance.
"Pop-pop-pop..."
With every suppressed gunshot, paint rounds struck their targets. One by one, the cleverly disguised enemy dummies emerged from hidden corners, only to be swiftly neutralized.
Alternating between covering and clearing, Long Zhan and Clay steadily advanced from the entry point to the final room without incident.
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