**Clay's previous thoughts had been wrong, but there was one thing he said that wasn't incorrect.**
What DG truly needed was indeed an "All-Star player." Not only did they demand exceptional individual competence from the cadets, but they also required the ability to lead a strong team—a cadet who could step up at any time, under any conditions, to shoulder the responsibility of leading a squad.
Selecting cadets with the potential to become leaders was perhaps the essence of this assessment.
After clearly explaining the rules and requirements of this round of the test, Instructor Adam wasted no time. Without giving Dragon Zhan and the others a chance to adapt, he immediately commenced the official evaluation.
The entry method for the cadets remained unchanged, relying on a draw to leave their fate in their own hands.
In the previous two phases of assessment, Dragon Zhan had always been behind Clay and Brian. This time, there was finally a shift—he was placed in the middle.
All three of them had decent luck. Their turns were scheduled relatively late: Brian drew number 6, Dragon Zhan drew number 7, and Clay drew number 10.
Entering early came with greater pressure, as it left less preparation time. However, luck itself was a part of one's strength.
There was no point in complaining.
No matter how difficult the challenge, one had to face it head-on.
By this stage, every cadet who remained was exceptionally skilled and capable, so there was no chance of anyone backing down now.
As the first cadet entered the waiting area and teamed up with three sparring partners wearing balaclavas, the third-phase assessment officially began!
Each participant had only five minutes to act. Within this time frame, they had to complete a breach-and-capture operation and evacuate the hostages through the designated exit.
Additionally, since the evacuation required using a different exit, the cadet who completed the assessment could not return to the assembly area.
This made the entire process swift and mysterious. For those like Dragon Zhan, whose turns were scheduled later, there was little opportunity to gather information.
They could only rely on the sounds of intensive gunfire, occasional grenade explosions, and the detonation of plastic explosives to analyze the situation at a professional level, gaining slight insights and mentally preparing themselves for what lay ahead.
The necessity of grenades and explosives clearly reflected the complexity of the assessment scenario.
Under this intense and rapid-paced rhythm, less than an hour passed before nearly half of the cadets in the assembly area had already left.
"Number 6, step forward. Preparation time: one minute."
Hearing the loud call from the guide, Brian stepped out of the lineup. The slight furrow of his brow betrayed a trace of nervousness.
"Good luck, buddy!"
Clay patted Brian firmly on the chest, using his powerful gesture to cheer him on.
"I know you can do this. This is your area of expertise."
Dragon Zhan remained as composed as ever, hoping that his calm demeanor would provide Brian with the most positive feedback possible.
And Dragon Zhan wasn't wrong.
Brian was naturally a team player. Over the past six months of training, he had frequently taken the initiative to help other rookies, and this process of assisting them was strikingly similar to commanding a team.
This gave Brian a unique perspective and allowed him to develop his own multi-threaded training approach.
If only one person could pass this assessment, Dragon Zhan undoubtedly had the highest likelihood. The person closest to him in terms of probability was Brian.
Recognition from someone stronger than oneself is often the most convincing.
Encouraged by Dragon Zhan's affirmation, Brian's earlier unease gradually gave way to steadiness. After bumping fists with Dragon Zhan and Clay, he strode confidently toward the waiting area ahead.
One minute later, the assessment officially began. Brian led his team as they breached the door and entered the testing grounds.
The familiar sounds of gunfire and explosions followed.
However, the overall rhythm of Brian's operation was noticeably more stable than that of the earlier cadets. It was clear that he was advancing at a normal pace, unlike the slightly chaotic approaches of others.
Rhythm is an intangible factor but one that is crucial in special operations.
Brian's ability to control his squad's combat rhythm indicated that there were likely no significant issues with his performance.
Dragon Zhan and Clay typically didn't concern themselves with the other cadets, but when it came to their brother Brian, they couldn't help but care. They were eager to know how he was doing in the assessment.
Unfortunately, without access to the assessment field, there was no way to satisfy their curiosity, no matter how anxious they felt.
All they could do was envy the evaluators standing on the overhead walkway, holding their clipboards, as they continued to suppress their impatience and wait.
Seven minutes passed.
"Confirmed!"
The guide received the next notification, responded via their earpiece, and called out to the group in the assembly area: "Number 7, step forward. One minute preparation time."
Hearing the announcement, Dragon Zhan, whose shoulder bore the patch labeled "7," stood up, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
He cleared his mind of all distractions, leaving only calmness and focus in his eyes.
"Dragon, I won't say much. With your monster-like abilities, it makes more sense for me to worry about myself than to worry about you," Clay remarked with a wry smile.
"Hahaha!"
Dragon Zhan chuckled at Clay's dry humor, extending his right fist. "We've fought on the battlefield together, brother. Let's do this."
"Of course."
Clay bumped fists with him, raising an eyebrow with a grin. "Though I can't wish you luck, I think you should wish me luck in advance."
"What? That's how you play it?"
Reverse blessings? Really?
Dragon Zhan was rendered speechless by Clay's peculiar logic and gave him an international gesture of disdain before striding toward the waiting area.