On the fifth day of the survival challenge, the medical students collectively withdrew from the rainforest. It was only now that Lu Heguang and the others finally saw other medical students, but surprisingly, very few remained less than ten, including Salorian.
“They’ll probably form a team after graduation too,” Cass remarked from a distance as he watched the medical students leave. “Even as medics, they have to survive on the battlefield to save more lives. It’s not easy.”
Lu Heguang hummed in agreement, his gaze following Salorian’s figure. The person being watched seemed to sense it and glanced back. Lu Heguang raised the corners of his mouth and waved a temporary farewell. Salorian looked somewhat uncomfortable, clearly still feeling the lingering effects of everything that had happened the day before.
To have his guide become his pursuer and worst of all, an Alpha.
He shook his head, trying to push these thoughts aside for now. Perhaps one day, Lu Heguang would realize he was just a guy full of flaws and naturally lose interest.
This thought gave Salorian a renewed sense of motivation. Mimicking Lu Heguang, he raised his hand and waved back in farewell.
“Wow, the captain looks really happy,” the emotionally dull Zuo Wei whispered to Allen, who nodded in agreement. “I can see it too.”
“There’s definitely something going on between them,” Wen Zhao, who had been avoiding the group’s gossip discussions since yesterday, chimed in. “Anyone with eyes can tell.”
“Anyone with a nose could probably smell it too, right?” Cass added quietly. “The senior’s heat suddenly got under control, the sweet scent of his pheromones disappeared, the captain had blood on his mouth, and the senior had bloodstains on him.”
“You noticed all that?” Zuo Wei asked in disbelief. Cass immediately retorted, “With observational skills like yours, I’m seriously worried about my safety if we ever become teammates.”
Lu Heguang ignored their whispers. Today, as they sent the medical seniors off, they also had the chance to see how many people remained in the rainforest. Looking at the wary eyes around them, Lu Heguang suddenly understood Qiao An’s words, though he still didn’t agree with his methods even if the weak had to be eliminated, it shouldn’t be done through sneak attacks.
“Captain?” Lu Heguang suddenly raised a hand. The others, who had been watching the starship depart, turned their attention to him as he said, “Let’s go. We still have to hold out for another two or three days. In the end, we must all return together.”
The moment Salorian returned to the Imperial Star, he submitted a request to the monitoring room to find out the current “battle situation.” Unsurprisingly, he was denied. Before he could even process his disappointment or figure out why he felt disappointed, he learned from his classmates that Parker, due to failing his exams and exhibiting atrocious conduct, would have to leave Wyatt for at least a semester before being allowed to retake the exams.
His spirits lifted once again, and he decided to share the good news with Lu Heguang as soon as he returned.
Meanwhile, in the rainforest thousands of miles away, on the sixth day, another member of Lu Heguang’s team was eliminated. The group’s emotions gradually settled, and aside from Cass occasionally grumbling, everyone waited for the starship that would arrive again on the evening of the seventh day.
Over the past two days, they had also come to understand why Wyatt had withdrawn the medical students on the fifth day they too needed to adapt to daily life without doctors nearby.
Even though only one day remained, and perseverance until the end would secure their place at Wyatt, some still chose to withdraw voluntarily, unable to endure the pain or the threats of snakes, insects, and wild beasts.
“No wonder they say even money can’t get you into Wyatt. Even if someone were bribed in, they’d still have to pass this trial to stay,” Cas murmured softly by the campfire at night, poking the ashes at the edge of the flames with a small twig. “Thinking about it now, we only have to endure this one week, but our seniors have persevered on the front lines for so long to bring us the peace we have today. I really admire them.”
“That’s also why I joined Wyatt,” Zuo Wei said. “I almost couldn’t get in because of my nearsightedness. During the first two days, I wanted to quit…”
Everyone paused their activities whether eating or setting up tents and looked at him. Zuo Wei smiled sheepishly. “But seeing the determined expressions on your faces made me feel useless. I thought I’d try to persevere like you, and that’s how I made it this far.”
“That’s good,” Lu Heguang grunted in agreement, sharing some of his food with everyone. “Eat up. Tomorrow will be easier.”
“But tomorrow will probably see a large-scale elimination, right?” Aizel said. “Who wouldn’t want to be one of the few survivors? If too many people stay, it won’t look good.”
“Maybe,” Aaron, sitting beside Aizel, didn’t refuse the food Lu Heguang offered. Over the past two days, Lu Heguang’s emotions had been stable, but that was the extent of it. When they encountered rivals while hunting, Lu Heguang’s decisions had become much more decisive. He alone had eliminated four or five people. “If we all manage to stay, I’d still want the captain to lead us.”
Wen Zhao nodded. “If we changed captains, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to adapt.”
“Um.” Aishe, usually the steadiest member of the team, suddenly spoke up. “I want to withdraw.”
“Why?” Cas was taken aback and instinctively asked, “Did something happen?”
Aishe looked somewhat embarrassed. “I might be a coward. The thought that if I stay at Wyatt, days like these might go on for a long, long time the fear just won’t leave me.”
Lu Heguang didn’t say anything, just sat down beside him and offered him a piece of jerky. Aishe waved his hand. “Captain, I…”
How could someone who had already decided to leave consume others’ food?
“Eat. People always need to eat,” Lu Heguang placed it in his hand. “We’re not gluttons. How could we eat this much?”
“Captain, I heard you didn’t grow up near Wyatt before,” Aishe lowered his head, looking at the jerky in his hand. He still remembered the excitement of hunting with Lu Heguang during the day. “How do you manage to stay so calm and persevere?”
Lu Heguang was taken aback, pointing at himself. “Me?”
Seeing his companions all staring at him, seemingly waiting for his answer, the Alpha had no choice but to brace himself and ask, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”
“Of course the truth,” Aizel perked up. “Hurry, tell us.”
“I just don’t want to let my family and friends down. After meeting Firo, I also want to become someone like him, to contribute my own strength to the Imperial Star,” Lu Heguang said. “And besides, if I leave Wyatt, I won’t be able to see my senior every day.”
“Boss, do you really… really like Salorian?” Cass didn’t expect him to be so direct. “He’s not easy to pursue. I’ve heard rumors about him among the Omegas, how he hates Alphas but acts even worse than the worst Alpha playboys, things like that.”
Lu Heguang was also curious about this, but he simply watched his fingers flicker in and out of the firelight. “But the person I know isn’t like that. I have to at least try.”
“Then I wish the captain success,” Wen Zhao teased. “I’ll be waiting for you to come crying to us.”
“Wishing the captain success,” Zuo Wei and the others also said with a laugh. After this topic ended, the focus returned to Aishe.
“I’ve decided to withdraw,” Aishe said, feeling even more resolved after hearing Lu Heguang’s words. “I haven’t found my own goal yet. Being with someone like me would only hold you back.”
“Aishe…”
“Alan, don’t worry about me,” Aishe said, removing the insignia from his shoulder with a smile. “I plan to join the Mechanical Department. When you all have the authority to use mechas, we can still work together.”
Lu Heguang patted him on the shoulder. “Wishing you success.”
Aishe nodded and tossed the insignia into the fire.
The night passed, with alarm sounds ringing from time to time. By the next morning, it was eerily quiet. Everyone had stayed up all night, but their spirits were high.
After Aishe left, only six people remained in the team: Lu Heguang, Wen Zhao, Aizel, Alan, Cass, and Zuo Wei.
In the morning light, they shouldered their MDRs and marched toward the unknown ahead, just as they had on their first day here.
…
Another year of Wyatt’s survival battle came to an end. Only fifty-seven survivors remained, with the entire second class of the Combat Department wiped out. While the first batch celebrated their victory, the results of the second-round test prepared for the eliminated participants were also announced.
“Joan?!”
Wen Zhao couldn’t believe his eyes as he saw Joan, covered in mud, appear before everyone. Only her face was barely clean.
“You passed the second-round test?” Lu Heguang knew why she was standing here, waiting to board the starship with them and leave the rainforest. “How many people made it through?”
“I’m the only one among the freshmen,” Joan said, snapping her fingers and extending her hand to him. “From now on, we’re teammates. Nice to meet you, Captain Lu.”
“Joan, have your thoughts changed?” Lu Heguang asked.
Joan sighed. “I knew you’d ask that in the second-round test, I met your former teammate, Lais. He also signed up for the test, but he didn’t make it to the end. I spoke with him a few times and asked him why he signed up. Guess what he told me?”
The female Alpha shook the mud off her hands, nearly splattering Aizel. “He said he shouldn’t have doubted your decision back then. If he had stayed with you, maybe he could have remained at Wyatt. It just goes to show how important it is to follow the right leader.”
Lu Heguang remained silent for a moment before reaching out to shake her hand. “Welcome, Joan.”
Not long after, the starship set off. Everyone on board slept sprawled out in all directions, Lu Heguang included. He and Allen leaned their heads together, wishing they could wake up already lying in their dorm beds, opening their eyes to see Salorian’s figure.
What he didn’t know was that at that very moment, Salorian was waiting at the entrance of Wyatt Academy for their return.
Many parents who had received the news were gathered there, waiting to take their children home for a well-deserved reward or comfort. Among them, only Salorian stood out as a student, appearing somewhat out of place.
He considered simply returning to the dorm to wait, but a persistent feeling urged him to stay.
“What a strange feeling.” the Omega muttered to himself, though deep down, he was eagerly anticipating spotting that head of blue hair in the crowd. However, before the starship returned, he unexpectedly encountered someone he hadn’t anticipated.
“Salorian?” Lu Ze, dressed in a beige casual outfit, stopped in front of Salorian. Generally, people with darker skin tones might appear even darker in light-colored clothing, but on Lu Ze, the pale hues made his honey-toned skin look even more alluring.
Salorian silently took a step back. “Mr. Lu, is there something you need?”
“Nothing in particular, just wanted to check in,” Lu Ze replied with a politely distant smile. “My son must have caused you quite a bit of trouble. If you haven’t found a way to remove the mark yet, I can help you.”
Salorian froze.
Remove the mark?
Erase the mark Lu Heguang had left on him?
“I…” Salorian heard his own voice say, “Can I refuse?”