American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

The last kilometer was the hardest. The three of them supported each other, almost dragging each other towards the finish line. When they finally crossed the finish line, they collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

"Forty-two minutes and thirty-five seconds," Instructor Smith announced, glancing at his watch. "Pass! But this is only the first phase."

Upon hearing the words "this is only the first phase," all the agents let out a groan of despair.

"Take a 15-minute break, then begin the second phase: strength training," Instructor Smith announced ruthlessly.

During their short rest, Lynn, Marcus, and Carmen lay on the grass to recover their strength.

“I feel like my legs aren’t mine anymore,” Carmen gasped.

“Me too,” Marcus said, wiping away sweat, “but we did it. We were the second of the three to finish.”

Indeed, the twelve agents were divided into four groups, but only two groups completed the first phase within the allotted time.

“This shows our teamwork is great,” Lynn encouraged. “Keep going, we can do it.”

The second phase of strength training took place in an indoor strength and conditioning gym. It was equipped with all sorts of advanced fitness equipment, but Instructor Smith clearly wasn't planning to make things easy for them.

"Strength training is divided into three parts," Instructor Smith explained, "weightlifting, sparring, and functional strength training. Each part requires three people to work together."

The first activity was team weightlifting. It wasn't ordinary weightlifting, but a complex exercise requiring coordination among three people. They had to lift a 150-kilogram barbell and perform various combinations of movements.

"This simulates situations in real combat where a team needs to work together to move heavy objects," Instructor Smith explained, "such as rescuing the wounded or moving obstacles."

It's already difficult for three people to lift a barbell together, but maintaining synchronization in various movements is even more challenging. They practiced combinations of squats, deadlifts, and presses, each requiring perfect coordination.

"One, two, three, lift!" Lynn shouted, and the three of them lifted at the same time.

Marcus bore most of the weight, but Lynn and Carmen also had to maintain precise coordination, otherwise the entire move would fail.

The second part is combat training. The three people need to take turns sparring with the instructor for three minutes each, but the next person must take over immediately after the previous person finishes, without any rest time.

Marcus went first. The instructor was a seasoned combat expert whose skills far surpassed Marcus's. Three minutes of sparring left Marcus exhausted, and he was knocked down multiple times.

Carmen then took to the court. Her size was a clear disadvantage, but her speed and agility were her strengths. She tried to avoid direct confrontations, employing guerrilla tactics instead.

By the time it was Lynn's turn, he had already observed the instructor for six minutes and gained some understanding of his opponent's fighting style. He adopted a more balanced strategy, neither engaging in a head-on confrontation like Marcus nor completely avoiding the fight like Carmen, but instead looking for opportunities to counterattack.

Nine minutes of continuous high-intensity fighting pushed all three to their physical limits.

The third segment is functional strength training, which combines movements such as flipping tires, dragging heavy objects, and climbing ropes. The three participants need to complete various strength challenges within a complex training loop.

"This simulates the various physical obstacles that need to be overcome during a chase or escape," Instructor Smith explained.

Flipping a 200-kilogram giant tire requires the combined efforts of three people, and each flip demands all their strength. Pulling a sled filled with sand further tests the team's coordination and sustained power output.

By the end of the second phase, all the agents were drenched in sweat and their muscles were trembling. But Instructor Smith still didn't give them enough rest.

"Phase Three: Speed ​​and Reaction Training," Instructor Smith announced.

The third phase takes place in a specially designed training ground. This ground contains various moving targets, light signals, and sound cues, simulating high-speed pursuit and rapid reaction scenarios.

"When fighting superhumans, speed is often the decisive factor," Instructor Smith explained, "especially against enemies with high mobility."

The training program includes:

Short-distance sprint relay: Three people take turns sprinting 100 meters at full speed, completing a total of 900 meters, with the goal of finishing within four minutes.

Reaction speed test: Under rapidly flashing light indicators, three people need to make corresponding actions simultaneously, including jumping, lying down, turning, etc.

Chase simulation: One person plays the role of a "superpowered individual," while the other two are responsible for the chase, and then they take turns playing different roles.

Each event pushed their physical limits. Short sprints sent their heart rates soaring to dangerous levels, reaction drills tested their already exhausted nervous systems, and pursuit simulations combined speed, endurance, and tactical thinking.

The fourth stage is the endurance limit test.

“A real combat exercise could last for hours,” Instructor Smith said sternly. “You must remain combat-ready after prolonged periods of high-intensity activity.”

This stage includes:

Long-distance heavy-duty march: carrying 20 kilograms of equipment and hiking 10 kilometers of mountain road.

Continuous physical training cycle: Repeatedly perform push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups in a cycle within one hour.

Precision operation under fatigue: Training in fine motor skills under extreme fatigue conditions, such as assembling weapons or operating equipment.

The 10-kilometer march with a heavy load is the most brutal test. Twenty kilograms of equipment may not be much under normal circumstances, but after the high-intensity training in the previous stages, every step is an ordeal.

“I feel like my backpack is full of stones,” Carmen said with a wry smile.

“Hang in there, we’re halfway there,” Lynn encouraged, though he himself felt as if his legs were made of lead.

Marcus walked at the front, but his steps were noticeably less steady than at the beginning. Sweat dripped constantly from his face, and his clothes were already soaked through.

The mountain path was rugged and uneven, requiring the use of both hands and feet to traverse in some places. Fatigue impaired their judgment, and they nearly fell several times.

“Two kilometers to go,” Lynn said, looking at the GPS. “We must persevere.”

The last two kilometers were the hardest. The three of them practically supported each other as they moved forward, and every step required tremendous willpower.

The fifth stage is team coordination training. "Fatigue is the biggest enemy of teamwork," Instructor Smith said. "This stage tests your coordination ability under extreme fatigue."

The training program includes complex sequences of movements that require precise coordination, such as synchronized climbing, coordinated carrying, and precise passing.

When extremely fatigued, even simple movements become difficult. The three reacted more slowly, their coordination decreased, and they needed to exert several times more attention than usual to complete basic actions.

“Rhythm, pay attention to the rhythm,” Lynn tried to keep his commands clear, but his voice was already a little hoarse.

The final stage is a comprehensive ability test.

"This is the final test for today," Instructor Smith announced, "a comprehensive challenge that combines all the training content from before."

They need to complete various tasks in a complex simulated scenario: climbing, carrying, precision shooting, rapid reaction, etc., and there is a time limit.

By this time, all the agents had reached their physical limits. Lynn felt his muscles trembling; every movement required immense willpower.

“This is the last project,” he told Marcus and Carmen. “Let’s stick with it together.”

The three gritted their teeth and completed the final challenge. When Instructor Smith announced the end of the training, they collapsed to the ground, too exhausted to even speak.

“Congratulations,” Instructor Smith said, a rare smile appearing on his face. “You’ve all completed today’s training. It’s one of the toughest physical training sessions I’ve ever seen, and your performance has exceeded my expectations.”

Lynn, Marcus, and Carmen lay on the ground, panting heavily. Their clothes were completely soaked, their muscles ached terribly, but they were filled with a sense of accomplishment.

“We…we did it,” Carmen said weakly.

“Yes, we did it,” Marcus replied, “although I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stand up again.”

“This is just the beginning,” Lynn said, though he was also exhausted, but still maintained his sense of responsibility as captain. “If we can persevere today, we can handle the challenges ahead.”

The other agents were in similar condition, all exhausted. But reassuringly, all four teams completed the training; no one gave up halfway.

"Today's training has demonstrated your potential," Colonel Reynolds said as he appeared on the training field. "Physical fitness is the foundation of all tactics and skills. Only with strong physical fitness can you unleash your true strength in actual combat."

He looked at the agents collapsed on the ground. "Take a day off tomorrow to allow your bodies to recover. The day after tomorrow, we will begin more advanced skills training."

Everyone sighed with gratitude upon hearing that they could rest tomorrow.

At dinner, all the agents behaved like soldiers who had just fought a fierce battle. Everyone was exhausted, but their eyes revealed determination and pride.

“I’ve never been this tired,” Marcus remarked between bites, “but I’ve also never felt this accomplished.”

“Indeed,” Carmen agreed, “today’s training made me understand the true meaning of teamwork.”

“Our teamwork is getting better and better,” Lynn observed. “This is very important for our future training.”

Agents at other tables were also discussing their training experiences today. Everyone had their own insights and takeaways, but the common feeling was that this kind of training was indeed what they needed.

"What do you want to do during your day off tomorrow?" Carmen asked.

“Sleep,” Marcus replied immediately. “I want to sleep until I naturally wake up.”

“I’d like to take a hot bath and then massage my muscles,” Lynn said. “Today’s training was really intense.”

“We can explore the base together,” Carmen suggested, “to learn more about its facilities.”

After a day of rest, the agents had recovered some of their strength. Although their muscles were still a little sore, their mental state had improved significantly. At seven o'clock the next morning, the alarm sounded again, and everyone assembled at the designated point on time.

Lynn felt much better than the day before yesterday; a hot bath and plenty of sleep had largely restored his body. Marcus and Carmen also looked much more energetic. The three of them smiled at each other, all proud of having survived the hellish training the day before.

Reynolds arrived for calibration, this time accompanied by a group of instructors who looked much more professional. These men were dressed in standard shooting training uniforms, and each carried various advanced weapons and equipment.

"Agents, today we will be conducting marksmanship training," Colonel Reynolds began. "When fighting superhumans, accurate shooting is often the key to victory. However, traditional weapons and tactics may have limited effectiveness, so you will need to learn specialized equipment and techniques."

He pointed to a female instructor beside him, "This is Instructor Wilson, a former Marine Corps sniper. She will be in charge of today's shooting practice."

Instructor Wilson was a woman in her thirties, not tall but very strong, with sharp eyes, giving off a very professional vibe.

“Agents, shooting is a basic law enforcement skill, but dealing with superhumans requires a different strategy,” Instructor Wilson said. “Today’s training consists of four parts: routine shooting skills assessment, specialized ammunition training, use of mutant tranquilizer weapons, and live-fire simulation.”

“First, I need to assess your current shooting level,” Instructor Wilson continued. “Please come with me to the shooting range.”

They were taken to a large indoor shooting range. This shooting range was much more advanced than ordinary ones, with movable targets, shooting lines at different distances, various environmental simulation systems, and even holographic projection technology.

“Everyone will first undergo a standard shooting test,” Instructor Wilson said, distributing standard Glock 17 pistols. “Distance: 25 meters, 30 rounds, time limit: 5 minutes.”

Lynn was the third to go. As an FBI agent, his shooting skills were already quite good, and he often ranked among the top in shooting assessments at the New York bureau. But today's test seemed even more rigorous.

He steadily raised his pistol, took a deep breath, and began firing. The distance of 25 meters was not difficult for him; he completed the 30-round burst in 4 minutes and 15 seconds, scoring 278 rings.

"Not bad," Instructor Wilson commented, "but there's still room for improvement."

Marcus scored 265 points, and Carmen scored 271 points. Overall, all the agents' shooting skills were above average, which met the criteria for being selected for training.

“Now we begin Part Two: Specialized Ammunition Training,” Instructor Wilson said, pulling out some unusual-looking bullets. “Regular ammunition may have limited effectiveness against superhumans. These are specially developed special ammunition.”

She demonstrated several different types of bullets: "This is an electromagnetic pulse bullet; it releases a strong electromagnetic pulse upon impact, interfering with certain types of superpowers. This is a cryogenic bullet, containing liquid nitrogen, which can rapidly lower the target's body temperature. This is a neuro-interference bullet, containing special chemical components that can affect the nervous system."

“Each type of ammunition has specific conditions for use and effects,” Instructor Wilson continued to explain. “You need to learn to choose the appropriate ammunition based on the different types of superpowered individuals.” (End of Chapter)