CHAPTER 234: TRAINING X

Night fell again, heavier than before.

The group huddled together near the fire, muscles screaming in protest.

Han Yi poked at the embers weakly.

"...I hate surviving... but somehow... I’m scared if I stop moving... I’ll die in my sleep..."

Mu Chen lay back, staring at the stars.

"...If endurance was this bad, survival under pressure... I think that means actual death. Like... scary-death..."

Yue quietly cleaned the dirt from her clothes.

"...I can’t even imagine what he means by pressure... I don’t want to imagine it..."

Lei Feng didn’t move. His eyes stared blankly at the sky.

"...I might as well die now... maybe the universe will take pity..."

Ling knelt beside the fire, calm as ever.

"We survived combat. Obstacles. Endurance. Survival under pressure will be harder. Mentally, physically... but together, we have a chance."

Han Yi groaned, curling up.

"...Together... I just want to nap... a week... a month... maybe a year..."

Mu Chen mumbled,

"...If I survive tomorrow, I will eat everything I see... or maybe just sleep..."

Yue whispered, almost to herself,

"...I don’t want to fail... but I don’t want to move either..."

Lei Feng finally spoke, voice shaky.

"...Pressure... whatever it is... I’m terrified..."

Ling’s hand rested on each of them, steadying them.

"One step at a time. Focus. We survive together."

The wind shifted, colder than before, carrying with it the sense that the forest itself was watching, waiting.

Han Yi shivered.

"...Tomorrow... the final trial... I will either survive... or I will die screaming..."

Mu Chen nodded weakly.

"...We’re all in the same nightmare... but somehow... we’re alive..."

Yue exhaled.

"...One day at a time... just one day at a time..."

Ling looked into the dark forest.

"Rest now. Gather strength. Tomorrow... we face the ultimate test."

Somewhere in the shadows, Tian Lei’s voice carried faintly, like thunder in the distance.

"Prepare yourselves. Survival under pressure does not forgive weakness."

And deep inside, each of them knew: the next day would break them—or make them stronger.

The next morning came quickly.

Han Yi opened his eyes slowly.

"...No. No no no... I can’t move... my body refuses..."

Mu Chen groaned, sitting up.

"...Endurance was bad enough... now survival under pressure? I think my soul left yesterday..."

Yue blinked at the rising sun.

"...I don’t want to know what pressure really means..."

Lei Feng stayed lying on the ground.

"...I am already a ghost... I might as well stay down..."

Ling stood, calm as ever.

"Final trial. Today we face pressure. Together. Focus. Step by step."

Tian Lei appeared at the edge of the clearing.

"Survival under pressure begins now. Every choice, every step, every movement is dangerous. Fail... and the cost is yours."

Han Yi shook his head violently.

"...I... I don’t want to survive under pressure... I already survived everything else... this is unfair..."

Mu Chen muttered,

"...I don’t even have energy to complain properly..."

Yue whispered,

"...We just need to survive... somehow..."

Lei Feng slowly got to his feet.

"...If I die today... tell the story of how I survived... mostly..."

Ling gestured toward the trial field.

"Come. We face it together."

The field was open, filled with hazards: narrow ledges over deep pits, swinging logs, water traps, hidden holes, and strange, shifting obstacles.

Han Yi trembled.

"...I’m already dead... but they want me alive... somehow..."

Mu Chen’s hands shook.

"...This is worse than the cliff... worse than the obstacle course..."

Yue swallowed hard.

"...Step by step... one step... just one step..."

Tian Lei’s voice was calm, unyielding.

"Move forward. Focus. Survive."

Step by step, the group advanced.

Han Yi slipped immediately, catching himself just in time.

"...I’m doomed... but somehow... still alive..."

Mu Chen balanced on a narrow ledge, teeth gritted.

"...Why is everything trying to kill us... seriously..."

Yue ducked under a swinging log, her heart racing.

"...I have no idea how we are still standing..."

Lei Feng carefully jumped over a water trap, shaking.

"...Pressure... is real... and it hates me..."

Ling moved steadily, covering the slower ones when needed.

"Watch each other. Step by step. Focus."

Hours passed. Every step tested their balance, strength, and courage.

Finally, exhausted, battered, and shaken, they reached the other side.

Tian Lei nodded.

"Acceptable. You survived. That is what matters."

Han Yi collapsed on the ground.

"...I survived... somehow... barely... but alive..."

Mu Chen lay down beside him.

"...One day at a time... one day at a time..."

Yue slumped, breathing heavily.

"...We survived... together..."

Lei Feng stared at the horizon, pale and shaking.

"...Normal life... is so far away..."

Ling looked at them, gentle but firm.

"The final trial is complete. You survived under pressure. Rest. Grow. One step at a time. Together."

Somewhere in the forest, the wind carried a warning.

The trials were over—for now.

But each of them knew: surviving together had changed them.

And tomorrow, they would face the next challenge, stronger—or at least a little wiser.

That night, the group sat quietly by the fire.

Han Yi poked at the embers weakly.

"...I survived... but I feel like my body betrayed me... and my brain... mostly my brain..."

Mu Chen leaned against a tree.

"...I didn’t think I could make it... but somehow... here I am..."

Yue carefully cleaned her clothes, hands trembling.

"...I feel like I’ve been alive in a nightmare... but I survived it..."

Lei Feng stared at the dark sky.

"...Pressure... really shows you who you are... and I... don’t know if I like what I saw..."

Ling quietly poured water into their canteens.

"Every trial was meant to teach you something. You survived combat, obstacles, endurance, and pressure. You are stronger than you think. But the world doesn’t stop. Challenges will come again."

Han Yi groaned.

"...I hate surviving... but I... maybe I want to survive again... I think..."

Mu Chen closed his eyes, exhausted.

"...One day at a time... one step at a time... that’s all we can do."

Yue whispered softly.

"...Together. That’s why we made it. Because we didn’t do it alone."

Lei Feng finally nodded, a faint smile forming.

"...Together... maybe that makes the impossible... possible..."

Ling looked around at all of them.

"Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we leave this forest and face whatever comes next. One day at a time. Together."

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying a chill. Somewhere beyond, unseen dangers waited.

But for the first time, they felt a small spark of confidence.

They had survived. And surviving had changed them.

The journey wasn’t over. Not by far.