Special Forces: From the very beginning, I can upgrade the entry

Chapter Sixteen: A Lesson in Combat—The Rise of the King of Recruits!

By 10:30 AM, the entire Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company had gathered at the combat training ground. Every platoon leader and squad leader stood in attendance, eyes fixed on the two figures at the center of the field.

The snowfall had ceased, leaving behind a crisp, icy stillness that contrasted with the growing tension.

On one side stood Zheng Sanpao, his uniform still caked with mud from his earlier fight with Zhuang Yan. Opposite him was Lin Yi, the most talked-about recruit in the entire regiment.

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First Platoon Leader Chen Guotao frowned as he observed Lin Yi, who, for the first time, seemed to be stepping out of his usual low-profile demeanor.

“What’s this kid up to?” he muttered.

Beside him, Company Commander Miao let out a knowing chuckle.

“He showcased his shooting skills during live-fire training.”

“Now, he’s going to showcase his combat ability.”

“And with the upcoming recruit performance evaluation, do you really think he’s letting go of the ‘Outstanding New Soldier’ title?”

Miao’s smirk widened.

“Besides, Night Tiger just made history—our company now has the first recruit in the entire Southeast Military District to get thrown into the brig for punching his squad leader.”

“If we also produce the best recruit of the year, we’ll be making even bigger waves. And that… would conveniently overshadow Zhuang Yan’s little ‘incident.’”

Chen Guotao raised an eyebrow, taking another glance at Lin Yi’s calm, unwavering stance.

The duel before them was unprecedented—

Zheng Sanpao, an eight-year reconnaissance veteran, known as the strongest squad leader in Night Tiger…

Versus Lin Yi, a provincial top scorer, a freshman at Yanjing University, and the most dominant new recruit in the entire Southeast Military District.

This wasn’t just a fight.

This was a statement.

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Lin Yi’s sharp gaze met Zheng Sanpao’s.

“Sergeant, I need you to fight me at your best—no holding back.”

His voice carried an undeniable seriousness.

Though he had never officially tested his ‘Combat Mastery’ ability, he already knew the truth—Zheng Sanpao wasn’t his equal.

But this wasn’t about proving who was stronger.

Lin Yi wanted a reference point, a gauge for how a top-tier reconnaissance soldier fought, so he could estimate the capabilities of special forces operatives.

For Zheng Sanpao, this wasn’t just a fight either.

It was an opportunity—to learn, to evolve, to break through his own limits.

Zheng Sanpao exhaled sharply, his expression hardening.

“Alright. No holding back.”

He dropped into a combat stance, body tense like a coiled spring.

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Lin Yi stood his ground, completely relaxed.

Then, he lifted a hand—and gestured for Zheng Sanpao to come at him.

“Come.”

Zheng Sanpao’s expression darkened.

With a sudden burst of energy, he charged forward, his movements precise and lethal, carrying the aura of a battle-hardened soldier.

His killing intent was real.

“Kill!”

He threw a devastating right hook.

Lin Yi didn’t dodge.

Instead—he moved forward.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Fists clashed at lightning speed, feet maneuvered in perfect sync, bones collided with bone—

The impact of each strike echoed across the field.

From the very first exchange, the gathered officers and sergeants knew—

This was no ordinary fight.

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In just a few minutes, they had already exchanged hundreds of blows.

Zheng Sanpao was fighting to kill, throwing everything he had into the battle. His stance, his footwork, his feints—all military-grade combat tactics, designed to eliminate an enemy in the most efficient way possible. Yet, Lin Yi countered everything effortlessly. It wasn’t that Zheng Sanpao was weak. Far from it. It was that Lin Yi was on a different level entirely.

Watching from the sidelines, Chen Xiwa and the other recruits were completely lost, only seeing a blur of movement. But the veteran officers’ expressions had changed entirely. What they saw wasn’t just a fight. It was a lesson, a teaching match. And Zheng Sanpao was the student.

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Miao’s eyes narrowed.

“Unbelievable…”

“He’s fighting Zheng Sanpao in an all-out brawl… but he’s holding back. He’s feeding him openings, guiding his attacks—teaching him in the middle of the fight!”

Chen Guotao felt a chill crawl up his spine.

“This isn’t just training… this is combat artistry.”

And suddenly, Lin Yi’s stance shifted.

He was done holding back.

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“Sergeant—my turn.”

Before Zheng Sanpao could react—

BAM!

A lightning-fast blow struck his ribs.

BAM! BAM!

His defenses were shattered in an instant. Zheng Sanpao stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief. Lin Yi’s strikes weren’t random. They exploited every single weakness in his form—his foot placement, his defensive posture, his recovery speed. Zheng Sanpao felt helpless, unable to react. It wasn’t just about skill anymore. This was dominance. With a final, controlled strike, Lin Yi sent him sprawling, not in a way that would injure him, but in a way that made a statement.

Zheng Sanpao stayed on the ground for a moment, breathing hard. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up, looking at Lin Yi with respect and gratitude. He understood now. Lin Yi hadn’t just beaten him. He had helped him improve.

“Good fight, Sergeant.” Lin Yi said, offering a hand.

Zheng Sanpao took it without hesitation.

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From the sidelines, Miao broke into applause.

“Excellent! Absolutely excellent!”

“Eight years as a reconnaissance soldier, and you still lost to a recruit!” he laughed, shaking his head.

Zheng Sanpao grinned despite himself.

“This kid isn’t normal, sir.”

Miao turned to Lin Yi.

“Your combat style—” he began.

“I saw elements of Black Dragon Eighteen Hands, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Judo, Sanda… you’ve blended multiple disciplines into a seamless system of your own.”

“That level of skill is almost unheard of in the regular army.”

He stepped closer.

“Lin Yi.”

“How do you feel about competing in the All-Army Military Tournament?”

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.

“Tell me more.”

Miao smirked.

“Let’s just say… if you win, you won’t be a recruit much longer.”