The commander Qin Fen was aiming at dropped his sniper rifle, pushed himself up with his palms, and moved like a viper in the grass toward the cover of another object.

The bullet pierced the cover. The commander, having scrambled behind a different piece of cover, stared blankly at the bullet hole in the large cover before him, and the crimson staining his chest.

He’d been hit. Even after dodging to another piece of cover, even after shaking off the lock, he’d still been hit!

The commander twisted his head toward his previous position, not far away. The anti-sniper equipment lay quietly on the ground, with no trace of bullet impact nearby.

The commander shook his head repeatedly. How could a mere recruit have studied sniper psychology and counter-sniper psychology so thoroughly? Did he never intend to fire at the initial point of aim? Did he calculate from the very beginning that the engagement would end at this piece of cover?

“Qin Fen, I’ve located his position at…”

The American commander, dressed in his Major General’s uniform, shouted into his communicator. The sniper gear of all the other commanders immediately locked onto the coordinates relayed through the comms.

Qin Fen! That was right! This was the recruit whose image had appeared on the projection screen! How could he be hiding so far away, and still be hitting targets with every shot? No wonder he dared to be so arrogant before the battle; he truly possessed the capital for such swagger.

Only…

A single thought flashed through the minds of the remaining commanders: Kid, your time for arrogance is over.

Nearly ten rifles. Aimed at Qin Fen simultaneously. Locked onto Qin Fen.

“Qin Fen is going to lose…” The commentator nervously gripped the microphone. “This time, he’s angered all the commanders. He’s probably going to be forced out of the competition for real. Poor Qin Fen, he even took the blame for Lin Ling for no reason…”

“He’s not moving…” The other two commentators also shouted into their mics, baffled.

Sniper competitions have always been contests where experts look for the subtleties, and outsiders can’t even see the action.

Sniper competitions have always been extremely dull—a shot fired after a long silence, followed by more silence. Only a few military enthusiasts ever enjoyed watching them.

Today’s competition, however, was completely different from any previous rookie contest’s sniper event. With commanders being eliminated frequently, the commanders had genuinely ignited with fury. Qin Fen, as usual, was subverting the established rhythm of the competition, engaging in a sniper battle from a prone position that resembled frontal assault tactics.

As nearly ten rifles aimed at him, the hairs on Qin Fen’s body stood on end, goosebumps rising like grains of rice. The killing intent of these commanders seemed to teleport onto him the moment they locked on.

Bang… bang… bang…

Nearly ten rifles spat out angry bullets at once. They traced beautiful, invisible parabolic arcs across the sky, all slamming toward Qin Fen’s position.

“It’s over, Qin Fen is out of the competition…”

The commentators shouted their commentary with their fluent tongues. Qin Fen remained motionless, lying on the ground as if he hadn't been targeted at all.

Locked on? That doesn't mean hit! Qin Fen didn't move, continuing to pull the trigger and send lethal rounds toward the commanders’ array.

The nearest bullet should land about a meter and a half to his right! Qin Fen squeezed his right eye corner twice, and the bullet struck the calculated spot with a thud.

“Too bad,” Qin Fen grimaced, continuing to pull the trigger. “If these were mercury rounds or fragmentation rounds, I’d already be gone.”

With precautions taken, the commanders were no longer being sniped and killed without warning as they had been initially. Whenever someone spotted Qin Fen aiming at them, these commanders used various movement techniques to dodge immediately.

They were afraid. They were truly afraid. Qin Fen’s bullets were more precise than the Grim Reaper’s scythe, boasting absolutely no margin for error. The critical issue was the incredible distance he was firing from.

“Watch out! There’s another sniper more than three hundred meters behind Qin Fen! His marksmanship is just as accurate…” The American commander in the Major General’s uniform stopped his description midway through. A single ultra-long-range bullet from Lin Ling gave this American Major General a personal lesson in what long-range shooting meant.

The commanders felt their scalps tingle, icy chills shooting up their spines to their brains. Dealing with a monster like Qin Fen among the rookies was headache enough. How could there be a female rookie even more troublesome than Qin Fen? Was the history of the sniper event in this rookie competition about to be completely rewritten? Perhaps to record the total annihilation of all commanders?

Boom boom boom boom boom boom…

With Qin Fen and Lin Ling tying down their attention, the commanders had little energy left to deal with the other participating rookies.

Any rookie who entered this competition had some skill. Snipers, especially, needed to read the battlefield dynamics. The rookies instantly recognized that the scales of battle had tipped—the opportunity to fish in troubled waters had arrived.

Dozens of rifles popped up from behind cover simultaneously, and the roar of gunfire erupted instantly. The usually silent sniper battlefield became lively for the first time, like a New Year celebration, with muzzle flashes erupting everywhere across the field.

The commanders, who were dodging everywhere, were furious! Under normal circumstances, these fresh recruits were easily dealt with! Now, relying on the distraction provided by the two super-shooters, Qin Fen and Lin Ling, they dared to jump out and start muddying the waters.

For the first time since the competition began, the rookies could leisurely set up their rifles, carefully aim at the enemy they wanted to attack, and then, amidst the enemy’s continuous evasive maneuvers, find even the slightest probability of a hit before firing.

Dozens of rifles firing at fewer than ten commanders. Normally, the commanders would only need a brief flurry of dodging to keep the rookies pinned down so they couldn't even lift their heads.

But today…

Thud…

A commander was hit and fell, ignoring the surging, churning pain in his chest, angrily pounding the ground with both fists.

Humiliation! Utter humiliation!

Not only was he killed by a rookie in combat, but he wasn't killed by Qin Fen’s hand—he was ‘killed’ by an American rookie taking advantage of the chaos.

Qin Fen pulled the trigger again and again with a blank expression. Lin Ling also abandoned cover. She had retreated almost four hundred meters farther back than Qin Fen. What was there to fear about being hit?

Their rate of fire increased, one shot following the next without pause. The commanders finally unleashed their full internal energy (Zhenqi), their various evasive moves kicking up clouds of dust and debris. Tens of thousands of spectators watched in awe.

The expressions of the military enthusiasts were priceless. They had expected a cold, venomous viper's duel, to experience that calm bloodthirst in a silent battlefield.

Yet, Qin Fen…

The breaker of rules. After the pistol and semi-automatic rifle events, he had once again shattered the conventional combat rules of the sniper competition.

A contest between calm vipers was turned by his continuous barrage of bullets into a frontal engagement, an outright offensive exchange, rather than a quiet, deadly snake fight.

While this kind of battle was visually exciting, the level of technique… The military enthusiasts shook their heads helplessly. It couldn't exactly be called low technique. Who had ever seen a sniper use a powerful anti-sniper rifle almost like a semi-automatic rifle in ultra-long range combat?

Shot after shot, with almost no pause in between, combined with terrifying accuracy, arguably meant the technical skill required was even higher.

However, in this technically enhanced sniper competition, the military enthusiasts genuinely could not accept it as a true sniper battle.

Two terrifyingly accurate snipers with extremely high rates of fire, plus dozens of proficient and highly motivated snipers, all opening fire on fewer than ten commanders—the rookies achieved an overwhelming advantage.

“Activate Model Assistance System! Activate Model Assistance System!”

The European Lieutenant Colonel, who had been hiding behind a piece of cover, frantically commanded. Beneath the wilderness floor, behind stone barriers, hundreds of model snipers popped up with sharp snapping sounds.

In previous rookie competitions, model snipers usually only appeared in the final stage—an opportunity for the few surviving rookies to earn points, and a form of reward from the commanders.

These model snipers, which were supposed to be the commanders’ helpers, had never been taken seriously by the commanders in past competitions.

But today, these models, which had never even received a second glance, finally became their true assistants.

As soon as the hundreds of model snipers appeared, they immediately began using their search systems to scan for any rookies leaving cover.

Search, aim, fire…

Although the speed of this electronic system wasn't fast, the sudden appearance and sheer numbers instantly caused several over-excited rookies to be eliminated from the battlefield by training rounds.

“So, you’re here.”

Qin Fen’s cold pupils held a slight, chilling smile. The European Lieutenant Colonel’s hiding spot was excellent, aided by first-class camouflage. Had it not been for the sudden inability to conceal his anxiety, making him reveal his position, he would have been very difficult to find.

“Not good!”

The European Lieutenant Colonel, hiding behind cover, felt his scalp crawl. He shot forward ten meters like an arrow, and the cover he had just vacated gained a transparent hole.

As the European Lieutenant Colonel landed, he immediately rolled on the ground. Where he had just landed, a splattering of blood-red training rounds marked the spot.

So fast? The European Lieutenant Colonel didn't dare linger for a moment. With a push of his legs, he darted another ten meters. The path he had just fled showed traces of two training rounds impacting.

Qin Fen nudged his finger; the spent magazine dropped. His little finger hooked the pre-loaded magazine, and he grabbed the rifle, shifting sideways ten meters. The spot where he had been prone moments before was struck by a training round.

“Special forces background?”

Qin Fen glanced into the distance. The European Lieutenant Colonel, while retreating, turned and fired a single shot, accurately hitting the position. This was definitely not something achievable by a non-professional special operations sniper.

Lin Ling’s anti-sniper equipment roared again, and a commander in the distance immediately fell, knocked out of the competition.

The rookies quickly hunkered down behind cover. The combination of commanders plus model snipers was nearly flawless; anyone who exposed themselves would instantly have their position found and be shot dead.

The strongest sniper among the commanders, the European Lieutenant Colonel, was being held tightly by Qin Fen, the two exchanging fire ceaselessly.

Lin Ling leisurely aimed her sniper rifle at other instructors, pulling the trigger again and again.

The European Lieutenant Colonel swayed ten meters to dodge Qin Fen’s shot before he could stabilize, turning toward Lin Ling and muttering softly, “What kind of freak is this? She can attack from this far? Unless I can advance four hundred meters, I can’t hit her.”

In a short time, among the commander contingent, aside from the models, only the European Lieutenant Colonel remained in the field.

The military enthusiasts ignored the feeds from all the other screen windows, staring intently at the battle between Qin Fen and the European Lieutenant Colonel.

This was the true sniper battle—back and forth, like two cold, lurking vipers waiting for the enemy to make a fatal mistake.

General Oksa of Europe was even more shocked than anyone else. The European Lieutenant Colonel, Valerif, was not only a special forces sniper but absolutely ranked within the top three hundred snipers globally, certainly within the top five hundred of the entire Federal military.

Such an experienced and powerful veteran soldier could normally sweep an entire rookie sniper team single-handedly in any previous rookie competition, although it would take considerable effort and time.

Yet now, Qin Fen, whose right arm was slightly fractured, was fighting Colonel Valerif to a standstill with just his left arm, using the anti-sniper rifle.

“Major General Oksa,” Will said, holding a glass of fine red wine as he observed, just as he had during the armored vehicle event, “who do you think will win this dragon-and-tiger contest in the end?”

Oksa glanced sideways at Will. Ever since the American mechanized armor division was wiped out, Major General Will maintained a facade of calm, but his brow lacked its usual steadiness, and his words carried a hint of aggressiveness.

“Hard to say,” Oksa shook his head. “I sincerely hope our European Colonel Valerif wins, but right now, his win probability looks to be about fifty percent. General Will, aren’t you also envious that General Zhao found such an outstanding rookie?”

Will’s ear twitched slightly, his eyes fixed on the gently swirling red wine in his glass. “Besides envying General Zhao, I must also thank him for giving the aerial combat champion—a title America hasn’t seen in years—to our American rookies.”

The Generals from Africa and West Asia sobered simultaneously. With Qin Fen injured, victory in aerial combat was unlikely for their side, but that didn't guarantee an American victory.

“General Will,” Oksa said, downing his wine in one gulp. “The aerial combat champion may not necessarily be American. Since Qin Fen can participate in the sniper competition with only one hand, perhaps he can challenge your American air combat team one-handed as well.”

Will gently wagged his index finger. “General Oksa, sniping and aerial combat are different. This point…”

“General Will,” Oksa set down his empty glass. “It’s best not to speak too definitively.”

Will snorted coldly and blew a triumphant whistle. “Wow~ Colonel Valerif of Europe has been hit. The match is over.”

Qin Fen sat on the ground, raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his brow. The battle was over. The European Lieutenant Colonel was the last target eliminated. Those model snipers had been utterly destroyed by a volley from the rookies moments earlier.

Military enthusiasts who had watched many competitions stared blankly at the words flashing on the screen: “Commander Contingent Wiped Out.”

This had never happened in the history of the rookie competition. Was this year’s contest specifically designed to break records?

Valerif sat on the ground, stunned. That final shot had been a flick shot! While the bullet followed its parabola, it also traced an additional horizontal arc!

In the end, it looked as if Valerif had run straight into the bullet himself.

Arc trajectory? Valerif gazed toward Qin Fen. Handguns could perform arc shots, and it was rumored semi-automatic rifles could too, but he had never heard of anyone achieving an arc shot with an anti-sniper rifle!

Simply calculating and hitting an enemy with a parabolic trajectory from a long distance was already extremely difficult. An arc? Valerif let out a bitter smile. Rumor had it that only the 'Gun King' freak could use arc shots while using sniper gear. It seemed the Gun King might soon encounter a shooter worthy of challenging him.

On the massive screen, the rookies’ scores flashed rapidly. Second place: Qin Fen… First place: Lin Ling.

A collective gasp rose from the audience. Qin Fen, who had achieved successive bulldozer-like victories, was finally no longer in first place!

The military enthusiasts showed no surprise. Lin Ling, besides displaying superhuman skill at long distances in this fight, had also benefited from some opportunistic scoring.

The European Lieutenant Colonel was undeniably powerful. If Qin Fen hadn't single-handedly kept his opponent tied up, allowing Lin Ling to calmly eliminate other opponents one by one, and even score points by taking out the models at the end, the final outcome might have been uncertain.

“See, Qin Fen still lost.”

“Can’t be helped, he’s injured.”

“Even if he weren't injured, he probably couldn't beat that woman. Look at the distance gap between them.”

Lively chatter from the audience filled every corner. The usually silent military enthusiasts could no longer maintain their silence.

“What do you all know?! Sniping isn’t just about who shoots farther! There are many factors, like rate of fire, prediction, and hiding skills! Except for distance, Qin Fen surpassed the current first-place shooter in every other aspect! And his opponent, that European Lieutenant Colonel, is definitely a top-tier sniper among the special forces! First place might not have been enough to handle him! If Qin Fen and that woman switched roles, Qin Fen could have scored higher than her!”

The crowds near the military enthusiasts stared dumbfounded at this small group of normally silent, often arrogant spectators, wondering why they had suddenly become so emotional. Were they Qin Fen’s die-hard fans?

“Oh! Second place! Qin Fen, the biggest sensation since the start of the competition, only managed second place. Director, please give Qin Fen a close-up, thank you,” the commentator asked quickly into the mic. “May I ask what your thoughts are on achieving second place? Did your injury affect your performance? What about in full strength?”

“Full strength…” Qin Fen turned to look at Lin Ling and said calmly, “The injury didn’t affect my performance. Even at full strength today, I still would have lost. In sniping, there is no such thing as luck, only a contest of strength. She is indeed stronger than me in that regard. At that distance, I couldn't guarantee hitting my opponent.”

“You… you admit defeat?” The commentator looked at Qin Fen in disbelief. “You actually admit you lost?”

Qin Fen nodded slightly. Losing? No one wanted to lose, but making excuses after losing meant that person was not a true warrior! A person who dared not admit or face defeat, but only knew how to find excuses, would never truly succeed in life.

The lively audience instantly fell quiet. This answer was difficult for many to accept.

Caesar slowly stood up, looking at Qin Fen on the screen, his voice even more solemn than usual: “This person is very likely to be my opponent in the finals.”

“Perhaps, my opponent in the finals,” Solomon stood up, smoothing his chestnut hair. “To be able to face defeat is rare enough. To dare to admit defeat in front of tens of thousands of people when standing at the absolute peak of momentum—this person’s mettle…”

“Just this mettle…” Yang Lie stared intently at Qin Fen on the screen. “He is truly qualified to compete with me for a spot in the finals.”

“Such mettle…” Kantian Brooks, wearing a hat, said, “If he throws a punch, it will surely be unstoppable. I genuinely hope to face him in a fight.”

“General Zhao,” Will rotated the chair beneath him. “Your rookie is injured. So I must ask again: are you certain you still want him to spar and exchange techniques with our American air combat team?”

General Zhao Huzi’s thick eyebrows seemed compressed by an invisible force. He lightly tapped the armrest of his chair. Qin Fen needed rest due to his injury and was certainly not fit for further combat. However, if he gave up now, Qin Fen would suffer three defeats in one day, the last one being a default loss, which could seriously damage his morale.

If he fights? Zhao Huzi’s thick mustache twitched several times. Losing the fight would still result in three defeats in one day.

“General Will,” Zhao Huzi spoke slowly. “Our exchange has always been based on the principles of mutual learning first and willingness first. Whether he fights depends on Qin Fen’s own wishes.”

“Very well,” Will waved his hand toward his aide. “Go invite Qin Fen here. I would very much like to hear this rookie’s answer myself, lest someone misinterpret the meaning of his response.”

Oxar stared grimly at Will. This Major General from the Americas, with a mind as venomous as a viper, had summoned Qin Fen here specifically to challenge him to a fight in front of the East Asian General. For the honor of the East Asian forces, could Qin Fen possibly refuse?

Fight? A soft sigh escaped Oxar’s throat. To operate the fighter jet with just one hand? The only possible outcome was to become a stepping stone for the American rookies’ air combat squadron to make a name for itself.