Chapter 329: Fighting, Drinking, and the Trial

In the combat area.

The girl named Sara wore training uniforms identical to those of the surrounding Astate, mainly gray-blue with yellow accents, and also bore the exclusive "wolf head" insignia.

Thus, the identity of the Astate gathered here became clear: they were all Space Wild Wolves who liked to watch the excitement and also liked to fight and beat each other.

As for the girl with a red-haired ponytail, although her appearance was pretty and her demeanor very serious and solemn, she still had a childish air, seeming about seventeen or eighteen years old.

"Rou~!"

"Bang!!"

"Boom!!"

The girl's duel with one of the wild wolves continued.

The wild wolf's attacks seemed extraordinarily fierce, each punch as if overextended, accidentally smashing the deck, making the whole cabin tremble.

The girl, however, could barely dodge the wild wolf's attacks with her agile steps and extraordinary reaction speed.

In fact, the wild wolf was deliberately slowing its attacks, going easy on her; otherwise, even if she were more agile and had faster reflexes, in close-quarters combat and martial arts she stood no chance against an Astate and would be instantly killed.

Then...

The girl dodged left to avoid the wild wolf's straight punch, and as they crossed, she turned and used the momentum to unleash a fierce spinning kick.

With a muffled "Bang!"

The sole of the girl's right military boot struck the wild wolf's lower right rib.

In contrast, the wild wolf, having held back too much, was momentarily careless and got kicked...

"Sara won!" he immediately raised his left hand to concede.

"Huh?"

The girl named Sara stood frozen, obviously not expecting the outcome to be decided so quickly; no, she should be saying she actually won??

"Oh!! Sara, nicely done!!"

"Hahaha! No wonder she's our little sister!"

"Jiesen you trash, you can't even beat Sara; from now on just say you're from the Iron Fist, don't claim to be one of our Wild Wolves, it's embarrassing!"

Not giving Sara time to react, the surrounding Wild Wolves who were watching started to chime in, also mocking the defeated Wild Wolf.

Next.

One of the Wild Wolves directly lifted the girl onto his left shoulder, then raised his right hand and shouted loudly: "Brothers, it's time to celebrate Sara's eighteenth birthday with a good drink!"

"Woo~!"

"Let's go!"

The Wild Wolves cheered in unison, taking Sara with them as they left the training cabin, moved through the corridors, boarded the ship's internal tram, and finally arrived outside a fairly large tavern...

It seems that among all the legions, only the Space Wild Wolves have taverns installed on their warships.

Sara, perched on the Wild Wolf's left shoulder, was somewhat dazed the whole way.

Sara's full name is Sara Kairuigan; she was also one of the survivors of the Kaplan Battle during the interdimensional storm ten years ago. At that time, she evacuated together with the flagship of the 13th Battalion's Space Wild Wolves, the Haifuyuete, to the Solar System.

After the war, the surviving 13th Battalion tried to locate her mother, but learned that her mother had been on a business trip to Magenmo, and that colonial planet, less than ten light-years from Kaplan, had likewise fallen.

The result was that Sara's mother also died at the hands of demons, and not a single relative survived.

Moreover, the examination showed she possessed extremely high Spiritual Energy potential, so the 13th Battalion reported this and applied for the company to adopt Sara.

After some twists and turns, and with Sara's own wishes, the company finally decided that the 13th Battalion would be responsible for her care and instruction.

From then on, this orphaned girl studied, trained, and lived with the 13th Battalion to the present, and also the champion of the 13th Battalion's 1st Company taught her how to control and use Spiritual Energy.

The reason for the recent sparring was that Sara wanted to take advantage of her eighteenth birthday today to undergo the Wild Wolves' "traditional custom"—

fighting and drinking.

The Wild Wolves naturally agreed to the little sister's request.

However, regarding "fighting," the Wild Wolves absolutely dare not let Sara freely use her Spiritual Energy, for when she was twelve, following the 1st Company champion's guidance, she first released a Spiritual Shock; a slight overexertion nearly blew up their new flagship.

Fortunately, only the two main engines went offline, not overloaded, and no casualties occurred; otherwise they would truly have become "space" Wild Wolves.

But in pure hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, Sara is no match for any Astate; although she has undergone brutal Astate training since childhood, her physical condition and reaction speed differ vastly, placing her on a completely different level.

And Sara is not stupid; she knows the Wild Wolves are going easy on her, deliberately putting a "loser" forward for her to defeat.

Then...

Sara and the Wild Wolves entered the tavern through the hatch that never closes...

"Sara! Happy birthday!"

"Our little sister can finally drink freely!!"

All the Astate, auxiliary troops, and individual ship personnel celebrated Sara's coming of age.

This should have been a touching, warm scene, yet seeing a bunch of "uncles" and "aunts" toasting a girl with cups full of liquor always feels a bit off.

In contrast, Sara...

"Drink heartily!!" she actually waved her right fist impatiently.

From this we see that the once tearful little girl has gradually become "Wild Wolf-ified."

Sara quickly jumped down from the left shoulder, pushed through the crowd, approached the bar amid the cheers, and slammed the bar table hard, shouting to the bald Space Wild Wolf temporarily acting as bartender:

"Give me a cup of Siren Rum, in a beer mug!"

"Oh oh oh!!" the crowd cheered even more excitedly.

"Good!"

The bald Space Wild Wolf laughed heartily, immediately pouring the amber-colored Siren Rum into a 500-milliliter beer mug meant for "mortals," containing a few ice cubes, then pushed the mug across the table to Sara.

Seeing this, Sara hesitated not and picked up the beer mug.

"Drink! Drink! Drink!" the onlookers cheered.

"The Battalion Commander has arrived!"

!!

But a sudden shout interrupted the atmosphere, causing the birthday cheers to stop abruptly, and everyone turned their gaze toward the tavern entrance.

Only to see a person in formal attire, with short hair and a beard, taller and stouter than an ordinary Astate, Laolang, standing at the entrance and scanning the crowd.

His left mechanical prosthetic and the ferocious scar on his left face all indicate that this Laolang is the commander of the 13th Battalion, Genluo Xigetde.

"Commander..."

Seeing Genluo appear, Shala's aura waned, and she involuntarily put her beer cup back.

"Kairigan, come out; others continue." Genluo commanded in a low voice, and after saying that he left the tavern.

"Hah..."

Only after Genluo's figure completely disappeared did the Space Wild Wolves dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Shala..." the bald Space Wild Wolf took back the half‑cup of siren rum, shook his head and said: "Let's save the drink for later, otherwise the commander won't let us off."

"It's all my fault for being willful; I wanted to drink and fight like you." Shala blamed herself.

"Hahaha, what's there to blame you for." a Space Wild Wolf laughed: "In my view, the commander surely has important matters to discuss with you, after all he treats you like his own daughter, hehe, don't worry the commander will really do anything to us."

"That's right, don't worry."

"Maybe the commander will give you a birthday gift."

The others also chimed in agreement.

"Yes, I understand!"

Shala nodded repeatedly, rushed out of the tavern, and caught up with the already distant Genluo.

All the way, silent.

The two arrived at the commander's office cabin not far from the bridge.

Approaching, Shala discovered the cabin walls adorned with a myriad of skulls, furs, and various specimens, showcasing Genluo's past exploits.

Outside the porthole directly opposite the cabin door, the view showed Rift Space, but what most caught Shala's attention was a silver sword placed on the fixed desk.

Genluo remained silent, walking straight to sit behind the fixed desk, while Shala behaved extremely obediently, standing before the desk waiting for various lectures like "You're too young to drink!" "You child, so disobedient!" and so on.

Ten years ago, Genluo was one of the few Astates who directly confronted and successfully slew a fallen god, demigod, or giant, and ultimately survived.

But Genluo also lost his left arm and a heart because of it, causing the young Shala to almost mistakenly believe she had the "man‑killing" attribute, her parents and kin perished, and even her lifesaver nearly sacrificed.

Fortunately, Genluo survived and insisted on replacing his mechanical prosthetic, likewise refusing to use nanotech to heal his left‑face scar, regarding these injuries as a "disgrace" and "self‑punishment".

A moment of silence.

"Commander... sorry, I shouldn't have acted up." Shala spoke first.

"Today is your birthday."

However, Genluo lightly waved his left hand, indicating that the drinking‑and‑fighting farce was over, then he softened his previously stern and solemn expression, his tone much gentler than in the tavern, and asked:

"I heard you want to become a true Space Wild Wolf?"

?

Shala first froze, then solemnly said: "Yes, Commander, I want to become an auxiliary of the Space Wild Wolves, wishing to fight alongside the brothers to slay aliens and eradicate heresy."

"Sigh..." Genluo let out a helpless sigh, saying: "Kairigan, we are the unit responsible for the Oslo fringe, constantly dealing with bug problems, and recently the Vhelin pirates have been roaming outside the star zone, so... are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes, Commander." Shala was very firm.

"..."

Genluo had a headache.

Although his adopted daughter possessed extraordinary talent, Genluo clearly did not want Shala to go to the battlefield too early, especially given the chaotic and perilous fringe of the star zone.

"Commander, it's your teachings on how to be human and what a soldier's duty is that make me want to become like you; in my eyes... you are as omnipotent as my father."

Looking at Shala's earnest expression, and upon hearing the key phrase "like my father," Genluo instantly ceased his hesitation, glanced at the silver sword placed on the sword stand, and said:

"I remember you liked 'Starlight' since childhood; take it, anyway it doesn't suit this old man, consider it my coming‑of‑age gift to you."

This silver sword named 'Starlight' is precisely the weapon used by the fallen demigod Paersiuxsi.

After Genluo gravely wounded Paersiuxsi, he too was on the brink of death, and the Starlight sword remained lodged through his body.

Several Space Wild Wolves feared that directly pulling out the Starlight sword would cause secondary injury to Genluo, so they moved him together with the sword to the Haifuyuete Ship; this action also successfully allowed Genluo to withdraw from Kapulan and survive to this day.

Countless brothers and juniors remained forever in Kapulan, while he alone 'escaped death'; this is also one of the reasons Genluo chose to keep his wounds forever.

Not long after the war, Sui Bian awarded merits, spending 1000 points to 'purge' the Starlight sword's chaotic Spiritual Energy and alter its permissions, then formally bestowed the Starlight sword upon Genluo.

!!

Now, upon learning that Genluo would give her the Starlight sword, Shala's solemn and earnest expression instantly turned to excitement.

"Don't get excited yet." Genluo raised his left hand to pre‑empt Shala's over‑excited cheers and shouts, instead instructing:

"You can have the Starlight for now, and the 13th Battalion always welcomes you back."

"Come back?" Shala puzzled.

"That's right." Genluo withdrew his left hand, explaining to Shala: "I know that once you make a decision, you won't easily change your nature, so I have already applied to the superiors to formally transfer you into the 13th Battalion."

"Not long ago, the superiors also replied to my application, the gist being approval, provided you participate in the latest Astate recruit trial."

"Recruit trial? Is it the trial to the prehistoric forest? But I'm not an Astate..." Shala puzzled even more.

"I'm not sure, but I know your Spiritual Energy potential far exceeds that of ordinary people; moreover, participating in the trial has no downside, at least it can let you adapt earlier to bloodshed and slaughter."

Coincidentally, the Ice Wolf Ship will head to Luna Base in three days, so once we reach Fenlisi we can relax a bit, preparing to go together with the Ice Wolf Ship to the Solar System.

"And..."

Genluo said while standing up, walking around the desk, then picked up the Starlight sword and handed it to Shala:

"During the trial, perform well, don't lose face for the 13th Battalion, but also don't forget that we are forever your family."

"Yes... Commander, I will certainly not let you down!" Shala, eyes slightly red, reached out to lift the Starlight sword.

Don't show a crying expression, go, put away the starlight, then continue your birthday party, remember not to drink too much.

"Mm-hmm!"

———————

…

Soon after.

"Chairman, the commander of the Space Wild Wolves' 13th Battalion, Gen Luo Xi Ge De just sent a report; Sarah Kerrigan will formally participate in this year's rookie trial."

"Is that so…"

Sui Bian, sitting in the waiting room and having his hair done by the Red Empress, turned his head slightly, and the White Empress, who was reporting to him, said:

"Notify Alekxia and Rebecca to help with the arrangements; also, how long will NuoWa take to return to the Solar System?"

"Agent X018's mission is still underway; it is expected to take thirty-two hours," the White Empress replied.

"Father." Just then, Leon also entered the waiting room and said to Sui Bian: "The hall is ready."

"All right, I understand." Sui Bian stood up, walked out with Leon, and ordered: "White Empress, don't forget to send that child's data and files to her after NuoWa completes her mission."

"Okay."

(End of chapter)