NovelXXXChapter 337 "Citrine Carmichael, you're out of line." There was a flicker of anger on Hastings' face as he shot Citrine a cold, mocking smile. "Go home. This isn't splayground for your little games." He glared at Citrine, then shrugged off all his gear and tossed it onto the ground, making it clear he was done playing along.
At that, the rest of the squad burst into applause.
"Hastings is right." "We're a team of tough guys-no way we're letting slittle girl push us around." "Look, you're just a kid. We won't hold it against you, but you better head hand have them send us a male instructor next time." The word "male" landed with heavy emphasis.
Citrine shot the group a look of utter disappointment. "Real tough, aren't you?" Her voice was like ice. "You want a new instructor? Keep dreaming." "The first lesson for any soldier is to follow orders. From where I stand, none of you are even close to being proper soldiers." "Who the hell are you to say that about us?" That was the one thing these men couldn't stand to hear. Citrine had hit a nerve.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOne of them stepped forward, glaring at her, his annoyance palpable. "Instructor Carmichael, we don't accept your judgment. You've got no right to talk down to us like that." "Orders? What orders? We're out there running drills while you sit in the car. What gives you the right to judge us?" Others chimed in, egged on by the challenge. "Yeah, you're just a girl-what real skills do you have? You make us run a ten-mile endurance course with full packs, but I'd like to see you try. Forget ten miles, could you even manage five?" "Honestly, with those skinny arms and legs, I doubt you'd make it through two miles without collapsing." Citrine's lips curled into a sudden smile as she looked them over. "If you're not convinced, why not settle it the old-fashioned way? If you lose, you follow my lead -no complaints." "Fine. Then let's compete in the challenge we train for most. If you can beat any of us, we'll do whatever you say." "Deal." Citrine agreed without hesitation.
The first event was hand-to-hand combat. In the whole squad, Hastings was the undisputed champion. "Captain, you're the best fighter here. No way she can beat you." Someone gave Hastings a shove toward the center.
But the memory of losing to this girl during boot camp still stung, and something darkened in Hastings' gaze. "I can't promise I'll win." "Con, Captain, don't joke around-nobody in the Vermillion Vanguard can outfight you." The rest of the team just laughed, thinking he was bluffing.
Hastings didn't bother explaining. Deep down, he hoped that last loss to Citrine had just been a fluke.
Citrine slid off her jacket and beckoned to Hastings with a crooked finger. "Let's go." This time, Hastings didn't hesitate. He stepped into the ring, all business.
Having learned his lesson from the last bout, he didn't dare let his guard down. As soon as he was ready, Citrine launched her attack.
Her assault was relentless. Hastings could barely keep up. Every the tried to block a punch, she'& switch tactics, striking with her other hand, or sweeping in with a kick aimed at his weak spots. She didn't fight by the book-her moves were unpredictable, and Hastings struggled to read her attacks.
After just two rounds, he was already out of breath.
Then, in a blur, Citrine spotted her opening and landed a solid kick square in Hastings' chest.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
He went down hard, clutching his ribs, taking a long moment to regain his senses. This time, Citrine had finished the fight even faster. Comparing this bout to the last, Hastings realized she'd actually gone easy on him before.
He looked up at the girl standing over him, his expression a tangled mix of defeat and awe. "I lost." Citrine just smiled. "Wasn't that obvious?" The whole squad stared at Citrine, as if they were seeing a creature from another world.
"No way... That's impossible.
Hastings is the best fighter on the team, and she just took down Mr.
En: Cooper like it was nothing."
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
