Interstellar Legend

017 Physical Education (Part Three)

Correct answer?

What does that mean?

Everyone looked at each other, and for a moment, nobody reacted.

It was Paron Sverd who showed a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. He murmured, "So that's the problem? Yes, the instructor had already taught us how to deal with opponents holding guns before, and Reno actually used it... Remarkable, Reno, did you remember it just by looking once?"

"Remembering isn't important, what matters is being able to use it!" The one-legged Bag's voice echoed once again over the training ground, like a summer thunder, powerful and resonant. "It's just a few combat moves, they're not hard to remember, the problem is how to apply them. In the eyes of others, in the eyes of the Dean, in your own eyes, you are students of the Naval Academy, the future captains. But in my eyes, you only have one identity, that is soldiers. As a soldier, courage is more important than knowledge; as a soldier, action is more important than words; as a soldier, willpower is more important than steel; as a soldier, what you can do is always more important than what you can remember. I know that many of you may not agree with my point of view, thinking that my views are outdated, belonging to the ancient century, but unfortunately, since I was invited to be your instructor, I will stick to my principles. I don't care what skills you have, what specialties you have, here, you must follow my rules."

With that, he looked at Reno. "You did well, even though your movements were awkward and off, but at least you had the courage to take a swing at me. Take this." He tossed the empty gun to Reno.

Reno took it in astonishment. "What is this?"

Bag grinned. "A little gift for you. You can use it to practice shooting when you have nothing to do. Although captains don't need to be good shots, I like captains with real combat skills. If you don't want it, you can throw it away."

With that, Bag shouted loudly, "Attention, everyone!"

All the students assembled.

Looking at them all, Bag said coldly, "A bunch of useless trash, cowardly and incompetent cowards, thinking you can command starships and set foot in the stars with your feeble spirits alone. The academy can teach you knowledge, but it won't teach you courage. And I, I am here to teach you how to be real men, real captains. Consider yourselves lucky that there are still one or two outstanding individuals among you. Thanks to Reno's presence, you can have a five-minute break."

With that, Bag turned and left.

Everyone looked at each other, exhaling in relief only after Bag had walked away. Exhausted bodies lost their strength, and they all sat down on the ground, even Reno feeling a bit dizzy and nearly sitting down himself.

"Hey, Reno, well done!" one student gave Reno a thumbs-up.

"Reno, well done!" another student cheered.

Soon, most of the students were cheering loudly, and the training ground echoed with applause, making Reno feel a little embarrassed.

Looking back, he saw Claire standing by, smiling at him.

Reno's heart stirred, and he approached Claire. "Did you know all this beforehand?"

Claire smiled. "Yes, he was specially invited by Grandpa."

"The Dean personally invited him?" Reno was a bit surprised. If Marshal Marshall General could personally invite someone, then this cripple was not simple at all.

Indeed, Claire said, "Have you seen his injuries?"

"Yes."

Claire found a tree to lean against. "That was left on the battlefield. Bag isn't a special forces soldier. He was just a member of the Mecha Squadron. Once, he was ordered to carry out a ground operation, and they needed to go to an unmanned area. There they encountered the Divine Race and a great battle ensued. The battle ended with a human victory, but the Mecha Squad also paid a heavy price, with the vast majority of its members killed, leaving only sixty-eight soldiers alive. Bag was one of them. He was seriously injured at the time, losing his eyes and legs. Since all the medics were dead, his legs and eyes could only receive the simplest treatment and could not be restored. What's more, although the Divine Race was finished, they encountered the Yark Insect Race there, and the communicator was damaged, unable to contact the fleet. Bag had to continue fighting while injured. That battle... lasted for two years."

Whoa! Reno gasped in cold air.

Dragging a wounded leg and with only one eye, fighting against the insect race in a desolate area for two years with just sixty-eight people, Reno couldn't imagine what kept them going.

"And then?" he asked.

"And then?" Claire thought for a moment before answering, "And then the Human Army finally found them. By that time, only three of the sixty-eight heroes remained, and surprisingly, even in this state, they still completed their mission."

"They are true heroes." Reno said with respect. "It's strange, why have I never heard of their names?"

"Because they were never publicized," Claire replied. "Don't ask me why, I don't know either. After Bag and the others returned, they retired from the army soon after. One of them committed suicide half a year later, another became insane and was sent to a mental hospital on Blue Star. The remaining Bag was the only one who stayed sane, but he almost collapsed at one point. It was my grandpa who found him and invited him to be the physical instructor at the Alpha Academy. Since then, Bag's mental state has improved a lot. Now you understand why he treats you like this, right?"

"Yes, I understand." Reno replied. "He doesn't want to kill us, he just wants to save us."

Only those who have been through hell understand that severity is the greatest mercy!

The conversation with Claire made Reno realize the truth behind the cruelty of this crippled instructor, and he also gained some rare respect for Dandy Bag.

Thinking of the Divine Race, Reno couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Claire, do you know how powerful the Divine Race really is?"

Although he knew early on that the Divine Race was a very powerful species, in order not to cause panic, to boost morale, the federal government actually didn't publicize it widely. On the contrary, they deliberately downplayed the Divine Race, creating the illusion that they were nothing more than that.

Only those who have truly seen the Divine Race understand their power.

In response to Reno's question, Claire shook her head. "I don't know the answer to that. I only know that they possess powerful superpowers, like gods, able to do many things that others cannot."

"Superpowers..." Hearing that word, Reno murmured.

"No, that's not superpowers." Just then, a voice suddenly came from nearby.

Turning around, they saw Dandy Bag standing not far away, his lone eye shining brightly.

He walked over and said, "That's not superpowers, it's the power of the mind."

"The power of the mind?" Reno was puzzled. "Is there a difference?"

"Of course. Superpowers transcend reality, they are powers that reality cannot understand. But the power

of the mind can be explained, understood, it is the power of reality... it is the power that can be replicated." Dandy Bag replied. "It is science, not myth."

"I don't understand," Reno said.

Dandy Bag grinned. "I don't understand either. What I'm saying is what a Divine told me."

"That Divine..."

"Is dead, and with the light of his revered mind, dust returns to dust, earth to earth." Bag answered.

Reno fell silent.

Seeing him silent, Bag chuckled and then suddenly shouted, "Everyone, assemble, get ready for practice! Don't even think about slacking off. The enemy won't relax their attacks because you're tired. Learning to stay alert and fight when tired is your guarantee of survival!"

With that, he punched Reno in the abdomen.