UGB Chapter 168 Anna is injured
Chapter 168 Anna is injured
The crowd erupted instantly, rushing towards the sandbag pile.
The rough linen pressed against the uniform, which was already soaked with sweat. The damp, cold, and heavy fabric clung to the skin instantly, causing a sticky, tooth-grinding sensation.
Several of the chosen ones, who were already physically weak, had their knees buckle uncontrollably the moment the sandbags pressed down on their backs.
They gritted their teeth and forced themselves to their feet, staring at the training field where they needed to run twenty-five laps, their eyes filled with despair for the long journey ahead.
"Beep—!"
The moment the whistle blew, Lin Feng had already dashed off like an arrow.
The ten-kilogram sandbags pressed down on his broad shoulders and back as if they were nothing.
Evelyn followed closely behind.
She evenly distributed the weight of the sandbag on her back, leaned forward, and took a very high stride, keeping each step within the most energy-efficient range.
Her long-term special agent training not only gave her explosive power, but also the wisdom to precisely allocate her physical energy under extreme conditions.
Wasim and Anna ran side by side in the middle of the group, slightly ahead.
Wasim was originally a criminal police officer, and with the "Resilient Physique" stamina boost he gained from the last mission, he had no trouble dealing with the current load.
However, in terms of explosive power, he was still not as fierce as Lin Feng.
Anna, on the other hand, used the unique techniques of a ballet dancer, breathing long and rhythmically, trying to use her core strength to share the burden on her shoulders and back, and taking light and flexible steps to keep up with her partner's speed.
However, a five-kilometer weighted run is the ultimate test of endurance and willpower.
In the first few laps, everyone was able to maintain their formation, but by the tenth lap, the gap had widened dramatically.
Lin Feng and Evelyn were far ahead, like tireless machines.
The first group, including Wasim and Anna, also began to split up. Many people slowed down significantly, their faces turned from red to white, their lips became chapped, and their eyes began to glaze over.
The thin, straw-hat-wearing youth was practically dragging sandbags as he staggered forward, each step accompanied by a painful groan.
The obese Chosen One from Gaul was in even worse shape; his face was as red as a pig's liver, his body was soaked in sweat, and every breath he took sounded like a broken bellows, clinging to his last breath by sheer willpower.
Anna's golden braids were already soaked with sweat, and her once light steps had become noticeably heavy.
Wasim glanced at her sideways and asked in a deep voice, "Can you still hold on?"
Anna bit her lip and shook her head, indicating that she was fine.
She knew in her heart that even if things really didn't work out, the rules absolutely forbade Wasim from offering any help, and she would have to bear everything on her own.
........................
The 22nd lap.
With three laps to go, the finish line seemed within reach, but every cell in my body was screaming in protest.
That's the limit.
Just as Anna was trying to speed up and rush over a slightly raised road seam, her already weak and sore left ankle suddenly twisted!
"what!"
With a short gasp, Anna lost her balance and fell heavily forward! To protect her head, she instinctively used her right arm to brace herself.
"Sizzle—"
The rough gravel ground mercilessly scraped across her bare forearm, instantly tearing off a piece of skin!
Blood mixed with sand seeped from the wound, and the excruciating pain made her involuntarily let out a soft "ah".
"Anna!" Wasim, who was running ahead of her, was the first to hear the noise. He turned around abruptly and saw Anna lying on the ground with the glaring blood. His pupils contracted sharply, and he almost turned around and rushed back without thinking.
Almost at the same time, Lin Feng, who was a lap ahead of them, also caught a glimpse of this scene as he passed by again.
Without hesitation, he slowed his pace and turned his body slightly to the side, clearly preparing to lend a helping hand.
"Who dares to stop?!"
Qin Yue's voice was like a whip cracking with ice shards.
She had somehow found herself standing at the edge of the inner track, the tip of her whip pointing at Wasim and Lin Feng:
"Help her? Sure. Once she gets up, the two of you will run an extra ten kilometers!"
Her gaze finally settled on Anna:
"Get up and finish the run. Or, like that piece of trash, lie down forever."
Wasim's fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles turned white and cracked.
"You guys run, don't worry about me!" Anna yelled hoarsely.
Before she finished speaking, she grabbed a handful of dry ash from the ground and pressed it hard onto her bleeding wound.
Taking a deep breath, she used her uninjured left arm to prop herself up.
The blood quickly smeared the dust, but unexpectedly it had a slight hemostatic effect.
She swayed unsteadily, finally managing to stand up straight. The sandbags on her back seemed to suddenly increase in weight, almost crushing her again.
Anna gripped the edge of the sandbag tightly with her left hand, gritting her teeth to control her almost collapsing breathing, and then—
They took their first steps.
His steps were unsteady and unsteady, each step feeling like walking on cotton, yet he didn't stop for a moment.
Her eyes were fixed on the track ahead, and with all the strength she had left, she stubbornly moved forward, step by step.
When Vassim and Lin Feng saw this, they both breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.
Without further hesitation, they sped up and started running again. Lin Feng shouted a reminder: "Adjust your breathing! Use your nose!"
The last two laps felt like an extension of hell for Anna.
The field of vision narrowed to a tunnel, only allowing the runway line ahead to extend indefinitely.
Behind him, the young man from the straw hat country finally collapsed to the ground, letting out a faint sob.
Beside him, the fat Gaul was breathing desperately like a broken bellows.
But Anna did not fall.
When Lin Feng and Evelyn crossed the finish line first, and when Wasim followed closely behind...
Anna, carrying the sandbags that seemed to have grown into her flesh, stumbled and staggered across the white finish line.
The moment she crossed the line, her legs buckled and she fell forward.
Evelyn immediately stepped forward and supported her almost limp body.
The sandbag landed on the ground with a "thud".
Anna leaned on Evelyn's shoulder, breathing heavily, her vision blurring.
Qin Yue walked slowly, the sound of her leather boots hitting the ground being particularly clear in the quiet training ground.
"Your training for today is complete. Take her to the infirmary to treat her wound."
"Thank you, instructor." Lin Feng nodded in response.
Wasim immediately crouched down, his broad back facing Anna: "I'll carry you on my back."
Everyone had just run five kilometers with their loads and were already exhausted. Only Wasim had the strongest endurance and still had the strength to carry others.
Evelyn quickly stepped forward, took Anna's arm, and carefully helped her lie down on Wasim's back.
As the four walked through the training ground, they caught a glimpse of Qin Yue raising her hand to form a hand seal, her fingertips gleaming coldly.
The sandbags that had been discarded to the side suddenly rose into the air, transforming into wisps of black mist called "burdened souls," which swarmed towards at least ten Chosen Ones who were lying on the ground like a leech.
Stepping out of the training field, a cold wind blew in his face, and Lin Feng's muddled mind suddenly cleared.
He suddenly had a thought—going to the infirmary would be another chance to see Vivian.
It would be a huge loss if we didn't increase our favorability with him while we were at it!