The monthly competition at The No.1 Military Academy was nothing new, typically revolving around the same few events.
However, today's competition was particularly novel as it introduced a new "captain's battle."
The contest wasn't about fighting, physical skills, or magic, but about holding one's breath.
The judges would submerge the heads of Chloe and her four teammates into water barrels, and the first to pull their head out would lose.
This month's test was also based on a points system, where the captain of the last-place team would lose a significant number of points, making it extremely difficult for that team to score well subsequently.
When Daniel first heard the news, he stood on the stage, utterly bewildered.
"What the heck, I have to hold my breath? And be dunked in a barrel?"
Daniel was horrified: "Why not just kill me!"
Chloe retorted, "Don't worry, you won't die."
"You don't care about me anymore! Do you think as long as I don't die, you can just wash your hands of the responsibility?" Daniel said incredulously.
By then, the Military Academy staff had already moved the barrels into place.
Daniel continued to grumble.
Unable to stand it any longer, Chloe and Qin Huaibei, one on each side, forcibly pushed Daniel's head into the water barrel.
With a splash, water filled Daniel's mouth and nose, making him so miserable he almost wished to die, but he soon adjusted and began to hold his breath seriously.
Chloe had undergone breath-holding training before, but not in a barrel; Xavier had kicked her straight into a lake.
She was once again thankful for her father's brutal training methods.
Holding one's breath underwater was no easy feat, with constant pressure on the lungs and the uncomfortable sensation of water rushing into one's nose and mouth.
It was extremely unpleasant.
So they had to endure, not only for the points but for their entire team.
Chloe closed her eyes, calmed her mind, and let her head stay submerged in the barrel, her abdomen still.
Steady as a rock.
Daniel, on the other hand, was struggling; he had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water, felt his brain swelling, and from a formidable jungle black wolf, he had turned into a drowning stray dog.
He was suffering and didn't want others to have it easy.
After all, the rules didn't say anything about not disturbing others.
Carefully, Daniel adjusted his position and stretched out his leg to locate his friend.
The first target he decided to harass was Chloe.
She was the toughest one, and if Daniel was going to strike, he would strike at the toughest.
Thus, the judges watched as Daniel shifted his legs and, upon touching Chloe, kicked her fiercely.
Chloe, who was holding her breath well until then: "???"
Judges: "…?"
Chloe was almost knocked into the barrel by the kick, but fortunately, she managed to stabilize herself by grabbing the edges of the barrel.
The barrel, along with Chloe, shook violently a few times but eventually steadied.
No need to guess, it was definitely that rascal Daniel.
Only he would do something so pointless.
Adhering to the principle of an eye for an eye, Chloe found her direction and kicked Daniel fiercely in the buttocks.
Just as Daniel, proud and pleased with himself for kicking both Chloe and Qin Huaibei, was enjoying the moment, he was kicked simultaneously by both Chloe and Qin Huaibei.
The fleeting joy in his heart slipped away in an instant.
Daniel plunged headfirst into the tank.
With his head and half his body submerged, only his hands clung to the rim of the tank, legs kicked up high, presenting an upside-down posture.
Daniel: "…"
He dared not relax and continued to hold his breath in this position.
A judge witnessing everything: "…"
One of them hesitated, looking towards Ren Yunying, "What about those few?"
"Normal," Ren Yunying replied calmly, "You get used to it."
It was all standard procedure.
Four young ones continued to hold their breath with the encouragement of their teammates, persisting for a long time.
But Daniel was at a disadvantage due to his position; the upside-down stance caused the blood to rush to his head, making him dizzy while he still had to hold his breath.
Unable to endure any longer, Daniel forcefully used his arms to flip out of the tank.
He gasped for air, drenched from head to toe.
After standing up, he looked around and saw that the two beside him were calm and composed, as if they had done nothing.
Fury rose from his heart, and he was about to kick them.
But before he could act, Ren Yunying's cold voice rang out from not far away:
"Please, eliminated candidates must follow the order of the examination room and refrain from illegal actions against the contestants."
Daniel had to stop, protesting loudly:
"No! They kicked me first!"
Ren Yunying looked at him expressionlessly:
"I have eyes."
At this moment, Daniel was furious but unable to argue, and he left the scene resentfully.
Muttering as he left the stage.
The Werewolf Race welcomed back their young leader, showing understanding that they didn't blame him for losing the opening match.
After all, they felt they couldn't have beaten the Vampire and Human Race anyway.
Just as the werewolves were about to speak, they saw Daniel turn his head to look at the three still in the arena, muttering non-stop:
"Lost, lost, lost, lost…"
Everyone: "…"
The Werewolf Race fell silent for a moment, then started their own spiteful cursing, mimicking Daniel.
Eventually, Qin Huaibei couldn't hold it in any longer and lifted his head from the water.
The young one's face was red from holding his breath, looking particularly comical.
He glanced at the composed Chloe and the serene Katherine, clicked his tongue, and cursed:
"Two freaks."
After saying that, he willingly left the stage.
The Vampire and Elf Race were particularly excited, clenching their fists and loudly cheering them on.
In the end, the time for the first exam ended without Chloe and Katherine deciding a winner.
Finally, Ren Yunying had to lift them out of the tank herself.
"That's enough," she said helplessly, "Don't push yourselves too hard, or you'll become the first students to die in the Military Academy's monthly captain's contest."
Chloe didn't quite understand what she was saying.
Because she had held her breath for so long, her vision was blurry, and her ears were ringing.
She squinted to see Ren Yunying in front of her, her mouth moving.
Chloe nodded blindly: "Okay, okay."
After she finished speaking, she reached out to touch Katherine.
Katherine took her hand and led her to the queue where the others were.
Having walked a bit, Chloe finally felt better, and she exchanged glances with Katherine for a moment.
After a pause, she joked, "Not bad."
Katherine pursed her lips and smiled:
"Elves are close to nature, especially adept at swimming."
That explains it.
The Vampire and Elf Race queues were quite far apart, and after descending the steps, they each headed towards their respective queues.
Chloe walked slightly ahead of Anderson, who spontaneously took out a towel to help her dry her damp long hair.
