Thora hung up and tossed her phone aside, her eyes locked on the two squads duking it out in live drills. They were using the Astralis Empire's special paint rounds. A hit counted as "killed", giving the feel of a real battle without any real injuries. With Shirley, a top sniper, on the field, the veterans couldn't get anywhere near her. Anyone who stepped into her line of fire got "taken out" immediately. The only way forward was to neutralize Shirley. The veterans knew it, but Ashton and Harvey kept them pinned so well that even approaching her was impossible. Ashton and Harvey's teamwork was insane. One handled quick strategy moves, the other laid down the main fire. They moved like twins. Even they were amazed at how perfectly in sync they were. Maybe it was the kind of coordination that only came from going at each other hard for years. The veterans felt their pride cracking. They realized that each new generation truly surpassed the last, and it hit them hard today. Tristan paused, then switched tactics on the spot. He sent two men out as bait, then gathered his wolf power and dashed through a gap, barely brushing the enemy's sight. He used a cover to sneak into a blind spot. Maddox calculated angles and infrared vectors to locate Shirley precisely. Tristan slid in and "took out" her directly. Thora smiled, pleased. Seeing rookies losing to veterans was exactly what she expected. But in a real fight, it would be the veterans who'd lose. Because Shirley wouldn't fall that easily in a real battle.When her wolf power flared, she was dangerous. When it calmed, it became her greatest advantage. She was a master at hiding. With her wolf power, she could sync her breathing with the surroundings and lower her body heat to match the environment, making sensors almost useless. If the sniper survived, the enemy wouldn't dare move. Still, the drill wiped out old grudges. Respect came naturally, and skill was all that mattered. "Report, Boss! The combat drill is finished!" Everyone lined up in front of Thora. Harvey and Ashton had always called her "Boss", and eventually everyone else followed suit. That title just felt closer. "Good," Thora said loudly, "Remember, you've only got one month to train at base!" "One month?" Tristan frowned. "And after that?" Thora smirked a little. "You'll find out when the time comes." Catching that tiny smile, Tristan's eyes lit up. His heart skipped a beat. Thora's features were sharp. With her short hair and menswear, it was hard to tell if she was male or female. Except for rookies like Harvey, none of the veterans knew Thora's gender. Having someone that deadly and good-looking as their boss? They hadn't imagined it. Some still wondered if the universe was messing with them. How could someone so lethal look that perfect? Noticing Tristan staring, Thora frowned. "Got something to say?" A strange gleam flashed in his eyes. He shouted, "Boss, I want to fight you!"