Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 108: [107] Survival training

While Arkan and Rainer were busy recruiting Marcel, elsewhere, Lawrence was overseeing military training.

The soldiers undergoing this training were not just ordinary troops—they were candidates for a special unit that would carry out crucial missions in the coming weeks.

Arkan was well aware of the terrifying power of firearms. With their destructive capability, a person didn’t need extensive training to become a lethal threat. However, he also understood one crucial fact—if his forces relied too much on firearms without discipline and proper combat skills, they would never truly grow.

Besides, this world had something far beyond just magic.

Force.

A power that came from within the human body, something that transcended ordinary physical limits. Force users weren’t just skilled fighters; they were superhumans—warriors who had honed their combat techniques to a level beyond the reach of normal humans.

This training was designed not only to enhance their fighting abilities but also to sharpen quick decision-making skills in high-pressure situations—a critical ability needed on the battlefield.

The training site was located in the northern forest, not far from the monster-infested borderlands. To the southwest, the rune mines stood in eerie silence, holding valuable resources that had long been the target of various factions.

It was here that the candidates would be tested.

###

Five Days Ago – Military Trial in the Northern Forest

While Rainer was busy searching for Marcel in the capital, elsewhere, a group of soldiers was undergoing the first day of their military trial.

This wasn’t just an ordinary test. The selected candidates would become part of a special unit—an elite force assigned to dangerous operations under Lawrence’s direct command.

On the first day, they were divided into four teams and placed in different locations. Their objective was simple yet difficult: eliminate opposing teams by capturing their flags.

However, the real challenge wasn’t just fighting the enemy team.

They had to survive for four full nights—with no additional supplies, no external aid. The terrain was a wild forest, near monster-infested territory, where even the smallest mistake could be fatal.

Point of View – Erik, Soldier in the Trial

The damp leaves soaked into Erik’s uniform as he crawled along the ground, his chest almost pressed against the cold earth. His breathing was steady, even though his heart was pounding.

First night, and they had already lost two of their squad members.

Damn... This is way harder than normal training, he thought.

This trial wasn’t just about combat skills—it was a test of mental endurance and physical resilience.

No food unless they could find it themselves.

No proper rest because danger could come at any moment.

Even campfires were forbidden—too risky at night.

In the regular units, harsh training was normal. But this... this was more like SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training—something only veterans spoke about.

"Erik, look west," whispered Gav, one of his teammates.

Erik lifted his head slightly, peeking through the bushes.

About 100 meters away, a squad from the opposing team moved in a defensive formation. They were escorting something in the center—their team’s flag.

Erik clenched his fists.

This was a golden opportunity.

But they had to be careful.

If they’re using this formation, there’s definitely a trap, he thought.

From previous training, he knew they couldn’t rely only on brute strength. Modern warfare wasn’t just about being stronger—it was about being smarter. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Strategy. Adaptation. Quick decision-making.

These three things determined who won and who got left behind.

"What’s the plan?" Gav asked, eyes fixed on Erik.

Erik exhaled and smirked.

"We wait. Let them feel safe first."

In war, patience was a deadly weapon.

The damp leaves made every movement difficult. Every step had to be calculated, every sound minimized.

They were no longer just ordinary soldiers training in a barracks—they were now hunters in the dead of night.

In the distance, the enemy squad still moved cautiously, their formation tight, guarding the flag at the center.

Gav nudged Erik’s shoulder. His voice was barely audible.

"They’re moving in full defensive formation. Either they’re protecting something valuable... or they want us to think they are."

Erik nodded slowly.

"They might already know we’re watching," he replied, eyes locked onto the enemy’s movements. "They’re making themselves look like an easy target, but there’s probably another team hiding, waiting to ambush us once we attack."

Gav let out a quiet breath. "So, we wait?"

"Wait and observe," Erik said firmly. "We need to confirm their exact numbers, their scout positions, and most importantly, their reserve forces."

One thing Erik had learned from veterans—battlefield dominance wasn’t just about shooting first. It was about thinking ahead.

Hanes, another soldier beside Erik, narrowed his eyes through a small handmade spyglass.

"I count six of them. Five surrounding the flag, one in the middle. But there’s probably a scout nearby."

"You see any movement patterns?" Erik asked.

"They’re walking in a pentagonal formation, but there’s something weird... the right flank is slightly looser."

A gap.

But it was too obvious.

"That’s probably a trap," Erik muttered. "They know we’re looking for weaknesses in their formation, so they intentionally created one to bait us in."

Gav growled softly. "If we can’t attack them directly, what’s the plan?"

Erik smirked.

"We use an old trick. Psyops."

Hanes raised an eyebrow. "Psychological warfare? You sure?"

"Trust me," Erik said, already formulating a plan.

20 Minutes Later

The enemy squad was still moving, maintaining the same formation.

But now, Erik and his team had repositioned to higher ground, allowing them a wider field of view.

They weren’t going to attack directly—that would be stupid.

Instead, they were going to mess with the enemy’s minds.

Using small disruptive sounds, they created the illusion that something else was lurking in the forest.

Leaves rustled.

Branches cracked.

Faint whispers echoed through the air.

The enemy squad tensed up, their formation growing tighter.

Erik smirked inwardly.

"The scariest thing for a soldier," he whispered, "isn’t the enemy they can see... but the one they can’t."

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the distance.

The enemy squad immediately reacted, tightening their defenses even more.

Gav stifled a laugh. "Damn, they’re getting nervous. What’s next?"

Erik glanced at his team.

"Now we push them further into paranoia. Hanes, move to their left flank. Gav, you and I will take the right. Don’t engage. Just make them think they’re surrounded."

Hanes nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

Gav chuckled. "I like the way you think, Erik. Nothing is deadlier than paranoia."

10 Minutes Later

As planned, Erik and Gav created faint noises from the right, while Hanes did the same from the left.

The results were immediate.

The enemy squad shifted their formation, tightening even further.

Good. They’re losing control.

That was when Erik signaled—and without a sound, his team struck.

Within seconds, they emerged from the shadows, attacking swiftly and precisely.

The already panicked enemy team couldn’t react fast enough. In a short moment, they were eliminated.

Erik walked into the center of the training field, picking up the enemy’s flag.

Gav let out a low whistle, leaning against a nearby tree to catch his breath. "Hah... this wasn’t as bad as I thought."

Erik gazed at the flag in his hand, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at their victory.

"Battlefields aren’t about who’s stronger," he murmured. "It’s about who makes their enemy lose their sanity first."

Around them, the defeated soldiers sat with frustrated expressions. They weren’t seriously injured—this trial used paint rounds, which left marks on targets without causing real harm.

If they had been using live ammunition, this trial could have turned into a massacre.

But that didn’t make it any easier.

The harsh terrain, the psychological pressure, and the lack of supplies made it feel like a real warzone.

Erik sighed, then turned to Hanes.

"We’ve captured one enemy flag. Check on the two other teams. We’ve been here 14 hours, I want to know who’s still left."

Hanes nodded and climbed a small hill to get a better view.

Gav kicked the dirt, scanning the area. "We’re in monster territory... I’m surprised we haven’t run into anything yet."

"That’s because we haven’t been unlucky enough," Erik replied.

As if the world wanted to mock him, a sound suddenly echoed in the distance.

A branch snapped.

Followed by a low growl.

Erik and Gav immediately raised their weapons.

From the darkness of the trees, glowing red eyes emerged.

Hanes, returning from his scouting, cursed under his breath.

"Shit... we’ve got a problem."

Not far from their position, a pack of Shadow Hounds—vicious predators that hunted in the dark—was beginning to surround them.

This trial had just turned into a fight for survival.

"Hey, Erik! What do we do now!?" Hanes shouted, his voice trembling, his eyes locked onto the shifting shadows lurking between the trees.

The others were beginning to waver. They all knew that the paint rifles they carried would be useless against Shadow Hounds.

This was no longer a training exercise—this was a life-or-death situation.

However, among all the gear they carried, there was one real weapon at their disposal.

Military knives.

As a survival tool, every soldier was allowed to carry a single sharp combat knife for emergency use. Commander Kael had anticipated they would face challenges in the wilderness, but no one had expected them to encounter deadly predators tonight.

Erik gritted his teeth. Panic would kill them faster. If they wanted to survive, they had to think before they acted.

He took a deep breath, then shouted loud and clear:

"Everyone! Fix bayonets!"

His movements were swift and decisive. He unsheathed his knife and attached it to the end of his rifle, turning it into an improvised spear.

The order startled everyone.

Not just his own team, but also the enemy soldiers they had just defeated.

They exchanged hesitant glances. But seeing Erik move without a shred of doubt, one by one, they followed suit—drawing their knives and fixing them as makeshift bayonets.

Gav swallowed hard. "Shit, we were just fighting each other, and now we have to fight with them?"

"We have no choice," Erik replied without looking back. "They’re not our enemies anymore. We fight together, or we die together."

The enemy soldiers finally nodded, accepting reality.

"Fine... If we make it out of this alive, our grudge is settled," one of them muttered bitterly.

Erik smirked. "We’ll see about that."

The Shadow Hounds crept closer, their growls deepening. Their red eyes glowed ominously in the darkness.

Erik lowered his stance, tightening his grip on his rifle.

"Close formation! Don’t let them surround us!"

Tonight, they were no longer four rival teams fighting for a trial.

Tonight, they were one unit, fighting to survive.