[COD] Newbie's Rise to Power

Your face was expressionless with frustration, and you didn't even want to speak.

Vita, who was standing nearby, comforted you, "YN, don't be discouraged. It's always like this at the beginning. You just haven't gotten used to it yet."

Upon hearing this, you turned to Vita and asked her hopefully, "You mean you also couldn't hit the target at first?"

Vita smiled and said, "No, my first blind shot hit the edge ring and I got 2 points."

you:......

Is this your comfort, Vita? That's very comforting.

You just don't understand. Your shooting results were pretty good before, so how could you shoot so terribly? You didn't even hit the wooden board!

You're conflicted, and you're even starting to doubt whether your previous achievements were all just a dream.

But our teachers taught us from a young age that we should be diligent in asking questions when we encounter problems we don't know or understand.

So you raise your hand: "Instructor Keegan, I have a question."

Keegan, who had just finished tallying the scores, heard your call, glanced at you, and then walked over silently.

"yn, what's wrong?"

His voice remained as calm as ever, like that of a composed teacher, patiently addressing any questions you may have.

You humbly ask, "Instructor, I don't understand. I clearly aimed at the target circle, so why did I miss?"

Keegan’s voice was approving: “Good question. You are a humble and hardworking soldier.”

He then made a suggestion: "You sniper novices have a habit of looking through the scope with one eye. This is not a problem, but it is not suitable for the battlefield. The battlefield is full of variables and surprises. For example, the scopeless shooting we are practicing today is to deal with limited field of view."

"In actual combat, especially in dynamic combat, you should use both eyes to look through the scope. This way you can not only aim at the target, but also monitor the surrounding environment to detect emergencies in time."

You raise your hand again: "Is the inaccuracy in blind shooting due to using only one eye?"

Keegan nodded: "Not all, but it will have an impact. While one eye is more accurate, it reduces the field of vision and decreases balance and bodily awareness."

"Shooting without a scope, also known as blind firing, is all about stabilizing the position of the sniper rifle. The stability of the sniper rifle mainly depends on your body's balance and stability, as well as your sense of memory."

With this explanation, you'll understand immediately.

You thanked Keegan, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Instructor!"

Keegan looked at you and nodded: "Yeah, I hope you can do well in the next round."

Encouraged, your confidence instantly soars.

"Thank you, instructor. I will do my best!"

The second round began quickly. This time, you followed Keegan's advice and moved your body a little further away from the sniper rifle, shifting the butt of the rifle from your cheek to your chin.

But having never aimed with your eyes before, this sudden change makes you feel very uncomfortable.

Even as Keegan gets closer, you're still adapting and adjusting.

You're intently focused on the scope, trying to find the right spot...

"YN, are you ready?"

Suddenly, Keegan's voice rang out above you.

No, they came so fast?

You look at the scope in front of you, feeling uncertain.

But you can't keep dragging this on, so he took a deep breath, steadied his sniper rifle, and replied:

"Instructor, I'm ready."

The familiar black partition fell down, and your vision was once again filled with darkness.

In my ear was Keegan's deep, trembling voice.

"shooting."

ch.74: Performance Time

You held your breath and pulled the trigger!

The barrier in front of you was removed, and you tilted your head and looked up at Keegan with expectant eyes.

Keegan observes through binoculars, then writes down his observations on paper before verbally announcing his score.

"yn, 2 rings, add 2 points."

He removed the barrier from his hand, looked down at you, and gave you an approving look:

"Not bad, you've improved."

After saying that, he walked to the next shooting position.

A smile appeared on your face—you did it! And you even got praised...

Then, your smile faded.

Although you hit the target circle this time, you only got 2 points, which just canceled out the negative score from the previous round.

But your score is still 0, and you wasted two shots!

Other people who are doing well probably have scores in the teens, while you still have zero!

You have eight chances left, I wonder if you can...

Your training results this time were really disappointing; your remaining eight shots only totaled 52 points.

In your mind, you need at least 60 points to pass, but you haven't even reached that level yet.

At the end, Vita patted you on the shoulder, comforting your dejected state.

"Don't worry, yn. When we first started blind shooting, our results weren't ideal either, but they'll gradually improve."

You grip the sniper rifle, stop, and turn to look at the target.

This action led to a direct eye contact with Keegan behind him.

There was no emotion in his eyes, but you inexplicably felt a pang of guilt.

He clearly had high hopes and confidence in you, yet you acted so poorly...

After hesitating for a moment, you said to Vita, "Vita, you should go first."

Vita looked at you: "What, are you unwilling to accept this?"

You nodded: "Yes, I want to catch up with you as soon as possible."

You didn't want to trouble Keegan because of yourself, the newcomer, nor did you want to... see disappointment in his usually calm eyes.

Vita smiled faintly. She understood your personality, so she didn't say anything more, took the gun, and left.

And you, holding a gun, walk up to Keegan.

"Instructor Keegan, I would like to request a little more training time."

According to regulations, you must hand over your guns once training is over. In order to keep your guns for practice, you can only apply to Keegan.

Keegan looked at your stubborn eyes and nodded in agreement.

Do you need my assistance?

Having someone to shield your view and keep track of your score when you're shooting makes things much easier.

You shook your head: "Instructor, you should go and rest too. I can manage on my own."

Keegan glanced at his watch, then left you with the binoculars and two boxes of ammunition.

"Then you can practice alone for a while, and I'll come over later."

It's lunchtime now, and everyone else, either alone or in groups, is heading towards the cafeteria one after another.

"Thank you, instructor."

You reached out and took the binoculars and bullets, then carried them and the gun to your firing position.

You lie on the ground, set up the gun, and put the bullets and binoculars aside.

You adjusted the sniper scope, aimed at the distant target, and closed your eyes...

sudden--

My shoulder was struck by a recoil, and then the impact dissipated.

You opened your eyes, picked up your binoculars, and stood up.

Through the binoculars, you saw your score: 6 rings.

...He still didn't perform well.

Put the binoculars down, lie back down on the ground, and repeat.

Intermittent gunshots rang out, revealing your repeated standing up and lying down.

The midday sun in summer is the most intense, not only making you sweat profusely but also making your whole body feel burning hot.

The glaring sunlight and the sweat dripping into your eyes also increase the difficulty of your challenge.

sudden--

You open your eyes again, and a voice suddenly sounds behind you.

"Let's eat something first."

The familiar subwoofer—that's Keegan.

You immediately turned around, and upon seeing the takeout box in his hand, your stomach suddenly rumbled involuntarily.

Feeling a little embarrassed, you sat up awkwardly.

Keegan walked up to you, opened the lid, and handed the box to you.

"If you get hungry, eat something first, and then continue."

You look at the food in the packaging box and feel a little embarrassed.

"Thank you for bringing me food, instructor, but... I haven't washed my hands yet."

Your hands are covered in dust and dirt from training; you can feel the dust falling on them even without rubbing them.