"Brother, what should we call you?"
The young man smiled casually, studying Qin Tian.
Qin Tian didn't answer. He simply tapped the number on his chest.
The man froze for a second, then laughed awkwardly.
"Right… no name yet."
He straightened and spoke with renewed energy.
"I'm Xiao Yunlong. And this is Liu Zhaozhao."
Qin Tian nodded, silently observing them.
They were young—mid-twenties at most.
Xiao Yunlong carried himself lightly, his smile easy and disarming.
Liu Zhaozhao stood beside him, quiet. Her skin was pale, her long hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes were red—swollen from crying—giving her a fragile, broken edge.
"Oh, and the one outside—our captain," Xiao Yunlong added, lowering his voice slightly. "Qin Dadi."
Qin Tian's brow shifted faintly.
"I see."
Bang.
The door opened.
Qin Dadi stepped in.
"I've told him our names," Xiao Yunlong said. "But shouldn't we give him one too? Calling him by a number feels strange."
Qin Dadi nodded slowly.
Huang Xun had just died.
And now—another sharpshooter stood before him.
Coincidence… or something else?
If so—
"Then let's call him—"
"I have a name."
Qin Tian spoke suddenly.
All eyes turned to him.
"You do?" Xiao Yunlong blinked. "Instructor Raymond gave it to you?"
Qin Tian's gaze flicked briefly toward Qin Dadi.
"My name… is Qin Tian."
Silence.
Xiao Yunlong bit his lip, shoulders trembling.
Liu Zhaozhao lowered her head, the corner of her eyes curving faintly.
Qin Dadi's expression froze.
Qin… Tian?
His eyelids twitched.
My name is Qin Dadi… and yours is Qin Tian?
He stared at the young man in front of him, searching for mockery.
But Qin Tian's face was calm. Empty.
Only the slightest lift of his brow betrayed anything at all.
Is this… retaliation?
The thought felt absurd.
A clone—fresh from production—shouldn't even understand pride, let alone sarcasm.
"…Ahem."
Qin Dadi cleared his throat.
"Qin Tian. Good name."
He stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Then we're family now. Don't worry—your big brother will look after you."
"Haha! Welcome to the Earth Dragon Team, Qin Tian!"
Xiao Yunlong slung an arm over his shoulder, all warmth and enthusiasm.
"From now on, we're brothers."
"…Welcome."
Liu Zhaozhao's voice was soft. Distant.
Her grief hadn't faded.
The shadow of Huang Xun still lingered.
This new sharpshooter—
She couldn't reject him.
But she couldn't accept him either.
Qin Tian nodded, his expression unchanged.
"Sit, sit."
Xiao Yunlong pushed him into a chair and handed him a glass of water.
Then leaned in, eyes bright with curiosity.
"How did you pass the Spirit Bird test? I tried once—I couldn't even hit the wings."
Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao both looked over.
Waiting.
Qin Tian blinked once.
"As long as you have hands… it's enough."
"…?"
The three of them froze.
Their eyes twitched.
That sounded… extremely punchable.
But looking at Qin Tian's calm, almost indifferent gaze—
They said nothing.
A clone wouldn't show off.
He was simply stating facts.
Probably.
"Right… moving on."
Xiao Yunlong coughed lightly, glancing at Qin Tian's rifle.
"That standard-issue rifle of yours? Decent—but slow. Only good for those green-skinned brutes."
He turned toward Qin Dadi.
"Captain, why not give him Huang Xun's rifle?"
Qin Dadi didn't hesitate.
"Go get it."
Moments later, a black case was placed on the table.
Clack.
The latch opened.
Inside—
A jet-black rifle rested in silence.
Matte metal. Cold. Heavy.
The muzzle flared outward like fangs—designed to tame violent recoil.
"This," Xiao Yunlong said with a grin, "is the Xiaolong Rifle. Jerald Company's flagship."
He tapped a metal ammo box beside it.
"Armor-piercing. High-explosive. Enough to threaten Tier Two Spiritualists."
He pushed the rifle forward.
"Go on. Try it."
Qin Tian reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the weapon—
Something clicked.
Familiarity flooded in.
Balance. Weight. Structure.
Every detail felt… known.
As if he had held it for years.
No—
As if it belonged to him.
He ran a hand along the surface.
Cold.
Rough.
Real.
"…Thank you."
His voice was quiet. Sincere.
The others exchanged glances.
That… was unexpected.
"No need," Qin Dadi said calmly. "A good weapon shouldn't gather dust."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"Especially not one left behind by a comrade."
"Here, try the rest too."
Xiao Yunlong began unloading the box.
Combat suit.
Sidearm.
Helmet.
Gear.
Piece by piece—
Qin Tian equipped them.
When he finished—
Silence fell.
Before them stood not a recruit…
But a soldier.
Cold eyes behind a visor.
Still. Composed.
Lethal.
For a moment—
They all saw it.
That shadow again.
Huang Xun.
Qin Dadi exhaled slowly, forcing the illusion away.
"Qin Tian."
His voice steadied.
"These are yours now."
A pause.
"Use them well."
Qin Tian gave a slight nod.
But the weight in his eyes—
Was anything but light.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A sharp sound cut through the room.
Qin Dadi raised his wrist, scanning the message.
His expression darkened.
"There's a mission."
"What is it?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
Qin Dadi's voice turned cold.
"Some pests have been circling the camp."
A brief pause.
"We've been ordered to skin them."
"Those Cat-men again…"
Liu Zhaozhao frowned.
Then—
Flames ignited in her palm.
Crimson.
Violent.
Heat surged through the room, distorting the air itself.
Qin Tian's gaze lowered slightly.
A flicker of interest passed through his eyes.
A power beyond weapons.
A different kind of strength.
Flame superpower…
What kind of battlefield… had he truly entered?