Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!

The wiry soldier's confidence faltered for the first time. His gaze darted between his own respectable grouping and Noah's impeccable precision.

He clenched his jaw, refusing to let his shock show.

The buzz-cut soldier let out a low whistle, his disbelief breaking the silence. "Lieutenant Adam... where did you find this freak?" His voice carried a mixture of awe and incredulity.

Adam stood with his arms crossed, his stern expression betraying nothing. But inside, pride swelled in his chest. 'He is way Better than I thought. I knew I wasn't wrong about him,' he mused.

Noah didn't let the murmurs distract him.

Moving to the longest-range target, he adjusted his aim with a calm efficiency that sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers. The wiry soldier followed suit, and his determination reignited. He fired his shots, and while they were excellent, a few strayed slightly outside the bullseye.

Noah took his position, his expression serene. He didn't rush.

He simply aimed and fired, each shot landing precisely on top of the last. The sound of his rifle firing was met with stunned silence as his target was obliterated with pinpoint accuracy.

The athletic woman couldn't hold back her amazement any longer. "How is that humanly possible?" she blurted, turning to Adam for answers.

Adam remained silent, his mind racing. 'This kid… he's even more exceptional than I anticipated. He's not just good, he's flawless.'

The wiry soldier lowered his rifle and stared at Noah, shaking his head in disbelief. "There's no way anyone could be that accurate."

Noah slung his rifle over his shoulder and turned to face the group, his expression calm but carrying a faint smirk. "It's all about breathing. Once you've mastered that, the rest falls into place."

Adam stepped forward, finally breaking his silence. "Let's call it what it is—excellence. I brought Noah here because I knew he could rise to the challenge. What you're seeing isn't just skill, it's dedication."

The wiry soldier let out a breath, his scepticism giving way to respect. "Alright. Captain it is, then."

Noah extended his hand, meeting the wiry soldier's eyes. "I'll be expecting all of you to maintain this level of discipline. We're going to be working as a team, and I won't accept anything less."

The wiry soldier hesitated for a moment before gripping Noah's hand firmly. "Understood, Captain."

The athletic woman nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Looks like we're in good hands."

Adam watched the exchange, his pride in Noah solidifying. 'This team just got a strong captain.'

"All right, everyone," Noah began, his voice calm yet commanding, "I'll leave it to you to get me familiar with this base. Lieutenant Adam was vague on purpose—probably so I'd have to learn from you directly. So, tell me, what's the deal here? What can we do?"

The team exchanged glances, unsure how to approach the conversation with their new and very young captain. After a brief moment, Natasha, the athletic woman, stepped forward, her tone professional but slightly guarded. Stay updated via empire

"Well, Captain," she started, "this base is designed for advanced tactical training and specialized missions. We've got some of the best facilities in the country, including top-tier shooting ranges, combat simulators, and even tech labs for reconnaissance."

Theo, the wiry man, nodded and added, "We've also got an obstacle course that's no joke. It's designed to push even the fittest soldiers to their limits. Then there's the hand-to-hand combat ring. That's where we usually settle… disagreements."

Nathan, the buzz-cut soldier, leaned casually against the wall, his eyes fixed on Noah. "And the simulation room. That's where we practice real-world scenarios. It's as close to the field as you can get without risking your life."

Noah listened, absorbing the information with a thoughtful expression. He nodded slowly. "Sounds solid. What about downtime? How do you all keep yourselves from going stir-crazy?"

Natasha smirked, shrugging. "There's a rec room, but don't expect luxury. Pool table, some old chess sets, and a TV that's seen better days. It's functional, not fun."

Theo chuckled. "Most of us stick to training during downtime—keeps the boredom at bay. The gym's decent, though, if you're into that."

Nathan cracked a grin. "And if you're really looking to vent some frustration, there's a punching bag in the corner of the gym that's practically a team member at this point."

Noah allowed a faint smile to form. "Sounds like there's no shortage of ways to stay in shape. And the missions—team-based or solo?"

Natasha's smirk faded as her expression turned serious. "Depends on the objective. Some are solo, but the big ones—like infiltration or extraction—are all hands on deck. That's when we have to rely on each other the most."

Theo nodded firmly. "Trust is everything in those missions. If we're not on the same page, things fall apart fast."

Nathan tilted his head slightly, eyeing Noah with a mix of curiosity and challenge. "That's something we'll need to see with you, Captain. No offence, but trust doesn't come easy. Especially for someone we've just met."

Noah met Nathan's gaze, his expression calm but resolute. "Fair point," he said. "I don't expect trust to be handed to me. I'll earn it."

The room grew quiet for a moment as the weight of his words settled in. Natasha was the first to break the silence, her tone lighter. "Alright, Captain. If you're ready, we'll give you the full tour."

Noah gestured for her to lead the way. "Let's see what this place has to offer."

The team led Noah outside to a sprawling field where the obstacle course stretched across a considerable distance. Each segment of the course was meticulously designed to test agility, strength, and endurance.

"This is the gauntlet," Natasha said, gesturing to the maze of towering walls, rope climbs, muddy trenches, and monkey bars. "It's one of the toughest obstacle courses in the country. Designed to break even the best soldiers."

Theo added, his tone dry, "If you're not exhausted by the fifth station, you're probably not human."

Nathan smirked, folding his arms. "The record to beat is 4 minutes and 32 seconds. Set by some Special Ops guy who was a beast."

Noah glanced at the course, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Looks fun. Let me give it a try."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Captain? First-timers usually just walk through to get a feel for it."

Noah shrugged, already walking toward the starting line. "Where's the fun in that?"

The team exchanged skeptical glances but said nothing as Noah stretched briefly and got into position.

"Alright," Natasha called, pulling out a stopwatch. "On your mark… get set… go!"

Noah launched forward, his movements fluid and precise. He sprinted toward the first obstacle: a ten-foot wall. Without missing a beat, he ran up the wall with a perfectly timed jump, grabbing the top edge and pulling himself over in one smooth motion.

"Okay, decent start," Nathan muttered, but there was a hint of surprise in his voice.

Next came the tire field—rows of large tires that required careful foot placement. Noah danced through them with impeccable balance and speed, barely slowing down.

Theo whistled under his breath. "He's fast."

At the rope climb, Noah grabbed hold and scaled it with such efficiency that it looked effortless. He swung over the top and descended quickly, hitting the ground running.

Natasha's hand tightened on the stopwatch. "He's making good time," she said, but her voice betrayed her disbelief.

The monkey bars were next. The bars were intentionally spaced farther apart to test reach and upper body strength. Noah didn't just swing through them; he practically glided, his arms and shoulders working in perfect synchronization.

By the time he reached the muddy trenches, he dove in without hesitation, crawling through the sludge with speed and precision. The team watched in stunned silence as he cleared the final hurdles: a balance beam and a sandbag carry.

Finally, Noah crossed the finish line, barely winded. He brushed a bit of dirt off his sleeve and looked at Natasha. "How'd I do?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Natasha stared at the stopwatch, her mouth slightly open. She didn't speak for a moment, prompting Nathan to lean over and look at the time.

"Are you kidding me?" Nathan said, his voice a mix of shock and exasperation. "Three minutes flat? That's—what, a minute and a half faster than the record?"

Theo rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought breaking the record by a second was impressive. This… this is insane."

Natasha finally found her voice. "You didn't just break the record, Captain. You obliterated it."

Noah shrugged, a faint smirk on his lips. "Guess the course wasn't designed to handle me."

Nathan folded his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Alright, I'll admit it. That was… something. But don't expect us to be this impressed all the time."

Noah chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll try to keep setting the bar higher."

Natasha shook her head, muttering, "Unbelievable," before glancing at the others.