I will be a war hero -2-

The next day, when Yuriy woke up, there was a noticeable change in his demeanor. He woke up half an hour before the training session, fully energized – a sharp contrast to the first day when he was unprepared and disoriented. This change seemed peculiar. He was ready for his training, even arriving at the training ground ahead of everyone else. The transformation in Yuriy's attitude hinted at a newfound focus and determination, setting the stage for the intense training and impending battle that lay ahead.

As the officer in charge of training the soldiers emerged, the moment for training to commence was announced. However, before it began, there was something the officer needed to address. The first person his eyes fell upon was Yuriy. With an intimidating gaze, he shouted, "Yuriy Kozlov, do you realize the magnitude of the mistake you made yesterday? Leaving the military zone without permission from your superiors. You are to be punished with a hundred laps around the training ground!"

Yuriy shouted back, "Yes, sir!" He began to execute the order without any objection or expression of opinion, which left the officer somewhat puzzled. Yuriy's willingness to comply without resistance or argument left the officer uncertain about how to proceed. This obedience showed a different side of Yuriy, perhaps indicating his heightened focus and determination after the previous day's decision.

Within a short period, Yuriy completed the hundred laps in record time, which was remarkable enough to raise whispers among the surrounding soldiers.

After Yuriy returned to his position, or the training point, he shouted again, "I have completed what you asked of me, sir. What's next?" The officer found himself increasingly perplexed by Yuriy's behavior. The more Yuriy demonstrated this newfound determination that he hadn't previously shown to the officer, the more the officer began to wonder, "What is happening with this person exactly?" he thought to himself. It seemed that Yuriy's attitude had shifted dramatically, leaving the officer curious about the change and its underlying cause.

The officer rubbed his head and replied, "Ah, good, that's it, I suppose. You can start the morning drills now." Yuriy shouted, "Understood, sir."

Yuriy dropped to the ground and began push-up drills, displaying remarkable strength as he executed them rapidly and with agility. His performance caught the attention of everyone around him. He seamlessly moved into dynamic upper body movements, showcasing his flexibility. His controlled breathing during breathing exercises demonstrated his exceptional breath control. Whether it was lower body warm-ups or other exercises, all of them showcased that this person had the qualifications to be an exemplary soldier. The intensity and skill with which he performed the exercises left a strong impression on those observing.

"Hey, is this soldier really a newcomer?"

"I bet he's an athlete or something of the sort."

"Or maybe he's just naturally athletic?"

Everyone, including the officer, looked at Yuriy, their expressions a mix of admiration and confusion. The intense concentration evident in his movements made it seem like he was enveloped in an aura of imagination. And within that aura, an image formed that looked like Yuriy’s father, evoking a sense of fear within him. "Oleksandr?"

He continued to stare, saying, "This person might possess the same qualifications as his father. Could it be possible that..."

The officer's face reddened from tension, as if he had seen his favorite hero through Yuriy's shadow. This made his heart beat faster due to both excitement and tension. However, the officer quickly regained his composure, for an unknown reason. He put on a serious face and approached Yuriy, an air of danger surrounding him.

As the trainee soldiers noticed his menacing demeanor, they quickly made way for him after feeling his dangerous aura. Except for Yuriy, who was immersed in his training and unaware of his surroundings, until the officer's shout caught his attention. After the officer cleared his throat, Yuriy jumped in his place, answering, "Y-Yes, sir!"

"You, you cursed boy, are you trying to assert yourself here through training to prove that your view of the enemy is correct?" Yuriy remained silent for a moment and then composed a serious expression, answering, "Certainly not, sir. Your opinion is the guidance that will lead us to victory over the enemy in the end."

The officer studied Yuriy intently, his eyes widening as if trying to decipher the change in the young man. He surmised that the transformation might be a result of the punishment from the previous day. With a warm, paternal smile, he placed his hand on Yuriy's shoulder, saying, "This is the spirit we need. This resolve will shape you into a true son of the nation, a pillar of strength and inspiration. The nation awaits the glory brought by its heroes. Aim to stand out in this field and be that hero, Yuriy."

Yuriy responded with fervor, "Yes, sir! I won't let the nation's hopes down."

With that, the officer commanded, "Everyone, back to training!"

The entire group continued their physical training, with Yuriy among them. Once finished, the officer instructed only the new recruits to leave. As they did, he singled out Yuriy, announcing, "Yuriy Kozlov, you're to join the advanced soldier training next." A surge of pride welled up in Yuriy; he had clearly earned the officer's recognition, demonstrating his potential from the moment he enlisted.

Yuriy joined Vladyslav and Vasyl in firearms training, experiencing the sensation of firing a real pistol for the first time. Vladyslav and Vasyl taught Yuriy the proper technique for pistol shooting—the correct posture for holding the weapon, aiming, and finally firing. Yuriy couldn't help but wear a smile of accomplishment after successfully executing his first shot: "I can't believe I did it. I never expected to hold a real pistol in my hands."

The trio continued their training, until both Vladyslav and Yuriy noticed that Vasyl had forgotten to wear ear protection. As soon as he fired his training pistol, Vasyl panicked and tossed his pistol into the air, covering his ears with both hands. Yuriy and Vladyslav burst into laughter at Vasyl's foolishness, finding his reaction quite amusing.