Special Forces: From the very beginning, I can upgrade the entry

Silhouettes clad in green military uniforms moved about while bright red banners adorned the walls, bearing bold slogans:
and
Amidst this bustling scene, Lin Yi slowly regained consciousness. The air was filled with a cacophony of voices as his unfocused gaze swept across his surroundings.
A mechanical voice abruptly rang in his mind, momentarily stunning Lin Yi. Then, a torrent of information surged through his brain, causing his expression to shift into one of resolute determination.
His current identity was that of a university student freshly enlisted into the military.
His golden cheat? The Entry Upgrade System.
Entries were ranked in ascending order of rarity: White, Green, Blue, Purple, Gold, and Red.
Aside from unlocking entries through personal achievements, Lin Yi could acquire them by defeating or eliminating enemies. Additionally, once a month, he could upgrade an entry at random, advancing it to a higher tier.
He silently issued the command.
A list appeared before him:
【Superior Memory (Blue)】
【Master of Learning (Blue)】
…
Just as he was engrossed in examining his abilities—
The sharp blast of a military whistle rang out, but Lin Yi, still absorbed in his system, failed to notice. Around him, the other recruits were already rising to their feet.
“You there, soldier!”
“Yes, you! Who else would I be talking to?!”
“You two—yes, I mean you!”
A loud, authoritative voice shattered his thoughts. As Lin Yi snapped back to reality, he realised that the entire waiting area was emptying out—except for himself and another recruit who remained standing.
“I called you just now—did you hear me?”
A tall, dark-skinned soldier in a
Army Service Uniform, wearing the rank insignia of a sergeant, loomed before the other recruit, his voice stern.
“You weren’t talking to me. You kept saying ‘that soldier’ over and over again. How was I supposed to know you meant me when there are so many soldiers here?”
“Name?”
Before the recruit could finish his retort, the sergeant cut him off.
“Zhuang Yan.”
The sergeant gave a slight nod, as if committing the name to memory.
To everyone’s surprise, the new recruit then asked, “What about you?”
“You address me as Sergeant!”
A burly, good-natured recruit beside them panted slightly, stepping forward to whisper a quiet reminder.
Lin Yi observed the scene with interest—it was both unfamiliar and oddly familiar at the same time.
His gaze landed on the tall recruit holding a copy of
, and a strange expression crossed his face.
“Oh, right. Sergeant. Got it.”
Xiao Zhuang responded casually.
“Zhuang Yan.”
Zheng Sanpao repeated his name, a cryptic expression flickering across his face.
“It’s easy to remember. Just call me Xiao Zhuang.”
Zhuang Yan showed no awareness of the tension in the air, offering a casual greeting before strapping on his oversized military backpack and following the departing recruits.
A faint smirk tugged at Lin Yi’s lips.
This world was getting more intriguing by the second.
It was all coming together.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
With the blare of a train whistle, lines of eager new recruits boarded in two neat columns. As the rhythmic chugging of the locomotive filled the air, the train pulled out of the station, bound for an uncertain future.
Lin Yi and Zhuang Yan found themselves seated together, silent for now. Across from them sat the good-natured recruit who had spoken up earlier.
After a moment of consideration, the burly recruit rummaged through his bag, pulled out two apples, and handed them over with a warm grin.
“Here, have an apple.”
“My name is Chen Xiwa. I’m from Lu Province. What about you?”
“Lin Yi, from Xiangtan.”
Lin Yi smiled in return.
He knew Chen Xiwa well. His grandfather had fought with the Eighth Route Army, and his father had served in the military as well. A true third-generation soldier, he was honest, hardworking, and unafraid of toil.
Unfortunately, in the original storyline, Chen Xiwa had been eliminated during the Wolf Fang selection process due to his lack of formal education—his middle school education had left him struggling with the explosive thermochemistry exam.
But despite that, he had all the makings of a great soldier—his character alone was enough to earn people’s respect.
“I’m Zhuang Yan. Just call me Xiao Zhuang.”
Zhuang Yan, seemingly uninterested, kept his gaze fixed on the train car’s exit.
“Lin Yi, Xiao Zhuang.”
Chen Xiwa repeated their names, grinning widely.
Lin Yi stole a glance at Zhuang Yan.
He knew that, beneath his aloof and arrogant exterior, Zhuang Yan had enlisted for one reason alone—to find his childhood sweetheart, Xiao Ying. His enthusiasm for the military paled in comparison to Chen Xiwa’s. It would take many trials and hardships before he truly embraced this life.
So Lin Yi said nothing, simply observing.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the carriage, the recruitment officers had already begun reviewing their files.
“Ah, let me tell you something.”
“This batch of recruits includes two university students!”
A Second Lieutenant, responsible for their induction, spoke with evident excitement.
“Oh?”
“Two university students?”
The veteran soldiers around him looked genuinely surprised.
Despite the government’s push for a modern, professional, and highly educated military, most university-educated enlistees tended to follow the technical officer route. It was rare for a university student to enlist as a regular recruit.
Flipping through the roster, the Second Lieutenant let out a chuckle.
“Drama Academy, Directing Department. A theatre student, huh?”
“Which one?” Zheng Sanpao asked.
“That one, over there.”
The officer gestured towards Lin Yi’s seat—more specifically, towards Zhuang Yan.
Zheng Sanpao’s gaze immediately locked onto the two of them.
Zhuang Yan was obviously a troublemaker, but it was Lin Yi who stood out the most.
Amongst the anxious recruits, his calm composure made him particularly eye-catching.
“Who’s the one next to him?” Zheng Sanpao couldn’t help but ask.
The Second Lieutenant chuckled.
“Oh, these two students have ended up together.”
“Lin Yi. Freshman at Yanjing University, Information Science and Technology Department. Orphan. Self-taught genius.”
“Oh?”
Interest flickered in the eyes of the veterans.
This was no ordinary recruit—this was a prodigy.
An orphan who had reached such heights through sheer determination?
If mentored well, he would be a prime candidate for officer training.