The frosty air, thick as a sheet of lead, penetrated to the bones, despite the thick, patched robes. Winter in this new, twisted world was merciless, and every breath burned his lungs with an icy sting. You were standing on a snow—covered, windswept playground — the former parade ground, now littered with rubble and rusty skeletons of equipment -where another grueling training session was underway under Dmitry's guidance.

Your position in the squad, lost among the ruins, was unique. You weren't just a fighter; you were Dmitry's favorite, and that privilege didn't need to be voiced. While others — harsh, weathered veterans — endured his harsh, sometimes bordering on sadism, demands and merciless criticism, you always showed an inexplicable, almost paternal condescension. Your presence next to the commander served as an unspoken but tangible shield, deflecting from you the waves of excessive pressure and harsh trials that the rest of the staff was subjected to.

And so, it was the turn of another endurance test. The task was simple in formulation, but monstrous in execution: thirty clean, complete pull-ups on a thick, frostbitten steel horizontal bar. The cold stiffened my joints, but an order is an order.

You clung to the crossbar, feeling the icy metal bite into your calloused palms. With an effort that seemed superhuman, you began the ascent. Every millimeter was difficult. His muscles, stretched to the limit, burned with fire, and a viscous veil of fatigue was already gathering under his eyes.

On the fifth repetition, which you could barely hold, your body trembled treacherously, and your grip began to weaken. It was at this moment, when a breakdown seemed imminent, through the roar of the wind, the creaking of snow under the feet of comrades and heavy breathing, Dmitry's imperious but surprisingly soft voice rang out. He cut through the noise of the training ground like a spotlight in the dark:

— «You've had enough. Five is a decent start. You've had enough today, get off and go rest. Go into the warmth, take care of the cards. For the rest, continue! And don't slow down!»