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Chapter 17 - Combat Class
🕑 Added 2024-10-12 23:23:00 +0000 UTC"My best option would be Ranger Weapons. It’s already saved me twice. Also, I don’t know any other form of combat." Oliver explained.
Alan mulled over Oliver’s reasoning. It made sense, though he had secretly hoped Oliver would have chosen Energy Weapons. It was a selfish desire, but over the past few days, Oliver had become the closest thing to a friend Alan had.
“Makes sense. You seemed good with that Energy Pistol.” Alan remembered.
As the two talked, more and more recruits gradually arrived at the Training Center until it was nearly full. Similar to the last class, this was also mixed, with boys and girls training together. However, it was still only students from the Second Battalion, making it easy for Alan and Oliver to recognize some familiar faces, even if they weren’t from the same barracks.
"Recruits!” A titanic shout was heard. “I’m Captain Liv, and I will oversee your physical training."
The instructor arrived along with the last group of students and immediately began the session. She walked to the center of the training area, which contained different gym equipment scattered across the field and a running track encircling it.
"Every human body has a natural limit. Even after using the Z Crystal and going through its natural evolution, you’ll still hit a ceiling. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t push past it." The captain explained.
Liv moved between the cadets, observing their physical composition as carefully as they studied her. Liv's Nordic appearance left most boys in awe. Although her uniform was similar to that of other officers, it was more practical; it lacked coat sleeves, and instead of a skirt, she wore cargo pants.
"However, these new evolutions don’t happen naturally. We need to force them. They can occur through intense training or battles that push you to your limits. That’s exactly what we will replicate in your training. Obviously, there’s a risk involved, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take." The captain gave the students a broad smile that conveyed her joy in being their instructor and a hint of sadism in watching them be pushed to their limits.
The young trainer quickly turned her head, making her red braided hair sway in the wind. If the boys weren’t so distracted by her, they might have been more afraid of what was coming next.
"Let’s start with a set!"
The captain walked to the side of the gym, reaching one of the walls, and typed on a transparent panel. After a few seconds, the entire gym started to convert. Trapdoors opened from the floor, removing and adding equipment while other parts shifted position.
In under a minute, the gym was transformed into an obstacle course.
"As soon as the whistle blows, you’ll start at one piece of equipment, and when you hear the whistle again, you’ll move to the next!” She gave them just a moment to process her command.
“Begin!" The whistle echoed in the gym.
Alan and Oliver were still shocked at how quickly the gym had changed when they heard the whistle blow. Despite there being hundreds of recruits, the gym seemed to accommodate everyone. As each stage progressed, it became more difficult. Sweat and exhaustion began to overtake each cadet’s body.
[+1 Experience Point]
A notification appeared in the corner of Oliver’s vision as he gasped for air.
'So, this is how I can earn more Experience Points.' Oliver thought.
The training had started in the early afternoon and only stopped for short breaks until late afternoon. Alan was sprawled on the ground, wondering if anyone could roll him along the floor back to the barracks. Meanwhile, Oliver was exploring the changes on his Status Page.
| Status Page
| User: Oliver [Nameless]
| Level: 1 [Pawn]
| Experience: [27/100]
‘In just one afternoon, I got seven experience points. Just with training.’ Oliver examined. ‘It doesn’t seem that bad.’
It wasn’t something he could do every day, but it didn’t seem so bad until he had to lift his arm, and the pain in his muscles almost made him cry.
'Or maybe it’s pretty bad.' He regretted thinking about it.
The rest of the night was torturous. No cadet could muster a word. Even in the shared bathrooms or during dinner, they were simply trying to stay alive. To their luck, the exhaustion was so strong that many cadets fell into a deep sleep.
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The following day, as the dormitory alarms went off, inhuman groans filled the air, and hundreds of curses aimed at Captain Liv’s mother. But the army wasn’t going to wait for the unprepared, and slowly, the Second Battalion began readying themselves for the second day.
Oliver was one of the students who woke up cursing Captain Liv's mother. His arms and legs seemed unwilling to move, and any contact with them only caused more pain.
Still, there was a hint of joy for the experience he'd gained. He was one step closer to becoming stronger and increasing his chances of surviving on the battlefield.
But beyond the joy of increasing his chances of survival, there was another reason for his happiness. There was also an amount of competitiveness that he hadn’t realized yet. When he wasn’t grumbling in pain, he thought about the golden-haired girl, Katherine, and whether he could surpass her in the future. Of course, these thoughts passed quickly, bringing a bit of embarrassment and turning his ears red.
Oliver, Alan and a few other boys had gotten used to walking together, mainly because the Academy was enormous, and more people helped find the best routes. The group was among the first to arrive at the cafeteria, but unlike the day before, there was no excitement for breakfast. Some grumbled in pain, while others focused on consuming as much of the goopy food as possible.
However, the group wouldn’t stay together for long. With the start of the Combat Specialization classes, each person had to find their new class. Oliver was, unfortunately, the only one from his group going to Ranger Weapons, while most chose Hand-to-Hand Combat.
After leaving the cafeteria, the boy had to walk along the long trails around the island's center until he found the correct building for his next class. After confirming he was in the right place, he could finally check out the surroundings.
It resembled the training center from the previous day, with a gym-like aspect, but this time, several arenas were scattered across the field.
'Not again…' Internally, Oliver cried, realizing he was in for more physical exertion. His body was on the verge of collapse.
One of his hopes was that he wouldn’t have to exert himself as much since his weapon was long-range. Seeing the arenas, he knew his hopes were in vain.
Another difference he noticed was that this gymnasium had bleachers. Finally, he’d have somewhere to rest before class started. He rushed to the front row and leaned his head against the nearby pillar. Seeking a few minutes of rest, Oliver closed his eyes and tried to nap.
His nap didn’t last long. Just a few minutes later, the gym began filling up with other recruits. However, there was something odd about them. Some of the groups Oliver couldn’t recognize. He could remember most of the recruits from the Second Battalion, having seen them in other classes and the cafeteria.
Another detail he missed was the older officer standing right in the gym’s center. This officer, Oliver, did recognize. The man had no hair except his graying beard, and his limbs were replaced with mechanical prosthetics. There was hardly anyone who looked like him.
He was the same officer who had overseen Oliver’s entrance exam into the Academy.
“Come closer! I don’t want to shout to be heard!” The officer spoke.
The old man raised his voice just enough so the students could hear.
"I am Captain Musk, and I will be your Instructor in Ranger Weapons Combat."
Without activating his armor, Musk conjured a revolver in his hand.
"I joined the army during the Third Wave, a time when we didn’t have the power or ease of Ranger Weapons. While these weapons may not have the glamour of Hand to Hand and Energy Combat, the so called original arts, they will be the best chance for many of you to survive the frontline." Musk explained.
The officer twirled the revolver between his fingers as he walked among the recruits. The students closest to him were impressed by the old man's familiarity and agility with the weapon.
“You may have thought I would teach you how to use your weapons, but that’s impossible. Since each weapon is tailored to your combat style, each one of you will have completely different weapons from the others.” The officer continued to explain.
Musk then stepped up onto one of the arenas.
“Your best chance to train is in real combat. Therefore, our classes will be quite simple. You will be divided into pairs and must fight each other. Before each fight, you must get an Artificial Ranger Armor in the corner of the platform and activate them. Each fight will last three minutes. After the whistle blows, one of you will move on to the next ring, while one combatant stays."
The instructor walked among the students, assigning them to their places. Oliver wasn’t in any of the arenas, as he would be in the group that moved to the next platform after hearing the whistle.
"If you haven’t noticed yet, there are students from both the First and Second Squadrons in each group. This way, you’ll constantly be facing opponents of different levels, giving you a chance to refine your combat and test your skills." Musk commented.
Another familiar voice echoed throughout the gym.
[Enter your arena]
[Combat will start in 60 seconds]
'Oh, damn.'
As Oliver climbed onto the platform, he recognized who he was about to face.
