Man Of Systems

Chapter 5: Military Training

“Hmm, why is this child taking so long?” Molla wondered as she entered Rael’s room, intending to clean it up a little, gazing at the closed windows, “The air here is a bit stale.”

She then opened the window, intending to sweep the dust on the floor when something fell into her gaze. It was a piece of paper, placed on the table, held in place by paperweight.

As Rael never left something like that outside, she was curious as to what it was, grabbing hold of it as she wore her spectacles, reading through what seemed to be a letter.

“Aunt, I’m going to avenge my parents…”

Upon reading the first line, Molla fainted.

Rael Rukh got up and followed the crowd, walking through a long corridor as he observed that the bags brought by everyone was pretty small. There wasn’t anything much in them.

Very few people brought in large bags, as if they were on a trip. Though, irrespective of whether they brought any luggage or came hands-free, the soldiers didn’t even bat an eye, standing at their respective spots as they watched the crowd pass by them.

Once they walked past, a couple of soldiers whispered, “How many do you think would return alive this time?”

“Should be higher than usual.” One of them said, “Seems this is a more competent bunch.”

“Let’s hope that is the case…”

The corridor was long, spanning a couple of kilometres in length. But, none from the group complained, walking along, prepared for whatever they had to face.

Rael too kept pace with everyone, but his breathing was slightly more laboured than the others. Even though they were just walking, the pace was pretty quick as they followed after the man in the front.

He was a soldier, one that introduced himself as Beluman Maugar. After the introductions, he didn’t say anything except for them to follow him.

‘Mom, Dad, I’ll bring you justice and complete your mission.’ Rael firmed himself, gently placing his hand on the choker, feeling the coin. He had already experimented and determined that he was only able to communicate with the System through speaking.

That means, he couldn’t converse with it while in the open. Since he decided to accept it, he had no reason to reveal this secret. After all, he was the only one that was able to use the System now. And, if news of this was leaked, there is a good chance the Garracks would invade to take it away.

The Federation didn’t have the power to resist a horde of double-digit Garracks. So, until he reached a level where he could defend against such an outcome, he didn’t plan on revealing anything, not to mention leaving behind any traces.

So, putting on his most nonchalant face, Rael continued to pace with his peers, soon arriving out in the open, gazing at a massive ship that stood before them.

Spanning a length of 600 metres, a breadth of 300 metres, oval in shape was the metal construct. At its front was the head, resembling a beetle as Beluman Maugar smiled upon gazing at it, “Class C Star Beetle; this is where you’ll be spending the next one month. Now, come on board.”

A hatch opened as he entered first, watching everyone board it one after another. Upon entry, they arrived within a massive dome, spanning most of the ship’s area.

A team of personnel arrived, hollering many names, assigning the living quarters to each. Rael was assigned his room soon after, entering it to see that it was rather spacious, spanning a length of eight metres and a breadth of five metres, with an attached bathroom atop that.

There was a cupboard beside the bed. He opened it, noticing that it was stacked to the brim full of clothes. And, they were all his size.

“Attention recruits, change into the provided set of clothes and assemble within 300 seconds.”

Suddenly, a voice resounded from the speaker attached to the room, prompting him to hurry as he quickly changed into the provided set of clothes.

They were white, made from a material resembling cotton. He wore it and rushed out of his room, hurrying along the corridor, for 300 seconds was just too little time, considering the distance he had to traverse within the corridor.

And, just as he began to run, there was a subtle jerk throughout the spaceship that took flight, slowly gaining altitude before flying towards space.

Rael barely managed to reach the dome as he noticed others continuing to stream in through the many corridors like ants. The dome was situated in the centre while surrounding it was the living quarters.

Beluman was standing atop a raised platform as he watched everyone clutter into a crowd before him. As they weren’t soldiers yet and hadn’t been drilled the basics, he didn’t comment on their disorderly mess.

Taking in a deep breath, he announced, “We’re heading towards the Outpost B-29, Codenamed Long Nails. Our destination would arrive in 30 Union Days. Until then, I’ll be giving you basic training.”

“After all,” He smirked, “You’ll have to undergo our screening test to be accepted as soldiers and receive the power of Plasma. Without any training, you’ll just die useless deaths. So, listen to everything I say. That’s all.”

“Give me ten laps around this place now.” He then turned immobile as the recruits were confused, unable to accustom to the erratic pace followed by Beluman.

Those with a military background immediately began to jog through the set path as everyone else followed soon after.

‘Ahh!’ Rael was worried, beginning to pant within a couple of minutes, looking around to notice that everyone else fared better than him. Thanks to being sick numerous times in recent years, his physique was as horrible as it could be.

He gazed at a student running before him, not even breaking a sweat until now, uttering mentally, ‘Appraise’.

[Name: Della Skorn]

[Origin: Wrister City (Planet: Strombus Nebula)]

[Age: 14 Union Years]

[Race: Human]

[Might: 9]

[Toughness: 7]

[Mobility: 10]

[Endurance: 11]

[Plasma: 0]

[Rank: Unranked]

The moment he saw her stats, he broke out into cold sweat. For, even though she was a year younger than him, her stats were way better than his. It was not to mention her endurance had already surpassed the average.

She was just a random human that he casually picked to appraise. Soon, Rael observed more than ten people, understanding that he was indeed the weakest here. There was no doubt about that.

People like Della Skorn were normal, and there were many around him that exceeded the average stats by a lot.

“Huff…puff…haahhh…hah!” Rael gasped for air, noticing his legs failing to follow his intentions. He was still in his seventh lap. Even this already came as a surprise to him, but it clearly wasn’t enough.

Countless gazes fell on him, for everyone had finished their laps by now, looking at him like he was from an exotic species. After all, those that applied to become soldiers had a better physique than the average populace.

‘Hm, this guy…’ Beluman frowned, taking out his tablet as he used it to scan Rael’s information.

Rael’s identity card served as a transmitter, allowing Beluman to discover his information with the tap of a button.

‘Rael Rukh…has a frail body and often falls sick. Has great academic accomplishments and received offer letters from multiple companies in Wrister City already.’ Beluman then looked at the list of companies that had invited Rael for workshops, to attend lectures, internships, etc. surprised at the list.

‘I see, so he plans to become a soldier so that he can improve his physique and no longer fall sick.’ Beluman concluded, ‘Indeed, anyone that reaches the E Rank will no longer fall sick. And even the least talented of soldiers can attain that.’

He didn’t bother with Rael beyond that, beginning to instruct everyone else. The training only consisted of light exercises to move the body better, increase one’s agility, etc.

They were given ample breaks to eat and rest. The training wasn’t anything intense. For those that hailed from a military background, this was a walk in the park for them, so much so that they continued to train on their own even after the session ended.

But for Rael, he wasn’t even able to keep up with the training regime, struggling a lot. Though, upon seeing some results, he was rather happy.

The first week consisted of basic training involving the physique. The second week was about basic hand-to-hand combat. The third week was about performing first aid, treatments, etc.

Finally, the fourth week was about using weapons, knives and guns. This was the first time Rael had to shoot a gun, surprised at the loud sound it produced. His hands trembled with every shot he fired, noticing his wrists turning red in the end, unable to handle such exertion.

Though, he had already come a long way from the start, now able to complete ten laps without making a mess of himself.

Beluman taught him basic exercises to use a knife and a short sword, followed by shooting a couple of guns.

They were given an unlimited supply of bullets, told to practice in the shooting range for as long as they liked. Beluman made rounds through the shooting range, giving suggestions on their shooting postures from time to time, teaching them efficient ways to reload, etc.

They were also made to wear a tactical suit and perform all the exercises from the beginning, making them get used to moving while wearing it.

As it was just a month of training, the results weren’t spectacular. But, it was better than plunging everyone straight into the field.

Finally, after the end of a month, the voice from the speaker resounded in all the rooms, “Recruits, we’ll be approaching Outpost B-29 in two hours. Everyone is advised to wear their tactical suits and assemble in ten minutes.”

“It’s finally here,” Rael sat on the bed, noticing his hands shivering from tension, for he hadn’t fought in his life, not a life and death battle. Even though he wasn’t sure as to what the screening test consisted of, based on the rumours he heard, there was a significant death rate.

So, he wasn’t calm.

As for the tactical suit, he had already worn it, for having it on him comforted him better than without.

There wasn’t any weapon in it though, for he would be issued them after this, at least, based on the announcement.

“I guess there is no point in delaying it any further. This is the reason I’ve come here.” Slapping his cheeks, he adjusted the helmet and exited the room, heading towards the centre of the dome, assembling with others.

By the end of the announced duration, everyone had assembled as Beluman gazed at them, speaking, “7864 Recruits have joined for this month’s screening test. And, I hope as many of you can pass it. All the best!”

As the recruits were prepared to hear a detailed set of instructions, his abruptly short speech stunned them. And, by the time they could process it, white mist gushed out of the floor, quickly drowning them within.

“What the heck is this?” Rael was flustered, hearing screams around him. Though, he had only taken a step forward before his head spun. Losing balance, he plopped on the floor, falling unconscious after a couple of seconds.

All the recruits fell unconscious as Beluman gazed at the surrounding soldiers, “Let’s take action.”

The spaceship, Star Beetle arrived above a greyish-blue planet, beginning to descend as the soldiers within began to carry all the recruits.

…

“Ugh…” Rael groaned, feeling groggy when realisation quickly hit him, briskly getting up.

“Where…am I?” He looked around, noticing that he was in a messy room with steel walls. There were some old shelves nearby, sporting dusty old books with damaged pages. There was a clutter of miscellaneous items on the ground while signs of rust were ever-present.

There was barely any illumination in the room, the only source being the window nearby through which moonlight leaked through. As Rael peered through it, he was shocked, “T-Three moons?”

Suddenly, his thoughts turned blank as he covered his ears, hearing a sharp screech as if a pointed object was being used to roughly scratch upon the steel walls.

And, following it were the sounds of commotion as Rael hurriedly peered through the window, noticing a recruit jump out of it in fear and land on the ground, causing a splotching sound to resound. After all, he had jumped from five storeys high.