The Challenge Ignites
“Battle Royale?”
“Yes, it looks like they’re having some fun.”
Claw answered briefly after Velkain’s words.
No reports had come in after the first day when one of the squad members had been left a bloody mess… yet here they were.
“I never imagined my subordinates would be drilling joint techniques together.”
“…Has he been studying military strategy?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t look like there’s much to learn, but… to be honest, I even doubt whether it’s a proper joint technique.”
A commoner with nothing in his possession.
How could a man like that learn something like joint tactics?
Still, one thing bothered him.
‘That movement back then…’
The way Moldrek had been dealt with was shockingly clean and precise. It sent chills down his spine.
Thinking about it, the idea that the man might have studied military strategy or some other martial art was impossible to dismiss.
‘It’s worth investigating…’
There were too many unknowns about this guy.
But that was when it happened.
“Should we set aside that thought for now? Has the reply to the letter we sent to the center arrived yet?”
“Yes, it seems it might take a bit longer.”
“The delivery wasn’t mistaken, was it?”
Velkain’s eyes flashed sharply.
It was too important an issue to be taken lightly.
Claw nodded.
“I entrusted it to someone I trust completely. You need not worry.”
“Hmm… then let’s wait a little longer.”
With the spies lurking here, things would be complicated.
‘No one can be trusted.’
How had the Empire become so rotten?
It was truly frustrating, but there was nothing else to do but wait.
Velkain’s expression as he read the documents was nothing but frustration.
---
Three days later.
As the entire Fourth Platoon gathered at the First Line, known as the battlefield of death.
The challenge from the unexpected Fourth Platoon was unthinkable.
The other platoons’ soldiers felt both disbelief and anger at this situation.
“Those crazy bastards… they’ve lost their minds.”
“Did they just decide to die?”
“Well, so what? Let’s eat well and stuff ourselves before we head to the First Line. They’ll have to prepare there anyway.”
The Fourth Platoon was the one being ridiculed the most within the squad.
Especially after this battle reduced their numbers to five, only one new squad leader had been added.
The whole atmosphere was hostile toward the Fourth Platoon.
Arteon, however, seemed to enjoy the tension and looked at his men with a smile.
“This is the look you’re receiving. How does it feel? Familiar yet?”
The first to answer was Raymon.
“It’s familiar, but not pleasant.”
“Looks like you need a good axe to the head to snap you out of it.”
Bert’s face twisted with open hostility.
The other men didn’t speak, but no one hid their discomfort.
“Everyone ready?”
“Yes, everything is prepared.”
“We can fight at any moment.”
“Ugh…”
“S-Squad Leader… I just need to shoot arrows, right…?”
Graphil trembled as he gripped his bow.
Up until now, he had only ever aimed at targets.
Now that he had to think about fighting people, his hands started shaking uncontrollably.
Arteon said,
“For your arrows, instead of the usual tip, there’ll be a bundle of cotton-wrapped ones. No one will be hurt, so don’t hold back—shoot properly.”
“…Yes.”
Graphil swallowed hard.
The atmosphere had shifted.
Arteon gripped the training spear and stood in the center of his men.
“Listen closely. Focus only on my voice. There will be no retreat.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
“Got it!”
“We will carry out our duties with full commitment.”
All five men answered with determination.
Arteon turned to Hendris beside him.
“We’re ready. Begin.”
“Good. Then the First Platoon first.”
The eight soldiers of the First Platoon stepped forward.
With the recent reinforcements, including their squad leader.
“These idiots have ruined the squad’s image for nothing….”
“Today we’ll teach them a proper lesson.”
The First Platoon members had been glaring menacingly at the other soldiers, as if they already knew what had happened among them.
Arteon asked the squad,
“What kind of trouble did you cause that these guys look like that?”
“Just… nothing when they ignored orders. A few good beatings.”
“…It was a bit too harsh, though.”
“I had no trouble, Squad Leader.”
“You’re not the only one? Zalbarog got beaten half to death too.”
“Their faces weren’t good. So we just gave them a few whacks.”
They were certainly worth paying attention to.
But that could wait.
“Everyone focus. This is the first battle for our Fourth Platoon.”
Even if it was just a battle Royale, this was the official first real fight.
The eyes of Arteon’s men changed instantly.
They knew exactly what this confrontation meant.
‘Here…’
‘If we can’t break through this easily…’
We die on the battlefield of the First Line.
So we had to risk everything in this duel.
The tension skyrocketed.
Then Hendris spoke.
“We’re using training weapons, but we’re heading out in three days. Try not to get seriously injured.”
“Yes!”
“We understand!”
The soldiers of both platoons answered loudly.
Hendris nodded and announced the start.
“Begin.”
“Hraaaah!”
“Just smash them all!”
Following the First Platoon leader’s command, his men charged forward.
Some were well-trained; their spear forms were impressive.
But…
“Bert, only the ones coming straight at you—knock them down. Raphelson and Zalbarog, focus on blocking attacks from the sides with your shields.”
“Hah! No need to worry!”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
The three answered.
“Graphil, prioritize the attackers from the sides and help the shield-bearers.”
“Yes!”
Graphil immediately pulled back the bowstring and prepared to aim.
And finally…
“Raymon.”
“Yes.”
“You handle the front and sides with me. I’ll take the left, you the right.”
“Understood.”
The orders were given.
And the men were already close.
“Fire! Shall I fire?!”
“Hurry up and shoot!”
Bert’s loud voice snapped Graphil out of his hesitation.
The moment…
*Thwack!*
*Thud!*
“Ugh!”
The man who had rushed from the front was struck by the arrow and crashed backward.
Even though it was the cotton-wrapped version, the damage from that speed was severe.
Graphil stared at the fallen man, bewildered.
“I-I…?”
But that was quick.
“Focus! Keep shooting!”
“Yes, yes!”
Following Arteon’s command, Graphil nocked another arrow.
The men were now right in front.
“You bastards!”
“I’ll kill half of you!”
He leaped and thrust his spear at Bert.
But…
*Crack!*
*Smack!*
Bert swung his two axes upward, deflecting the spears.
“What the hell? That was so slow!”
It was slower than Arteon’s swinging attacks—yawningly slow.
And the moment the enemy spears rose into the air, leaving gaps.
*Thud! Thud!*
Arteon and Raymon’s training spears slammed into the chests of the men.
*Thud!*
“Gah!”
The two soldiers staggered back, and Bert leaped forward.
Well, he tried to leap.
*Clunk!*
“Hold the formation! Only defend against the incoming enemies!”
“Ah, understood.”
For a split second, the atmosphere had flared up.
But Bert, having rushed out, cooled off and looked at the remaining men.
Three out of eight had fallen in an instant.
The remaining five showed some hesitation.
“Attack from the sides! Don’t give them time!”
If you hesitate, an arrow will fly.
The First Platoon leader shouted loudly and stepped forward.
First, stop that big brute.
“Hup!”
The First Platoon leader thrust his training spear at Bert.
After all, only Bert and Raymon among the Fourth Platoon knew how to fight.
The others were just gangsters and fools who couldn’t fight.
“Focus on the left side! I’ll grab Bert!”
The left side was Raphelson’s.
He was weaker and shorter than Zalbarog.
But that was exactly why Arteon was there.
“Uwaaah!”
Three men charged at once, and Raphelson screamed and raised his shield.
But then.
*Whoosh.*
“Don’t be scared. I’m right here.”
Arteon, right behind, muttered and thrust his spear at the rushing men.
*Whoosh!*
Straight forward.
It looked like any other attack.
But…
*Boom!*
With a dull thud, the man was blasted backward ten meters.
“……?!”
“W-What?!”
“……!”
The men froze for a moment.
Even the Fourth Platoon members were shocked.
Just from a training spear?
“P-People really get blasted like that?”
“Even First Platoon’s ace, Luke.”
The proud Luke of the First Platoon had done nothing and just flown back.
The First Platoon leader’s face showed his shock.
“Lu-Luke…?”
“Hey, where are you looking?!”
Bert deflected the man’s spear to the side and slammed his forehead into the face.
*Thud!*
The nose was crushed, blood spraying.
“Gah!”
The First Platoon leader screamed and stumbled back.
But this time, Bert didn’t rush out. The difference was…
*Whoosh!*
The moment the First Platoon leader backed away, Raymon extended his spear and struck the man’s chest.
*Boom!*
“……!”
No time to scream or anything.
The First Platoon leader fell to the ground unconscious from the combined assault of Bert and Raymon.
*Thud! Thud!*
The remaining First Platoon members were completely cleared by Arteon.
And…
*Snap!*
The formation that had been disrupted by the battle returned to perfect order.
Only a week.
But if you calculated the time invested in training, it was well over a hundred hours.
It had proven that much change was possible in that short time.
“…Hah.”
Hendris, watching, could not hide his astonishment.
Hendris raised his hand and declared,
“Fourth Platoon wins!”
“Yay!”
“Not bad!”
“We won!”
First victory.
For men who had only been trying to survive until now, it truly felt like the first real win.
‘Well… even if it’s just a training battle.’
The thrill of victory in an official arena could not be explained in mere words.
That day, the Fourth Platoon achieved total victory against every other platoon.
And…
Three days passed.