Far away northwest, a man sat atop a large hill. Alongside him he held a large battle axe and his helmet was resting on the tip of the axe. He placed his axe into the ground and reached for his helmet, that was golden with crimson markings and had a red spiked mohawk lining down the helm.
"This poor land…" The man said poignantly.
"Do you mean the motherland?" A man asked as he approached, he was wearing a yellow and gold ceromonial military uniform with a high collar, ornate blue trim, reinforced shoulder armor, and a black royal mantle.
"No." The man uttered, placing his healmet on his head. "Egypt knows they're under the shadow of morality"
The man stood up, grabbing his axe and resting it over his shoulders.
"They're desperate, the death of their God has shown their true weakness." He had a piteous mumble in his voice.
"And that is?" The other man asked boldly.
The man reached his axe forward, the tip staring down the hill.
"Authority."
Back southeast, throughout the palace remained the recruits—nowed soldiers in training. Each one of them were lined up in no particular order.
"Now squad two. These are your living quarters." He opened a gate showing them all a large area with six different smaller rooms within them, a few bathrooms, and a medium sized outside area for training.
The victors all looked pleased, some more than others.
"Can I have a plant in here?" Luna asked.
"You may decorate your side of the compound however you like. Just don't intrude into someone else's area," Saijew responded.
Luna smiled softly as the General continued. "Get situated in here. As training will start later today."
His gaze locks onto squad one. "Now… You all shall follow me."
Valentina looked at him cautiously yet followed, as so did the rest of her cell. Saijew took them to the other side of the palace. Revealing a large area beyond a few gates that was only slightly smaller than squad two's area.
It also had six beds, a few bathrooms and also had an outside training area as well.
"You all should get comfortable for now," The General said.
Amelia was the first to claim a room as hers, Kibo was next and he picked one on the opposite side, Magnolia also picked one on the left side, yet his room was at the top of his respective side alongside Amelia.
Emma cautiously chose her room and selected the closest room to Magnolia's on the right side of the area. Matthew picked a room on the right side as well. Valentina was the last to choose a room and she selected one on the left side of the room next to her captain.
As magnolia adjusted inside of his new room, kicking, adjusting to his new surroundings he couldn't help but think of one lingering thought.
How am I supposed to be a captain for these people? He thought nearly wearying himself out.
"They're all counting on me. I know they are." He softly muttered to himself.
Next to Magnolia, Valentina was getting accustomed to her new surroundings as well.
"I'll have to back captain up as much as possible huh?" She said.
Hours went by and training had commenced. Saijew firstly took cell One and cell Two outside past the arena to a large outside training facility.
"Squad One you will be on the left side. Squad Two, you will be on the right." Saijew commanded as the two different teams got into position.
Saijew began to walk around the area, watching the recruits, then he spoke up.
"Firstly will be a speed and agility test. One of you will be selected at random, this person will rush throughout the obstacles as fast as possible, then when done, will tag in their respective squad member. Each one of you will follow the same ruleset until each one of you have completed the obstacle course," he declared.
"The team with the fastest time will be elected as victor."
Moments later the soldiers completed setting up the obstacle course. The course included small one by one holes, high areas only accessible from climbing, parkour lanes, and high jump sections.
"Unlike other obstacles courses, you may sabotage your opponents using your contract. However you do that is up to you."
This added information from the General created a mixed reaction from both squads. Some recruits were excited to be able to hinder their opponents's chances at victory, while others were overly cautious of not self sabotaging themselves.
The General was given a small cup with names written on pieces of paper in the cup. He reached into the cup before he pulled out two pieces of paper.
"Valentina will be starting first, alongside Luna."
Valentina nodded as she walked over to the start of the obstacle, Luna doing the same.
Behind Valentina the her squad members were behind her in the following order. Magnolia, Matthew, Kibo, Amelia, and emma.
Correspondingly for Luna her team's members were lined up in the order of Ren, Abraham, Poison, Sous, and Sofia.
"On my signal you may begin." Saijew commanded as the time began to tick slowly.
"NOW!"
Valentina took the first section at a sprint while Luna rode a tide of vines over the second. At the wall, Valentina fired a water bullet that knocked Luna off her plants, then used the same vines Luna had thrown to launch herself over the last platforms. She crossed the line first and tagged in Magnolia.
"Your turn, boss."
"Got it," Magnolia said.
Luna eventually reached the end of the course, before tagging in Ren. "I should've been faster." Luna said defeated. Yet Ren placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll take the burden."
As Ren began the course, Magnolia was already passed the first two sections yet Ren was gaining fast on him. As Magnolia arrived at the third Ren was on the second section, only slightly behind Magnolia.
Ren quickly dashed upwards on the obstacle, he raised his hand, glancing over to Magnolia.
Suddenly Magnolia's vision was blinded as he tripped and plummets back down to the ground.
"What?!" Magnolia yelped, grunting due to the sudden pain.
"The hell happened?" Kibo muttered confused.
"So, he finally uses it," Abraham said.
With Magnolia briefly slowed down, Ren was able to surpass Magnolia and quickly reached the fourth section. Magnolia was able to get up, he quickly adjusted himself before a stinging pain emerges from his back. He pushed through it and arrived alongside Ren at the next section.
The fourth section was comprised of walls that they must jump from one to another several times, before reaching the final section.
Magnolia first starts by going as fast as he could, quickly getting past the first few walls. Ren on the other hand, was taking his time, he picked up his speed on the easier walls yet, slowed down on the more difficult ones.
Magnolia stumbled and almost fell down yet he caught himself. Ren noticed this and sent a flash of light toward Magnolia, but Magnolia turned at the last moment dodging it.
Magnolia quickly lifted himself up over a few walls, yet Ren was slightly ahead of him even while not going as fast as Magnolia.
As his heart races Magnolia was covered by adrenaline, he stumbled and tripped several times but always managed to stand his ground. While Ren, was a few obstacles away from the 5th section.
"He keeps getting pushed back." Kibo uttered, as he softly whistled.
"Come on Captain," Valentina said.
Finally getting ground, Magnolia jumped forward from wall to wall, as his right Arm glowed a bright orange color. He used his arm to keep his balance and positioning while jumping to the next walls.
He's faster. Ren thought to himself, while he jumped to the 5th section. As he landed on a platform, he almost tripped yet he caught himself at the last moment.
Magnolia dashed quickly and greeted Ren at the 5th section. Ren sighed in annoyance yet began to leap from platform to platform.
Magnolia followed, however Ren wasn't making it easy. As Magnolia jumped Ren shot out small yet accurate beams of light towards Magnolia, causing Magnolia to momentarily deal with the distraction. This gave Ren enough time to continue the section on his own while Magnolia was occupied.
Magnolia regained his positioning, looked forwards and saw Ren nearing the finish line.
He's almost there. Magnolia thought to himself, staring at his glowing arm for a moment. He swiped his arm toward Ren's direction as small yet potent fire balls emerge, knocking Ren off course.
Grunting, Ren pulled himself upwards, but Magnolia was right infront of him. Ren quickly got up and shot a beam of light at Magnolia's foot, causing him to trip.
Ren ran forward, yet Magnolia was already back up, he punched the ground sending a shockwave that knocked Ren backward and himself forward.
Using his gained momentum Magnolia emerged at the finish line.
"There he is!" Amelia elected proudly.
"Heh.." Valentina mumered, pleased with the outcome.
"Magnolia and Ren have finished at the same time. It's a tie."
Magnolia eyes widen in shock hearing the generals words, he looked towards his left and saw his opponent, who was just far behind him, yet now next to him.
"What?!" Kibo blurted out, confused as so was the rest of his cell.
Ren dusted off his clothing before returning towards his squad.
"That was nice Ren. You turned around last second and using the momentum Magnolia generated to launch yourself forward also," Abraham explained.
"You also used your ability to quickly blind him from seeing what you were doing," Sous interjected.
"Too bad we only tied though," Ren said.
Magnolia walked runs over to his squad, tagging in Matthew.
"You did good, Magnolia. I'll do my part." Matthew said confidently. Quickly running towards the course.
Ren tagged in Abraham as Abraham dashed over to his side of the course as well.
Locking eyes the two competitors began the obstacle course, Matthew immediately placed barriers to block Abraham's path, yet Abraham was able to dodge and go around them.
Is he more agile than before? Matthew thought to himself, creating more barriers to stop Abraham's progress.
Abraham swiped his finger across the barriers, creating several glowing symbols across Matthew's barriers, Abraham jumped on top of the barriers and kicked the barrier from up top. Causing it to slide and knock the other barriers forward, Abraham jumped between barrier and barrier. Matthew saw this and began disassembling his barriers, but Abraham jumped at the last second before the barrier under him vanishes, arriving at the second section already.
Don't tell me he's using the symbols to act as a receiver. Matthew thought to himself, rushing forward to try to catch up to Abraham.
Matthew placed a barrier infront of him as he reached the second section slowly after Abraham had.
Halfway through the second section, Abraham had to swing onto a magnitude of different sized ropes, before he could be at the third section.
Abraham jumped and climbed upward on ropes, swung his feet back, then used his momentum to launch himself further, catching himself up on another rope.
Matthew slowly approached the ropes and did the same, yet he waited for Abraham to jump again. He placed a barrier at the last second in-front of Abraham, causing Abraham to crash right into the barrier.
Matthew smirked as Abraham barley catches himself, with one arm holding onto the rope. His grip was slowly slipping, while his opponent was already at the third section.
Matthew began to climb the large wall in front of him, while Abraham managed to pull himself toward. Moments later Abraham had arrived at the third section while Matthew was already at the fourth.
"He's got too much of a lead." Abraham murmered, irritated.
Matthew continued running through the third section, quickly jumping from wall to wall while Abraham climbed the large wall behind him.
As Abraham reached the top, he quickly swiped his finger across the wall.
The wall suddenly shifted slightly, causing Matthew to lose his footing for a moment.
"What?" Matthew said.
Abraham continued jumping between the walls, using his symbols to slightly change their positions whenever he needed to gain more distance.
He's using those symbols to control the walls.
Matthew quickly realized what Abraham was doing, as he created several barriers around himself while jumping toward the next wall.
Abraham noticed the barriers appearing in front of him and quickly changed the direction of the wall he was standing on.
The wall shifted sideways.
"You're not getting past me that easily," Matthew said.
Abraham jumped toward it, but instead of stopping, he placed his hand against the barrier and left another golden symbol across its surface.
The barrier suddenly moves sideways.
Matthew's eyes widen.
"You're using my barriers too?"
Abraham smiled slightly, as he jumped from the moving barrier toward the next wall.
"I only need something to stand on."
Matthew quickly began creating more barriers beneath himself, using them as stepping stones while Abraham continued through the course.
Both of them reach the fifth section almost at the same time.
Abraham jumped onto the first platform, then immediately leaped toward the next one as Matthew created a barrier in front of him.
Abraham noticed it at the last moment and twisted his body in midair.
Matthew continued creating barriers between the platforms, forcing Abraham to constantly change his direction.
He's trying to slow me down.
Abraham quickly placed another golden symbol on the platform beneath him before jumping away.
The platform shifted forward.
Abraham was launched toward the final platform, landing hard on his feet before immediately sprinting toward the finish.
Matthew saw him getting closer and created one final barrier directly in front of Abraham.
Abraham reached the barrier, placed his hand against it, and activated the symbol he left behind earlier.
The barrier suddenly moves away.
Abraham jumped through the opening and reached the finish line first, quickly turning around as Matthew continued running toward the same area.
Saijew watched the clock closely before stopping it once both runners had crossed the finish line.
"Abraham finishes first."
He looked down at the time before continuing.
"Matthew finishes shortly after."
Abraham turned around and immediately rushed toward his next teammate.
"Poison."
Poison looked toward him as Abraham approached, extending his hand forward.
"You better make this worth the trouble."
Poison quickly tapped Abraham's hand before rushing toward the starting area.
At the same time, Matthew reached his own finish line and immediately turned around, quickly running toward Kibo.
"Kibo."
Kibo stepped forward and extended his hand.
Matthew tagged him.
"Don't let him get too far ahead."
Kibo smiled slightly.
"I won't."
Kibo vanished three times before the first section ended, and each time Poison swung at empty air. By the walls, Poison had stopped swinging and started guessing. He guessed right on the last platform, grabbing the back of Kibo's shirt as he reappeared, and crossed the line first.
"You cheated," Kibo said, breathing hard.
"You disappeared," Poison said. "Same thing."
Poison tagged in Sous. Kibo staggered across to Amelia and slapped her shoulder.
Amelia took risks and Sous took the shortcuts, and it came down to the last platforms. Her foot slipped on a wall and he passed her. She caught him on the final jumps and crossed the line a breath ahead.
"You barely beat me," Sous said.
"A win is a win."
"For now."
Amelia tagged in Emma. On the far side, Sous tagged Sofia.
Sofia sabotaged first, shifting the surface under Emma's hands at the wall. Emma answered by bending the air around her mid-jump, landing ahead of Sofia for the first time. Sofia caught her on the final platforms and finished a step in front.
"You used your contract more than expected," Sofia said, trying to hide how impressed she was.
Saijew walked toward them while checking the recorded time.
"That's the point of the exercise," he explained.
"Your contracts aren't only weapons." Saijew looked toward the course.
"They can change the battlefield, interfere with an opponent, create openings, or give you an advantage when raw speed isn't enough."
Poison glanced toward Kibo.
"Some people already figured that out."
Kibo shrugged. "I disappear."
Poison frowned. "That's not exactly sabotage."
"It distracted you."
"Fair."
Saijew looked down at his clock again before addressing both squads.
"The obstacle course is finished."
Everyone waited.
"The winning squad is Squad One."
Valentina smiled slightly.
"That's what I'm talking about."
Poison shook his head. "You were behind me."
"And our squad still won," Matthew laughed.
"Congratulations."
Magnolia nodded.
"Likewise."
Saijew stepped forward before the recruits could continue celebrating.
"Don't mistake a victory in training for mastery."
The recruits became quiet.
"Today you learned that speed matters."
He looked across both squads.
"But so does timing, awareness, and knowing when to use what you've been given."
Magnolia looked toward his teammates.
Valentina stood confidently beside him while Matthew, Kibo, Amelia, and Emma recovered from the course.
Across from them, Ren and the others were doing the same.
Saijew lowered the clock.
"Rest for ten minutes."
The recruits finally relaxed as they began moving away from the course.
Magnolia remained behind for a moment, looking at the obstacles and thinking about everything that had happened.
Being captain wasn't about being the strongest person on the field.
He was beginning to understand that it meant knowing how everyone else could contribute.
And that was something he still had to learn.
Ren walked up to Saijew, before speaking.
"We weren't truly selected at random were we now?" Ren asked.
"Nothing is ever random in war. You'll understand that soon enough boy," Saijew said.