Chapter 6
Earth Element
In Flying City, the military rarely appears except under special circumstances. Barracks and soldiers are not seen within the inner city. But this does not mean the city lacks protection. Thirty kilometers west of Flying City, a military camp sits on the only flat stretch along the mountainside that surrounds half the capital. Locals commonly refer to it as the West Coast Military Base. Both Flying City residents and citizens of the Skyborne Empire know this unit well.
The West Coast Military Base maintains a defense system that stretches along the mountain range. Dozens of flying squads and hundreds of rapid-response teams form the strongest shield protecting the fortress of Flying City. Yet the camp is not famous for its modern machinery, but rather for its people—or more precisely, for a group known as the Iron Sword.
This force has always been the dream of every cadet at the military academy, the goal of every swordsman, and the proud symbol of the Skyborne Empire's military.
It is six in the morning. Dawn glitters beyond the sea. A new day slowly spills light over the West Coast Military Base. High above, a spaceship quietly approaches the camp, circling past the watchtower before landing on the platform.
Luc Thien steps down, his face full of worry. The princess has made a decision that catches him completely off guard. Until last night, he still believed Luc Chau was the kind of sister who cried easily and needed protection. He doesn't know when she changed.
At the ship's doorway, a middle-aged man waits for Luc Thien. He wears a gray military uniform, a long coat, black shoulder epaulets, and tightly fitted trousers tucked into boots so polished they could serve as mirrors.
His thumb and index finger constantly rest on his thick, long, and straight beard. The soldiers in the camp silently refer to him as "Mr. Brush." Luc Thien bows and solemnly greets him:
- Supreme Commander Nhat Long!
Nhat Long nods, slightly puffing out his chest to show off the dazzling medals pinned there. Luc Thien remembers clearly the color and shape of every single one.
Some say Mr. Brush has always carried himself with confident flair; others say he has always tried to show off his achievements. Luc Thien has always believed both. The commander says:
- You're late!
"You're late!" has always been the commander's standard opening line. Luc Thien has grown used to it, so he simply smiles and continues:
- Commander, have you heard the news?
- The Emperor called me directly. He wants to deploy the Thunder God.
Luc Thien takes a deep breath and says softly:
- This is the Emperor's idea, but he's still negotiating with the Conclave Council. Honestly, I'm worried, sir. There's nothing good about the Conclave Council. If anything good does come from them, it always comes at a fair price.
- You should stay optimistic, because the Conclave Council can still negotiate. If it were the Parliament, your father wouldn't stand a chance. - Nhat Long replies - The Thunder God is still in testing phase. The operational cost hasn't even been calculated. Submitting it to Parliament for review? The Emperor risks a vote of no confidence! But the Conclave Council is different—they're your father's last resort. Show him some sympathy.
Just moments ago, Luc Thien took a deep breath. Now he exhales, the air slipping past his teeth as a quiet sigh. He and Commander Nhat Long walk into the camp. On the way, Luc Thien thinks for a moment, then says:
- Honestly, I don't think the Emperor has actually deployed the Thunder God. This journey should be secret—the fewer people who know, the better. That… Thunder God is really huge. Can't you tell?
Nhat Long strokes his short beard and laughs:
- You think that giant spacecraft is just here to protect your sister? No, the Emperor is calculating far beyond that. The war isn't over, Luc Thien. The resource war may have ended over thirty years ago, but the ashes are still hot—still red. One breath is all it takes to ignite a new flame. You know what exists in this dreamworld.
Luc Thien shakes his head, the thoughtful look on his face growing more obvious. The commander continues:
- By the way, your father asks for my help. If he succeeds in negotiating with that bunch of The Conclave Council, I'll be the Supreme Commander of Thunder God. The command of this base will be handed over to you.
- Me? Why? - Luc Thien is startled - The West Coast Military Base is complicated. I can't take that responsibility, sir!
- Then your first complicated task is to prepare a speech for the media. - Nhat Long replies - Becoming commander of the West Coast Military Base at thirty is a great achievement! Reporters will swarm here like flies, so answer them carefully.
The commander smiles and walks leisurely, as if he has just unloaded someone else's burden. Luc Thien stands motionless. If this is true, then in a few months he'll be standing in Nhat Long's place, wearing a gray command uniform and shiny boots. Who knows—maybe a long, straight brush-like beard will grow around his mouth. At that thought, Luc Thien shivers.
Meanwhile, someone else shivers too. In a vehicle lot inside the West Coast Military Base, Vo Phong wakes up among a pile of machines and equipment. He still feels confused and stunned.
Last night, the red-haired guy jumped into the convoy of armed vehicles. Because he jumped too hastily, Vo Phong hit his head against the side of a vehicle and lost consciousness.
Now he realizes he's inside the military camp. It's not hard to predict what awaits Vo Phong next. He'll be shackled, his money pouch will be confiscated, and people will throw him into prison for illegal entry and theft. The charges will pile up, and his bones will soon rot behind bars.
The red-haired guy peeks out from the side of the vehicle. A few dozen meters away, hundreds of soldiers are training in the center of the exercise field. Around the field are watchtowers, security systems, and patrolling guards—not even a mouse could slip through, let alone a red-haired guy that big. Still unsure how to sneak out, Vo Phong suddenly remembers his uniform. Thought becomes action: he quickly changes clothes, jumps down from the vehicle, and doesn't forget to grab his money pouch.
For money—for his dream of wealth—he's willing to take the risk. Vo Phong leans against the vehicle, quietly observing the situation. When the parking lot clears out, he tries to stay calm and slips away quickly. But he hasn't gone far when a voice shouts:
- Where's that guy going?
The red-haired guy jumps in fright, his back suddenly soaked in sweat. He turns to identify the speaker. A tall, muscular soldier with glossy dark skin approaches, wearing a uniform so stretched it looks ready to burst at the seams. He lowers his head, his pitch-black face revealing only a pair of large eyes—no nose, no mouth in sight. He studies Vo Phong for a moment, then lifts his chin toward the red-haired guy:
- I'm asking you, where are you going? The red-haired guy lifts his face. The soldier towers over him, his overwhelming presence pressing down like a mountain. Vo Phong holds his breath and blurts out:
- I… I just arrived…
- Just arrived? A new recruit? Got certification from above?
Vo Phong fumbles through his pockets, pretending to search. In truth, he has no documents. After rummaging through his clothes in vain, he desperately reaches into his money pouch. The dark-skinned soldier squints, his nostrils flaring with impatience. As Vo Phong digs through bundles of cash, his fingers suddenly brush against something rough. He pulls it out—it's a green-bound document.
The soldier snatches it and flips through the pages, reading with full concentration. His gaze shifts from the red-haired guy to the densely written text. After finishing, he smiles, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth on his deep-black face—like a demon emerging from the shadows:
- Welcome to Logistics Unit 201! I'm Captain Grizzly!
Grizzly shakes hands with the red-haired guy. His grip is like steel pincers cutting metal—Vo Phong's face turns pale from the pain. After a friendly greeting, Grizzly returns the document and fires off his words like bullets:
- Impressive results! But don't think it's that simple. I'll check on you later! Now let's talk about Logistics Unit 201. Including me, there are twenty people. The members are all kind and lovely—unless someone gives them trouble. So why aren't you training yet? Come with me, quick! What's your name? Vo Phong? Good, Vo Phong boy, let's go!
Grizzly strides ahead. The red-haired guy follows behind, mouth slightly open, nodding repeatedly, his face blank with confusion—he has no idea what's going on.
Just minutes ago, he was a criminal bound for the warehouse. Minutes later, he was a trainee soldier of Logistics Unit 201.
Sensing something bad, Vo Phong hurriedly checks his personal file. What hits his eyes is a certificate proving he has graduated from the National Officer Academy with "excellent" results. And that's not all—it also includes praise like "outstanding cadet," "strong morals, strict discipline, high team spirit," and even the phrase "a rare talent."
At the bottom is a glaring red stamp confirming the information is valid. In short, the Vo Phong on this document is nothing like the Vo Phong in real life.
"What the hell is this?" - The red-haired guy's face stretches in disbelief. He's heard of the military academy through Boss Lap's endless bragging, but he doesn't even recognize the school's appearance, let alone study there. Vo Phong suspects someone slipped the document into his money pouch while he was unconscious. "Which bastard pulled this nasty trick? Why would he do this?" - Vo Phong curses, his mind tangled like a bowl of chive soup.
On the road, Vo Phong runs into a group of people wearing blue-gray uniforms, swords at their hips, and sword emblems stitched onto their sleeves, surrounded by three flags. He doesn't need to ask—he knows they're members of the Iron Sword. Even movie stars aren't as famous as the Iron Sword.
Thanks to their presence, he immediately confirms he's in the West Coast Military Base. But then a strange thought hits the red-haired guy: if his file is so impressive, why isn't he joining the Iron Sword? Why is he stuck in this monkey logistics unit?
As if reading his mind, Grizzly throws an arm around his shoulder and laughs:
- I know you want to join the Iron Sword, but you need a lot more than that! Those profile pages aren't enough! Come on, join our Logistics Unit 201 and have some fun! Everyone here is friendly and easy to get along with—I promise!
Vo Phong forces a bitter smile, unsure what to say. The two head toward the northern side of the camp. After walking about five hundred meters, Vo Phong sees a building separated from most other units.
The row of houses is old, with gray walls covered in peeling paint, glass doors smeared with grime, dust, and cobwebs. Outside the main entrance stands a huge sign that reads "Under Renovation". Grizzly says:
- This is the home of Logistics Unit 201!
Vo Phong looks around and finds the place too rundown:
- Why not fix it?
- "Under renovation"—who says we're not fixing it? - Grizzly laughs.
Grizzly reaches out and pushes the main gate. The iron door rolls to the right, trembling like a frail old man dragging his body. A wave of moldy air hits them, and Vo Phong frowns in discomfort. The building has no furniture or military gear. The space is empty, except for a practice area scattered with broken sword fragments. Grizzly points to the floor:
- This is our training ground. We'll test you here tomorrow.
Vo Phong holds his breath, staring at the uneven metal pieces scattered across the floor:
- Real swords?
- That's right.
- But… but this is a logistics unit! - The red-haired guy stammers.
- Logistics needs training too, hehehe! - Grizzly laughs heavily.
Sweat runs down the red-haired guy's forehead. He imagines himself half-dead, sprinting, while Grizzly chases him with a sword, ready to kill. "Fun must be understood!" - Vo Phong feels bored. Grizzly leads him to a small room.
Inside, a soldier is busy cleaning dozens of rifles scattered across the table. The soldier is short and stocky, with a tough expression. Upon seeing Grizzly, he bows his head in greeting. Grizzly nods and introduces:
- Vermin, deputy captain, will guide your training. Hey, Vermin, this is a new recruit. Take good care of him. I've got a call, that's all!
The dark-skinned man leaves quickly, as if escaping trouble. Vermin stares at the newcomer with lifeless eyes. Vo Phong's spine chills—he feels like he's standing next to a serial killer. After several minutes of dead silence, Vermin speaks:
- Where are you from?
- I… I'm from the military academy. - The red-haired guy blurts out.
Vermin squints, and his thick eyebrows droop instantly, like bow-shaped arcs:
- The military academy?
- Yes, yes! That's right!
The deputy captain smiles faintly:
- Interesting. And your hair… doesn't get in the way? - He nudges his chin.
The military has strict rules about uniforms and hair. Vo Phong's hair is long, colorful, and reeks from rarely bathing. In the junk market, "bathing" is a fancy and luxurious concept. Vo Phong scratches his ear:
- Do I have to cut my hair?
Vermin shakes his head:
- No. No one forces that. You can style it however you want—we don't forbid it. There's a bathroom in the back. Use it. You smell awful!
The red-haired guy nods meekly. After showering, he puts on a new uniform and receives a face-covering hood, a rifle, and a sword. He pays special attention to the sword; the blade is over half a meter long and retracts into the hilt—compact and lightweight.
In the Garbage Market, he saw several swords like this. This sword has such capability because it's made of a super-flexible alloy—highly elastic, yet still durable and strong. Vermin also hands him a dagger:
- Don't forget this. It's extremely useful. Chop trees, pry doors, dig latrine pits, or slit throats—it does it all.
Vermin grins, his half-closed eyes carving two deep lines. Vo Phong's brain freezes, his face twists, and he laughs along with Vermin. Afterward, the red-haired guy tosses his money pouch into his personal locker and carefully locks it. Suddenly, he notices a black door in the corner engraved with the word "Earth Element". Vo Phong freezes. He's not unfamiliar with the term and asks:
- What room is this? What does "Earth Element" mean?
Vermin replies:
- The common lounge of Logistics Unit 201. Come in. See who we are.
Vo Phong pushes the door open. In front of him is an empty room. No tables or chairs, no lockers, no weapons—nothing. Except for one thing: all four walls are covered with hundreds of paintings. Many are ugly and crude, yet in places, they resemble works of art. The messages are wildly diverse—from vulgar to deeply philosophical sorrow. The room feels like an art museum, preserving works ranging from gold to rice husks[1]. It's hard to imagine who created this space. A poet? A painter? Or a thug, a thief? Maybe all of them? - He wonders.
The walls are plastered with personal grudges:
"I want to kill the captain. That bastard father made me clean toilets!"
Longer lines resemble broken diary entries:
"The spaceship engine caught fire. Most died. New members arrive next week."
But the most striking is the giant phrase on the wall opposite the entrance. It's spray-painted, taking up most of the surface. Strangely, no one covers or defaces it. It stands like a motto that blankets the entire room:
"A soldier's life is just a dagger - Manh Ho."
Vo Phong doesn't know how to describe this place. But from those words, he realizes that Logistics Unit 201 is not what its name suggests. Behind him, Vermin says:
- We don't provide logistics. We carry out dangerous missions—deadly ones. The Iron Sword is in the light; we operate in the dark. They recruit the excellent; we recruit the exceptional. They want dedication; we want lives. They want smart minds; we want madmen. They get glory; we get filth. Welcome to Earth Element—the most elite special unit in Skyborne Empire.
- Then… who is Manh Ho? - The red-haired guy asks.
Vermin replies:
- The former captain. Since its founding, Earth Element has undergone many "blood changes." Five years ago, all previous members died in battle—including the Manh Ho. We replaced them and became the new team. This room preserves the legacy of Earth Element across generations.
Vo Phong stands frozen and silent. He begins to recall the dream that's haunted him for months—the one where someone tries to speak to him aboard the spaceship. "Captain Manh Ho? Was it him?" - He asks himself.
The internship at Logistics Unit 201 is boring. Vo Phong's only tasks are patrolling the camp and writing harvest reports. Every time he comes across the name "Earth Element," the red-haired guy feels confused, drifting through the morning like he's lost his soul. Vermin reads a few lines of his half-hearted report and tosses it straight into the trash bin:
- Rewrite it! If you don't, skip lunch!
The red-haired guy is furious, nearly losing his mind, sitting there jabbing his pen over and over. Only now does he realize that lying on paper is harder than lying with his own mouth. After an hour of linguistic struggle, he finally finishes. Time flies, and the sun beams directly overhead.
Vo Phong is now having lunch in the camp cafeteria with the members of Logistics Unit 201. They sit in a secluded corner, calmly eating and drinking, ignoring the curious stares from all directions. Vo Phong finds it hard to swallow, as soldiers from afar keep pointing at him, whispering as if judging a pet dog.
But Vo Phong isn't the only odd one. The members of Logistics Unit 201 are truly bizarre. Their heights and builds are completely inconsistent: some are tall and massive, others short and scrawny; some have messy hair, others are bald and shiny. It's hard to believe this is the most elite special unit in Phi Thiên Nation.
In the West Coast Military Base, almost no one knows which division Logistics Unit 201 belongs to, what kind of work they do, or even what "Earth Element" means. Under the shadow of the Iron Sword, their existence feels redundant.
At the table, the atmosphere is quiet. Everyone focuses on filling their stomachs. Vo Phong counts again and again, seeing seventeen people at the table. Grizzly isn't eating due to work, and the member Beast hasn't come back yet because he's busy with a personal mission. Vo Phong counts in his head: the total number in the unit is only nineteen—not even twenty. He asks Vermin:
- Where's the other one?
- Dead. - Vermin replies without emotion.
The words slide from his ears down his throat, nearly choking Vo Phong. According to the deputy captain, a few years ago, the Earth Element Unit had a sniper nicknamed Ai Nu. Based on all squad and solo mission records, Ai Nu had never missed a shot. There was only one mission where Ai Nu failed to hit the target—and that was the last day he ever held a rifle. Vermin coldly recounted the old story:
- We received an order to kill a terrorist. He suddenly moved, and Ai Nu missed. The enemy discovered our hiding spot. They fired artillery nonstop. Ai Nu was severely wounded, and I had no choice but to leave him behind.
The only thing Vermin could do was return with Ai Nu's rank badge. Since last year until now, the unit has not recruited any new snipers, because experienced marksmen have been assigned to another team, and the candidates have not been suitable for the job. But more importantly, no one has matched Ai Nu's shooting skills. The deputy captain has firmly stated, like a nail driven into a pole, that Ai Nu has been the best sniper in the world. A team member nicknamed Dark Rat is currently filling that position.
Dark Rat sits on the left side of the dining table, bald, his eyes fixed on Vo Phong. The red-haired guy avoids the bald man's gaze and continues speaking:
- Maybe he's been awarded a Medal of Honor?
- Medal of Honor?
The deputy captain repeats the phrase, lips curling into a smile, then buries his head and focuses on eating lunch. Next to Vermin sit two twin brothers, who have been listening in since earlier. One of them says:
- Freedom is enough. Who needs medals?
- Exactly! - The other one chimes in - Long live freedom! Eternal money!
Vo Phong is stunned:
- No awards? What does "freedom" mean?
One of the twins replies:
- "A soldier's life is just a dagger," right?
Vo Phong stops eating and lowers his head in thought. He feels there's something strange about this unit—the members seem like puzzle pieces reluctantly forced together.
If he really was the deputy captain of Earth Element, what was the unit like in the past? What about Captain Manh Ho? What kind of person was he? So many questions give Vo Phong an indescribable headache.
The whole team is eating when suddenly, Grizzly is showing up. He is tossing a document onto the table and grinning:
- Listen up, folks! In three months, we are going on a long "trip"! This time, we are playing the role of adorable babysitters.
- So we are protecting an important person? - Vermin is asking - Who is it, Captain?
The captain is bowing slightly and speaking in a low voice:
- Princess Luc Chau.
The entire unit stops eating and immediately turns toward the captain, eager like a pack of hungry wolves. Vo Phong's drifting soul drops back to earth. The story of Earth Element is interesting, but it doesn't compare to the undying allure of the topic of women.
A few hours ago, The Conclave Council accepts Snowsun X's proposal. Searching for the Ghost King is too dangerous, and Princess Luc Chau can't handle it alone. The Thunder God airship and the Earth Element Unit serve as her shield of protection. One of the twins clicks his tongue:
- Being a princess sounds amazing! I want to be a princess too!
The whole team bursts into laughter. Vermin snaps at the twins, then asks:
- If we complete the mission, do we gain our freedom?
The entire unit sits up straight, waiting for Grizzly. The dark-skinned man shrugs:
- The higher-ups don't respond to that question. But I will submit a request. Maybe things will change?
The squad exchanges glances, and everyone leaves the table. As they walk, they whisper about the princess. Maybe that's the only way to forget their deep craving for "freedom." Vo Phong doesn't understand why the word "freedom" matters so much.
After lunch, the red-haired guy wants to continue his internship, but Grizzly stops him:
- Slow down, rookie! Head to the sword training room. We need to talk in private. Inspection! That's all!
Vo Phong is surprised:
- Inspection? I thought it was tomorrow…
- A little change! Just a tiny change, buddy!
Grizzly winks, flashing a dazzling smile, his gleaming teeth looking like they want to devour Vo Phong down to scraps. The red-haired man swallows hard, feeling like today is going to be the worst day of his life.
Note:
[1]From gold to rice husks — meaning nothing is missing. In this context, it refers to the room being filled with paintings of every shape and style, from ugly to beautiful.