Chapter 1507 (2/2)
When he arrived amongst them, he drew very little attention. Most seemed either too nervous to pay attention or too engrossed in their own minor conversation to pay him any notice. It was only a massive grey dog, perhaps twice Raymund’s size with a green uniform comically ill-fitted around its torso, that opened an eye and regarded the newly arrived Foxman. Then the dog snorted and laid its head back down, content to nap. The slender humanoid that Raymund had noticed earlier also wound his way out of the crowd and followed in Raymund’s wake.
They exchanged a glance as they approached the elite group together. After a hesitation, the smaller man extended his hand. “...hello. We will be training together from now on, so… I’m Benjamin. It’s nice to meet you.”
Raymund’s clawed hand was twice the size of Benjamin’s but he couldn’t deny the rush of relief he felt as the other recruit, who hadn’t needed to be tested, acknowledged him so easily. The tension in Raymund’s chest eased, if only slightly. He shook Benjamin’s hand. “I’m Raymund. It is an auspicious meeting.”
With some of the tension gone, the two walked together toward the place where the elites congregated. As they approached, they could hear the conversation that was happening in the midst of the group: the recruits were gossiping about their Head Drill Sergeant.
A squat being composed entirely of fire was speaking as they walked into the loose circle “-say he’s been secretly trained by Commandant Wick, the most brutal military Commander in the history of the Nexus, for a hundred years. He’s more monster than civilized creature, preferring corporeal punishment to all other training methods.”
All the gazes in the circle shifted toward a slender woman covered in brown fur. She pursed her lips. “My grandfather and Drill Sergeant Ghosthound only met the other day. There is no truth to these rumors.”
“Keh, of course you deny it,” A being with dusky grey skin and white hair to his shoulders shook his head. Ram’s horns curled away from the sides of his head.
The fire elemental nodded solemnly at the young woman. “...be that as it may, it cannot be denied that our Drill Sergeant was sent to the Frontlines for using forbidden Skills. Then, while he was there, so many of the Commanders began mysteriously dying that they had no choice but to promote him. When the Nether King attacked, he erected a powerful castle that inexplicably protected his troops, while all other groups were decimated.”
Raymund noticed a small movement out of the corner of his eye. A young man with extremely pale skin shivered at as the fire elemental spoke, reaching up and wrapping his arms around himself as though he was briefly struck by a chill wind. Raymund sniffed; that young man stunk of fear.
The flame elemental, the ram demon, and the brown-furred young woman continued to debate the facts surrounding their Drill Sergeant as more and more of the elite squad arrived. Soon, all two hundred had gathered and the mood began to change. The elites glanced at each other and then over toward the guards directing the other recruits, wondering where they should be headed.
Raymund and Benjamin shared a glanced. Raymund barred his teeth. “Have you noticed that the attitudes of the guards are perhaps… peculiar?”
Benjamin nodded solemnly and pressed his lips together for a second before he spoke. “Even if they are afraid of us due to our backgrounds… we are still recruits. There is no reason to avoid us so completely But they seem to dread us. I suspect that there is a kernel of truth to these rumors about our Drill Sergeant… and these guards have witnessed it.”
Just as the group of recruits in forest green uniforms was beginning to get antsy and consider approaching the guards, there was a massive pulse of an image from the tall building to their West. Raymund instinctively tensed as an overwhelmingly strong image of an enormous, life-giving tree spread in the air above them. At the same time, he didn’t miss the way the guards flinched. All the recruits in grey uniforms paused and looked up at the sky with wide eyes.
But it was clearly a message because as that image spread out, all of the forest green uniforms began to resonate. Their Head Drill Sergeant had summoned all of the recruits.
The discussion amongst the elites finally trailed off. They looked at each other with serious expressions. Then they began to walk toward the source of the image. The guards watched them go with deep frowns on their faces. Honestly, the intensity of their scrutiny and the tight implacability of their emotions began to unnerve Raymund.
What have these guards witnessed? Raymund wondered.
It only took them about five minutes to cross the distance and arrive at a very clear boundary in the direction of the tall building. There was a low wall covered in Engravings running to the left and right, and a wide ivory arch in the middle to allow them entrance into the area. To their left beyond the boundary was a thick bamboo forest. To their right were several small gardens.
Two individual stood beyond the archway, idly watching the recruits approach. The figure on the left was a rocky humanoid with thick limbs. To the right was a pale being with a quadruped bottom and a slender humanoid top. Its entire body seemed to be composed of a white, chitinous armor. As the group settled in front of the arch, the right figure cleared its throat. “I am Muareth, responsible for guiding you to your training area. Your mission is simple: follow this straight road to the central crossroads and then turn to the South Parade Grounds. There are no tricks, this is your only task. You have two hours to accomplish this. Failure will mean being stripped of your qualifications to be a member of the elite squad.”
Muareth surveyed the trainees. Most of them seemed rather confused by the simple requirement, a sentiment that Raymund shared. Muareth smirked. “As I said, it’s an extremely simple task. But I will say this: this is also your one opportunity to turn away. This is your one opportunity to withdraw with no questions asked. The Ghosthound will push you to your breaking point for the next three months. It will not be a pleasant experience. And let me assure you that no matter who you are related to… They will not be able to help you once you step onto his territory. You will be entirely on your own.”
“Peh.” The white-haired humanoid with rams horns spat to the side and looked at the two figures beyond the arch with obvious dissatisfaction. “Your fear-mongering won’t work. Humph, let’s go.”
He boldly took several steps forward and crossed the boundary. Three others followed. When those four had fully arrived on the interior, the horned man twitched like he had hit with a bolt of lightning and froze. His three followers collapsed.
Muareth just chuckled. “Congratulations, you three. Your chance to back down is now forfeit. Welcome to three months of hell.”