37 Squad Leader, Han Lee 6 (2/2)

Jose confidently struck his chest. Han nodded let Jose return. They must finish preparing everything within two days. Han requested the necessary items they required through his data bracelet.

Two days later, squad 7 and 13 would hold their aerial battle. Squad 7's eyes looked murderous. They prepared themselves while determined to obtain victory. Squad 7 had trained solely for the aerial battle the last two days. They had delayed all other training drills and lectures while dedicating themselves completely for the forthcoming competition.

”How is your arm doing, Han?”

Kato asked while he approached Han. The battle field for the Aerial battle was tiny, and so the two squads would end up meeting for small talk before the battle.

”It's a little bad, but my right hand will probably be enough for today Kato.”

Han said indifferently. He also didn't have the best impression of Kato. He had not confronted the other, but they had all joined together to beat up Kuro for leaving. Thanks to that, all sadness and apologetic feelings had disappeared.

”Stop bluffing. Aerial battles are not something you could master overnight. Any sort of hasty preparation will not be enough to gain victory. You're smart, so you should know it already.”

Kato said teasingly. Han passively nodded his head.

”You're right. We can't win. So, we prepared something different today. Kato, if you don't fight properly you will be completely humiliated.”

Han beckoned Kato with his finger. The other narrowed his eyes and sneered as an icy smirk hung on his lips.

”I'll kill you, Han. Kuro as well.”

Kato said with his face flushed red. Han looked directly into Kato's eyes.

”You've never even killed someone before. Coming from someone like you, it doesn't feel threatening in the least.”

Kato twitched. Han's eyes looked empty, but seemed to hold onto something deeper.

Amongst the North East Asian Alliance, Japan was one of the wealthier countries. Japan welcomed the financial bubbles of the booming market and climbed up to become one of the top economic power houses. It had been an isolated country, so they were not affected much by the first wave of aggression; most of their infrastructures remained intact. Korea and China had become impoverished, and provided the business to reconstruct the countries. Kato, who had grown up in a wealthy country could not grasp his mind around the everyday struggle for existence.

'What's up with his reaction and eyes…?'

Kato felt a sudden chill, and decided to return to his squad. His fighting spirit would be flattened if he continued to talk with Han here.

'I can't be influenced before the battle. We simulated this many times, there is no way for us to lose.'

Squad 7 and 13 gradually readied themselves. They equipped their own personal gear. Squad 7 wore their standard gear. They prepared their own airbeats, and equipped their close combat weapons. Using the airbeats required massive focus. The gears that would not contribute to this match were usually omitted.

”Squad 13 all has their maximum number of allowed airbeats?”

The watching second years commented while watching over the thirteenth squad. Squad 13's buttocks and hips felt heavy. The airbeat catapulting gear was bulky. A single person was allowed a maximum of four airbeats, but unless they were supporters, they would only equip two at once.

”Squad 13 shouldn't have mastered their airbeats yet. No matter how good Kuro is, it should be impossible to control so many.”

”What are they thinking to bring all those airbeats out? Doesn't it just become unnecessary weight?”

The second years did their best to deduce squad 13's strategy. Squad 13 had become well known for their eccentric strategies. To add, they always won. Squad 13 had become the student and drill instructor's hot topic.

'What are you thinking Han?'

The drill instructors also looked confused looking at all of squad 13's gear.

”Has Kuro's psychic level suddenly shot up again?”

”If that were true, we'd know immediately.”

”They have sixteen airbeats. Excluding Kuro, if everyone utilizes two, that leaves ten. There's no way that Kuro would be capable of controlling all those by himself.”

”If he were capable, they would transfer him with the third years immediately.”

Everyone tried grasping at straws to deduce squad 13's plans. Just then, the gun signaling the start of the squad battles rung. One person stood on top of the small wooden pillar. Just below, was the safety net. The rules were simple, one simply needed to drop their opponent onto the net to win.

Weeeng!

Each squad members started warming up their airbeats. The members on top of the airbeats got into position. Squad 7 had prepared an all out intensive surprise attack.

'Our squad is superior in airbeat maneuvering skills and aerial battles. Don't give them time to proceed with their schemes. That was the reason squad 9 had lost.'

”We will end this by thoroughly beating them.”