72 Third Year 5 (1/2)
The news of Han's disgraceful fight against Laocha spread like wildfire and everyone gathered together to tease him. To them, Han was the rookie and the youngest of their group.
Most of Ark's combat personnel were in their early to late thirties and already had a lot of experience under their belts. They were the ones who survived through the war against dragons since their youth.
”Laocha was once stuck in the jungle alone, but he was able to single-handedly tie up all of a grunt's squad. A movie about the time was produced in his home country, titled 'Jungle Warrior: Laocha'.” A soldier said. Han listened while holding an ice pack onto his bruised body. His entire body felt sore from the bruises.
”Jungle warrior?” Han asked.
”He was able to cleverly use the geological advantages of the jungle to successfully battle against the grunt squad. A grunt's intelligence is about the same as an animal but are stupidly strong, so it's not easy for anyone to single-handedly take down twenty grunts with a single knife.”
Grunts squealed like pigs and showed off green skin. They were usually stationed on the front lines, like shock troops amongst the minions.
They appeared to be a pig-like turtle monster with low intelligence and simple attack patterns. Without an Elu to command them, they would just blindly throw frontal attacks.
”Would you like to see it?” A soldier asked, and Han nodded. He wasn't so interested in Laocha's remarkable activities of the jungle, but interested in seeing an actual movie.
”Hey, bring over the USB. Oh, don't forget the projector.” A soldier called out to his peers. They brought over a beat up looking projector. It was a simple gadget. You just needed to insert the USB into the projector and point it at a wall, then press play.
Du-dududuuu!
Childish, cheesy sound effects resounded. A devilishly good-looking youth, who was probably Laocha, was standing in the jungle.
”He's handsome. Very tall as well,” Han said honestly.
”He's the top movie actor of Thailand. His pale skin is just like Laocha.”
The soldiers sniggered as they looked to Laocha. Han watched through half of ”Jungle Warrior,” before returning to his room to sleep.
Han met with Laocha at the scheduled time and location to receive training. The place seemed a bit more quiet than the day before. Laocha was currently punching a sandbag hanging from the ceiling. He spotted Han and smiled.
”Do you see that guy over there?” Laocha pointed to a muscular looking youth. Han had seen the youth a few times already.
”He must be a first generation psyker.”
The muscular youth's name was embroidered as P.F. on his uniform. He had a shaggy beard for a third year, so he could easily deduce that it was a first generation psyker.
”His name is Johnny Schwartz. A first generation psyker. He's been artificially strengthened for close combat. He mastered a wide range of martial arts from wrestling to Judo. He could easily beat werewolves bearhanded. He's been a part of the dragon extermination squads twice.”
”I've heard his name before.” Laocha easily ran through Johnny's profile from memory. He patted Han's back.
”Go and beat Johnny up, kiddo.”
Han stared blankly to Laocha. Laocha wasn't kidding. He simply smiled and pushed Han forward.
”Me?”
”Why? Are you scared?”
Han let out a sigh. He decided to put some faith in an expert combat specialist like Laocha.
'If his purpose is to make fun of me, I'll be sure to repay him by many folds.'
Han had never behaved timidly in the face of adults. He had always been battling against adults to survive. He was vastly different to children who quietly complied to an adult's words.
”P.F. Schwartz,” Han said to Schwartz. Schwartz looked back in surprise.
”Aren't you the rookie? Is your name, I think your name's Chan, right?”
”Han.”
”What's up?”
Han hesitated for a moment because it would be awkward to randomly ask a stranger for a fight.
”Would it be alright to spar together?”
Schwarz scratched his head and nodded.
”Follow me to the ring. Is using psychic skills allowed?”
”Let's not allow the use of psychic skills,” Han said. He still lacked very much in psychic energy manipulation during battle. His opponent was only a first generation psyker, but the other party had also received artificial body strengthening which buffed his strength and physical resistance exponentially.
”Now, let's start. Chan.”
”It's Han.”