"I heard your psychic rank is the worst. Not only are you a D-rank, but the development of your powers is slow as well. It is very unlikely that you will ever awaken your own unique psychic skills. It will be good to give up on your dreams of awakening powers like fire or teleportation. Then, what is left for you? The answer is simple. Train your telekinetic powers to the utmost limit. If you don't awaken a unique psychic skill, then telekinesis can be considered your skill. Among the 52 different skills, telekinesis is still one of them. Why don't you train to become a master of telekinetic skills."
VVooong!
A gentle blue light flowed from Instructor Wei's eyes.
All the weapons that had been hanging on the gymnasium wall started floating. Then, the weapons started floating in circles around Instructor Wei.
With a short glance, it is easy to tell that the dozens of weapons were moving in different ways.
"Woah!"
The children who were training exclaimed. This had been the first time the young students had seen such forms of power. It felt as if they were in a fantasy world.
Click, clack.
Instructor Wei stepped up onto the weapons.
"This degree of mastery might not be possible, but all psykers must master the ability to control many objects in the air. This is because a majority of the dragon race are able to fly. The jet packs that you will wear are unable to keep you afloat for a long duration. You'll be required to wage warfare up in the air."
The foundation of dragon warfare tactics has been made so solidly due to the generations of sacrifice during the first wave of aggression and many military intelligence officers.
"Phew, it's been a long time since I tried that. I'm quite tired now."
Instructor Wei stopped releasing his psychic powers. All the weapons clattered onto the floor at once. It was ear deafening.
"Amazing."
Han was genuinely in awe. Instructor Wei patted Han on the shoulder.
"You have a better chance than us. Most of the seniors are generally at the same power rank as the drill sergeants here. Han, do not give up and continue to train. Psychic power training is no different than strength training. The more you use and train, the more powerful it becomes. The initial rankings are but a mere analysis based on groundless predictions.
Han felt as if the roadblock in his road was no more. The road that had seemed so narrow and dark was now so clear and bright. Instructor Wei's words had let Han grasp onto a bit of hope.
"Understood."
Han was a bright child. He turned around and continued to train. Instructor Wei continued to watch Han's back figure.
'Sergeant Red, simply pushing them forward does not progress their growth. The students we are teaching are children. From time to time, they also require a bit of affection and praise.'
Instructor Wei thought quietly to himself.
Kuro of class B didn't enjoy weapon arts at all.
The nations had become blurred in this time period, however, black people in Japan were still a rare sighting.
Additionally, Kuro was an introverted person. He was not very compatible with weapon arts.
"Hey, Kuro. What are you doing? Bring it on."
Class B often teased Kuro.
Sparring was required in every weapon arts class. Even when Kuro didn't want to, he was forced to fight against the other children.
Many of the students took this chance to use Kuro as their sandbag.
Pow!
"Ugh."
Kuro was beaten with the wooden sword and let out a painful groan. The boy who attacked Kuro circled around him.
"Bring it! Get up!"
Puk!
The sword beat down onto Kuro's back. This was how they bullied him all the time.
The students all took turns to spar against Kuro. Kuro always sported several bruises.
Click, clack.
Han, who had been observing all this time, walked over. The children of class B looked over at Han with confused eyes.
"What is it? Don't you belong to class D? We're in the middle of sparring. Beat it."
A boy from class B said. Han blankly looked to Kuro.
"This doesn't look like a sparring match to me."
"That's none of your business."
Han scratched his head.
"Kuro's specialty isn't weapon arts but psychic power manipulation. Is it fun to poke at his weakness like that? Can you win against Kuro if he were to use his psychic powers? You should feel grateful that we're not allowed to use our powers during class. You'd make an embarrassment of yourselves."
Kuro's psychic ranking topped all of class B.
His psychic growth speed was outrageous and many people felt that it was already far beyond Class A's level.
"What's it to you? Are you friends with the black boy over here?"
The boys felt great hostility towards Han who appeared from nowhere.
One of the boys from the clique recognized Han and muttered something to the group.
"That guy is Han Lee. Class D's president."
"The guy that fought against Sergeant Red?"
The group of boys looked forward and brandished their weapons.
"You're nothing but the top student of class D. I'll teach you that class B is leagues ahead of your level. I heard your weapon arts grades are good. How about a fight? This is a joint training period so there shouldn't be a problem."
A boy spoke. Han shrugged his shoulders and brandished his weapon as well.
"Okay, I accept your challenge. Let's see how good you are."
The boy and Han's wooden weapons clashed.
'He's slow and makes too many mistakes. He's not that talented in weapon arts at all.'
Han quickly oppressed the young boy. Han had struck at his opponent's throat with the spear handle.
"Cough!"
The boy grasped his neck and tumbled while groaning in pain. Their skill levels were of different classes. Class B had been done in by class D. The scattered children across the gymnasium began gathering around them.
'I told the kids to not cause trouble with class B, but I was the first one to do so.'
Han let out a sigh. When he saw Kuro getting bullied, he couldn't stop himself.
It's not like he felt obligated to save Kuro. He just didn't feel good about how the other boys were behaving.
"Waaah! Serves you right!"
Class D students sneered.
Han put his index finger to his lips and silenced the kids. He didn't want to cause a bigger scene than necessary.
"This was just a spar. Everyone return to your own training."
Han said.
"So you're class D's president. I'm class B's president Dmitri Vladimirovich Petrov."
A burly looking boy among the class B students approached. He had a towering physique, as expected from a student from Siberia of Russia.
"I'm Han Lee. Your name is too long for me to remember. What do you want me to call you?"
"Dmitri is fine. Han, I heard you're from class D but you rank within the top 10 for weapon arts. Spar with me."
This would be an eventful sparring match.
The sergeants observing from the side who had been keeping a close eye in case of trouble also silently agreed to this turn of events. Ark encouraged cooperative and competitive activities.
"That's hard to turn down. Let's spar then, Dmitri."
Han spun his spear and took his stance. His posture was sturdy and strong.
Clang!
Dmitri slashed his wooden sword. Han used his spear to bat it away.
Dmitri was physically strong so simply blocking the attack could potentially injure the grip of his hands.
TA!
Han lowered his spear and attacked Dmitri's leg. Dimitri's gait became unstable as his body tilted to one side.
'He's completely off balance. This is the end.'
Han spun the spear around the back side of his waist and changed the grip to his left hand. Without pause, Han struck down his spear to end the match.
"HAA!"
Pow!
Dmitri's pupils shook. The moment his neck was hit, he momentarily lost consciousness.
Dmitri gritted his teeth. As soon as he got a grip of himself once again, he sprinted forward. He disregarded the spear Han had hit him with and continued to run forward.
Bam!
Han's head spun. Dmitri had bulldozed him like a bear and headbutted him. It felt like something was ringing inside his head.
"A headbutt? This is weapon arts class, damn."
Han held onto his forehead and complained. The observing sergeants all laughed in amusement.
"Be careful, Han! Dmitri's father is a master of sambo. Ever since he could walk, he was taught sambo."
Russia's original martial art, Sambo, is similar to judo and wrestling combined.
"You heard that, Han? My sword isn't the only thing you should be wary of."
Han was not aware of sambo at all. It was the first time he heard such a thing existed.
He just categorized it as one of the many martial arts and increased his guard.
"Then will you kill dragons with sambo as well?"
Han said sarcastically. Dmitri laughed through his nose.
"If need be, I will strangle the dragon to death. Now, bring it."
Dmitri strongly shouted while gripping his hands into fists. Class B all shouted in cheers.
"Vladimir's son! Dmitri! Dmitri! Go! Son of the Siberian tiger!"
(t/n: 'son of a' in korean can be interpreted as cursing)
"I've told you to exclude, 'Son of the' "
Dmitri yelled while glaring at class B.
"You're only 12! So you're the son of a tiger! Great son!"
"Later, everyone prepare to die."
Class B and Dmitri were threatening each other, but underneath there was no evil intent.
Ever since Dmitri was made class B's president three months ago, class B's spirit had changed a lot. The sergeants highly regarded him for this talent.
Peng!
The wooden sword and the spear clashed once again. A crack formed in both their sword and spear.
"Hoooo!"
Dmitri cried out and slashed his sword once again. Han didn't let himself get phased by nonsensical distractions and calmly blocked.
'He has not had formal martial arts training before arriving to Ark, but it's amazing that he's an even match against Dmitri. Unbelievable.'
Han was quite famous among the sergeants.
"I'm curious how long you can take my attacks! President of class D!"
Dmitri yelled while working up a sweat. He put all of his strength onto this next move against Han.
Bbak!
The pole of Han's spear broke. At the same time Dmitri spread out his hand.
Martial artists well versed in Sambo have faster hands than others. He took hold of Han's neck and lifted him up into the air.
"This is the end! Han!"
Dmitri slammed Han onto the ground and followed up by grabbing his hand and snapping it backwards. It was a perfect combo joint attack.
"Ugh!"
Han's arm seared with intense pain. His bones and muscles felt as if they were screaming in agony.
"Give up before I break your arm!"
Dmitri shouted. The observing sergeants stood back wondering whether to restrain the match or not.
"Dmitri! Dmitri!"
Class B's cheers reverberated throughout the gymnasium. This had been Han's complete and utter loss.
"I'd like to see you try. Do you even have the nerves to do that, Dmitri?"
Han provoked Dmitri. Dmitri's face flushed red before instantly pulling at his arm. A horrifying sound broke through.
Ududuk
Han's arm broke. Han swallowed back yelps of pain.
"That's why I told you to give up, b***. This feels disgusting."
Dmitri dropped Han's broken hand and stood up. He assumed that this was the end.
Han took this chance to pounce on Dmitri from behind.
Pa-k!"
Han had taken his half-broken spear and struck directly onto Dmitri's head. The spear itself was very blunt, but the force had been strong.
"It seems that everyone you had sparred up until today has cried like little girls over a measly broken arm."
Dmitri couldn't hear what he had said because he had lost consciousness. Han's broken arm hung lifelessly. However, the winner had been Han.
Class B couldn't believe their eyes that Dmitri had lost and fell into silence. Immediately, class D erupted into cheers.
***
Before heading into the recovery ward, Dmitri yelled at Han.
"Coward!"
"Who told you to be careless?"
Han spoke flatly.
"Damn it!"
Dmitri and Han received treatment. Within just three days, all their injuries healed completely.
Through the three days, Dmitri and Han saw a lot of seniors. They looked like adults with burly muscles.
They had also come in with a body full of injuries.
Most of the time, they had come in completely bloody from head to toe with only a breath left in them. Han and Dmitri assumed that they had undergone intensive training of some sort.
"Starting your second year, everyone begins drug rehabilitation. It's probably the students who do not fully mature that cannot physically handle the harsh training drills."
Dmitri had a bigger build than his peers. However the seniors were much taller than any normal adult. The shortest of them were at minimum 180cm (5'9''), and the majority of them were over two meters tall.
Dmitri and Han had become friends during these days. Dmitri didn't dislike Han. Han also didn't have a reason to dislike Dmitri.
There was still the problem regarding Kuro, but Han could not continue to watch Kuro's back forever.
'If he can't look after himself, then that's the end for him.'
Kuro naturally had a soft personality. Han understood the goal of today's joint training. If one couldn't win, they should quit while they're ahead. No matter how unfair it was to be bullied, they must overcome it.
It had been three months since he became class president. Although he became class president quickly, it felt like a long duration for him.
"So you're the new transfers. I'm Han, the president of class D."
Han was no longer considered a transfer student.
A new batch of transfers had arrived. It was his turn to look after the new transfers now. He selected a new transfer as a spokesman to lead and gave them a short rundown.
A day before announcing promotions throughout Ark, the sergeants and teachers were in a conference. Usually, students would be promoted based on grades but there was a new agenda today.
"Let us promote Han in this batch of promotions."
"To class C?"
"No, class B is better. He has low psychic ability, but can keep up with the students of class A and B."
"Would the higher ups accept this? We saw and trained this student first hand, but all they will care about will be the document report on psychic analysis."
"Although his psychic abilities may be weak, he has too much potential for us to bury his talent."
Sergeant Red said.
"O-ho, Sergeant, didn't you dislike Han?"
"Not at all. I am rather fond of him."
"Sergeant Red, I didn't know you were a sadist."
"A soldier who can stand against a dragon is not a genius who has never experienced defeat. It is the man of steel who has overcome challenges and went forward.."
"Are you speaking based on experience?"
Sergeant Red stuck a cigar between his lips instead of replying. He lit the cigar.
"I've told you many times but this place is a no smoking zone, Sergeant."
Somebody said to Sergeant Red.