The next day, Canute Meyer returned to Squad 13. The only person who had yet to recover was Kijo who had injured his lungs and had to remain for long term treatment. Canute was feeling good finally being free from the hospital.
"Ah, aah. I thought I was going to die. It's never fun no matter how many times I get hospitalized."
Canute had been hospitalized the most amongst everyone in Squad 13. Canute was Squad 13's main vanguard and was the member most prone to injury.
Each squad has a member like Canute.
"You've worked hard."
Jose bumped fists with Canute.
"Canute, catch."
Kuro threw him a cola. Of all the carbonated drinks, Canute loved cola the most.
"Thanks, Kuro. I'm done with hospital food."
Canute chugged down his cola. The carbonation woke up his senses. He threw the can in the trash. He quickly organized his room that he left vacant for a while before returning to training with his squad.
Han whispered quietly to Canute's ears before entering the training ground.
"Avoid talking with the inspectors. These were orders from the commander."
"I had been generally informed. The mood at the hospital ward was chaotic as well."
Canute nodded. Han had no worries when it came to Canute. Among Squad 13, Canute had good judgment and was one of the most brilliant among Squad 13's members. He was not the type to accidentally have a slip of tongue or be easily swayed by lies.
Han checked the status of the training ground and lead his squad in. Other than the required training drills and lectures, it was up to the squad leader to cater training drills for his squad members. Each squad leader would make a training schedule and report it with the drill instructors, who would then assign the squads to the appropriate training grounds.
"For the time being, we will focus on self improvement since there will not be any squad battles for a short duration."
Han alloted most of the time for marksmanship training and sparring. The squad members nodded.
Han was, by far, the best squad leader among the second years. He had superior commanding ability and excelled in many aspects personally. Even if the squad members were to make a mistake, he never raged and logically went over the mistakes in a calm manner.
He maintained a strong bond with his squad members, all the while, he did not let his emotions affect his role. He never let go of the dignity of a squad leader.
"Please check for your daily task through your data bracelets, I've sent them out already. You can read through them later. If you have any questions or if you think something should be changed, look for me later."
Squad 13 borrowed the military training ground. These grounds were used when a vast open space was needed like when training one's stamina. Han decided to focus training with Kuro for the time being. He focused on weapon handling and sparring with Kuro.
"I'll attack from the right. Block."
Han quickly swung his spear. Kuro quickly blocked with his spear.
'Now, Kuro is doing well with blocking.'
Han increased his attack speed. He attacked with his spear with more strength. His spear dug into his palms.
KEEEE!
Kuro's eyes glowed blue. His immediate foresight was reacting to Han's killing intent.
Tak!
Kuro cleanly blocked the attack. Kuro was able to read Han's attacking direction through his immediate foresight.
He was able to block using minimal movements. If he became proficient using this skill during battle, his battle prowess would increase swiftly.
'He can now easily block simple attacks.'
Han started attacking in more more complex patterns. He swung his spear in random directions and caused chaos. Immediate foresight didn't make a person invincible.
'All skills are bound to have a weakness of some sort. A concept such as perfection or an invincible power does not exist. We simply try to perfect it to the best of our ability.'
Han switched up his attacks every so often. It was difficult to figure out the speed and direction because of his complex arm movements. Kuro was taken aback and took a hit to his leg. He lost his posture and tripped onto the floor.
"Ouch."
Kuro looked like he wanted to cry from the blow. There was a giant bruise on his leg. Han took a moment to catch his breath and stood in front of Kuro. Han helped Kuro up and spoke.
"If you are going to use your immediate foresight, you should quickly block and follow up with an attack. Do you think your immediate foresight will be able to prevent all attacks at once?"
Jose who stood next to the two scratched his head.
'He usually blocks them all. Not many people can find fault in him and land an attack. You did it against Silence as well, but not many people can immediately grasp onto weaknesses as quickly as you.'
Jose thought while watching the two spar. Theoretically, this was easy, but not many people could actually do so while in the middle of battle.
"Whenever I think of attacking, my hand shakes…"
Kuro said with his head drooped. Han spun his spear round and round.
"Why? Are you worried I might get hit? One more time. This time, try to attack me."
Han didn't like to back a person into a corner. He hated it even more so that it had been Kuro. However, he forced himself to back Kuro into a corner.
'It's better than having Kuro die in battle.'
The leader must, from time to time, choose the lesser of two evils. He felt this to the bone.
If Han had not been a squad leader, if he were not a soldier who would be sent to war, Han would not say one bitter thing toward Kuro.
"Okay. But this time, I will mobilize all of my powers."
Kuro gripped his spear. He was also a man. He had an unyieldingly high pride as well. He felt bitter hearing these cold words from Han.
On the other hand, he thought to himself that Han must have been really frustrated to reach this point.
"Good. Come on, Kuro. Show me everything you've got."
Han smirked and took his stance.
"HAAA!"
Kuro shouted with strength.
GGUOOO!
Kuro seriously used his psychic powers this time. The light spilling out from his eyes was blinding. The rocks around the area all floated up in the air.
Kuro's main specialty was rock throw. This had become one of his greatest weapons after the deserted island drill.
A rock could only cause a slight wound. However, this was also a perfect weapon to oppress an enemy.
"Prepare yourself!"
Kuro shouted with an enthusiasm he rarely could muster.
'I'm not hitting him directly. If I use rocks…'
He could not feel the impact of actually inflicting damage when he threw rocks. He felt an emptiness as if he was playing a game.
"You're so unoriginal. Kuro."
Han took off his shirt. Ark's training uniforms were made of a high quality fabric. It had supreme durability and elasticity.
"Don't cry when I hit you! HAAAA!"
Kuro flung dozens of rocks simultaneously. His psychic strength was so great that simply throwing rocks had great destructive power.
VUUUU!
Han also used his telekinetic power. He ran while holding up his training uniform, with his telekinesis, like a shield.
Tudududuk!
It sounded like rain pattering against a window. The rocks thrown at Han were blocked by the training uniform.
The training uniform caught the rocks and sprang it back. The rocks fell onto the floor.
Han threw his training uniform at Kuro to block his field of vision and ran forward quickly. Kuro attempted to throw rocks once again, but Han was faster.
"Block with your spear! Kuro!"
Canute shouted advice from behind. Everyone from Squad 13 had unknowingly become the audience and cheered for Kuro.
It was more enjoyable to cheer for the underdog than Han whose win was so obvious.
Swaa!
Kuro's spear became tangled by Han's training uniform. Han took this moment to step onto Kuro's spear and break it in two. Kuro's hand panged with pain from the sudden force of the spear breaking in two.
"I was happy to see that you didn't let go of the spear until the end. Kuro."
Han swung the pole of his spear onto Kuro's back. Kuro fumbled and faltered forward.
The Squad 13 members shouted regretfully. A historical event of Kuro winning a match against Han did not happen.
"Boooo! So cruel! You robot of war with no blood or soul!"
The squads jokingly started to jeer all together. Han scratched his head and helped Kuro up. It would be enough to push Kuro this much for today. If it was such an easy matter to help Kuro, he would have already done so during their first year.
"I thought you took off your shirt because it was hot. I never thought you would use it as a shield."
Kuro mumbled. Han pridefully broadened his shoulders.
"You only aimed the rocks at my chest area. That's why all the rocks hit against the uniform. If you shot the rocks more erratically, you would have hit at least my arms and legs."
"It'd be bad if I accidentally ended up hitting your face though."
Han let out a long sigh hearing Kuro's words.
'The speed of the rocks seemed strangely uniform. He purposely aimed every single rock at my body. If he didn't aim and shoot the rocks in one direction, the rocks would have flown faster. Even I wouldn't have been able to block against such an attack.'
Squad 13 ended their training and took a short break.