Taken without much preparation, Adam found himself wearing a black military uniform standing alongside others his age. None were recognizable, but he felt a sense of companionship since they all were enduring the berating of a senior officer pacing before them.
"From now on, you all are soldiers! You people are not to be seen as individuals, but as statistics!" [Senior Officer]
Going back and forth, a man with a chiseled face wearing a black hat yelled at the young soldiers.
"I am your superior! How do you reply when I speak to you?!" [Senior Officer]
"Sir!" [Adam]
"Sir what?!" [Senior Officer]
"Sir, yes sir!" [Adam]
"LOUDER!!" [Senior Officer]
"SIR, YES SIR!!!" [Adam]
Adam had not expected to be thrust into the chain of command. All he knew was that Ricky left him here for a month.
("The hell am I doing?!") [Adam]
He took a glance at the others beside him, but flinched when he found that the senior officer was staring intently at him.
"You think you have the luxury to look around?!" [Senior Officer]
"N-No sir!" [Adam]
"Then why were you looking around?!" [Senior Officer]
"I was just curious sir!" [Adam]
The senior officer scowled at him.
"Give me ten!" [Senior Officer]
"Ten?" [Adam]
"Ten pushups!" [Senior Officer]
Making an annoyed look, he changed his mind.
"You took too long! Get down and do a hundred!" [Senior Officer]
("What?!") [Adam]
Feeling a sense of shock, Adam dropped down immediately.
"You see that everyone?! That's what happens when you don't listen!" [Senior Officer]
He knelt down and watched Adam closely.
"What's your name?!" [Senior Officer]
"My name is Adam sir!" [Adam]
"You see Adam, I saw your information before you came here! Don't think this is Levelism! The fact that you're level one doesn't have anything to do with how I'm treating you!" [Senior Officer]
He stood up and pointed at everyone.
"I am here to hurt EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. YOU! I don't care if you're level one or level ten! For the remainder of your time here, you're all just a bunch of no brain fuck-nuggets!" [Senior Officer]
Hearing that, a few people resisted the urge to grin.
"All of you will be sharing a tent to sleep in! So, you guys better get comfy together!" [Senior Officer]
The officer then randomly picked a person out and threw a clipboard at them.
"That's a list of everything you need to know! Sort out everything yourselves! Be ready tomorrow at 0-800! Dismissed!" [Senior Officer]
The moment the senior officer left, Adam sat on the ground after finishing his push-ups.
("Damn… The hell was that?!") [Adam]
"Conditioning?" [Krino]
"He made an example out of you. To think my host would be so pathetic." [Astos]
("Shut it.") [Adam]
Thinking about how Adam should act now, he pretended to be exhausted.
"Hey." [???]
One of the people who stood by Adam's side approached him.
"Are you alright?" [???]
Adam nodded.
"Yeah. Let me just catch my breath." [Adam]
He exaggerated his breathing.
"Do you… need some water?" [???]
"Nah. Hey, what's your name?" [Adam]
"Bryan. I'm assuming your name is Adam, right?" [???]
Adam shrugged.
"I did say my name earlier, did I not?" [Adam]
"Funny guy." [Bryan]
Bryan extended a hand to help Adam get up, but was interrupted when another person came close.
"Here." [Rude Soldier]
Pulling Bryan aside, the rude soldier shoved a clipboard into his chest.
"What?" [Bryan]
"For you." [Rude Soldier]
Bryan took a look at what was written before making a face of disbelief.
"I can't do all this!" [Bryan]
"Huh? What's up?" [Adam]
Picking himself off the ground, Adam took a peek at the clipboard.
("Group duty list?") [Adam]
It was an arrangement of chores meant for a group of eight. From what Adam had seen, most of the work was allocated towards Bryan and Adam.
"Hey, why am I getting so much work?" [Adam]
The rude soldier gave Adam an annoyed look.
"It's tradition." [Rude Soldier]
"Explain." [Adam]
"Lower levels do more work. That's it." [Rude Soldier]
Hearing that, Adam took the clipboard and shoved it into the soldier's arms.
"We're not doing it." [Adam]
The soldier gave Adam a condescending look.
"Who gave you the right?" [Rude Soldier]
He attempted to push Adam, but was surprised at how difficult it was.
("He's not budging!") [Rude Soldier]
Sensing that he was not Adam's match, he kept the clipboard.
"You can expect a blanket party tonight." [Rude Soldier]
"Cool. I like parties." [Adam]
The soldier gave Adam a strange look before taking his leave.
"...Hey, Adam? I don't think this is okay." [Bryan]
"Why? He's throwing us a party, right?" [Adam]
Bryan gave him a stupefied expression.
"...You don't know what a blanket party is, do you?" [Bryan]