Before the 69th training regiment was a buff and tall man with red-crimson hair. His name was Phaton, and he was their training officer for the course of an entire year. He quietly stood in front of them with an airship above him as a cunning smile emerged on his face.
"For the 100-kilometer marathon, there would be no need for us to leave the military fortress." Captain Phaton calmly stated as he continued.
"You see, we already have the biomes within Anfang to simulate battles from urban, jungle, plain, desert, and tundra. There is a reason why the fortress takes almost all of the terra compared to the city outside."
"In the marathon test, you will be passing through these biomes, and in each biome, there will be checkpoints. Checkpoints will give you anything from food to drinkable water and materials. And there will also be problems within the biomes."
"The biomes dwell within the testing grounds and in that place. Habitats of dangerous beasts found throughout the wild of the far west of Vasteciel resided. So be careful when treading through it, and be sure to be in a group."
"Within the checkpoints of the biomes, there will be a medical and security team. If you find someone injured and got left behind, you can report them to the security and medical personnel."
"Though, let me warn you. It can take time for you to sign the reports needed during the rescue." Captain Phaton warned the recruits, who found themselves confused. After all, from the words of Phaton, the marathon test seemed to be a big event.
"Apologies, I forgot to report this to you. But other training regiments will be joining the marathon test. You will start at different points, but your route will be the same."
"So expect them later in the marathon. I'm sure that all of you would get along with each other." Captain Phaton kept his cunning smile as the other recruits looked at him, wanting more information.
Even Dante himself couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. The test was a lot harder than he thought. Treading through terrain and meeting with beasts. Was this even a recruit training center? He couldn't help but ask within his mind.
'In any case, I still can't forget about what happened.' Dante thought to himself as he looked at his injured knuckles. They were still shaking, and it was even bruised. But Dante took the pain to himself, as he didn't want to waste time within the medical.
'That outburst of arrogance. I need to control it.'
While Dante didn't want to be passive, this was too much. Arrogance like this brought about the deaths of some and the suffering of many. He would rather avoid such a fate.
'Let's think about it after the test.' Dante sighed to himself as he turned his gaze toward the training officer.
'Offending the training officer on the first day and acting like an asshole isn't a good piece of news for me. I hope that no one will notice and everyone will forget about it.'
Dante wanted everyone to think that nothing had happened. Of course, he wouldn't be able to make everyone forget about it. But he hoped that time would aid him.
Besides, no one might believe that a fat man would violently punch someone to death.
Though, that would only be applicable if it wasn't the asshole god of the Imperium punching the guy to death.
"All of the training officers of the training regiments will be above, watching you all. Reminder, the first day will be your first chance to shine. You must not waste it."
Captain Phaton remarked to the recruits of the training regiment 69. Afterward, he slowly backed off as hawk-like wings appeared behind him. He turned his gaze towards the warship in the sky and flew to it like a bird.
The recruits seeing him, were shocked at first. It was then they realized that their training officer was a Krieger. Someone with an arcana and a supernatural ability that defies the laws of the world.
"Wow, so that's a Krieger, huh."
Ruby expressed with a bit of surprise on her face. She had seen Kriegers on some television but never in real life. She didn't think that they would look better in real life. It appears that she's wrong.
"Oh, first time seeing a Krieger? You must be a country girl from the outskirts. Quite a fact to be learned there." Gremar said with a mocking tone as Ruby did nothing more but roll her eyes and give a reply.
"Wow, that's amazing, sire." Her reply was in an apathetic tone, signifying she never cared about whether or not he saw more Kriegers than her.
Gremar, hearing this, couldn't utter a single word as it was somewhat a good counter against what he had said. He slowly backed away as numerous thoughts passed through his mind trying to decode the weakness of Ruby's reply.
"Good luck thinking about a counter," Ruby said as she slowly left to stand at the front of the starting point. Gremar followed her as he wasn't willing to lose against some newly arrived girl.
Dante stood at the center of the training regiment as he thought about new ways to survive the marathon. Obviously, this marathon wasn't only about running and reaching the goal.
With the inclusion of checkpoints, beasts, and biomes, it became more of a competition. This makes the words of captain Phaton about it being the first chance make sense.
Whoever was within the warship above them might be the judges of the recruits this year.
'I was planning to lay low for a while. But it looks like that's not a possible plan if I want to take this chance.' Dante thought as he closed his eyelids.
An Astarte or not, a chance was a chance. He must not rely on his family's influence. Otherwise, he would be no different from the last owner. Dante needed to be independent of the family and have an identity other than the silver pig of Astarte.
"An opportunity must not be taken for granted. One must take it as a one and only chance." Dante quietly muttered to himself, remembering the lesson of the captain within his past life.
Life was full of opportunities, big and small. It was up to the person whether they took the opportunity to make it big or not. So, what do you want? Do you want to make it big or not? Such were the words he remembered.
Dante clenched his fist as a determined expression emerged on his face. This will be a hard battle, and he will fight a losing side. But that doesn't matter, as he would be willing to see through it till the end.
*Attention!*
*The checkpoints of the marathon test will be divided into 5 points.*
*These points are within biomes, and they can be entered as long as one follows the route.*
*The route will start with a Golem guiding you along the way.*
*Now, the marathon test will start.*
After the explanation of the marathon test coming from the monotone voice of the warship above, the countdown began.
*In 3…*
*2…*
*1…*
*Begin!*
Following such words, every recruit within the military fortress began charging and spiring through the training grounds.
The marathon test had finally begun.