Within the outskirts of the first checkpoint's interior, Dante stood quietly before a wooden table, looking over an opened black bag. He had a serious and cold expression plastered on his face as he took out everything in the black bag.
What was unveiled from the black bag were things he had never hoped to see.
There was a rifle within the black bag, along with a pistol. The rifle appeared to resemble a mosin nagant gun, with the pistol looking like an m1911. Upon seeing such weapons, he remembered the words of their training officer.
The wild beasts and monsters found throughout the world were gathered into one spot.
"Fighting against wild beasts is inevitable." Dante sighed to himself.
He checked the gun and took the ammunition found along with it. Surprisingly, there was a lot of ammo he could use, which was a piece of good news. Dante wouldn't want to be running around the forest with a gun that has no ammunition.
"This is better than nothing, I guess." He mumbled as he took a good look at the rifle. It appeared to be brand new and looked furnished.
"But appearance isn't everything in a gun. I need to test the rifle after entering the forest." Dante shook his head as the firing of a gun was the usual of him.
He would always be paranoid about whether or not his gun would work when he pressed the trigger. Because of this strange paranoia, Dante kept his gun clean and always used it.
It was his best friend on the battlefield, according to his last captain.
The armaments weren't the only things within the black bag. There were supplies needed for him to survive, such as food and water. Now that he thought about it, Dante was incredibly noticed. He simply didn't notice his grumbling stomach because of his fading consciousness.
'It looks like I'll have my breakfast.' Dante raised an eyebrow as he opened the canned food. It wasn't the typical military meal, though it wasn't better than it.
Dante ate his breakfast, and it was nearly 10 am in the morning. He had dozens of hours before the end of the marathon test. Until then, he needed to do everything he could to reach the goal.
'My life is hard.' Dante wanted to cry, but no tears would escape his eyes. Going through life without anything to release your frustration was extremely heavy. There were days when Dante would go on hunting just to release a bit of his stress.
Hunting was the method taught to him by his former captain.
Dante kept eating as he noticed that the canned food on the wooden table was entirely empty. His stomach continued grumbling for food as he could only do one thing.
"Tsk…"
He was annoyed by the fact that he emptied his rationed almost in an instant and flabbergasted by the same fact. Dante's stomach was like a heavenly beast that needed more food. And he needed to quench its thirst for a meal.
Dante stretched his body as he started cleaning the wooden table. After cleaning it of its filth, he returned everything in the black bag. The armaments, water, medicines, and supplies.
'I need more information.' He thought as if he might have found a way to quench his unending hunger. With this thought in mind, Dante walked back to the centermost part of the first checkpoint.
Arriving there, he noticed a line, and many recruits were complaining about their little amount of food.
"What the h*ll did you give me? Do you think this can is enough for me?"
A recruit complained with an angry voice as if trying to threaten the nurse.
"Sorry, recruit, that is the only available rationed in the storage." The nurse replied with a humble smile as if not caring about the threatening tone the recruit uttered towards her.
"And threatening your superiors, you seem to be on something, recruit." The nurse said as the edges of her lips started raising.
The complaining recruit felt a chill on his spine as he slowly backed away from her and ran away. The others noticing the escaping guy who was bigger than them decided that it wasn't worth it.
The supposedly long line disappeared in an instant.
Dante didn't know what to feel after witnessing such a sight. A short while later, he shook his head as he had business to attend to. He walked to the tent and stood before the counter.
The nurse looked at him and raised an eyebrow before questioning Dante. "Is there something you want?" The nurse asked as the recruits nowadays appeared to be becoming arrogant.
"Yes, I want to ask something." Dante wanted information regarding a subject that the nurse might know.
The nurse gazed at him and stated. "Speak."
"Are the beasts within the forest edible?" Such was Dante's information, as this might be the way for him to solve his hunger issues.
The eyes of the nurse glistened as she smirked. "You know. Remarkably, every beast sent within the route of the marathon test is nothing more than edible ones. Even the most disgusting monsters can be eaten within the given route."
"How good is that coincidence don't you think?" The nurse joked as Dante thanked her.
"Yes, it is the best coincidence that could happen. Thank you for the information." Dante lightly bowed toward her with a smile on his face.
"Dante Regent Astarte, you're much of a gentleman than I thought." The nurse expressed as Dante's eyes widened. "You know my identity?" He couldn't help but question.
"Of course, I know your identity. Everyone knows your identity, and be careful of incoming trouble. It would be better for you to avoid them." The nurse conveyed as Dante nodded in understanding.
"Thanks for the warning." Dante then turned his gaze to the exit of the first checkpoint.
"You're welcome. I'm sure that you be a handsome man by the next time we meet." The nurse winked at the third son of Astarte.
Dante gave her a smile and immediately left the tent.
For some reason, the nurse reminded Dante of a leopard. He couldn't help but feel chills as he'd rather avoid such people. He had bad memories regarding them in his time in the army.
As he left the tent, Dante was now walking through the main pathway of the first checkpoint. He was heading towards the exit, and on the way, he noticed the whispers of other recruits. They were also about to leave as they had concluded their rest.
He remembered the warning given by the nurse and knew that there might be recruits after him. With the name Astarte on his head, anyone that can punch him would have foolish glory. Others might cheer the bully for punching an Astarte.
In simpler terms, Dante was in a complicated situation.
Approaching the exit of the first checkpoint, Dante noticed the gargantuan trees once again. The more he got closer to them, the bigger they became. It made him wonder the reason why such trees become so tall and big.
Soon, he passed through the exit and was now in the woodland wilderness. The dirt path was the only thing he could see, and bushes shrouded the ground.
"Another journey awaits me." Dante expressed with a sigh.