The array was fully activated, and all team leaders quickly led their teams into the array to start the exams. The instructors made their way into the surveillance room for a briefing before the trial was to commence. In the simple surveillance room, there were 50 screens lined up, each focusing on a team undertaking the exam.
Staff Sergeant Judas noticed that all the instructors were present, so he decided to start his briefing. He covered all topics that the instructors should be aware of and things they needed to note. He assigned one instructor to a team, giving them the authority to influence the exam by either increasing the difficulty level or terminating the session, leading to a failure. His general expectation was for all the recruits to be promoted to privates, but he could not help but emphasize that there could be potential troublemakers in the trials that the instructors need to look out for.
Leila, a blonde-haired soldier, was assigned to the Demonslayers team. She was one of the best instructors in the first-year program. It came as a shock that she was not given one of the top 3 teams but a rank 6 team. The Staff Sergeant indicated that the Demonslayers team had never been fully tested, and he wanted someone of her level to push them to discover their potential. Leila had a frown on her face, and she could not hide her disappointment. But curiosity about this team spawned in her heart; she wanted to know why such an average team would get this much attention from her commanding officer.
In the array, Caleb and the others found themselves in a forest. The air in the forest was cool and refreshing, carrying the scent of damp earth and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. The towering trees seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, forming a dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The branches, adorned with vibrant green leaves, created a natural canopy that shielded the recruits from the harshness of the sun.
As Caleb and the Demonslayers team took in their surroundings, they marvelled at the majestic beauty of the forest. The towering trunks of the ancient trees stood like sentinels, their rough bark displaying the marks of time and weather. Moss and ivy wound their way up the tree trunks, adding a touch of emerald to the scene.
The forest floor was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, creating a soft carpet that muffled their footsteps. Shades of brown, orange, and yellow blended together, forming a rich tapestry of colours. Occasionally, small critters scurried through the undergrowth, adding a touch of life to the serene setting.
Birds chirped melodiously in the distance, their sweet songs echoing through the forest. The occasional rustling of branches and the distant hoot of an owl added to the symphony of nature's sounds. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, illuminating certain areas and casting a magical glow on the forest floor.
"Gather," Caleb ordered. "Status!"
"We are all present!" "Limited vision." "We haven't been on this map before." Caleb received several reports from the team. They had now been in the academy for a year, and they had learned the discipline of the army.
"Same formation as before. Tobias will be the second in command in my absence. I will take on the scout role for the team. Proceed in my direction. Keep an eye out; there are only 10 of us, and our enemies are 50 plus," Caleb instructed.
"Yes, Sir," they replied.
Naomi, who had studied all types of supporting knowledge available to the recruits, took the time to explain the situation of the forest and how to deal with different situations. She covered things like animal tracks, scratches, faeces, plants, and poisonous insects to be aware of.
"Thanks, Naomi. Now let's begin the operation," Caleb announced before speeding into the forest like an agile cat. His footsteps produced barely any sounds.
"As expected of the team leader, he is excited to battle," Trojan laughed.
"Get into formation; we need to move out too," Tobias announced.
Caleb ran through the leaves and noticed some animals in various corners, trying his best to avoid them. Soon, he spotted a demon scout looking through the leaves. Caleb proceeded to ambush the demon from behind, quickly and quietly. He also noticed 9 other demon scouts combing through this area of the forest.
'Their camp must be close,' he thought.
He quickly retreated into the shadows, approaching each one of them quietly, finishing them off without any noise or sounds. Walking through the leaves, he arrived at the centre part of the forest where a camp was erected. 10 demons patrolling the walls were on high alert. Caleb knew he could not get any closer; the array's realistic representation of things was always something to marvel at. He circled around the camp, noticing the arrangement of the camp before making his way back to the team.
A hundred meters away at a crossroads, the team was gathered. Everyone looked on guard, one could only imagine what they had experienced in the forest. Trojan's axe was covered in blood, which he was currently cleaning with a leaf.
"How long have we been in the array anyways? Walking in this forest makes you lose the sense of time," Trojan asked.
"Less than 5 minutes," Naomi replied.
"Formation! We have company," Tobias announced as the team showed their training by quickly getting into formation, ready for battle.
"It is me, Caleb," he announced as he made his presence known to the team. He was impressed at how alert they were and how quickly they responded.
"Camp has 41 Demons, 10 of them Patrols, 30 Soldiers, and 1 Commander," Caleb reported.
"Sir, should there not be 50 Soldiers and 1 commander?" she asked.
"Well, about that. I took out 10 scouts on the way to their camp," Caleb replied without giving them time to process what he had just said. He added, "Follow me, our mission starts now."
Quickly, the team traversed the forest in the direction of the camp. Caleb led them through various turns and climbs, avoiding all animals until they came to the location of the camp.
"Asher and Naomi, we'll be relying on you both to take out the patrols. One stun, the other finish," Caleb instructed. "I have already scouted the camp. There is only one entrance in and out, so holding that location is our best choice. Agor and Nala, you will have to control the crowd with your skills. Asher and Naomi, find a high ground to provide ranged cover. Trojan, go berserk. Ashley, Hector, and Phoebe finish anyone who still lives. Tobias is in command. Tobias, remember to have fun as well. I will head inside to get the commander. We need to end this quickly. It's time to take our crown back as the best team."
Naomi shot an arrow, interrupting the patrol guard that wandered towards their location, stunning it. Asher followed up with a penetrating arrow, piercing the skull of the demon as it died on the spot. This same tactic was carried out on the other patrol guards, killing them all before they could raise the alarm.
"Get into formation!" Tobias instructed. Agor and Nala made their way to the gates. Asher and Naomi found a platform to stand on away from the group, while Caleb sneaked into the camp.
Leila, who had been watching from the outside, couldn't help but be amazed at the efficiency of the team. They had scouted and eliminated the scouts and patrols very quickly. They were moving at a speed far above what is expected of a recruit team. She looked at the difficulty setting, which was set to normal, and decided to increase it to Hard because, from what she had seen, the team was strolling through the forest with ease. She pushed the second button on the controller, splitting the screen into two to see what Caleb, who had made his way into the camp, was doing.
"INTRUDERS AT THE GATE!" a ghastly voice sounded in the camp. Thirty demons clad in armour ran to the gates with their weapons drawn.
"Quicksand!" Nala used her skills to create a patch of sand under the approaching demons' feet, causing them to sink and slowing their charge. "Earth Armour!" Agor used his skill to increase his defence by imbuing earth elements into his body. He raised his shield, blocking the entrance.
"Flash Arrow!" Naomi sent a glowing arrow into the midst of the demons, creating a flash of bright light and causing temporary blindness. "Volley!" Asher shot several arrows into the air, using his wind blessing to direct their landing spot, causing a rain of arrows on the enemies.
"Whirlwind!" Trojan, who had already entered a berserk state, had an aura of bloodlust around him. His eyes were red, and his demeanour was almost beast-like. He spun into the slowed, defenceless group of demons, mowing his way through them.
Ashley, Phoebe, and Hector finished off any survivors, while Tobias showed his advanced swordsmanship by killing those who tried to escape.
Leila was shocked at the perfect teamwork. Everyone had a role to play, and they did it beautifully. They had defeated 30 demons in under 3 minutes, a feat even privates could not achieve. She could only wonder why they had a sixth position in the training program until now. With this level of skill, she knew they should be ranked first.
While the gate battle was happening, Caleb had made his way to the commander to keep him away from boosting the morale of the demons at the gate. He crossed blows with the commander, who happened to be a spear user. Each attack was met with a block or a counter. Caleb was enjoying himself as he fought, using only his body strength and his weapon art.
He soon noticed that the commotion at the gate had come to an end. He knew it was time to end the fight with the commander. The team needed a good rank, as it would set their status in the second year of the academy. He got into a serious stance, ready to finish the commander in one move.
Leila also noticed the change in Caleb's attitude. She knew he was trying to end the battle. She wanted to see more, to know how much more Caleb was hiding. She held the controller and pushed the button with the skull depicted on it, raising the difficulty to Hell mode.
The commander opposite Caleb went berserk as if he had ingested a drug. The demonic aura around him increased as his body underwent a physical transformation. Two long horns grew out from his head. His hands let go of the spear as his nails grew into spikes. Caleb could sense that his opponent not only had a physical transformation, but his power level had also increased. He knew the instructors must have tampered with the commander as a test for him.
He activated his skill "Thunderbolt." With a crack of lightning, he pushed out his spear in front of him as he charged from his position, appearing behind the demon form of the commander. A hole now appeared in the chest of the commander as black blood splashed in every direction. With a last wail, he collapsed onto the ground. On Caleb's spear, a pierced heart could be seen still beating.
TRIAL COMPLETE
DEMONSLAYERS: 9 MINS
Leila continued to stare at the screen. She could not believe her eyes. She did not notice that her every action was seen by Staff Sergeant Judas, who was concealing his amazement. The other instructors also noticed that one team had completed the trial and looked at the time on the ranking in amazement: 9 minutes.
Caleb and his team made their way out of the array back to their assigned position on the field. It took another 6 minutes before the next team was out. Alex saw that the Demonslayers were already out and shook his head. He wasn't amazed, unlike the others in his team. Lumina was also impressed. Those who knew Caleb felt like this was expected. Osmo's team looked battered as they came out of the array 3 minutes after Alex's team. One by one, the top teams came out of the array until everyone was present.
Staff Sergeant Judas made his way to the front of the teams. He congratulated the recruits for all completing their first year at the academy and informed them about their promotion to Privates. The team leaders of the top ten teams were to be raised to 10-man commanders. This brought various cheers and jubilations from the top teams. The recruits were to be granted two months of rest before returning to the academy for their second year. Seeing everyone excited, he displayed the ranking list to all the privates. He wanted them to know that although they had succeeded, there was still a long way to go, and training could not be stopped. Very quickly, all the teams noticed the team in the first position: Demonslayers - 9 mins. This caused varying levels of shock, amazement, and disbelief as everyone stared in the direction of Caleb and the others.
The end of the school year was filled with excitement. For the first time in a year, the teenagers felt like they could relax. The privates made their way home, eager to share their experiences with their families. Caleb and the others were also excited to return. Naomi had been given permission to follow the team to the Levi Clan. Her family had also used the fact that their daughter was the only outsider in the Demonslayers team to relocate the entire family to Free City. After saying their farewells to their friends, the team ran along the familiar roads home.
"Keep the pace, don't increase your speed."
"Remember, step in the footprints of the person in front."
"Don't break formation."
Training never stopped. They ran home at a steady pace without breaking a sweat. If someone were to track the team with their footprints, they would believe that only one person had passed the location rather than 20. The coordination of the group was incredible.
"Halt!"
"We will walk from here."
Caleb and the others, dressed in their official black uniforms with their two-star medals attached to their chests, signifying their ranks as privates, soon arrived at the gates to Arundel Town.
"The Frontier Kids are back!" someone yelled.
"Elder Faith, your son is back!" a runner yelled, meeting Caleb's mother walking in the clan square.
Faith, who had missed her son, ran towards the gates with excitement. How much had he changed? She couldn't wait to find out.
Seeing the kids march uniformly into the gates, their medals glistening in the sun, the clan elders and Caleb's mother gathered to welcome the children who had journeyed home.
"Welcome home! You are the first group to arrive. The elders were just about to set off to pick up you and three other children. We didn't expect you to be home so soon," Clan Elder Seann announced. He walked up to the children, giving each of them a hug. Tobias got a big hug and a head rub.
Caleb went to his mother. "I am back."
"Welcome back, son," she replied, with tears of joy in her eyes.
There was no training scheduled for these two months. Everyone immersed themselves in relaxation and spending time with their loved ones. Training for war made one alert to the time of peace; they had to enjoy it while it lasted. Caleb spent each day with his mother, from the crack of dawn until it was time for bed. Her son was her world, and she loved him dearly. His success only made her proud and gave her strong expectations for his future achievements.