Caleb arrived at the Southern Army stronghold, situated at the edge of the scorching southern desert. The blistering sun beat down upon the sand, its heat seeping into his bones as he made his way through the imposing gates. The air was heavy with the scent of dust and sweat, mingled with the faint aroma of gunpowder and metal.
After completing the necessary paperwork, Caleb recorded his newly acquired rank as a Captain in the army's records. His assignment was to work under the command of Commander Lucifer, a member of the Cain clan hailing from the Free City, which governed Arundel town, the very town where the Levi clan resided. The deep-rooted competition and animosity between the two clans had slowly evolved into bitter hatred over the years. While Caleb had always remained focused on his training, distancing himself from clan politics, the fact that the Levi Clan's fame grew in tandem with his outstanding performance had become a sore point for the Cain Clan. They seethed with jealousy but could do nothing to harm Caleb, as he had always been locked away in intense training.
Upon reporting to Commander Lucifer, Caleb was assigned an unexpected role as a training instructor for a company of 100 men. It was an unconventional task for someone of his rank, especially considering his completion of the Advanced Knight training program. Caleb quickly discerned that there was a scheme at play, and he found himself at the centre of it. Despite the intrigue surrounding his assignment, Caleb did not question his orders and dutifully fulfilled his role as a training instructor.
The intensity of the training skyrocketed as Caleb poured his efforts into moulding the soldiers of the company. There was no room for idle talk or rest during their breaks. Exhausted, they could only focus on cultivating and recovering their energy for the next rigorous session. Word of the devilish trainer in Commander Lucifer's company began to spread like wildfire. The soldiers' strength increased, their formations became more precise, and their overall skills improved. Other commanders took notice and desired the same results for their troops, recognizing the potential key to victory in Caleb's training methods. But rather than earning him praise, this recognition only further fueled Commander Lucifer's ire.
Within a week, the number of soldiers under Caleb's tutelage grew from 100 to 1,000; the entire left battalion. Various groups engaged in different forms of training, leaving no room for respite. The high-intensity exercises pushed the soldiers to their limits, followed by rounds of stretching to alleviate the strain. Caleb's fame continued to soar, drawing nothing but praise from the other commanders for the noticeable improvements in the soldiers' abilities, all without inflicting harm upon their bodies. While Commander Lucifer marvelled at the effectiveness of Caleb's training, he couldn't help but be annoyed that Caleb had stolen the spotlight. The commander knew he had failed in his plan to bury this genius, realizing it was a mistake to assign him as a training instructor. As he perused Caleb's file, a smile curled on his lips as he murmured, "It looks like I've found a big fish."
As word of the devilish instructor gained momentum, a reassignment order was swiftly issued. Captain Caleb was to immediately withdraw from his role as the training instructor of the Cain Company, instead taking on the position of Squad Leader for the Reconnaissance squad. Furthermore, he was tasked with dangerous missions involving scouting targets, sabotaging, and even clearing out smaller groups of demon scouts.
Upon receiving the details of his new appointment, Caleb made his way to the location of his new squad. A squad in the army comprised ten soldiers, and Caleb was to lead the lowest echelon of the hierarchy. Despite the evident scheme behind this decision, Caleb remained unfazed. He knew his duty was to obey orders from higher-ranked officers, no matter the underlying motives.
"Gather round, everyone. What type of blessings do you possess?" Caleb called out, his voice firm yet tinged with a sense of authority.
Quickly, he received the responses. Two soldiers possessed fire blessings, one had an earth blessing, another a water blessing, one with the gift of water healing, and five were skilled body cultivators. Caleb assessed their levels, realizing that this group had never worked together as a team. Their coordination and skills were likely nonexistent. The faith cultivators ranged between the Disciple and Prophet Ranks, while the body cultivators were all at the Human Rank. For a Scout Squad, their levels were undeniably low, increasing the urgency of their training and the need to enhance their chances of survival.
"From now on, we shall be known as the Dark Bolt Squad. I will lead, and you can all address me as Bolt," Caleb announced, his voice carrying a commanding tone. "In this squad, your real names are irrelevant. The less information you possess, the easier it will be to carry out your duties. So, from this moment, Dark 1 to 9, remember your code names. Healer, you shall be known as Tower."
A week remained before their first mission, and Caleb wasted no time. The training he subjected the ten soldiers of the Dark Bolt Squad to was nothing short of brutal. He held nothing back, relentlessly instilling awareness into their very bodies. Weighted gear became mandatory, as did stretching and intense sparring. Caleb knew their time was limited, and he didn't expect them to become experts within a week. However, he aimed to increase their chances of survival in the upcoming battles.
"Dark 1 to 9, your missions will revolve around gathering intelligence and locating specific targets. Once you spot the enemy, relay the information to Tower," Caleb instructed, his voice unwavering. "Tower, you should have learned the Iceshard communication skill by now. You are in charge of communication, ensuring Dark 1 to 9 can complete their missions swiftly and keep me informed of their progress. Until you are all strong enough to fight battles on your own, I will handle all encounters myself. Your primary objective is to locate the enemy and leave the rest to me. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," the soldiers responded in unison, their voices echoing with determination.
"Good. Let's get to work," Caleb declared, his eyes focused and unwavering.