Sergeant Hans walked to the end of the square, where a young man was gritting his teeth, just like his companions, to complete the prescribed 200 push-ups. The sergeant watched with satisfaction as he executed the push-ups with excellent form. This young man had joined a month later than his fellow trainees. It was rumored that he had some connections in the military department, which helped him get in. The sergeant's initial impression of him was that he looked a bit soft and fragile. Perhaps thinking he was a backdoor entrant, the sergeant decided to keep a close eye on him during the next month. However, what the sergeant soon came to admire was the young man's remarkable determination. He was much tougher than he appeared. He pushed himself to excel in every aspect of training and never gave up. Not once did he shed a tear, even when he had a severe fall from a training ladder and sustained injuries. "Like a true man," the sergeant had said about him at the time. Consequently, the sergeant stopped deliberately making his training harder and even offered him some helpful tips, allowing the young man to catch up with his peers, despite joining a month late.
"Report! I'm finished!" The young man stood up and reported to the sergeant after completing 200 push-ups. He was the first among the freshmen to complete the exercise.
"Very well! You can rest right there." With that, the sergeant turned and walked toward the front of the formation.
Sylvan was the first to complete the early morning training session. Prior to the 200 push-ups, they had already finished a 15-kilometer weighted run and 1,000 squat jumps. It had been almost half a year since he had enrolled in the school, and Sylvan was extremely satisfied with his progress over the past six months. He could see himself getting stronger, and his arms were growing more powerful with each day.
"All right, those who've completed the exercises can return to have breakfast, and we'll reconvene at 9 o'clock." Apart from a few who had been penalized, the rest had successfully completed the training, and the sergeant announced the dismissal.
"Hey, Sylvan! You seem to be the first to complete all the training today!" Shreed, a fellow student Sylvan had befriended since enrolling, greeted him as he walked over.
"Sylvan, you're doing great! You're just slightly ahead of me." Prov, who had become Sylvan's friend after they'd met on the first day of training, joined the conversation.
The three of them had formed a close-knit group over the past six months, and like them, there were many such groups among the freshmen. These groups often engaged in friendly competition, and the instructors encouraged this camaraderie.
"Have you heard that the assessment results will be announced today? They say that the freshman attrition rate in the past six months was around 50%!" Shreed said with a hint of anxiety. Two days prior, the school had organized the first comprehensive assessment for the freshmen since their admission, primarily testing their progress over the previous six months. The assessment included a wide range of individual and teamwork skills, such as endurance, explosive power, judgment, and teamwork. Students who failed to meet the requirements would be required to leave the school. Shreed, although he performed well overall, was concerned because he was slightly overweight.
"Don't worry, Shreed. We'll all pass," Sylvan reassured him.
Soon it was 9 o'clock, and the freshmen formed neat lines in the training field. Sergeant Riddick approached the formation with a list in his hand, causing the students' hearts to race. "I think you all know what this list I'm holding is for. Before I read it, let me say that you've all done great!" With that, he began reading the list aloud, instructing the named students to step forward.
The list took half an hour to read, and nearly one-third of the 300 freshmen in this batch had their names called. These 100 students formed a smaller formation. Each of them seemed quite anxious. Sylvan and his group were among the 100. When he heard his name, Sylvan briefly questioned if he had heard correctly. However, considering the sergeant didn't specify whether the named students had passed or failed, he assumed the worst. Looking at the remaining 200 students, Sylvan couldn't believe they would eliminate 200 of them at once.
The list was finally completed, and Sergeant Riddick suddenly turned to the 100 students who had stepped forward. "Listen up, all of you. You have ten minutes to go back to your dorms and pack your things. In 15 minutes, meet at the tarmac on the training ground. Do you understand?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" The 100 students replied in unison, and they quickly dispersed, though with a touch of disappointment on their faces.
The remaining 200 students breathed a collective sigh of relief. While they felt a twinge of sadness seeing their peers leave, many couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. They believed they had passed this challenging phase. However, Sergeant Riddick's next words sent chills down their spines. "The 100 students who were just dismissed have successfully advanced to the next stage of training. They will be taken to the next phase training base for their first semester of military subjects. The rest of you, congratulations, you're free from my clutches. You can return to your families, no longer subject to my demands."
An anguished cry from a student who felt unprepared to leave broke the silence. His sobs quickly spread to the others. "Why are you crying? Did you think these six months of training were a joke? Look at yourselves, still wearing training uniforms and not yet true soldiers! If you want to cry, go home and cry in front of your parents. But don't forget that everything you've learned in the past six months was meant to transform you into real men!" Sergeant Riddick proclaimed, his voice laced with disdain. "Now, disband. Return to your dorms, clean up, and in the afternoon, a special vehicle will take you to the airport."
Sylvan and the other 99 named students gathered their belongings and headed to the tarmac. A transport aircraft was waiting for them. A sergeant directed them to stand at attention. The students, though knowing they had been eliminated, maintained discipline and stood tall. The sergeant gazed at them, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Listen, all of you, grab your belongings, turn to the right, and line up to board the transport plane." Following the sergeant's orders, the 100 students complied, boarding the aircraft in formation.
The transport plane took off and, rather than landing at a familiar airport, unexpectedly touched down on the other side of the planet, flying over an ocean. "What's going on? Where are we heading?" The students began to worry upon noticing this change. "Aren't we supposed to be eliminated?" Suspicions started to mount.
After three hours of flight, the transport plane landed on an island. The students disembarked, finding themselves on an airstrip on this remote island. Waiting for them was none other than Sergeant Riddick Hans.
"Welcome to Alcatraz Island, cadets!
You'll continue your second stage of training here," the sergeant announced, a faint smile on his face.
"Sir, you mean we weren't eliminated but have passed the six-month assessment?" one student asked hesitantly.
"Of course, I never said you were eliminated," the sergeant replied innocently.
"Great!" The students couldn't help but cheer, some even tossing their belongings into the air.
"Attention!" The sergeant interrupted their celebration. "You have no military bearing or discipline at all. Everyone, turn right and run around the airstrip 30 times. The last 20 students will miss dinner."
"Yes, sir!" The students responded in unison before lining up to begin their laps. Although they were disappointed by the extra training, their hearts were still filled with joy.
The remaining 200 students felt a mixture of relief and amusement. While they were slightly saddened by the departure of the 100 students, many couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. However, the sergeant's next words turned their jubilation into cold dread. "The 100 students who were just dismissed have successfully advanced to the next stage of training. They will be taken to the next phase training base for their first semester of military subjects. The rest of you, congratulations, you're free from my clutches. You can return to your families, no longer subject to my demands."
The sudden cry of anguish from a student who hadn't anticipated the early exit shattered the prevailing silence. His sobbing was contagious, and others joined in. "Why are you crying? Did you think these six months of training were a joke? Look at yourselves, still in training uniforms and not yet true soldiers! If you want to cry, go home and cry in front of your parents. But don't forget that everything you've learned in the past six months was meant to transform you into real men!" Sergeant Riddick proclaimed, his voice laden with disdain. "Now, disband. Return to your dorms, clean up, and in the afternoon, a special vehicle will take you to the airport."
Sylvan and the other 99 named students found themselves waiting on the tarmac with their luggage. A transport aircraft was on standby, and another sergeant approached them. "Attention!" he ordered. The students, though now aware of their extended training, maintained their discipline, standing at attention. The sergeant gazed at them, his eyes betraying a sense of contentment. "Listen, everyone, grab your luggage, make a right turn, and form a line to board the transport plane." The students complied, forming neat lines and boarding the aircraft in an orderly manner.
In the transport ship bound for a remote star mine, a ragged refugee lay on a bunk, shouting the name "Angel" in his sleep.