Chapter 12 - Rampage

After breakfast, the three youths were assembled in the square, where several racks bristling with an array of weapons had been set up. From daggers and broadswords to pistols and rocket launchers, the selection ranged from cold steel to firearms, a veritable armory at their disposal.

Lieutenant Ronan stood with his legs together and hands clasped behind his back, a simple military posture that exuded an imposing aura. He grinned, revealing a set of teeth that struck fear into the youths, "Congratulations are in order. At least two of you may survive another sixty days. Let's not waste any more time. Starting today, we're adding new courses to the curriculum. The first is combat technique, where I'll teach you the art of killing; the second is Source Energy training, which will refine stronger Source Energy, form more vortices, and increase your chances of leaving this camp alive."

The youths exchanged glances.

Mauro and Asher, in particular, nearly sparked fires with their stares. Melly, the last to ignite her spark, shrank back, avoiding the boys' challenging gazes.

"Alright, today we begin with combat training. But before we start, you may choose any weapon you like from the racks," Ronan stepped back, unveiling the full arsenal to the youths.

Asher, who had never seen so many weapons, was momentarily dazzled. Mauro raised his hand, seeking Ronan's counsel, "Lieutenant, I'd like to hear your recommendation."

Ronan spoke gravely, "My advice is to stay true to your instincts. Choose with your intuition; the weapon you're drawn to often signifies a natural talent in that domain."

While Ronan spoke, Asher had already drifted towards the cold weapons section, eventually selecting a black steel broadsword almost as tall as himself. The blade was square-edged, 150 cm in length, with a 30 cm hilt that could be wielded one-handed or with both hands. The blade was 25 cm wide and 3 cm thick, yet weighed only 50 kg.

Given the size and thickness of the blade, it shouldn't be so light—clearly, it had been treated with special techniques. The hilt was painted a deep crimson, contrasting sharply with the blade's blackness. The dark steel surface bore subtle patterns along the edges, their purpose unclear—decorative or otherwise.

50 kg was no light weight for a ten-year-old, but having ignited his spark, Asher was now a Level One Source Energy wielder. According to the manual, each level advancement doubled one's physical strength, so Asher could manage the heft.

Asher chose the sword because he saw a faint luminescence on it—a soft glow like a candle flame in the wind, seemingly on the verge of extinguishing. Despite its subtlety, it was the only weapon that radiated with Source Energy.

Following suit, Mauro and Melly picked their weapons.

Mauro chose a sniper rifle, seemingly enamored with it, unable to put it down after taking it from the rack. Melly selected a pair of automatic pistols, though she seemed to have chosen them at random.

Once the three had made their selections, Ronan waved his hand, and soldiers quickly dismantled the racks and carried them away. He moved between Mauro and Melly, "You two are smart. While firearms, especially gunpowder-based ones, have limited use in high-level combat, they maintain an irreplaceable advantage in the early stages, particularly in the Death Arena. Mauro, with the sniper rifle you've chosen, you can reach targets up to 1200 meters away. With skillful shooting and the right environment, you could easily eliminate your two peers."

Mauro swelled with pride at the lieutenant's praise, shooting Asher a triumphant look.

"And you..." Ronan approached Asher, "You're foolish for choosing such an ill-suited weapon. Yet, you also have an eye for potential..."

Ronan left his statement hanging, returning to his original position without explaining Asher's so-called insight. He summoned two instructors, "You two, follow the instructors. They'll teach you the most basic shooting techniques."

To Asher, he said, "Come with me, white-haired boy. The weapon you've chosen can only be taught by me."

Ronan led Asher to the air-raid shelter where they had ignited their sparks. After closing the steel door with a sense of gravity, as if not wanting the upcoming lesson to be witnessed by any third party, Ronan returned and beckoned for Asher to hand over the broadsword.

Running his fingers along the cold steel, Ronan mused, "I'm surprised. I intended to use this behemoth as a teaching aid, not expecting you to choose it. If Konov knew his weapon was in the hands of a kid, he might just rise from his grave in anger..."

Stabbing the broadsword into the ground, Ronan leaned on it and said, "Listen, boy. This sword belonged to a comrade of mine. Since you've chosen it, it's yours now. Konov called it 'Rampage,' for he once single-handedly slaughtered an entire Predator clan with it!"

Asher's pupils dilated, and the Source Energy vortex within him accelerated. Instantly, he grew fond of 'Rampage,' if only because it had once drunk the blood of the Predators.

"Don't get too excited," Ronan chuckled, observing Asher's reaction, "You might be scrawny, but you're belligerent. Good, having the will to fight is important. However, you're not yet capable of unleashing Rampage's power; you can only use it as a regular cold weapon for now. Do you know why? Because it has another, more official name: a Tier-One Magic Blade."

"A Magic Blade?" Asher's young face was a picture of confusion.

"Yes, it's called a Magic Blade because it contains a miniature cubic sequence within. That's right, it operates on new energy. Once you activate the sequence, Rampage will project an additional half-meter energy blade. In combat, this extra reach will boost your attack efficiency by about 40%. And this energy blade can cut through anything!"

Asher was eager to try.

Ronan seemed pleased with his enthusiasm but quickly doused it with reality, "Remember, it's a Tier-One blade. 'Tier-One' means it requires the strength of at least one genetic circuit to operate. If there's a Tier-One, there are also Tier-Two, Tier-Three, and so on. Magical weapons like this, according to current classifications, can go up to Tier-Twenty."

Seeing Asher's excitement turn to disappointment, Ronan couldn't help but feel amused, "Magic weapons were developed after the Federation's establishment, incorporating cubic energy technology into portable weaponry, significantly enhancing human military power. Take sniper rifles, for instance. Mauro's rifle can hit a target a kilometer away. A Tier-One Magic Sniper would double that range and have the power to explode a body. If it's a Tier-Ten or higher Magic Sniper, the range could reach an astonishing five kilometers, capable of downing an unshielded magic-powered ship with a single shot."

"You shouldn't be disheartened. Once you refine nine Source Energy vortices and construct a genetic circuit, you'll be able to wield Rampage's true power." Ronan withdrew the broadsword from the ground and handed it back to Asher, "Until you can activate Rampage's cubic sequence, I'll teach you some basic combat techniques. Combined with Rampage's sharpness and weight, it will be more than enough to battle those two kids."

After his speech, Ronan examined the broadsword again, "Rampage is a square-edged blade, lacking a pointed tip. So, stabbing is out of the question. That leaves us with one option: Crescent Moon."

"Crescent Moon?" Asher asked, puzzled, "Is that a combat technique?"

"Exactly. Crescent Moon is a leg combat technique. With the waist and heel as the vertical axis, theoretically, you can launch a powerful sweep from any angle while maintaining balance. It's called Crescent Moon because the trajectory of the sweep resembles one. This technique is part of the Ten Strikes, which were refined after the Dawn Battle, summarizing countless predecessors' experiences into essential combat moves. The Ten Strikes are considered the soul of all combat techniques. Even today's renowned figures built their unique combat skills on the foundation of the Ten Strikes, integrating their own engraved abilities."

Ronan then demonstrated the Crescent Moon technique for Asher. Bringing in a metal dummy, he maintained an appropriate distance before executing a sweep with one leg propped on the ground. The other leg whipped out with a sharp whistling sound, decapitating the dummy with a single, fluid motion. The whole sequence was concise, devoid of any superfluous movement, highlighting speed, precision, and lethality.

"This is a single Crescent Moon. Now, let's combine multiple Crescent Moons..." Ronan repeated the swift sweep, hitting the dummy's body and quickly changing his pivot point. His legs alternated in a barrage of sweeps, creating a storm of attacks.

Asher watched in awe, breaking down Ronan's movements into individual sweeps. Yet, when combined with the angles of force, they formed a complex offensive. By the time Ronan finished his final sweep, the dummy had fallen apart. If it had been a human, their bones would likely have been shattered under such an onslaught.

Repetition of movement, varying angles, and constant balance—these were the Crescent Moon techniques Ronan aimed to impart.