All of them except Dennis had never equipped a real one, but even the prototypes had caused the death of many combatants long before this.
This made them wonder how the real thing would be. They also found it understandable how Dennis was always on the brink of death whenever he was made to equip the UVS-001 suit.
Although, a lot of them believed that since they were stronger, they would not fall into the same state as Dennis. They had no idea that the suit was always on Dennis's chest, ready to be equipped at any time since the Scientists let it merge with him.
The squad was especially excited because they were told they'd be trying out an upgraded version of the prototype. They suspected it was only a level weaker than the original version, and they looked forward to training in it.
While they chatted at the cafeteria, Dennis touched his chest and remembered the scientists' words before he left the laboratory facility.
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"Don't ever use the suit and make sure no one knows it is with you."
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Dennis was sure they said this to protect him since his body could have a breakdown while they weren't there, and he might end up truly dying forever if it happened again.
"Hey, man!"
Malik slapped Dennis back as he sat across him.
This happened to be the first time they sat together in the cafeteria. Since he returned to the training facility, Dennis would only visit the cafeteria when it was empty, so everyone was a bit surprised to see them engaging in conversation like they were close.
The both of them had no doubt gotten used to each other, but Dennis didn't feel close to anyone just yet. However, he didn't mind them eating together like this.
Squad one wasn't the only group eating there, of course. There were many other squads in the vicinity as well which made the cafeteria a little crowded but eyes were usually on Dennis since everyone knew him to be the weakest as well as the one with the highest compatibility rate.
He was popular in an unpopular way...
People would usually share one or two conversations with him on a normal day, greet him, or bully him a little.
Dennis recalled all of these and knew it was normal anywhere, but of course, he wouldn't let anyone step on him anymore since he took over this body.
Dennis noticed the unwavering glares of a couple of squad members from the table a couple of feet to their right.
A girl with chestnut-colored hair tied to a bun suddenly stood up and joined the table.
"Hey, noddle kne... Dennis,"
She greeted him shortly before returning her focus to her food.
"Lara," Dennis muttered beneath his lips.
He recognized her to be the same girl who was separated by a glass wall from him in the laboratory facility the last time.
She was also one who frequently teased Dennis according to his memories. He knew their relationship wasn't so blissful that she would share a table with him, so he was quite suspicious.
She had even fought with the old Dennis in spars and beat him up badly, but that was understandable since it was a spar. However, the last known scuffle was when she played an annoying prank on him.
In a sense, she was just another bully– only that she didn't engage in physical assault.
"What? Don't go thinking that I came here because of you. I am here because I'd like to eat with Malik."
She said, punching his arms gently.
Dennis didn't mind, with a cold gaze, he continued with his food. Which Lara happened to find a little odd.
Everything had been odd since he returned to the training facility.
The same Dennis who would fall over and over again during training, which gave her ample opportunity to tease him about being weak, was now slowly starting to keep up with the rest of the squad.
He had been spotted multiple times with Malik in the workout chamber.
Even when he was alone, his cold and sharp countenance deterred approach from others, especially her.
She had not messed with him since he returned, although she had already decided to stop teasing him after his last near-death experience.
He seems to have changed...
She glanced at him once more before facing her food.
"By the way, since tomorrow's practical battle session is going to be in teams of two, should we..." Dennis had not completed his sentence when Lara cut in.
"What? You think because I am here, I want to be on the same team as you?" She flared up with a red tinge appearing on her cheeks and stormed off, leaving them dazed.
"What was that about?" Malik asked in puzzlement.
"I have no idea, I was not even asking her. I was asking you," Dennis shrugged his shoulders in confusion as well.
Why is everyone so weird?
"Alright then, we will be partners for the practical battle," Malik stated while Dennis nodded in response.
"Ah, right, I heard the inspectors coming today will select combatants for a special one-week training session. I hear they are the heroes of humanity," Malik emphasized with an expression of delight on his face.
What he said caught Dennis' attention.
"Heroes of humanity?"
"Yes. These soldiers didn't have what we have now but they battled the dangers that threatened humanity with all their might, although many were lost some of them remain and they are to thank for the shelters that were built. These guys were at the forefront of the battle with primitive technological weapons, and they still survived," Malik seemed to adore whoever these soldiers were.
"Not bad," Dennis voiced, but he wasn't really interested.
While the situation on this earth seemed worse than the one he originated from, he didn't think there was much these military veterans could teach him.
He only majorly lacked knowledge about the aliens and real practical experience on the battlefield against them.
On the bright side, it looked like humanity was more united here.
I can understand why he wants to be trained by them so badly, but how is it that I don't have memories of these people? More missing memories?
Dennis was starting to get worried.
In the hallway of the cafeteria, Lara faced the wall with her cheeks completely reddened and an expression of distress.
I'm a fool. I shouldn't have reacted that way. Now I've missed my chance to be his partner...
...
...
...
(One Hour Later)
What do I do tomorrow? Should I equip the new advanced prototype of the UVS suit or equip the original UVS suit and pretend it's a prototype?
Dennis thought with a conflicting expression as they lined up before the three instructors standing across from them.
"As you lots have already been informed, there are three extraterrestrial lifeforms that have been identified so far:
The leufons
The Xintropians
The Telktrops
Today, we will be giving a brief lecture on the least dangerous of all three, the leufons,"
They were out in an open area as one of the instructors continued the lecture.
"According to intelligence gathered, the closest planet to us right now is where the leufons originate from," Instructor Anne voiced out while pointing at the northern part of the sky.
Everyone's line of sight followed the trail of her finger, gazing at the northern part of the magenta-coloured skies.
A massive greyish planetary body could be spotted deep in the skies with two glowing blue circles surrounding it in an 'x' format. The planet's body seemed more massive than Earth's, but it was difficult to tell if that was the case or if it was just too close to the planet.
Since the planet shifting incident, other planets were visible from the surface of the earth. Around six planets could be seen with the naked eye, albeit having different sizes.
The Leufons' planet just happened to be the most visible among them all. However, even with the six visible planets in space orbit, only three of them had been identified so far, and Earth was still trying its best to gather as much intelligence as it could.
"We categorized the Leufons into two grades. The first grade of Leufons are similar to beasts in terms of intelligence and appearance as you all know," Instructor Anne continued speaking.
The biggest instructor in their midst, who had a buzz cut and unnaturally muscular build, tapped on a device in his grasp.
Thiihhgg~
A holograph appeared, displaying the looks of the first-grade leufons.
Four-legged creatures...
Silvery claws...
Red eyes...
Two boar-shaped heads...
These happened to be the same creatures Dennis recalled fighting in the testing facility with the UVS battle suit.
Dennis, who was initially thinking about how to deal with the next day's situation, was pulled out of his reverie after the hologram display.
Turns out I battled the first-grade Leufons. They were easy to defeat with the strength of the suit, but I nearly died again. I'll need to be careful.
Instructor Anne went on to explain that the first-grade Leufons usually varied in strength and size, but they generally had a similar body structure.
"Their intelligence is as low as wild animals but do not underestimate their strength and numbers. The UVS suit will provide you with enough strength to defeat them, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful. Which brings us to the ones who are actually in charge..." As Instructor Anne spoke, the holograph image changed.