It wasn't much of a choice for Talon. He knew that whatever came next, the best thing he could do was be as prepared as possible. And joining one of the most prestigious armies in the universe seemed like a good place to start.
Was he biased?
Definitely.
He'd been planning to join the Solaris Concord regardless.
Still, he half-heartedly browsed through the offers sent to him, comparing them out of curiosity to see how the Concord's sincerity stacked up against the private factions and companies. And honestly, he was surprised by what he found.
"What the… Kieran, are you seeing this too?" he asked, frowning at his holopad.
Kieran looked up, confused. "Seeing what?"
"Well… I thought companies would have better offers and resources than a military contract. But… look at this."
Talon scanned the Solaris Concord's offer. In some ways, it made sense; companies wanted Supers to stay far from the frontlines, while the Concord needed every fighter it could get. The benefits were clearly aimed at making Concord life enticing.
As for what exactly those benefits were…
Minimum service: 20 years
Eligible for higher-ranking training, pending final exam results
Access to top-tier energy training manuals
Monthly allotment of 30 energy crystals
50% discount on ascension materials and services
A highly lucrative pension
Base wage: 2,000 credits a month
And for rare-rank Supers, like him ofcourse, there were additional perks:
Monthly allotment: 90 energy crystals
90% discount on ascension materials and services
Assigned mentor to help you train your power
Lower requirements to join officer or special-rank training
Increased wage: 4,000 credits
'Holy… this is amazing,' Talon thought, his eyes widening as he read through the details.
Out of the seventeen offers he'd received, the Concord's was by far the most generous. None of the other factions could hope to match it, hardly surprising, given that the Solaris Concord was the dominant force in Southern human space.
He felt a surge of excitement just seeing what they had offered.
"Hey, Jason," Talon called over with a grin. "Where are you thinking of going?"
Jason didn't even hesitate, flashing him a confident smile. "Solaris Concord military, obviously. What about you?"
Talon nodded, the thrill of their long-held plan finally becoming real. "Same here. The plan's still on. Being Supers now just makes it even better, doesn't it?"
"Hehe… you damn right it is, ready to kick some Xa'Tarii alien ass?"
They both laughed, sharing a look filled with years of shared ambition. They'd talked about this since they were kids—joining the fight against the Xa'Tarii, pushing their limits, and forging their own path. Now, with the chance to train as Supers, those dreams felt more real and attainable than ever.
"Think we'll end up at the same Super academy?" Jason asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Here's hoping." Talon nudged him with a grin. "I could probably push for it in the negotiation, too. It'll be like everything we used to dream about, just a hundred times bigger."
Jason's eyes lit up. "Exactly. Man, I'm so ready for it. I still can't believe this is actually happening."
They shared a look, feeling the thrill of a new chapter, but a hint of sadness crept in as Talon glanced around. "Just wish Alice could be there with us."
Jason, Alice and him had been very close since they were young. Since they all come from prominent families, Talon's being the biggest.
They were trained by the best acadamy found in this corner of the universe, it had brought them closer, but it seems now they would be split up for the first time.
Jason's smile softened, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "Yeah… doesn't feel right, going without her, does it?"
"No," Talon replied quietly. "But you know her. She'd probably give us an earful if we started getting all mopey about it. She'd want us to go all out."
Jason chuckled, nodding. "True. She'd probably send us a list of rules and reminders, telling us not to mess this up and to actually pay attention."
Talon laughed, imagining Alice's stern look as she'd lecture them both, even from afar. It was annoying sometimes, but it was how she cared.
"And we'd better not slack off, or she'll find a way to hunt us down just to give us another lecture."
"True true.." they both pondered, turning back to those who had yet to awaken, a uncommon light just shined through the removed privacy window.
'Mmm… I do wonder, if her plan is still on, we might even be operating under the same regiment in the future. Wouldn't that be something to behold?' Talon thought.
As the final cadet finished their awakening, the room buzzed with excitement. Each newly awakened Super glanced at their hands, flexing and testing their newfound strength. Most were distracted by the offers displayed on their holopads, or simply by the thrill of knowing they were now many times stronger than before.
"Will everyone pay attention?" the director's voice cut through the murmurs, immediately commanding the room's focus. "I'll be explaining some vital information. What I say here is not to be shared outside this room or posted on the holonet. Violating this will lead to severe consequences. Additionally, I'll be giving essential advice, so listen carefully."
Despite his easygoing smile, the weight in the director's tone left no room for doubt. "Congratulations to you all. You are now E-ranks, more commonly referred to as 'Soldiers.' This is the first step in a long journey you have ahead."
The room stilled as his words sank in. He continued, "You may feel invincible right now... but do not let that illusion fool you. There are five stages within the Soldier rank. Each of you is currently at the initial phase. Advancement will depend on discipline, training, and effort.
"so there is still a bit to go then..." Talon muzed to himself, all this information being new to him.
"Additionally, many of you may have already realized what your abilities are, an instinctual knowledge of sorts. Let me make this very clear: do not attempt to use them yet. Your energy reserves at this stage are minimal. Depleting them entirely could have serious consequences."
The director's voice softened slightly, taking on a more instructive tone. "When you reach the peak of the Soldier stage, you'll encounter a personal, unique hurdle. This is not something we can train you for. It will be a test that only you can overcome, and succeeding will allow you to ascend to the rank of Sentinel, marking your entry into D-rank."
"This stage is not to be taken lightly. The difference between advancing and being stuck where you are could very well depend on the resources provided by your sponsor or the organization you align yourself with. Choose wisely."
Talon grumbled internally. He already knew what his personal hurdle would be, and it would likely depend on just how long those so-called achievements took to complete.
'Wonder if I can see any updates about that. Wish there was a way to check the achievements outside the lo-'
His thought was cut off as a sudden popup screen appeared right before his eyes, glowing a soft, holo-blue and completely see-through. The top of the screen displayed in bold, crisp letters:
Achievements 1/100.
Talon's heart skipped a beat as he quickly glanced at the content beneath. Sure enough, the next incomplete achievement was still marked with the same frustratingly vague hint as before:
Leadership Position.
"What the..." He whispered, His eyes darting around to see if anyone had noticed. To his relief, the other cadets were still absorbed in the director's speech, unaware of the sudden development. He waved the screen away with a thought, the translucent display vanishing instantly.
'Still paying attention… definitely still paying attention,' he told himself, forcing his focus back on the director. But deep down, he was fuming.
'Damn you, Noah, you could have mentioned this earlier!'
Luckily, he hadn't missed much. The director had paused, his gaze sweeping across the room as the recruits absorbed his words. Talon glanced around, noting the range of expressions on their faces, from confusion to steely determination. A few cadets were glancing back at their holopads, clearly deep in thought, no doubt weighing their options.
Clearing his throat, the director continued, his tone pragmatic. "Before any of that, you'll complete this term with your final exams. Your results will determine which branches and specializations you're eligible for. These scores are critical; they will dictate the paths available to you. Regardless of your results, every single one of you will serve a mandatory five years."
A ripple of acknowledgment passed through the room. For Talon, the five-year service was more than a requirement, it was a starting point. It was clear to him that this was where humanity's discipline truly began. While some cadets would finish their service and move on, satisfied with their contributions, Talon already knew his ambitions stretched far beyond that.
"For those of you seeking power, strength, and mastery over your abilities," the director added, his gaze intense, "staying with the us, the Concord will provide access to resources no other faction can match. Elite training, specialized mentors, and rare ascension materials, all of this is available to those who choose to continue beyond the mandatory term. Here, you will be pushed to your limits and given the tools to surpass them."
Talon's grin widened as he considered the road ahead. The promise of elite training and rare resources excited him. This was what he'd signed up for.
The director's voice took on a finality as he concluded. "As we end this briefing, I urge you all to carefully review the offers provided to you today. While your preferences will be taken into consideration, some routes may only open up after your final exam results are in. Choose wisely."
He added, "Once you've made your decision, come up to the representatives here on my left for a private, more in-depth discussion about your choices. Remember, the offers are negotiable, so make the most of this opportunity."
He gestured to his left, where a group of representatives stood waiting, their expressions professional yet approachable.
"Good luck, cadets."