The main hall buzzed with low murmurs as the first-year recruits filled the space. The wide, cold room was illuminated by rows of fluorescent lights, their harsh glow casting shadows on the anxious faces of the students. Kane stood among them, flanked by Leo and Liam, his nerves prickling as the instructors filed in. At the head of the group was a stern-faced man with graying hair, his presence commanding immediate silence.
"Attention!" his voice boomed, cutting through the whispers.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him.
"I am Captain Aldridge," the man began, pacing slowly across the stage. "And today, we're addressing an issue that has the entire military base—and quite frankly, the entire world—on edge. You may consider this a pandemic, one that must be treated with utmost caution."
A ripple of unease spread through the recruits.
"Strange sightings," Aldridge continued, "of intelligent creatures… unlike anything we've encountered before."
He gestured to a screen behind him. The lights dimmed, and a grainy image appeared, distorted but clear enough for the recruits to make out the subject. The creature in the picture resembled a man, but its skin was jet-black, its glowing red eyes piercing even through the hazy display. Its bald head was adorned with fish-like, pointy ears, and its posture exuded both intelligence and menace.
Gasps and murmurs erupted across the hall.
"What… is that?" someone whispered.
One recruit raised his hand. Without waiting to be called on, he blurted out, "Isn't that just one of the beasts found on other planets?"
Captain Aldridge turned sharply toward the boy, his expression hardening. "An excellent question," he said, though his tone carried a hint of annoyance.
He stepped forward, addressing the entire room. "As most of you know, humanity's exploration of other planets has revealed a wide variety of creatures—beasts, as we call them. These beasts, often hostile, have been hunted for centuries. Their unique biological properties have been invaluable to our military advancements. The teeth of a Saurian Tiger, for example, are durable enough to craft blades capable of cutting through advanced alloys. The scales of a Rakkid Serpent are used to create body armor resistant to energy-based attacks. These discoveries have allowed humanity to thrive on the battlefield, even against formidable enemies."
Aldridge paused, letting the recruits absorb the information before gesturing back to the screen.
"But this…" he pointed to the creature, his voice dropping ominously. "This is not a beast. Extensive research has proven that it is something far worse."
The room fell eerily silent.
"For one," Aldridge said, "this creature… can think. It can talk."
The recruits erupted into shocked exclamations, disbelief etched on their faces.
"You're lying," someone muttered under their breath, though not loud enough to challenge Aldridge directly.
"The research we've conducted," Aldridge continued, ignoring the outburst, "has confirmed that these creatures are intelligent. They communicate in languages we do not yet fully understand. They strategize. They are not the mindless beasts we've encountered on other planets. They are something new. Something dangerous."
The tension in the room was palpable.
Another recruit raised his hand, the same one who had spoken earlier. "Sir," he called out hesitantly. "Why are you telling us this? We're just first-year recruits."
Captain Aldridge's eyes flicked toward the boy, narrowing with irritation. He let out a loud, dismissive scoff. "Always with the questions," he muttered, shaking his head.
The boy shifted uncomfortably but didn't back down.
Aldridge sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. I'll explain."
He straightened, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The reason you're being told this is simple: this threat affects every single one of us. The intel we've gathered suggests that these creatures could pose a significant risk to humanity. As a result, the government has authorized the implementation of enhanced training programs and stricter protocols. From today onward, your lives will become significantly harder. Your lessons, your drills—everything will be intensified."
Groans and murmurs of protest rippled through the crowd, but Aldridge silenced them with a sharp glare.
"Furthermore," he continued, "to prepare for this potential threat, the number of recruits will increase. Effective immediately, all teenagers aged sixteen are now required by law to join the academy. This is a global mandate, designed to bolster Earth's defenses."
The room descended into chaos as the recruits reacted to the announcement. Some were angry, others scared, and many just confused.
"Enough!" Aldridge barked, his voice slicing through the noise. "This is not up for debate. Dismissed!"
The recruits began filing out of the hall, their minds racing with questions and fears. Kane followed silently, his thoughts a whirlwind. He couldn't help but wonder: if the world was preparing for war against a new species, what role would he…and the mysterious system he'd been given…play in the battles to come?
****
Kane walked back to the dorms with his friends, the air around him heavy with the weight of Captain Aldridge's words. The world seemed more dangerous than ever, and the need to grow stronger gnawed at him like a constant itch. He clenched his fists as they moved through the crowded pathways, his resolve hardening with each step.
His friends, however, were far more relaxed. Liam chatted animatedly about the announcement, throwing in his usual sarcastic remarks. Leo, always the jokester, chimed in with his own quips about how the new recruits would probably faint the moment the tougher drills began.
As they navigated through the campus, the usual chaos unfolded around them. Kane's sharp eyes caught glimpses of the strong preying on the weak. A group of older students cornered a smaller boy near the cafeteria, demanding his lunch money. In another corner, a girl sat quietly on the ground, nursing a bruised arm while her aggressor laughed with his friends.
Some of the scenes were crueler than others, but they all carried the same message: might made right here.
"Hey, doesn't the school care about all this bullying?" Kane asked suddenly, his voice cutting through Liam's ramble.
The question lingered in the air, drawing both of his friends' attention. It wasn't the first time Kane had thought about this. Ever since his arrival, he had noticed the rampant hierarchy of strength. At first, he'd been too weak to question it, focusing only on surviving each day. But now, he felt something stir inside him—a desire to challenge the status quo.
Liam shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Care?" he said, his tone tinged with bitterness. "That's just how the world works, Kane. You either deal with it, or you get crushed under it."
Kane frowned, his thoughts drifting back to his first few days here. He remembered the feeling of isolation, the constant struggle to stay out of trouble, and the sting of watching their group of orphans split apart. Sophie, Ryan, and the others—where were they now?
His stomach tightened as he realized he didn't know. He hadn't even tried to find out.
"You okay?" Liam asked, nudging him with his elbow.
"Yeah," Kane muttered. "Just thinking."
"Uh-oh," Leo chimed in, grinning mischievously. "You know what happens when Kane starts thinking too hard. Better watch out, Liam—he might start philosophizing again."
Kane rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Despite everything, he was grateful for these two. They had stuck by him through the worst of it, even when he'd been distant and consumed by his own worries.
"Hey, speaking of thinking," Leo said, his grin widening. "You still thinking about your girlfriend from the canteen?"
Kane groaned, his face heating up. "She's not my girlfriend."
"Sure, sure," Liam teased, winking at Leo. "That's why she gave you that little thank you gift, right? Admit it, Kane—you're a lady's man now."
Their laughter echoed around him, lightening the mood. Kane couldn't help but chuckle along, even as he shook his head in exasperation.
Then, out of nowhere, he blurted out, "Would you guys mind… going shopping today?"
Both Liam and Leo stopped in their tracks, staring at him as if he'd grown a second head.
"Shopping?" Leo repeated, incredulous.
"Didn't think you were the retail therapy type," Liam added, smirking.
Kane shrugged, trying to play it off. "I just… feel like we could use a break. You know, do something normal for once."
Leo exchanged a look with Liam, then grinned. "Well, who are we to turn down a chance to watch Kane spend all his hard-earned credits? Count me in."
Liam laughed, clapping Kane on the back. "You're paying, right?"
"Don't push your luck," Kane said, rolling his eyes.
As they headed off toward the campus marketplace, Kane felt a flicker of hope. Amid the chaos and uncertainty, moments like these reminded him why he kept pushing forward. He wasn't just fighting for himself—he was fighting for the people who mattered most.
A/N: please guys, I've been thinking of dropping this novel fo a while back now but it seems that a fraction ofy readers are still interested.
Please if you really are, show this by engaging the story actively, tell me my mistakes, like, dislike and many more. I promise that it is of great help to me.