?Angela stood confidently at the front of the room, her gaze sweeping the students. Mako, still intrigued by her powerful aura, listened intently as she began to explain the intricacies of the military school.

“Welcome, cadets!” Angela began, her voice commanding attention. “Welcome to your first year in military school, this is the starting line for you. Here, you will undergo rigorous training to shape you into skilled and disciplined individuals.”

“This is an opportunity for all of you to prove to everyone, how far you can really go. There is no limit to one’s determination and will to strive to become the best and if you put in the effort and hard work, you will emerge from this program, the strongest version of yourself, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and power necessary to climb the ranks and make a name for yourself!”

The students took in the weight of the words that Angela had just uttered. For most of them, military school was the only way for them to escape the system and become strong and powerful enough to live a decent life in today’s age.

The same held true for Mako for whom the military school was going to play an extremely vital role in equipping him with the knowledge and techniques necessary for him to start making progress towards his actual goals.

“Now, let’s dive into the details,” Angela said as she touched a small device, and a holographic screen materialized in the air, displaying an interactive map of the academy grounds.

Angela gestured towards it, “This is our campus, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Each of you has already been assigned dormitories, classrooms, and training areas which you can access using your ID card. Make sure to familiarize yourselves with the layout, as punctuality is a virtue we highly value here.”

The hologram zoomed in on different sections of the campus, highlighting training grounds, obstacle courses, and simulation rooms.

Angela continued, “Our training program is designed to challenge and strengthen you. Weekly evaluations will assess your progress, and your grades will reflect your commitment to excellence. Remember, discipline is the cornerstone of success.”

As she spoke, the holographic display shifted to show a calendar, marked with various training exercises, written exams, and practical assessments.

Angela elaborated, “You will face various challenges – physical, intellectual, and tactical. It’s essential to excel in all aspects. The military school’s motto is ‘Ad Astra Per Aspera,’ which means ‘Through Hardship to the Stars.’ Embrace challenges, and you will emerge stronger.”

The hologram then shifted and began displaying a list of times under the title, “Rewards System”. This showcased many different items ranging from weapons to skill books, power crystals, and much more.

“This rewards system has been put in place to help give every single cadet an equal chance at striving to become the best. All your progress, training, and results will be constantly monitored and will rewarded in points that you can access through your ID card. These points can be exchanged by the cadets to purchase anything in the reward catalog that could help them improve and become better.”

Mako was quite surprised to see how much of a resemblance this system had with his very own system. He had always wondered how the military would beat the hierarchy between the students coming from different classes to make it fair for everyone and this was how.

The rich kids wouldn’t really have the incentive to work hard to gain points as they could already own the things that the military is offering because of their parents, but this also means they will work less hard while other cadets will try to work as hard as possible to gain more points so that they could purchase new skills or abilities which could help bridge the gap between them and the rich kids, but not only that; the additional training will also help them become stronger mentally and physically to match the gifted cadets.

The hologram then highlighted a section labeled “Weekly Clash Contest.” Angela’s eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement as she explained, “Here’s one of the exciting features of the military school.”

“Every week, students have the opportunity to showcase their skills in many different combats ranging from friendly combat scenarios to intense critical decision scenarios all designed for you to observe your own progress and train you in all the various kinds of situations you could end up facing in the real world as an officer. It’s a chance to learn from each other and prove your prowess. Winners earn reward points and special privileges.”

Murmurs of anticipation rippled through the room. Angela smiled, acknowledging the enthusiasm. “Now, let’s discuss the testing criteria. You’ll undergo regular exams, both written and practical. Your performance will be evaluated not only on your power level and flashy abilities, but it will also on teamwork and leadership among other skills. Strive for excellence, and you’ll find the success you deserve.”

The hologram shifted to display a section labeled “Specialized Training.” Angela continued, “In addition to the standard curriculum, you’ll have the chance to specialize in areas such as various combat styles, combative strategy, power forging, mana training, etc.”

“You have to choose your path wisely, as it will shape your future assignments and career within the military. Reward points are not awarded for these specialized training as they are considered extras, but I would heavily advise you all to at least pick one of these training programs as they will help you out greatly!” Angela stated.

Angela’s explanation continued as she delved into the regular classes that would form the core of the cadets’ education at the military school.

“Your regular classes will include Earth history, galactic history, basic combat class, basic weapons class, basic ability and skill mastery class, and more. These classes are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for a well-rounded military officer.”

Mako found himself growing increasingly interested as Angela explained each class in detail.

Earth history focused on understanding the historical context that shaped their world, while galactic history expanded that knowledge to encompass the broader universe. Basic combat class and weapons class were self-explanatory, providing fundamental training in both armed and hand-to-hand combat.

Basic ability and skill mastery class intrigued Mako the most. This was essentially the class where the cadets could improve the most and become a lot stronger than before.

Angela explained that it would cover the development and honing of unique abilities and skills that each cadet possessed. This class aimed to refine and push the boundaries of what the students could achieve with their innate talents.

Mako and Bill had been able to become so much stronger in the few weeks that they had trained and without any help or supervision, just by following the instructions of the system which was mostly focused on helping Mako improve physically.

With proper guidance and training techniques, Mako knew that his progress would skyrocket once again as he did everything in his power to become strong enough that he wouldn’t ever lose anybody close to him ever again.

Mana training on the other hand, was a special training course, focused on harnessing and controlling mana—a crucial skill for those with abilities. The curriculum included understanding mana types, manipulation techniques, and practical exercises to enhance mana control.

This was also something that Mako was still quite weak at as there wasn’t any free and reliable source to learn it from the internet by himself so he was excited to see just how big a door this grand skill could open for him. .

As Angela concluded her overview of the classes, she opened the floor to questions. A curious cadet raised their hand.

“Yes, go ahead,” Angela acknowledged.

“Will our additional training within a specific class also add to the overall reward points?” the cadet asked.

Angela nodded. “Absolutely. Your performance in all classes whether it is additional or regular, academic or practical, will contribute to your overall progress. The more you excel, the more points you earn, giving you access to a wider range of rewards. This way you aren’t limited to earning reward points just by being good at fighting, the floor is wide open for all talents!”

Another cadet spoke up, “What if we struggle in a particular class? Is there a way to catch up?”

“Of course,” Angela replied. “You can always train in whatever class you are weak in. We have special AI rooms that can replicate any class you have taken up until that point so you can replay your classes and practice more.”

“You can also always approach your instructors for additional guidance. The key is to recognize your weaknesses early and work on improving them. The journey to becoming a skilled officer is about continuous growth and learning.” Angela added.

The questions continued, ranging from the frequency of evaluations to the availability of advanced classes. Angela addressed each query with confidence, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and dedication.

Meanwhile, Mako began fidgeting with his ID card which was a very high-tech piece of equipment.

Even though it was as thin as regular cardboard, it was quite hard and rigid. It had a holographic display that displayed his personal details such as his class and name, but the display also had an interface that Mako could access that began to display several tabs much like his system.

He could keep track of his progress in each class, review notes and class lectures, look up his reward points, as well as a whole map of the campus which highlighted every important location and directions on how to get there. He could also get information on all of his teachers and could know where he could find them after school if he had any queries.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at N?v3l–Biin.

As the Q&A session wrapped up, an alert beeped on the cadets’ ID cards. Angela glanced at the holographic display and then back at the students.

“It seems it’s time for your first class,” she announced. “Make your way to your designated classrooms, and remember, the journey to the distant stars begins with the first step. Embrace the challenges, and I look forward to witnessing your progress.”

The students filed out of the room, a mix of excitement and determination in their eyes. The military school awaited them, promising a path of growth, challenges, and opportunities. Angela watched them go, her confidence unwavering, knowing that each cadet held the potential to rise through the ranks and leave an indelible mark on the future.

This content is taken from 𝘪𝘦.𝘤𝑜