As Atticus came out of the main mansion of the Ravenstein estate, his gaze landed on the army of white haired Ravensteins dotting the entire estate.
Their numbers were staggering. As the door closed with a loud bam, all eyes turned towards Atticus, who had just stepped out.
His presence overwhelmed all, and they each stared in awe of him.
'This again…'
As Atticus took a step forward, many of them, especially people on the higher spectrum of power, snapped out of it, recalling just why they had all come here.
As Atticus reached the bottom of the stairs, they suddenly parted, creating a pathway that led to the small airship at the center of the estate.
Atticus walked, and then, one by one, like falling dominoes, their heads bowed.
Not from obligation, not from tradition, but from undeniable, bone deep respect.
Atticus' cold expression broke into a smile. Though he didn't like the attention, he still appreciated the fact that they had come to see him off.
He nodded with appreciation as he walked, and the Ravensteins' heads remained bowed even as he reached the airship.
Atticus' steps stopped, his gaze landing on a stoic looking figure clad in a well fitted and neat military uniform standing in front of the airship.
The figure was tall, his posture rigid as if carved from stone. Two horns jutted from his head, and his steel gray eyes met Atticus' without a flicker of emotion, unbothered by the reverence surrounding them.
A member of the demon race.
For a moment, silence hung in the air like a taut string.
Then, in a voice like gravel, he spoke.
"General Atticus Ravenstein."
He saluted, his posture straight, rigid, and perfect. His tone was devoid of any flattery.
"My name is Viktor Halden. I will be your drill sergeant for the duration of your training."
His words were crisp, each syllable sounding like commands on a battlefield. He lowered his hand and stood straight.
"You may carry the title of General now, but until your training is complete, you will be treated as my student." His gaze sharpened. "You will address me as Drill Sergeant. I expect discipline, focus, and nothing less than your best."
Viktor's eyes lingered on Atticus for a moment longer, assessing.
The monster human child.
Just as the report had said, the boy's power was without a doubt overwhelming, but Viktor was reaching for something else.
The atmosphere of the Ravenstein estate had long since changed as every single Ravenstein stared at Viktor as though they wanted to rip him to shreds.
Their apex deserved so much more respect.
Regardless, Atticus remained silent, simply staring at Viktor. He could sense no ill intent coming from the demon, and so, he remained passive.
"Now, board the airship. Your training begins the moment we take flight."
Viktor turned and boarded the ship the instant he spoke, and with a final nod at the Ravenstein estate, Atticus followed him.
The hatch closed, and the ship took off into the skies. Almost immediately, the overwhelming sound of roars and cheering shook the entirety of Ravenstein Spire as people from all over had gathered around the estate to wish their apex goodbye.
He was finally joining the war!
Bright white light illuminated the weirdly small airship.
'It's small.'
Obviously, neither the battle hardened drill sergeant nor the makers of this tiny airship that Atticus was trying to avoid calling a pod had expected him to be this tall.
As Atticus entered the ship, a few steps were all it took before he reached the control room.
'Looks like it's only for travel.'
This was the first time Atticus was seeing a model like this. There was nothing aside from the small loading dock and control room. No place to even sleep.
As Atticus entered the control room, it was as he had expected.
Two seats faced the oval shaped glass, littered with multiple holographic screens. Those two seats were the only ones present, not that there was any space for more.
"Have your seat. We'll jump soon."
Viktor spoke succinctly, his hands moving and tapping different parts of the screens, obviously preparing for takeoff.
Atticus silently took his seat. The seatbelt adjusted itself, weaving over him and strapping him in place.
Viktor sent a glance over at Atticus, and after confirming that he was ready, he opened the case of a red button in front of him before pushing it.
The airship hummed, its figure igniting in a blinding light before disappearing from the air.
'Fast.'
It was all blurs outside the airship. Atticus could tell that despite its small and unassuming appearance, it was moving at paragon rank speed.
'The Aegis airship can't compare. Maybe only the military uses it.'
Atticus had never seen such an advanced airship in the human domain. If a tier one family like the Ravensteins didn't have it, then it didn't exist.
Pondering and admiring it for some seconds, Atticus finally turned to his so called drill instructor.
'The demon race.'
The demons were a mid race in Eldoralth. They were below the dragon race, battling for second place with the angel race.
Atticus hadn't had any major dealings with them, but he had learned about them all the same.
Their main abilities were their insanely durable bodies, their ability to peer into the fears of people, and, last but not least, their ability to control fire. But not just any fire…
'Hellfire,' or so they called it. It was a fire that had more properties aside from burning.
'I want it.'
Somehow, he was glad that a demon was his drill instructor. At least he would gain something from it.
"You have something to say to me?" Viktor turned to Atticus with his hardened face. Atticus didn't appear surprised; he hadn't been hiding his scrutiny in the first place.
"I'm just a bit curious…"
"About?"
"A drill instructor…"
Viktor tilted his head to the side. He sighed slightly, as though he had been expecting this reaction from Atticus.
Word had already spread throughout the different domains and military that a human child had ascended into the paragon rank. Not only that, it was the same child that had defeated the other apexes and won the Nexus.
And now, he, a grandmaster+ rank demon, had been selected to be his drill sergeant. His trainer.
In what world was a grandmaster-rank qualified to teach a paragon?