Then, someone coughed loudly.
I turned my head and saw North stepping forward.
"Vice Commander," she said, her voice steady, "Commander said you'd be arranging our return."
She looked rough, bruised, exhausted. The uniform she borrowed from me was covered in bloodstains, her hair a tangled mess.
Then, she turned her gaze to me and winked.
"I think the princess can take care of himself now."
Logan burst into laughter, clapping Steve on the back.
I sighed and looked at June.
"Vice Commander, please, I think I can stand."
She chuckled but set me down. I steadied myself and walked toward Steve.
He grinned.
"What the hell did you do inside that volcano to end up looking like this?"
I let out a tired smile.
"Long story. A very long story."
Then I turned to Logan.
"Hey man, nice to see you again."
He answered back with a smile.
"Well, after you left me alone, it took me some time to get here. Found Steve, introduced myself, and here we are."
I nodded and took a glance around.
We were at the base of the volcanic mountain, standing in a clearing littered with broken rocks, deep craters, and patches of bubbling lava, the aftermath of the battle was obvious.
Lifting my gaze, I focused on the massive projection in the sky, displaying the kill rankings.
I was first. Expected.
Steve came in second. Also expected.
But after that, the rankings had shifted.
Third place : Sarah Gibson.
Then three new names:
James Carter.
Daniel Walker.
Ryan Mitchell.
North Winter was below them.
Neither King Holt nor Mark Salt had made the top ten.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why is North so low in the ranks?"
Steve shrugged.
"Arrow problem. She ran out. Had to run around and collect."
I nodded. That was going to be an issue.
Glancing around, I asked, "Who's Sarah Gibson?"
Logan tilted his head toward the left. "See the one with the giant-ass sword? That's her. And let me tell you, that thing is heavy."
I turned and spotted her.
A tall, six-foot red-haired girl with sharp features and black eyes. She had a lean, athletic build, but the veins bulging in her arms as she gripped the massive great sword made it clear she liked that thing.
I stared at her, and she stared right back.
Her face remained still, completely expressionless.
Steve leaned in and whispered.
"She doesn't talk much. Barely shows any expression. But she does roar a lot when she fights."
I chuckled.
Breaking eye contact with Sarah, I turned to Steve.
"Hey, where are the cores?"
He pointed to our military bag lying in a corner.
"In there."
I nodded.
Finally, June spoke.
"I hope all of you learned a lot from this training. This was the first time we ran something like this for Unit 02, and I have to say, the results are impressive.
Almost all of you have reached double-digit levels.
You've refined the skills you chose to fight with. And, above all else, you fought Abominations, real threats, not just training dummies.
But don't relax just yet. Take the time to absorb what you've learned and push toward earning a class.
Our commander values strength and ambition. The better you perform, the greater the rewards.
And in the future, the training you've received here will be the difference between life and death when facing Abominations."
Everyone nodded at her words.
June continued.
"Here's what's going to happen in the coming days.
"First, we'll move to Unit 02's compound in PCB. Your rooms are already assigned, and each has a member guide inside. Read through it to understand the facilities and rules.
Second, healers will attend to all of you. Even if you aren't injured, you'll still undergo a basic checkup.
Third, the glass cores you collected from the checkpoint mission are called skill cores. They can help you level up and evolve your skills before choosing a class. Once you reach PCB, you'll receive credentials to log into Unit 02's server, where you can look up all relevant details.
Fourth, your individual ranking within the unit for this month will be determined by a combination of results from Command-01 and Command-02.
Fifth, you will only have three learning modules throughout the one-year training: Foundational Training, Specialized Development, and War Preparation. Details on each module can be found in the curriculum guide in your room.
Finally, you'll have three days to rest, recover, and explore. On the fourth day, your first session begins. I strongly suggest going through your reports during this time. They contain feedback from the commander himself, use it to prepare for your future training."
She paused, then asked, "Any questions?"
Silence.
"All right, since we're done here, it's time to go back."
She pulled out her communicator and sent a message. A few seconds later, a portal opened, and Mr. Rodriguez stepped through.
June looked at him and said, "We're ready, Mr. Rodriguez."
He gave a nod and waved his hand.
A glowing circle formed beneath us, and in the next instant, I was gone from the forest.
As the glow faded, I found myself standing in the middle of a vast open ground. The air felt crisp, and the ground beneath me was solid, reinforced stone.
I glanced around and saw that everyone had arrived safely, along with all of our belongings. Spotting my bag nearby, I stepped forward and picked it up.
'That Mr. Rodriguez is something else for sure.'
Before I could dwell on it, June's voice cut through the moment.
"Alright, gather up. Let me give you a tour of the area."
She turned and started walking forward. Without hesitation, we followed.
The place was massive, easily spanning several square kilometers. The ground beneath us was smooth, reinforced stone, built to withstand intense training sessions. Around us, structures rose in a carefully organized layout, each one clearly designed with purpose.
To the east, instead of a traditional dormitory, stood the residential sector which was divided into five towering blocks, each rising several stories high. Made of dark metal and reinforced glass, these structures had a sleek, modern design, with the emblem of Unit 02 embedded on the front of each building.
Each block housed 20 private living quarters, self-contained one-bedroom apartments, designed for both comfort and personal training.
Beside the residential blocks, I noticed a medical facility, its entrance marked by a glowing green emblem. This was where the healers would be stationed.
June led us first to the Combat Wing, a colossal structure reinforced with what I assumed were energy barriers, ensuring that whatever happened inside didn't tear the entire compound apart.
"The Combat Wing is where you'll be spending most of your time," June explained. "It's got everything you need to push yourselves past your limits."
Then we went through each of the facilities.
Training Arenas – We passed by a row of massive halls, each designed for different forms of combat. Some had floating platforms for aerial combat, others had shifting gravity fields to make training progressively harder. Advanced dummies lined the walls, some humanoid, others shaped like abominations, waiting to be activated.
Elemental Training Areas – Next, we reached a sector where the air itself seemed to change with every step. One chamber was filled with floating orbs of fire, another crackled with electricity. A large ice-covered hall shimmered in the distance. These were controlled environments, allowing users to train without holding back.
Abomination Training Grounds – At the far end, a sealed-off section hummed with energy.
"This is where you'll fight real abominations," June stated. "They're captured and contained for controlled battles. Expect unpredictable fights."
Environmental Simulation Chambers – The last section of the wing was a series of domes, each shifting between different weather conditions blizzards, sandstorms, high-altitude winds.
"No battlefield is predictable," June continued. "You need to be ready for anything."
I nodded.
This was more than just physical training. This was full war preparation.
Next, June led us to the Research Wing, where things took a more academic turn.
There was a library, a towering archive filled with books, digital records, and ancient scrolls.
Then came a Research Facility, a high-tech lab stood beside the library, humming with energy.
"For those interested in improving weapons, crafting techniques, or studying abominations, the research lab is open for use."
At the end there was the Armory. A secured section where weapons, armor, and specialized gear were stored. June gestured toward the reinforced doors.
"You'll find both Standard and Augmented weapons here. You are only allowed two free weapons, any more and you will need to pay up. So treat your weapons with care."
As we continued the tour, more essential areas came into view.