Chapter 1

The Specter Division

The door opened and when I looked, I saw my mother holding a package, judging from the size of the box, I knew it was a game capsule and at the same time my fate.

“So, the Academy had decided to reject me.” I said to my mother.

“How would you know that? You haven’t read the letter.”

“If I was accepted in the academy mother, the government would not bothered us to send a game capsule since the Academy will provide each cadet their own game capsule."

“Ah, ah. How can you be sure It’s a game capsule?” my mother stuttered.

“The timing of the delivery mother, yesterday was the announcement of the result for the admittance in the Academy and the size of the box  pretty much gave it away.”

My mother walk towards me and placed the package beside my bed.

“Those bastards! How can they not accept you? You aced the recruitment exam. No wonder we are losing the war."

“It is quite alright mother, I had expected this. Well, at least now I can log on in Lost Earth.”

“But still.... sigh. Here let me help you set it up.”

***

“Attention Cadets! My name is Colonel Asano. As of today, you are all official students of the Academy. In this Academy we will train you to be an efficient living weapon. We will provide you everything you need to have an edge in the virtual war. We had lost one of our virtual city, a huge source of income, to those communist punks, the Russian Empire. We are losing the war, but we the United Asian Nation (UAN) were not losing hope. We will defend our remaining territory no matter the cost. Hurrah!"

“Hurrah!” the cadets shouted in unison.

“You all are now going to your respective classrooms to be evaluated to which class/job and division you will be designated. Cadets dismissed.” Said Colonel Asano and now are walking away to the stage.

Ari is walking in the corridor trying to find classroom 1-A when he was distracted by the sight of a woman. The woman had a long golden curly hair with porcelain-like skin and green sparkled eyes that resembled a tree under the light of the sun. She was wearing a cadet uniform that fits her perfectly like it was designed and made solely for her to bring out the best of her features.

“Are you designated in classroom 1-A?” the woman asked.

“ah. Uhm. Uhm.” Said Ari blushing.

The woman stared at him, puzzled.

“Yes. Mam. Yes.” Yes, mam, yes? What the fuck am I saying? Isn’t that supposed to be Mam, Yes mam? Ari thought, completely missing the point.

“Mam? How dare you! You were probably older than me! You pathetic worm. Can’t believe I am going to share a classroom with a faggot.” Said the woman in a voice full of contempt.

“I-I’m Sorry. Ms. ..”

“hmmph, you don’t need to know my name.”

Ari was completely surprised at the engagement and was completely, totally, helplessly fallen in love at first sight.

The woman hastily entered the room and stared for a moment to the seat arrangement and sat down on an empty seat. Ari followed her and took the seat next to her and tried to steal a glance at the woman.

After a while the room was completely full, there are 3 rows and 10 columns of chair in the room.

A tall weak looking man entered the room

“Ahem. My name is Liuetenant Kino. I’ll be your platoon leader. We are the 42nd Infantry Battalion 6th Company 1st Platoon. I suggest you remember that, but anyway I am open to any suggestions to what we should name our platoon. But first we will divide this platoon into three squads. Jazmae Ryder, Ari Reigan III and Rizzo Jean Casse please stand up. The three of you will lead each squad.” Lt. Kino said.

So her name is Jazmae. Ari thought while looking at Jazmae smiling. Jazmae returned the gaze with a raised eyebrow.

“I have special permission from Colonel Asano to let you choose your own job/class in the game. Typically, we analyze your data and suggest a class/job suitable to your strengths and weaknesses and you will have no choice but to accept it. But now, you can choose whatever the hell you want.” Laughed Lt. Kino.

“Permission to speak, Sir?” Asked Jazmae.

“Yes.”

“Are you experimenting on this  platoon, Sir?”

“haha sort of” said Lt. Kino while scratching his cheek. “Ok, I’ll let you guys take the whole day deciding your class. One more thing, please take it into a consideration that a platoon and a squad will sometimes work independently in most missions, so a squad composed only of healers will surely lose to a squad comprised of tanks, healers and damage dealers. So choose wisely please.” replied lt. Kino while laughing.

This is troublesome. Jazmae thought.

After Lt. Kino left the room. Ari stood up.

“Guys this is fucking awesome. We can choose any job we want. I will find the most kick ass hidden class in the game.” Ari said. Ari was a tall lean muscular guy with black curtained hair that parted in the middle. He had a black eyes that matched his pale face.

“You really are a moron.” Jazmae said with spiteful voice.

“Hidden classes were removed from the game by the Council of Elders when they had restarted the game.” remarked Rizzo. “And I suggest we should divide our platoon into three categories, healers/supports, damage dealers and tankers.” continued Rizzo.

Rizzo was a thin, medium height young man. He had a serious face that anyone can assume with his very short black hair and brown eyes that were visible behind his glasses.

Jazmae stood up and went into the whiteboard and wrote three vertical lines dividing the writing space into three. She started writing up the three categories in each column.

“Guys listen, as what Lt. Kino said we can’t all be tankers or mages since that would make our platoon weak and ineffective. The effective ratio for a 10-man squad would be 3 or 4 Healers/Supports, 4 or 3 damage dealers and 3 or 4 tankers. Anybody agree?” asked Jazmae.

The gentlemen didn’t understand anything Jazmae said since they were busy staring at her. While the ladies nodded in agreement.

“That’s sounds about right.” Rizzo said.

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“So for those idiots who don’t know what classes or jobs belong to each categories, let me briefly explain.” Jazmae said while intently looking at Ari.

Why is she looking at me? Could it be she also like me? Ari thought while avoiding the stare.

“For those who want to support their allies, you can choose from Priest, Shaman, Druid, Bard, Dancer, Summoner and Witch Doctor. It would be ideal to have at least 1 priest per squad. For those who like to dish out damage while sacrificing defense, we have two types: Ranged DPS and Melee DPS. From Ranged DPS we have Ranger, Sniper, Illusionist, Wizard and Sorcerer. For Melee DPS we have Assassin, Rogue, Berserker, Blade Master and Swashbuckler. To those who  would want to stay in the front lines, the tankers. You can choose from Knight, Paladin and Monk.” explained Jazmae. There were few other classes that weren't mentioned by Jazzmae. But she thought those were weak classes that would only compromise the platoon.

“How about those crafting and utility class?” asked one of the cadets.

“Logistics Division provides each platoon the CBT: Chef, Blacksmith and Tailor. Sometimes a Sculptor, Painter, Architect and others depending on the difficulty and length of the mission.” replied Jazmae. “Besides being here means you didn’t apply in Logistics division, hence none of us here wants to be in a crafting class.” added Jazmae.

Others nodded and some are quiet in deep thought carefully thinking what  class will they choose.

“Please try to think at least two or three classes in case your primary choice are taken by others.” said Rizzo while walking towards the whiteboard.

“Think carefully and choose wise please.” said Jazmae. “We will resume this after lunch break.”

Damn, she is so gorgeous. Ari thought.

***

“Oh I think I am lost, Lt. Kino will probably scold me again.” said a slender young woman with a wavy short haircut. The young woman has average height with eyes as black as ink and a skin as white as milk.

She was walking on a village road when she saw a villager.

“Hey Mister!” shouted the woman.

“Yes little Miss.” replied the villager.

“Is this the Shiroe Village?”

“Oh my, yes young miss.”

“Mister, where are the Kurosawa residence?”

“May I ask who you are looking for?”

“Kira Kurosawa, mister.”

“Ah, the crippled boy. Yes you go straight here and when you see a small and somewhat unique house, that’s the Kurosawa residence, it is not easy to miss”

“Thank you, Mister.”

The woman ran constantly looking left and right. She stopped at the gate of Kurosawa residence.

Mister was right, it is very conspicuous. The woman thought. The house was small covered with dark gray paint. The house gives off an aura the same as an abandoned house.

She rang the bell twice and a muscular bearded man opened the door.

“Ah uhm…” The woman startled by the man with his gloomy dark aura. “Mr. Kurosawa? I am looking for Kira Kurosawa.” said the woman.

“Who are you?” asked the guy with a distinct bass voice.

“I am from the government. Can I talk to Mr. Kira Kurosawa?”

“Honey, who is it? Are you threatening the guests gain?” another woman asked in a distant place inside the house with a cheery and mellow voice.

The man opened the door suggesting the guest to enter the house.

The young woman  entered and was offered a seat by Mr. Kurosawa who then went to her wife in the kitchen.

Mrs. Kurosawa with an apron approached the living room and stared at the guest.

“I am Mrs. Kurosawa, you can call me Lin.” said Lin with a sharp voice and stared hard at the guest. The atmosphere was heavy and so tense that  a single sound might trigger the house to break.

“Umhh. Mrs. Lin, I am from the Government can I talk to your son, Kira?” asked the guest anxiously.

“Why? What do you want?”

“Pardon me, Mrs. Lin. I am not really at liberty to disclose it to others, only to your son. After that your son, may or may not, choose to discuss it with you and your husband.”

Kira’s mother stared at the guest.

“Follow me.”

The guest stood up and followed Mrs. Lin in a room.

“Kira, you have a guest.”

“Uhm. Mrs. Lin can we be alone for a moment?”

Mrs. Lin glanced at his son and Kira nodded back.  Mrs. Lin stepped outside and closed the door.

“My name is Jeehan. Technically, I am from the government. But I am actually from the –“

“Academy.” interjected by Kira.

“H-How did you know that?”

Kira stared at her belt and and Jeehan followed his stare.

Oh crap, I forgot to changed my academy issued belt. When did he noticed that? Jeehan thought.

“So a letter of Rejection wasn’t enough and the academy needs someone to personally sprinkle salt to my wound.” Kira said.

Jeehan shrugged. “Ah no. I am here personally to give the UAN a chance to use your talents and skills effectively, Mr. Kira.” Jeehan said with a hint of sarcasm. “I am from a Secret Division in the Academy. We worked independently alongside the academy in protecting our country. I can’t reveal any more than that and I can’t also tell you what we do or what we have trained to do unless you join us first.”

Kira stared hard to the guest.

“You want me to dive first in a shark infested sea and then count how many sharks are there and report back.”

“Yes.” Jeehan said with serious tone. “What say you, Mr. Kira?”

Kira stared hard at the guest.

“What’s it called?” Kira asked.

“The Specter Division.”

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