Dinner wasn't the most enjoyable experience, but Dante wasn't expecting a military camp to compare to the Academy's cafeteria. They'd been briefed on MRE's and he was fully prepared for the porridge-like dish that they'd be having for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Concocted by the best scientists in the city, it is packed with energy and all the nutrients a soldier might need throughout the day.

Still tastes like crap.

For dessert, they each got a cookie- A bland one at that. But it's the best method the scientists could think of for getting additional nutrients into soldiers without overloading the porridge and having it taste like a squishy vitamin. It also gives the soldiers something to look forward to. Comparatively, the taste of drowning the porridge in sugar is miles ahead of the cookies, which are basically a tasteless slice of bread.

As soon as dinner was over for the normal folk, Cassie and Melinda barged into the tent after they'd spent a few hours doing whatever it was they were doing beyond the gate. Melinda seems like a nice lady- she'd given all of the recruits the evening to get settled in and showed them to their dorms whilst briefing them on the training she has planned. As the Head of Assault, her duty is to ensure that every Zo'an is consistently increasing their score, relative to their rank of course, and her job is to simply push everyone beyond their limits.

You see, the war is divided into three 'factions' according to the Academy- The first of which consists of the Soldiers and Zo'ans of the city of Vi, fighting to hold the line on the Eastern end of the continent and prevent any of the opposition from getting closer. Despite this, the line has gradually been shifting closer and closer to the city with each passing year. So despite what the Academy might say to fuel its propaganda and keep its citizens at ease, this simple shifting of the line means they are losing the war.

Additionally, there are soldiers of the City of Chire who are also human, based on the Western side of the continent. Both cities are more interested in protecting themselves than collaborating with one another, often resulting in battles that are fought over strategic land and resources. There may have been a point in time where the cities were part of a single army, but the Krix split the continent down the middle, and over time, they've all had to prioritise their own wellbeing.

The real problem is the Krix- Mindless machines that fell from the sky over a thousand years ago, destroying the nation that both Vi and Chire were once a part of. Surgically inching their way towards Vi and adapting almost instantly to the strategies and motions of the Zo'an.

Word has it that the military of Chire has managed to develop a weapon that keeps the Krix at bay. And whispers that Dante overheard at dinner would suggest that they've managed to push their line forward- lesser so than the Krix have oppressed them, but considering both cities are merely holding on, moving the line forward is an incredible feat.

Dante's always wondered who the original creators of the Krix were. Machines don't create themselves. Well, not at first. Are their creators still alive? Or did the Krix destroy them too? Did they send them here, or did they send themselves? He always imagined that the central artificial intelligence of the Krix army was simply sent here to train. The thought of this merely being an exercise to them always sends a shiver down his spine- As if millions of years of evolution is simply a stepping stone for such a creation.

The Academy's gamification of the war was also an attempt at developing an artificial intelligence of their own. One that can utilise the soldiers and Zo'ans as tools to protect itself and the city. It's understandable that they would have to fight fire with fire, but the Krix army is operated at a scale and efficiency that the Academy, or any military for that matter, could only dream of.

No, the Krix are highly specialized. Not just in their physical attributes but their strategic outlook of the battlefield is that of a predator whose sole purpose is to oppress any species that's weaker, and overcome any species that's lucky enough to be stronger.

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The Academy is eagerly awaiting the day their own Artificial intelligence can truly compete with the Krix.

But it hasn't awoken yet.

"Get up newbies!" Cassie screams at the top of her lungs as she storms into the dorm, pelting the back end of a pot with a wooden spoon. "If this was an attack, you'd all be fucking dead. Wake the fuck up!"

The sun’s barely risen, but Dante's used to waking up at this time. In fact, it isn't the first time he's been through a simulation of an early morning attack.

"You have thirty seconds to suit up or I'll start getting violent," Cassie says as she continues obnoxiously smacking the pot.

All the recruits scurry out of bed, throwing their uniforms on top of their overalls, believing in Cassie's threats. After a solid thirty seconds, each of the recruits is as close to suited up as they could be. But their power enhancement gear tailored to their individual abilities hasn't made it on any of them yet.

"What the fuck!" Cassie yells. "Explain to me how any of you would survive an attack without your PEGs on?" She scans the room, genuinely expecting a reply from whoever might be brave enough to speak to her, but no one says a word.

She drops the pan and lunges at the nearest recruit, who happens to be Dante. Noticing the weapon she has raised in her right hand, he's never been so afraid of a wooden spoon in his life, and in a moment of sheer panic, he summons his energy ball and morphs it into a half-baked shield.

A shield that he's practised for three years to block bullets and various lasers from penetration, pails at the power of Cassie's wooden spoon as it slices through his defence without a shred of resistance and crashes into his forehead.

_HP: 68 (-32)

_NOTE: High-powered wooden spoon penetrated energy shield, colliding with the cranium.

The entire group gasps at the might of the wooden spoon as the red stat blips over Dante's head. In the Academy, it would take a direct hit from a counter ability for him to lose even ten health points.

Losing thirty to a spoon is unheard of.

Dante clutches his forehead, incessantly rubbing it to try to nullify the ache. Out of sheer discipline, Dante simultaneously reaches for the steel case by his bed and pulls out his PEG- A glove and sleeve that extends to his shoulder, designed to improve his control over his energy ball.

As he shoves his right arm into the sleeve, the other recruits follow suit and start dressing in their own PEGs. Doing whatever they can to avoid suffering the same fate as Dante.

The sleeve tightens around Dante's arm as it reaches his shoulder, fitting perfectly before hardening in various points to provide armour.

"Putting on your PEG is no different to drawing a gun in a duel," Cassie scoffs, "Develop a new habit to get them on quicker or Keep it on you at all times if you must,"

Cassie isn't totally a jerk. Her tone is very disciplinary, but not as rage-filled as earlier. The Academy didn't consider this very important, so it's surprising to find out there's such an emphasis on suiting up. It makes sense though.

Is she deliberately punishing the bad habits we developed at the Academy?

All the recruits line up beside their beds for a second time, now fully dressed in their PEGs. As Cassie slowly stomps past each of their areas, she glares into their eyes before passing a good look at their beds and belongings. The occasional crack of the wooden spoon nearly sparks a jitter out of each recruit when Cassie smacks her own hand to fuck with them.

"Not a mess," She says. "But you'd all be dead because you're useless without you PEGs,"

"Question, Ma'am," Nadia says, as she stomps her feet together.

"Denied," Cassie scoffs, walking over to Nadia as she twirls the spoon in her hand, "And don't call me Ma'am. It's 'Heir' to you recruits,"

"Yes, Heir!" All the recruits call out.

"Now get to the Sim," Cassie orders, "Except for you Dante- Go to the medical tent,"

"Yes, Heir!" All the recruits confirm.

"Next time I'll hit you properly," Cassie grins at Dante.

That wasn't a 'proper' hit?!