August 20th, 22:30 pm PST

On San Jose, somewhere inside an office building, there are Zlocan Knights working in each post, likely checking the status of the railguns and other activities. Guns and other equipment are stacked next to the walls and some boxes. Not to mention, Zlocan banners displayed in the windows. Everyone present in the room all goes to their business like is something usual for them ever since the invasion.

The door starts to open, Suddenly all of them take a stand, staying put with the arrival of a Zlocan with green eyes, white groomed hair, short beard, and a mustache. A man as old as the deepest military tactics ever known to the Universe, a warrior of any principle. He walks straightly while the Zlocans bowed down before him.

Raven is present in the room as well, likely being the CO of the area as well.

"Well well well, I guess the so-called Phantom General has arrived with his grazing reputation among us, any recent inconvenience general Kedris Horiq?"

"Quite nothing Commandant Raven, except for the recent events that happened to you and your inquisitors, everything is going smooth and well."

"Indeed. As long as the wall is operational, Humanity won't further advance into our territories and with the sinking morale, we'll be victorious."

"Yes indeed. Yet, I've heard of something that's been disturbing your own group, isn't it right?"

"You mean the Earth Warriors."

"Earth Warriors? Quite odd yet catchy at the same time. How dangerous are they?"

"Didn't you heard it already Kedris? Beale Air Force Base and the facility fell because of these warriors...and yet, it seems that they're not together for too long now."

"What? What do you mean?"

"We've carried out an operation, one deadly enough to make the Humans blame the alien for what they did thanks to their own nature. You may not worry about them for too long."

"Very well...but are you truly sure they're divided now?"

"If they were they could attack us at any moment and they're not, so it's unnecessary to think about it."

"Could be, but still. One cannot underestimate the valiant efforts a race can have in wars. One must be vigilant in their actions at any moment or else it will come back to bite you hard. You could understand."

"For me, I don't consider it applicable to Humanity, it's just a waste of time."

"Remember, Raven. Don't try tempting it."

"You still need to understand more."

"I think the same for you...moving on, are you going to stay here?"

"Negative, my inquisitors have other matters to handle in their hands, I do not wish to be part of two operations at the same time. But still, I wish you the best of luck Kedris if anything happens. And don't forget to use the tactic."

Kedris could only stare in silence from Raven's words, breathing slightly calm yet in a hard way as well while clenching his fists.

"Something of that matter?"

"No...still, thank you for your time, commandant."

With such words, Raven simply nods then moves to the door of the other side, leaving the room while two nearby knights prepare to escort him out of the building.

Kedris then frowns while crossing his arms over the back while turning around to look at the window. His fists still clenching as hard as he could. Even without flinching, Kedris couldn't help but feel something so big that he couldn't think through if he truly can get out of it.

A general's duty is always to ensure the pride and morale among their troops are kept strong and intact, to ensure a push for victory needed for them. It's supposed to mean a sign of fatherly care, a second home, all made for them only. But sometimes...not all homes may share the same rules.

He looks carefully at what's outside. On one part, a convoy of Zlocan mechs patrolling the roads which are locked between a fence. On the other side of each fence, it's where many people are lined up, moving forward in line while being observed by Zlocan Knights, some even push other Humans in moving forward. Tired, starving, sick, hopeless, it's all the prisoners' feelings while moving forward. Many are even amputated in every limb. Not to mention, some tortured enough to look skeletally thin and left to rot on the floor. Every trace of what they once knew and loved in life, all hold like it was in their hands, all stripped away with extreme prejudice.

He then looked to the left side, a nearby park. What was a once green and peaceful place, but now, it took a turn for the worse. Metal chutes placed to each other with the lids being wide open. A cargo truck driving nearby approaches said box, lifting the push pedal upwards. From it, it dropped a handful of corpses. Corpses of many shapes and forms.

All Human-looking.

Perhaps wickedness is not an exclusive thing for Humans after all.

And the only thing Kedris could do is to keep on looking. He feels he should do something, but as his duty as the top Zlocan general...he must follow all of it, no matter what ideals he holds for himself.

"General...the troops are waiting for you in the plaza. They're awaiting orders," a nearby Zlocan knight said while approaching him.

Kedris' only answer is nothing more but absolute silence aside from clearing his throat. Nonetheless, his expression remained the same, as one worthy statue. All generals need the face of statues because it will help them mask their own thoughts safely, to prevent them to get plagued with doubt, doubt of what to follow. But can Kedris' hold up for too long?

"General?" the Knight asks again, this time with a more concerned tone.

Kedris eventually turns back, facing not the Knight but the exit itself. He quietly starts walking away from the room, his fists still closed. The Knight, without any further questioning, started to follow him, but while doing so, he looked down to see of Kedris' hand. He sees carefully inside the closed fist, an orange liquid could be seen falling from said hand. A bit more fall down as well. Not long after, he opens it, revealing the palm covered with the aforementioned orange liquid, the drops still falling down.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Just keep up the pace...that's all you need," Kedris says before the Knight could even ask. The Knight, knowing his role, complies.

Just how long he should keep up? Just for how long?

FOB Jefferson, August 21st, 09: 23 AM PST

The day is set.

Can the Warriors prove themselves on now?

In one side of the base, there's a three-layered building that has three sides in an X-shaped form. Each being as long as a hangar bay. While on the outside they look identical, the inside is far more different than people could imagine.

One is almost purely white, with black lines around the walls, the ceiling as tall as a hangar and highly illuminated. The aesthetic is almost something it came from 50 years into the future yet it's there right now. A small door is on the lower side with a window next to it. There's almost nothing except for ten circular pods on the floor in the center. The other is more or less a dimly lit room with dark brown walls, the room being mostly an obstacle course with obstacles and other elements used for a training course until at the top of a block where there lies solitary computer. There are some rocky pads on the south side, a metal doorway on the floor located on the east part and some huge air fans on the north side. The doorway entrance and exit are located near the rocky pads. The last one is similar to the first one, only this time purely white and very sleek in design. With a visor hanging on a pole.

Up-above near the ceilings of each room there are two-decked windows which have a large command room that oversees all other rooms as well. Computers and monitors are also present in the room. The door opens, revealing John, Jackson, Lucy, Eddie, Andrei, and Malak entering. John then sits in one of the chairs at the center of the complex, overseeing the monitors of each of the three rooms.

The doorways of each room then open, revealing four particular people entering. The one entering the first room is Logan, the second one is Seiner alongside with, curiously enough, Tany. the last one is Amira and the last one, of course. They all look firm yet tidy, uncertain yet confident enough to know what to do.

John taps into the microphone, then press the button as he leans his face to the mic, ready to announce what's to come.

"Let me say this to start, we all know that you're supposed to show us why we should trust you and rely on you for our battles. Henceforth, we've decided to use this place as the perfect course for your test or some crap like that. In order to give each person the time they get and seeing how the others are performing in comparison, I'll arrange the test based on the order of each candidate, as well for the presence of one volunteer who needs some testing as well. As such, the actions of all participants will be recorded and transmitted live in this room as well as the others. Without dragging on any further, let's start off with Logan."

A giant screen then turns on, revealing the footage of Logan's room, catching every move and action he makes. With the clear quality, it should make it easier to see what they're doing. After all, every note of an important test should be taken in every extreme detail.

Logan looks up a table that contains four pairs of swords, a katana, a rapier, a broadsword and a dagger, the most common weapons in close combat. Logan immediately picks up the katana then swings it around on both sides with his right hand until he holds the grip with his two hands. He moves his left foot forward, slightly behind his right one while keeping both feet parallel and hips straight forward. A peculiar stance for anyone who practices with a katana. He holds this stance while being a few feets inch away from the line which indicates the passing limit of where to move. In this case, it's the aforementioned closed holes which contain some objects inside.

"Cool moves! Oh, I mean, very well. You've shown your handling of the katana. Now, let's start off with the dummies. You have to test out your skills with your swords when it comes to attacks and how long you can keep up because afterward...you'll soon find out. You ready?"

Logan simply nods in accordance with what he said.

"Good, let's begin."

John then presses some buttons on the console, which makes the holes to open up, in which some grey-skin wax dummies with lines around each part of the body, lined up in a horizontal formation.

"When one of the lines start to glow, that's the chance to strike, so stay focused."

Logan simply stares at the dummies while holding the katana and standing near the line, he's waiting patiently, waiting for the moment to strike. Breathing slowly yet calmly, his grip on the katana still tight yet serene. Almost like being at peace. Yet in times like this one, it's pretty hard to tell. A minute passes by, almost nothing. Is it ready?

A blue vertical line then glows near the head of the dummy right in front of him, he nearly sprints forward while swinging his sword vertically towards the dummy's line, which combined with the speed of the swing, hits rapidly before Logan's foot could reach the line. Then another line glows horizontally in the dummy's chest, making Logan swing his sword in said stance and hit the dummy in its position. The other dummies then start to change position when they start to rotate, making many lines around the body to glow. This prompts Logan to quickly swing his sword at one of the dummies' hand, then towards the other's pelvis, then the other's neck and so on, all with more or less rapid succession. The veins in Logan's arms are noticeable, as well as making slow breathing after performing each strike. From the control room, the team looked in awe and amaze at Logan's abilities, John included.

"Alright then...double the speed!" he said as he pulls one of the levers that connect to Logan's room. The dummies then start rotating a bit more rapidly, almost returning where they were before. Logan readies his stance once more. The dummies arrive with the lines glowing once more and with quick precision, Logan manages to hit them in rapid succession. Even if there's a bit of sweat coming from his body, he still has it.

"Very well then...but now, it's time you face the best way possible in what you know best..." John quietly says as he pushes one of the buttons which makes the dummies stop. What could Logan face now? Standing steadily, his stance nearly the same as he had, what could it be now?

Logan glances to the reflection of his sword, seeing something slightly faint yet visible in it. Something coming near him. The figure then swings a blade towards him but he manages to strike back by parrying the blow. The attacking swordsman has dark skin, light blue eyes, black wavy hair, and beard, wielding a very long Kilij. A peculiar warrior it seems. He then continues to fight with the swordsman, evading slash after slash from each movement while parrying as well. But before he could continue, someone swings not one but two blades towards him. It came from behind him, likely where the bearded man was. It's a woman with dark brown wavy hair and auburn eyes. Despite this, the woman responded with a smile and laugh, as she continues to strike with her dual blades. Logan can keep up well in spite of the man's constant thrusting of the Kilij and from the woman's low slicing below the knees. Logan uses every trick he knows from his training to keep up. Logan keeps on blocking, clash after clash, until all three clashes the tip of their blades to each other upwards. A brief pause then happens between them as they stared fiercely towards each other. Eventually, they lower their blades while making bows to each other while the woman attaches the two blades together, forming a two-bladed sword.

"So that's the Kilij, a deadly sword used by the bravest of the bravest in all dynasties of Turkish nations. Not to mention a two-bladed European blade..." Logan says with a sheepish yet satisfied tone.

"The Katana, wielded by the ones who are worthy of courage and skills, used by not only the Japanese but also the ones who are brave enough to use it. And it appears we just saw one today," the man says.

"But no matter what their origin is, it all means to one thing, they all make part of a warrior, a nice, powerful warrior worthy of this world." the woman says.

"So it's said...I'm Logan Preaker."

"Berat Sahin, Turkish volunteer." the man says as he pats Logan on his shoulder.

"Valentina Silva, expert Chilean sniper, and swordsman who fights for what it's right. A pleasure to meet you here mister."

"So...did I-"

Berat then chuckles heartedly while he pats him once more.

"You do play the role of chivalrous knight pretty well, don't you? It's not bad actually, it's more than necessary that we could need for the world. It's nice to see such thing still exists, my darling," Berat replied in a gentle way.

"In short, yes you did Logan, you truly have the strength and spirit that makes up a warrior. And can confirm the others are proud as well," John replies back.

"So congrats fellow hombre, just the first of probably the next bunch of warriors to have in our army."

"I guess so...what group you guys belong to though?"

"Once you all finish the test, you'll find out for sure."

Logan may have managed to make a big impression for the UEF as a whole, perhaps more so than he could possibly imagine with his years of training with kendo still intact.

But could the rest fare better?