Weakness is never found in explorers. They do not yield to any pressure and they do not succumb to their vices. They are pure, pure to be whomever they wish to become, or have dreams to chase after.
Those that fall from grace and dirty themselves are the unclean retches of the world. Nothing but useless lambs who should be sent to the slaughter.
He thought this from his young times in the East, where the honing of blades is not only a physical trial but a spiritual one as well. He is his blade, his body, the temple for which he brings about his self enlightenment and high existence.
To him.. it was a load of bullshit!
Chisuke, the prodigal son of the Bushida clan, who were part warrior and monk, was not much for family tradition or spiritualist thinking like the Elders of his clan. Some preached about the purity of their power, how it would foist them to a new level of understanding.
CORE ENERGY! The stuff of superstitious legends and tales. As unbelievable as the elder’s stories were, of tides of fire and chaos waged by a single person, Chisuke believed them.
Flowery as their words and ideals were, never had their line of thinking it settled in him. But the explorers? They did. He needed to see it, do it himself rather than read it in a book and follow the set out guidelines of the clan tenants.
Family tradition could go shove itself off a cliff, or to wherever it wanted to go for all he cared. What really mattered to him, from the honing of his blade, was his strength.
Strength was everything in this world. It protected, defeated, and was vital for humanity's survival in the war, no in all conflicts. So why preach about idealism, spiritual platitudes, and fairy tales? There were bigger fish to fry, there were enemies to kill.
To be weak means to be protected. To be strong means to fight for your life. So, the day he discovered his potential to be an explorer, like those heroes of legends from only decades ago, Chisuke put all he had into his training.
And Blood, he recalled blood, IT! Was his answer.
On his hands, in his eyes, and staining between his teeth. That day, the day he slashed down and took his first life, Chisuke learned that explorer’s were not weak, they never were weak. This, this would be his strength.
A weak explorer would only serve to accomplish nothing, they’d die and the world would not care. They killed to protect, they protected by killing.
“Come on! MOVE IT! We’re almost there! Do not Falter!” He heard an annoying upperclassman scream in his ears. Thankfully his earpiece adjusted the volume. Nevertheless, even with how he hated being talked down on, he followed the command, leading the charge across the rolling green plains just ahead.
He, and his allies, were at the forefront of the Practical Class’s war game exercise. Miles ahead was the goal and blocking their path was an army of constructs.
Bunched in groups of 5, 10, or 12, white puppets charged them. He met them on this battlefield of carnage, meeting blade to blade. Fight for fight, and in numbers greater than his own.
There were thousands of them. A fair fight. He thought, wiping his brow and grinning a smile that would make children cry in terror.
[Come in Battlegroup 06, move to point 2-20. Groups 3 and 4! Provide covering fire!]
[Orders received Sir.] A young trainee slid a fresh magazine and then motioned to his group. [Get the jeeps rolling, move in and give the explorer’s an opening! Fire until your gun melts. I wanna see them burning red! Do I make myself clear!]
[Yes, Sir!]
No sooner did a group of jeeps, maybe 6 to 7 by Chisuke’s count, came rolling up around on his right side in the distance. The crack of their mounted machine guns were distant and he could hear the young soldiers shout such vicious words at the enemy.
For a bunch of kids and teenagers, they might give me trouble. That had Chisuke chuckling. A ‘friend’ of his, noticed and elbowed him.
Chisuke clicked his tongue and glared back, and his ‘friend’ cowered, stepping away.
[Group 6, What’s your status?] Annoyed, Chisuke chimed in with his comms.
[Shut Up! I’m already there! Hurry up and bring in the tanks!]
He had already moved to the position their oh so valours leader had told them to go. Chisuke respected his tactical know-how, but this more senior CDU trainee got on his nerves with how strict he was. He was regimented in a sense, but it was not Chisuke’s style.
He roared his complaint and was met with a curt tongue lashing. The senior trainee sighed at his troublesome allies, giving it no mind for now. He checked group 6’s position and found them extending from their originally intended position.
A good idea, he thought. Chisuke’s group would make a hole in the enemies formation, drawing them since the constructs seemed to gravitate toward eliminating the student explorers.
“Hey! Armored Division 034, lay down artillery fire at point 2-40.”
“S-Sir, that’s awfully close to our comrades, are you sure they’ll be fine?”
“Nope!” The senior trainee scoffed and shrugged. “Not my problem if the maniac gets eliminated. Now, fire when ready!”
The armored division’s leader was still reluctant but he nodded nonetheless.
Angling their barrels to the horizon, the leader pinged a green signal to all the tanks. Seconds later, the senior trainee smiled as he watched and heard the descending ordinance in the distance.
[Armor Infantry Battalion 086, move in 1 minute after impact. Sweep point 124 to 235. Make sure nothing gets in the way of those maniacs.]
Continuing to keep his eye on the situation, the senior trainee in command continued to smile. Not at how well the situation was going, no he was more so happy that he could envision the annoyed expression that Chisuke would have.
He was right. At the very moment the first tank shells came crashing from the heavens, Chisuke rushed forward on this imitation of a battlefield, the world does not care for those who are weak, so why would he care when a shell almost exploded right next to him.
Shrapnel bounced off his protected aura. Shrugging it off, he chuckled at his predicament. In all, he was of the many groups on the frontlines, a makeshift frontline company. His company number 10,000, a considerable force consisting of numerous student corebinders and mystics.
Most of which were the CDU and CAU trainees, giving fire support with tanks and jeeps that rolled across the plains. In opposition, puppets in numbers that could swarm a city, golems that stomped as if they were walking buildings, and all manner of enemies, faced him.
All made to fight them so that they could improve themselves.
With all his strength, Chisuke met them all. He lifted his blade, honed and forged to fit his one and only need. To kill the enemy.
Like a hammer brought down by a war god of old, he let out a cry for war, his throat pouring out such ferocious fury that made the ground quake. His Nodachi cut through the solid rock of a golem that stood as tall as a tree. All 4 meters of his Nodachi cut the length of the thing as if it were only air.
No sooner did he land, knees bent, he then twisted his wrists and leveled the blade, sweeping the green field ahead with another slash that sent not only the dirt flying, but boulders and rocks splitting apart from the sheer immense shockwave of his energy.
An exuberance of core energy permeated his form, his once blue veiny arms pulsating with blood red fury.
“GET SOME! YOU WANT ONE! HAVE ANOTHER!”
His manifested power, blood fury, coursed through him, faster and faster. Every time he swung and slew, his body filled with what seemed like unending power.
Never! He screamed that one word, internalized to himself like a monk’s mantra. Never! Never Again! Never! Never! NEVER!
More heavy ordinance blasted nearby, decimating a group of advancing golems to his left. Dirt sprayed up and he gritted through the discomfort. Joining him, armored trainees in bulky armor, charged, their heavy rifles affixed with blades and their magazine filled to capacity.
“FORM A LINE! READYYYYYYYYY! FIRE!”
Puppets were gunned down as bolts of lead pierced and punctured. Advancing in droves, the puppets fell as bullets slashed them to bits. Under concentrated fire, golems buckled and fell.
A strike of white bolting arrows crossed the chaotic field. The armored trainees were sitting ducks, exposed and without cover, they held the firing line. Chinking into their armor, some trainees flinched, unable to withstand the fear of their armor being struck upon.
Yet, as they shivered in their metal and ceramic suits of thick plates, all they felt was a thud.
[FIRE!]
The scared trainees leapt to action, that one command installing such verdant and decisive action. Chisuke jumped at the chance, his fellow classmates not far behind. The armored infantry was making another hole for them, and he would take them up on their offer.
Speaking from his soul, Chisuke continued to swing with each passing thought. Never stopping, never faltering, never giving up, never yielding, never.. WEAK!
Always close behind, the CDU and CAU trainees did what they could, firing off their weapons to support him. Those who fought beside him kept their distance, unable to give him their aid.
Chisuke’s wide and wild swings made it difficult, he was at the center of all this chaos, and they’d steer clean for fear of becoming mad like himself. But Chisuke relished in it, finding no qualms about his methods, he made minced bits of the poor constructs who found their way to him.
Adapting to the situation, the trainees turned their guns up, laying down suppressing fire just in time as blue metallic visages came swimming down from on high.
[INCOMING AIR UNITS! LAY DOWN ANTI AIR!! KEEP THEM OFF HIM!]
They raised, aimed, and fired. A clattering from their armored suits followed from the recoil and the flying robots flinched back. Their armored hulls compromised and cracked, holes dotted its aqua blue scaled exterior.
Firing back, the robotic aquatic animals spewed a hail of stunning bullets. The creak of their metal mouths sounded the rapid pops of their own gunfire. Trainees not a part of the armored infantry dove for what little cover they could. Many knew they never had a chance.
Stalwartly facing the fire, they fired back, unrelenting and undaunted.
Trainees fell, twitching as electricity arched from their hair, teeth chattering and eyes rolling back in their heads. Chisuke grimaced.
“Weak fools.” He snarled. “HEY! Get the medic! GET THEM OUT OF HERE!”
“Y-Yes! Okay!” A voice sad, meek and almost unheard.
Frozen in fear, a beast human, Dahlia, trembled. She gripped her staff tightly and bit her trembling lip.
Now, or never! She thought and decided then and there. Nothing would have made her happier to not be here, but she had taken the leap out of the dropship. She ran towards the fighting, ducking for cover. She fell as the crash of ordinance made her furry ears twitch as she startled.
It was dizzying. Such violence, such unadulterated pandemonia.
Allies came to her side, firing off rounds of shots to beat back the enemy. A student jumped up and leveled her fist into a rock golem’s head.
“Come ON! Move it Dahlia. Get to the injured and get them out!”
Called upon, Dahlia reluctantly pushed off the ground. She reminded herself she didn’t want to be here, she didn’t want to fight, but she wanted to be an explorer, she wanted to help, help her own kind. Making her way to cover as her allies held back the enemy, she knelt beside an injured trainee who was leaning his back against a large boulder.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
She ducked, keeping low like himself.
But, her once calm cracked as she gasped in horror. His left arm was dislocated and he was bleeding from his head. By all means, he should have given up and left the combat zone, this was a training exercise after all, so why? Why endure to such an extent?
But Dahlia let that lay, it wasn’t her business to know, so she got to work.
“H-Hold still.” She said with a withheld breath. “I-I’m going to treat you. Hang in there, okay?”
“Argh! Ugh.. make..” The trainee groaned. He looked no older than 15. “Make it quick. We gotta.. Move.” He groaned again, every word sounding as if it was hard for him to breathe. “Gotta make.. it. Gotta fight.. For..”
“Shush, Don’t tense or you’ll make your injuries worse.”
Dahlia reached out but hesitated to take the injured boy's hand, she eyed the combat knife at his belt. She.. was afraid.
Yes, he was a young boy, younger than her in fact, but he was human and she was a beast human.
Unintentionally, she touched the side of her forehead. It wasn’t to wipe off sweat, it was to rub the faded scar she had hidden there.
After taking a few seconds to calm down, Dahlia extended her manifest weapon, a wooden and curved headed staff. She pressed the straight side of it down into the dirt. Green grass grew from where she had planted it and motes of grotto green light floated up and around her.
She touched the small lights and brought them to touch a finger to the boy’s chest. She wavered, her finger inches from touching him. I, I’m scared, can I.. can I trust him?
She shook herself and then waved her hand over her patient's dislocated arm. It moved back into its socket. A discomforting yelp escaped him as he gritted his teeth.
This will have to do. She thought, compromising with her situation. She could heal him more effectively with direct contact but she just couldn’t make herself do it. Dahlia would never admit it, but she held a deep seated hate for humans.
To her, yes, there were no clear cut good or bad people in this world, but she still hated them, humans. For what they had done to her, she could never forgive them. She sighed in resignation, wishing she wasn’t so conceited.
It felt good, good to believe that right now, she herself was superior to this injured boy. She was the one now holding his life in her hands.
Cutting her dark and somber thoughts off, the injured trainee suddenly leapt at her. Dahlia shrieked, falling on her back, and heard the sound of his gun firing. Was he aiming at her? Had he shot her? No, that didn’t seem to be the case.
She turned herself around on the ground and found a shattered puppet tumbling a few paces away.
“Run!” The boy croaked, trying to get up on his still injured leg. He held the boulder for support with one hand as his other held his side arm at the ready. Her healing had stopped the swelling of his head injury and reattached his shoulder joint, but his wounds were still tender, he was also fatigued, and likely had a concussion. He could barely stand straight.
“What? What do you..?”
Dahlia spun around and realized what the boy meant. They were surrounded, but that wasn’t right! Dahlia had seen her allies covering for her, where did they go?
No, they moved ahead, she was too slow, she realized that her thoughts had gotten in the way.
“Dahlia! Hold on! We’re coming!” Her group came back and Dahlia's eyes welled with tears.
Thank Goodness. Dahlia thought. But her hopes were dashed, as if spiting her.
“NO!!! More of them are coming! Dahlia! Get out of there!”
In seconds, her group was accosted and surrounded. The CDU and CAU trainees fired back but they wouldn’t make it or have much effect on the outcome. There were too many and Dahlia could tell they would fall.
“GO!” The injured trainee yelled to her and hobbled past, his pistol raised. He pulled once, getting two puppets in one shot. A lucky hit. He pulled again, a third, a fourth, a fifth time.
Demanding as the boy was with his words, he saw that Dahlia was too stunned to move. He steadied himself as best as he could, limbs fathering with lesser strength and aches that shook his hands.
“I said GO!”
“I-I..I can’t just.. I..”
Indecision gripping her legs in place, Dahlia’s body was afraid of all the fighting and her mind was confused about how to act now. Could she turn her back on him? Was he truly an ally? He’s human, he's one of them!
[MOVE IT!]
Her comms painfully screeched, her ear accosted with a voice so annoyed and fed up. The injury trainee who was protecting her shoved her away, just as he did he was sent flying as rock golem batted him to the side.
He coughed up blood, the smell of its iron-like scent made Dahlia’s nose flare and eyes go watery. Turning her head up, the golem stood above her and raised its pillar of a fist. If it came down now, how much would it hurt? The thought made Dahlia cease, her tongue going dry and the feeling in her knees faint.
“I SAID MOVE!”
Chisuke crashed into the side of the golem, laying waste to it with a single swing. Shattered to stones, he crushed the rubble under his boots and grabbed Dahlia.
She screamed. The sight of Chisuke felt as if her nightmares were coming true. She could see blood on him, blood and that sick smile, a smile relishing unforgivable acts of violence.
Was the blood his own? Or the blood of her kin? Was he a killer too? Like those..
Her brain stalling, she fell back into her base instincts and panicking for self preservation.
“NO! Get away! Get a-”
A slap silenced her and she was tossed to another student. Hugged, Dahlia tried to fight back.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.” A comforting voice said and Dahlia saw it was another beast human.
It wasn’t Mana, but another girl who had animal-like features. Tears ebbed out of Dahlia and her fellow beast human held her close..
“Tch! Weakling!” Chisuke sneered at her, he ignored the sight and opened his comms. [Hey! Take care of her and keep her out of my way, GOT IT!]
He got an affirming green wink in his HUD and signaled back his confirmation. He then directed his irritation elsewhere, running back to the advancing frontlines. Tanks rolled in, firing their 122 millimeter shells through the ranks of thousands of constructs.
Instead of exploding into flashes, a fluttering of smaller projectiles spread out, flew, and exploded into the enemy. As they continued to fire, Chisuke rushed ahead while fiddling with his HUD.
[Mana, Mana you there?] It took a second, but he got a response as he crushed a puppet’s face with the pommel of his enormous sword.
[Yeah! Kinda busy up here. What is it?] By the sound of her voice, she seemed like she was in a pinch. Nevertheless, he didn’t care and asked.
[That girl? Why did you convince her to jump into this?]
[Hmm? Do you even really care?]
[No, of course not. But why did she jump? She’s clearly a liability and she knows it.]
[Well this is a first.] The fact that Chisuke was speaking on this matter surprised Mana. [Usually, you’d just move on or not care about others. You usually punch them if they get on your nerves. Tell me, do I spy a hint of compassion in you?]
Chisuke went silent and then grunted his angry annoyance.
[Nosey bird, answer the question!] He demanded and Mana laughed.
She flapped her wings and flew higher into the gray clouded sky. Below she thought she could see Chisuke stomping his boot into a golem’s face for good measure and then rampaging along with tanks and gunfire. It was hilarious to envision.
Keeping watch, Mana and others kept a lookout. Her ability to fly with her wings came in handy so reconnaissance and surveillance were the best use out of her abilities and physiology. Though, while she played a mostly passive role, that didn’t mean she wasn’t a part of any action.
Receiving her orders while talking with Chisuke, Mana moved out. Using her momentum, she spun and landed a piercing kick into the flank of an enormous aquatic themed robot, its size and looks comparable to a great white.
She thrashed it, her claws extending and ripping it to shreds. Breathing a tired sigh, she finally replied.
[I have no clue dude. How about you ask her on a date and then find out? Anyway bye~!]
Chisuke could feel her sarcastically shrugging across the comms, more infuriating was that she cut the comms, leaving him hanging. A red vein bulged in his head and he unleashed his aggression.
“RAHHHHHHHH!”
Chisuke leapt up from the crater he and his other upperclassmen were holding their ground in. Tank shells thudded and boomed ahead, but Chisuke ran through it all. Behind Chisuke, Osamu, another eastern boy with curly black and purple hair, frowned in exasperation.
He pinged a private line to a teammate in his 3 man comms group.
[What’s got him worked up? Gen, did you put something in his breakfast this morning?]
[Nope, isn’t this how he usually is?]
[Nah.] Osamu shook his head dismissively as he cut down a group of puppets in seconds. [This seems.. Different.]
[I guess you’re right, maybe he’s on his period!] Gen chuckled and then flinched, as he dodged a white bolt that whizzed by his cheek. He struck back, landing a kick and toss of his dagger for good measure.
[Should we get him some medicine? I know of a great sedative we can put in his food next time.]
[That sounds perfect, how about we-]
[IDIOTS!] Chisuke screamed in their ears. [YOU FORGOT THAT I CAN READ YOUR LIPS! STOP TALKING AND FIGHT ALREADY!]
[Cool it Chisuke.] Osamu said. [We got this, right?]
[Oh great.] Gen looked as if he saw the sky was falling, and he groaned. Osamu took offense, wondering what was up with him.
[What? What did I say?]
[Have you not learned anything!] Grabbing Osamu by the collar, Gen threw him to any nearby cover as he dove for it himself. [You never say you’ll win before you do. It's bad luck.]
[Oh come on! You don’t really believe that? Right?]
As if to spite him, Osamu paled as the map and his HUD refreshed. Tactical data was always shared amongst allies, so he knew this was for real.
[We’ve got new targets and they're closing in fast!] The senior trainee reported over the master communications line and relayed new orders.
[Tanks! Change target! Fire For Effect! Point 5.. 8.. 9.. Soften them up while we handle the remaining enemies!]
[Yes Sir! Adjusting angle, distance, 2000! FIRING!]
Blasting away, the tanks turned once more, adjusting their aim for good measure. These new targets were fast, they ran on 4 legs and had flames wreathing them. They moved more like the will-of the wisp, elusive and almost unseen through all the conflict.
[Good!] The commanding senior trainee nodded. [GROUP 6, CHISUKE! GET GOING!]
[YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE! COME ON YOU IDIOTS LET’S GO!]
“I blame you for this.” Gen said, referring to his earlier comment.
“Fine fine, that’s on me.” Osamu replied. “Just don't be a suspicious jinx, alright? That was a coincidence, so stop getting into all this hocus pocus stuff.”
“Isn’t core energy hocus pocus as well.” Argued Gen. He sprinted beside Osamu, leveling a look at him as he pushed his glass up. “The energy we use is almost like magic from those books we read.”
“No they aren’t! There's some science stuff about it, right?”
“Oh for the love of.” Chisuke sighed, trying to ignore his teammates' incessant chatter.
Nevertheless, they joined him and he met the new enemies first. He locked his blade between the jaws of a familiar construct he had fought before.
Hellhounds, he thought, identifying them quickly and then pulling back in caution. He knew how strong they were, he had fought them years ago. It was a daunting realization for Chisuke at the time. 6 years ago, it was 6 long years ago that he came to this academy.
By now, in accordance with the usual standards of the Explorer Academies, he should have already graduated in the 5th year, been given his license, and attain his title as an explorer.
Not here though. Andromeda was picky about who they passed through the school. For them, the academy as a whole, the explorer title and license were more than a simple qualification, it was a right of passage to the instructors and staff here. This became clear to him after his first month during his first year here.
Like every month in the academy, a single day was dedicated to the Practical Training Class. On record, the class had a history of no one outright dropping out of the class, but that was only because it was a required class to graduate, so everyone eventually took it.
If you didn’t make the standard you’d have to take it again on top of your new classes the next year. It was painful and this was Chisuke’s 6th time in the 6 years he was here.
His attempt as a first year was the greatest defeat and hardest lesson he learned. If he were to compare all that he did those years to the current class he was in, this simulated war game exercise was very normal. It was as normal as when he and his fellow first years were dropped into a complex and maze-like cavern without any warning.
Like this morning, they were suddenly forced to rush into a transport, having no idea what to expect next. Minutes later, he was made to make a choice. Being the stubborn and hardheaded first year he was, he didn’t falter and rose to the challenge, or so he thought.
He found himself lost in a dark cavern. For what felt like days, he fought for his life against beasts exactly like the hellhound that was in front of him. They were the very first enemy he could not defeat.
More hounds joined the first and began surrounding Chisuke. Before they could, Gen and Osamu leapt to aid him. Slipping past, luckily unnoticed from the pack of snarling animals, Gen came at one from behind while Osamu leapt at the same from above.
Chisuke charged forward, meeting the pack of hounds as if he were an animal himself. They scattered, the hounds reading their intentions in seconds. They howled and belched lines of fire from their molten mouths.
Kicked up rocks blocked the flames as Chisuke slammed his heel into the ground, creating a crater and surrounding wall for the three to duck behind. Gen leaned his head out behind one of the walls, trying to gleam a way to flank and maneuver into a better position.
Gravel and bits of rock splashed his face and he reeled back. Fiery claws scraped at the outer walls. The hounds waited for them on the side and Gen stepped back, readying himself if one of them were able to break the wall down.
[What’s the plan guys? I’m not sure if we can take them all and get to the goal in time.]
[Let me see what I can do. Come in CDU Division 012.] Osamu called over the comms. [Support needed in point 0890. I repeat, support needed in 0890.]
[This is Division 012, unable to provide support. New contacts at point 1-080. I repeated, all support unavailable, pull back!]
[Damnit!] Chisuke cursed. He and his group were only a few miles away from the end of this fight. With a clear way ahead to the goal and with their core energy, they could make the remaining distance in less than 5 minutes.
[How much time do we have!] Asked Chisuke. [If we can't, let's just push past them.]
[About 15 minutes.] Gen said, keeping the hounds away as they tried to slip through the scattering of boulders around them. [Also, Chisuke? Are you insane! Those things will rip into our defensive auras, they’re made to counter us. So running isn’t an option. Did you forget how you got toasted last year.]
Chisuke lightly punched the wall, the thought of his defeat in the past serving as a rude reminder. Ignoring him Gen got next to Osamu, who was still chiming the comms channel.
[Osamu? How about Mana? Can you get in contact with her? She was supposed to be our air cover. Where is she?]
[It’s no good, the number of enemy air units is increasing as well. I’ll try to put out a call for air support, but there have already been a number of requests.]
[Then we hold here!] Chisuke planted his feet. He raised his nodachi at the ready. Osamu and Gen joined him, putting their backs to each other.
“This feels like a drama I watched.” Gen said.
“Yeah? How did it end?” Osamu asked.
“They all died.”
“Can you two stop the useless chatter!” Chisuke sighed and began to mumble. “Why is it that I’m always with you idiots.”
“Maybe you’re unlucky.” Said Gen. “Perhaps your karma is out of flux, I know a great way to fix that.”
“Dude, that is dumb.” Osamu accused. “Don’t try to bring Karma into this.”
“Why not? It’s plausible that we have some bad airs around us, so why not?”
Goddamnit! Chisuke let the two mouth off at each other, though he wished they did always drag him into or between their ridiculous banter. Still, he did seem to believe he had some bad luck.