He wants to kill Jack the Ripper...? Amber thought.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Baran asked. "We are being trained to fight Jack?"

"Well, yes. I'm sure you guys heard that Jack's prowling the streets of England and has attacked a family, potentially others, too. You guys are superhumans with blessings trained to become soldiers or whatever they do around here," Kreuger explained. "So why in the bloody hell would the country not use the best of what they've got against a super high-level S-Class criminal like Jack the Ripper?"

Hearing his reasoning, an air of tension surrounded the students.

"...But, there are many other heroes who are stronger and more experienced than us," Ivory stated.

"Ha! I've been told that these so-called blessed soldiers are on the level of super soldiers from the US!" Kreuger countered. "And it's reported that Jack has singlehandedly murdered the most super soldiers out of all the S-Class criminals! What do you think will happen here?"

As the students broke into sweat from their nervousness, Trixie gazed at Kreuger with a frown.

"Some of you guys will die. That's just the hard truth," Kreuger coldly stated, which did not lighten the tension. "But I will kill Jack."

Silence filled the yard as everyone became discouraged and scared due to Kreuger's factual and scary reasoning. That was not the introduction that the soldiers would expect from a recruit.

I'm not at fault. I'm just letting them know the reality. Kreuger thought. Maybe they'll use that to get as strong as possible--

SPLOSH!

From the flower attached to her jester suit, Trixie suddenly sprayed water onto Kreuger's face.

"Guh! What the hell is wrong with you!?" Kreuger yelled as he instinctively placed his hands on his face. What liquid is this!? This better be bloody water and nothing else!

"That's for bringing the mood down! My classes must always be fun!" Trixie said. "I'll only enjoy seeing negative faces when they're being annoyed with tricks or pranks! Everyone's going to get stronger!"

There was a few moments of silence as the students listened.

"Yeah, you're right, teach," Aiden said, breaking the silence. "I want to become a strong soldier, so there's no way I'm letting Jack the Ripper scare me!"

"Yeah, exactly!" Trixie happily responded.

"Yeah! Just because Jack has killed super soldiers doesn't mean it will be easy for him to beat blessed soldiers!" Ariel added. "We've got a far different approach to fighting than them!"

The silence that was once in the yard quickly dispersed as the students regained their confidence, even happily speaking.

"Sigh, whatever," Kreuger relented. They'll learn soon enough that the vile monster Jack is not like most criminals.

"Alright, let's begin class, everyone!" Trixie declared, feeling contented with the student's confidence.

With that, they began their training. They sparred to increase their understanding of their blessings - to become more efficient fighters. Well, every soldier except Kreuger...if you can call him a soldier.

Kreuger spectated them from the sidelines, looking disappointed in their lack of strength and skills.

What a waste. Kreuger thought with visible contempt. At this rate, they'll be killed by that bastard.

As he watched, his gaze shifted to Amber, who was sparring with her friends. He watched intently at her fight, analyzing her every move.

"Hmm..."

Suddenly, however, Amber's gaze shifted to Kreuger's. Her bright glowing eyes were now matched with his cold, crimson-eyed stare.

Is he staring at me? Amber thought. His eyes...they're so emotionless. If what he says is true, then it must be some terrible experience he had with Jack.

* * *

Physical training continued until nearly midday, and the soldiers had received a break. Where did the soldiers go for their break? To the cafeteria. Usually, the mood in most cafeterias would be lively, but the enrollment program's cafeteria was quiet due to the few soldiers.

Amber, Ariel, and Sariel all sat around a cafeteria desk having what seemed to be lunch.

"Mmm, this is good!" Amber uttered as she happily enjoyed her meal of chicken wraps. Looking at the trio's meals, one could tell that a talented chef had made them.

"Yeah," Ariel agreed, albeit with a strange, downtrodden expression, which the girls noticed.

"Is something the matter, Ariel?" Sariel asked as she ate her wrap.

"Well, I know we just said we'd get stronger, but I can't help but worry about Jack, now that the new guy talked about him," Ariel admitted, causing Amber to stop chewing her meal for a second.

"Hmm, I see," Sariel said.

"It's just, I'm glad to meet guys like you...but I'd hate it if I'm not strong enough and something terrible happens," Ariel continued. "I'm less worried about myself getting hurt and more worried about not being strong enough to be of help..."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Hearing that, Sariel looked up to the ceiling, placed her hand on her chin, and pondered what to say.

"I've got a technological manipulation blessing," Sariel suddenly said, slightly confusing the girls. "So, to understand my blessing, I've been constantly researching and building machines in my free time. Because of that, I have a rough time interacting with people and showing my emotions, but when you and Amber talked to me, I was glad inside."

"Oh..."

"When I watch you guys, I can tell that you are some of the strongest among this group. This strange eye that I have tells me, I guess," Sariel said as she pointed to her special eye.

"You as well. You're pretty good whenever we spar," Ariel stated. "And I can tell you're holding back."

"Yeah, and we'll all get stronger. You guys are my friends, so I'll help you," Sariel declared. "No one will harm any of us. Not even Jack."

As Amber listened to her friends' heartfelt expressions and declarations, she felt like crying but held it in. Tears welled up in her eyes before she wiped them away.

"Yeah, you're right!" Amber declared with a stern expression. "Even if we're trained to fight someone like Jack, we'll never lose to him! All of us will live!!!"

"Yeah!" Both Sariel and Ariel said synchronously.

I won't lose any more people I care about to you, Jack! Amber declared. I won't lose again!

Suddenly, Aiden, Ivory, and Baran approached the table that the trio sat around.

"Hey, guys. Can we sit here with you?" Aiden requested.

"Sure, no problem," Amber happily accepted.

"By all means. Go ahead," Sariel said. Ariel gave a thumbs-up gesture with a friendly smile. Thankful for the approval, they took their seats at the table. Strangely enough, Baran seemed rather upset.

"Tch, why the hell are we sitting here?" Baran whispered to Aiden, which he ignored. Despite his whispering attempt, it was poor as Sariel heard him.

"If you don't like it, then there are plenty of other tables," Sariel said. "Is it because you don't want to sit beside someone like Amber?"

"What?" Both Baran and Amber said.

Oh yeah, that guy did tease me for being so weak, huh? Amber thought.

"No, no, wait!" Aiden suddenly said. "We're sorry about that. We want to get along with you guys!"

Tch, speak for yourself. Baran said.

"Uh huh, is that right?" Sariel asked.

"It's fine. I forgive you guys," Amber said.

"Really?" Aiden asked.

"Yes, god says you should always forgive after all,"

Upon hearing this, everyone was a bit surprised, likely by Amber's sudden religiousness.

"Oh...uh, thank you," Aiden responded with an audible stutter.

"We'll see if you guys have changed," Sariel said. I didn't expect Amber to be religious. Well, it makes sense, I suppose.

Everyone gradually got along as they ate, even having conversations. Amid their interactions, Amber spotted Kreuger eating by himself at the corner of her eyes.

Hmmm

"Excuse me, guys, I'll be back," Amber said as she suddenly stood up,

"Oh, sure," Ariel said.

Hastily, Amber made her way to Kreuger.

"Um, hello," Amber awkwardly greeted.

"...What do you want?" Kreuger coldly asked as he continued eating what seemed to be a salad.

"...Why are you eating by yourself?" Amber asked. "Don't you want to eat with me--"

"I don't care about interacting with weak people that I'll have nothing to do with in the long run," Kreuger responded. "As I said, I only came here so I can murder Jack."

There it is...

"I see you have a hard time getting along with people. Does that stem from an experience you had with Jack?" Amber assumed. "Why do you want to kill him so badly?"

"What's with these sudden questions?" Kreuger asked. "Why do I have to tell you...?"

Silence filled the area as Amber did not know what to say.

* * *

The group that Amber momentarily left noticed her conversing with Kreuger.

"What is she doing speaking with that bastard?" Ivory wondered.

"I don't know," Sariel said.

"Maybe she's trying to get through to him," Ariel said. "She's nice like that, after all!"

* * *

"Heh, fine. I'll tell you," Kreuger said. "It's because Jack took everything away from me. So many people I cared about are gone, because of him. So, I will get revenge."

"...You're just like me then," Amber said.

"Huh?"

"My name is Amber Hoss. I don't know if you heard, but there was a news report of Jack attacking and killing the Hoss family," Amber explained. "It said the family was massacred...but that's not completely true. I was the only survivor..."

Hearing that, Kreuger widened his eyes with surprise.

Wait, it's her...?

* * *

At an unspecified time in the past, Kreuger was speaking with Ryzen.

"Hey Kreuger! What's up!" Ryzen said as he attempted to rest his hand on Kreuger's shoulder, which he quickly shrugged off.

"Get your damn mittens off my shoulder," Kreuger demanded. "What the hell do you want."

"Just wanna tell you that you'll find someone similar to you, apparently," Ryzen explained. "Chief Barry told me that a girl named Amber Hoss lost her family a few days ago because of Jack, and now she wants revenge."

"...Oh?"

"Revenge made you this strong, so maybe she'll be strong too?" Ryzen assumed with a devious smirk. "Revenge really is something scary, after all."

* * *

"...I see," Kreuger said as he stopped reminiscing. "Are you sure you should tell me that anyway? What if I go blabbing about your survival to everyone?"

"...Uhm..."

"...Don't worry, I won't. I don't care about that," Kreuger assured. "I only care about murdering Jack. Speaking of which, don't tell me you want revenge on Jack."

"...Jack is an evildoer that needs to die. I will stop him...and I have my friends by my side, too."

Hearing that, Kreuger scoffed.

"Heh, it doesn't matter how many weaklings group up...you can't defeat a monster like Jack," Kreuger said. "I understand your hatred for Jack, but I do not accept you as someone fit to fight him."

In response, Amber held her head down in sorrow.

"If you understand, then just leave killing Jack to me--"

Suddenly, Amber held her head back up.

"No, I'll prove that I have what it takes. I've been given a mission by God to destroy the evil of the world, and I will fulfill that," Amber declared. "I'll get stronger, even stronger than I am. We will defeat Jack, and none of us will die!"

"...So very persistent...and delusional," Kreuger muttered. But it seems she's hellbent on killing Jack...just as hellbent as I am. "Fine, we'll see what happens. But don't blame me if you fail."

"I won't."

With that said, everyone adjusted to the enrolment program. As everyone understood their roles, they all diligently trained to fulfill them. They understood the seriousness of the state of the world...and they trained themselves to match the tone.

A few days have now passed. Just as time has moved forward, so did the enemy's plans.

The scene had changed to Harvey as he is with his siblings in a gourmet restaurant. Interrupting his eating, Harvey suddenly received a phone call.

"One second," Harvey said to his siblings before answering the call. "Hello?"

"...This is the Chief of Defense, Barry Alexander," Barry said on the other side of the phone.

"Oh, it's good to hear from you again," Harvey said. "Since you called me...can I take it as our deal being accepted?"

"...For now, yes," Barry agreed. "Only because your group would be useful...but you better not cause any trouble...or you know the consequences."

"Sure," Harvey said before hanging up.

"Who was that?" Amelia asked.

"Well, guys," Harvey uttered. "We're in business."