"Rise! Rise! Rise!" a voice thundered through the barracks, jolting everyone awake with a start.

What the f— Kaiden's groggy mind tried to catch up with the chaos as the voice bellowed again.

"Get your asses on line! Now!" Sgt. Kellan’s voice was relentless, and it snapped Kaiden into full consciousness. No mercy for oversleeping—clearly, that was the message, as everyone scrambled to the front of their bunks.

The moment Kaiden swung his legs out of bed, an intense, searing pain shot through his lower body. His muscles screamed, threatening to buckle beneath him. What the hell… he thought, almost crying out from the pain. This must be muscle soreness, but did it always hurt this bad? He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Fuck," under his breath. Without a second thought, he activated his Regeneration ability, praying he wouldn’t get caught.

I should’ve done this before I went to sleep, he thought, cursing himself. But at this point, it was too late for regrets. The pain was unbearable, and frankly, worth the risk. Besides, Staff Sergeant Orlin wasn’t around... right?

Kaiden quickly ran through Orlin’s warnings in his head. The sergeant had specifically mentioned not using abilities during training, but... technically this wasn’t training. Not yet. He was still getting dressed, after all. That should be safe, right? He decided not to care in that moment—he just needed relief. Almost immediately, the soreness began to ease, the sharp edge of pain dulled to a manageable ache. It was still there, but muted.

"You got five minutes to change into your PT gear and line up outside. Move!" Sgt. Kellan’s final command echoed as he stormed out the door, leaving a chorus of groans behind him.

Kaiden wasn’t the only one sore—he could hear the moans and see the limps from the other recruits—but he doubted anyone else was in the same boat as him. It was his first time ever really using his muscles like this, and they were definitely paying him back for it.

As he pulled on his PT uniform, Kaiden tried to justify what he’d just done. Technically, healing his soreness would be beneficial in the long run. If he could recover faster, he could push himself harder in training and build strength quicker than normal. Right? He wasn’t exactly well-versed in exercise science, but that logic sounded solid to him.

Once outside, Sgt. Kellan immediately had them form up in familiar rows, preparing for the morning’s first ordeal. Kaiden joined the ranks, steeling himself as Kellan scanned the group. "On my count," Kellan barked. "Double time! Move out!"

As the recruits set off at a jog, Kaiden quickly deactivated his Regeneration. The soreness returned in full force, not as pronounced as earlier, but still hitting his legs like lead weights. He pushed through, gritting his teeth. Around him, the others were in similar states, expressions tight with discomfort, shoulders slumping under the strain. The morning air was crisp, but not nearly cool enough to dull the ache in his muscles.

They jogged in silence, feet pounding the dirt in rhythm, the weight of dread hanging over them like a dark cloud. Kellan hadn’t said how long they’d be running, nor did he mention a destination. For all Kaiden knew, this could be another endless run. His mind raced, trying to prepare himself mentally for whatever was to come. He was just about to resign himself to another grueling marathon when, mercifully, Kellan barked out an order to stop after just five minutes.

The recruits halted in a large open field, a wide space dotted with patches of sparse grass and flattened dirt. Kaiden could feel the collective sigh of relief as the recruits caught their breath, all grateful that the run hadn’t been another endless slog.

"Spread out!" Kellan shouted, his voice carrying across the field. "Everyone spread out—an arm’s length between you!"

Kaiden, along with the others, quickly complied, forming a loose grid. Kellan stood at the front, his eyes sharp and focused as he began to lead them through a series of stretches. The relief in the air was palpable as the recruits mirrored his actions. The stretches felt like a gift from the gods—muscles that had been cramped and aching were now allowed to loosen up, and for a moment, the tension eased.

They reached up toward the sky, bent down to touch their toes, stretched their arms, rolled their shoulders—every movement designed to ease the tightness in their bodies. Kaiden savored it, his legs finally feeling a little less stiff, his back stretching out from the uncomfortable night of sleep. It was a small respite, but a welcome one. His muscles groaned in protest, but there was relief there too.

After about ten minutes of stretching, Kellan snapped them back to attention. "Now, let’s see what you’re made of," he growled.

What followed was the real deal—the actual physical training.

"Jumping jacks! On my count!" Kellan barked.

They started jumping, the rhythm relentless. Kaiden moved in unison with the others, his arms and legs moving up and down mechanically. After what felt like an eternity, Kellan finally called a halt.

"Push-ups! Down on your faces!"

Kaiden dropped down into the dirt, arms already trembling from the exertion. This is going to suck, he thought grimly as he lowered himself down. Kellan counted out each push-up, demanding perfect form.

"Up! Down! Up! Down!"

Kaiden's arms screamed in protest as he pushed himself up again and again. Sweat dripped down his forehead, mixing with the dirt beneath him. His muscles burned with every movement, but he kept going, determined not to collapse in front of everyone. Around him, the groans and grunts of the other recruits echoed his own struggle.

"Crunches! Let’s go!"

Kaiden flipped onto his back, his abs already aching. He pulled himself up into the crunches, his breathing labored. The sun was rising higher in the sky, and the heat was already starting to make the air thick and heavy. He kept going, his body protesting every movement.

They went through more exercises—body squats, planks, pikes, and other upper body calisthenics that Kaiden didn’t even know the names of. His entire body was on fire, every muscle screaming for a break. But they didn’t stop. Kellan’s voice kept them moving, pushing them harder and harder.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Kellan gave the order for a water break. Kaiden stumbled over to the water station with the others, his legs wobbly and his arms numb. He drank greedily, the water barely quenching his thirst.

But the break was short-lived. Before they could fully recover, Kellan ordered them back into formation. Kaiden groaned inwardly, already dreading what was coming next.

"We’re not done yet," Kellan said, his grin returning. "Back in formation for another run."

Dammit, Kaiden thought. His muscles were already jelly, and now they were going for another run? He felt his heart sink when he realized they weren’t heading back to the barracks—this was another conditioning run.

They finally stopped running after what felt like an eternity. The recruits were winded, drenched in sweat, and Kaiden’s legs were once again screaming in protest. They’d come to a halt in front of yet another unfamiliar building, this one larger and more imposing than the others. After a brief water break and a quick trip to the latrines, Sgt. Kellan barked out his next order.

"Inside! Single file! Move it!"

Kaiden and the rest of the recruits filed in obediently. He had no idea what to expect next, but whatever it was, he hoped it didn’t involve more running.

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As they stepped inside, Kaiden’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. The interior of the building was nothing like the barracks or training grounds. Instead, it resembled some sort of lecture hall.

The room was wide and open, with rows of tiered seating that rose in steps from the center stage. Long wooden benches and tables stretched out in perfectly aligned rows, each set with ink and parchment. A large podium stood at the front of the room on a raised platform, behind which a sergeant was already standing, staring down at them like a hawk. The high ceiling was lined with beams, and large, glowing crystal sconces along the walls lit the space with a cool, even light.

Kaiden couldn’t help but feel a little shocked. He didn’t know what he’d expected from basic training, but a classroom setup like this was definitely not it. He’d assumed training would all be about physical drills and combat practice. But as he thought about it, it made sense. There was so much more to learn than just how to fight. He figured they were probably about to get some sort of formal military instruction.

The recruits quickly filled the seats in silence, the room's atmosphere thick with exhaustion and tension. As Kaiden sat down, he noticed there were already other recruits seated in the rows ahead of them. They sat quietly, staring straight ahead, waiting for the next set of orders.

The sergeant at the podium, a stern-looking man with graying hair and sharp eyes, spoke up. "We’re waiting on one more platoon before we begin. Sit in silence. I won’t tolerate any talking."

Kaiden’s eyes widened. So it really was a lecture? He welcomed the classroom time. Not just because it was a break from physical training, but because he had so much he needed to learn. There were strategies, rules, codes, and who knew what else to learn.

Guess it’s not all push-ups and running after all, he thought, turning his Regeneration ability back on to help ease the lingering soreness in his muscles.

For about ten minutes, the room remained silent, with only the occasional shuffle or cough breaking the stillness. Kaiden was relieved for the break, even if it was just sitting still for a bit. His muscles slowly began to relax as the Regeneration did its work.

Finally, the last platoon filed in, their faces just as strained and weary as Kaiden’s group had been when they first entered. The sergeant waited until every seat was filled before stepping forward to the podium again, ready to begin.

The sergeant, a wiry man with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache, cleared his throat before addressing the room. He didn’t bother with formalities like introducing himself, and his demeanor was less intimidating than the drill instructors'. His role here was clearly instructional rather than disciplinary.

"We’ll start at the beginning. Today’s lecture is on attributes," he began, his voice calm but carrying easily across the room. "Basic training serves as a good way to increase your base stats, which, in turn, strengthens your modifiers. But what does that mean?"

Kaiden leaned forward, curious. Finally, he thought. Some answers about how this whole system works.

"As you all know," the sergeant continued, "you don’t get your status pages until you awaken your first ability. For some, that’s at age 16, others 18, and for those with just one ability, it happens at age 20. But no matter what, everyone will get their status page by the age of 20."

So that’s how it works, Kaiden thought, piecing things together. He had no idea the timeline was different for everyone based on their number of abilities.

"Why some people end up with three abilities while others only get one or two? Well, there are plenty of hypotheses about that, but that’s beyond what we’ll cover here." He waved the topic away as if to dismiss any lingering questions about it.

Interesting, Kaiden mused. So that must mean if you were lucky enough to get three abilities, you’d get the first one at 16, then the next at 18, and then the last at 20. How common or rare was 3 abilities vs 1? Another question for another time.

The sergeant kept going, "We’ll dive into abilities another day. Today, we’re talking about attributes. I’m sure you’ve all noticed two numbers next to your attribute—one flat number, and one percentage."

Kaiden perked up. This was what he’d been wondering about ever since he saw his own status screen.

"Now, many of you may not realize this—or you’ve been misinformed—but those aren’t your actual attributes’ values. They’re modifiers. Everyone’s base values are hidden. Can anyone tell me why that is?" The sergeant paused, scanning the room.

Silence.

The sergeant raised an eyebrow. "That wasn’t rhetorical. If I ask a question, you may raise your hand and give me an answer."

Kaiden glanced around. No one moved. The atmosphere was tense. It was clear that most of the recruits either didn’t know the answer or were too nervous to speak up.

The sergeant chuckled lightly, as if the silence amused him. "Too scared to speak, huh? I can’t blame you, given the circumstances. But since no one’s eager to take a shot at it, I’ll tell you."

The sergeant leaned on the podium, gesturing toward the recruits as he explained, "The reason base values are hidden is simple—they’re too complex to sum up in a single number. Think about it. How do you measure someone’s strength with just one value? There are so many factors that go into it."

He paused, letting the recruits digest the thought. "I might have incredible lower body strength but weak upper body strength. Maybe I’ve got a grip like iron, but my shoulders are frail. Your body type, how you exercise—it all plays a role. Strength isn’t just one thing, right? It’s tough to define with a single number."

Kaiden nodded internally, piecing it together. He had never thought about it that way, but it made sense.

"And it’s not just about strength. Think about constitution," the sergeant continued. "How do you measure one’s toughness? Is it how well you can take a physical beating? Or maybe your resistance to cold, heat, or disease? What about the strength of your organs, how fast you heal, your overall health? There are so many factors at play, and they’re constantly changing. If I stop exercising for a month, I’ll lose muscle, and my base values will decrease. But your modifiers?" He grinned. "They never go down. That’s why the system uses modifiers instead of constantly changing base values. It leaves those complex calculations to God, and we get to focus on the bonuses we gain."

Interesting, Kaiden thought. So base values are more fluid than I thought. It was proving to be in line with the theory he’d started forming about the system—though he hadn’t quite been on the money, he felt validated by what the sergeant was saying.

The sergeant’s voice broke into Kaiden’s thoughts as he continued, "Now, let’s talk about modifiers. First, you’ve got your flat number, which shows a bonus you’ve gained from classes, titles, equipment, and abilities. Most of you are probably looking at zeroes right now, but that’s fine. It’s normal."

He paced the front of the room, his eyes sweeping the recruits. "Here’s the thing—modifiers are the same for everyone. What I mean is, if I gain a +10 to strength, that’s the same +10 for anyone else who gets it. However, because of our hidden base values, the increase might be more noticeable for certain people."

He leaned in slightly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "For example, someone with a lot of grip strength might feel that +10 boost more obviously compared to someone with strong core strength, where it’s harder to detect right away. It doesn’t mean one’s increase is better than the other—it’s just how the body responds based on its makeup."

Kaiden’s mind spun with this new information. So a +10 to strength isn’t necessarily going to feel the same for everyone, but it’s still the same improvement.

The sergeant let that sink in before adding, "This is why training is important. You want to build up your base stats, so when those modifiers hit, they have a bigger impact. That’s the key to getting stronger—both physically and mentally."

Kaiden sat back, absorbing the weight of the lecture. This was exactly the kind of explanation he needed. His theory hadn’t been exact, but he was close. Now he understood why his status was structured the way it was, and it gave him a clear goal: build his base, and those modifiers would push him farther than he’d ever gone before.

The sergeant’s voice rang out through the lecture hall, clear and steady. “Now, let’s talk about percentage modifiers. These work on top of your flat modifiers, giving you a higher boost depending on how high your base values are. It’s simple math—take your base value, add the flat modifier, and then apply the percentage increase. A higher percent of a higher number is a lot more impactful than just a flat bonus, but both play their part."

Kaiden listened intently, his mind whirring as he processed everything. It made sense: flat modifiers were good for steady growth, but percentage modifiers could take that growth to the next level.

The sergeant paced a little before continuing, "The bigger your base, the bigger the bonus you get from your percentage modifiers. That’s why it’s so important to build up your base stats in training. They’ll multiply your gains down the line. And here’s another thing: as far as we know, there’s no limit to how high these modifiers can go. No cap on flat modifiers, and no cap on percentages either."

No limit... Kaiden thought, his excitement growing with each word. This lecture was more than just a rundown of numbers—it was laying out a path to power. A tangible, reachable path.

As the sergeant explained more details about the interaction between flat and percentage modifiers, Kaiden felt a surge of determination ignite within him. He had been learning the ropes slowly, but now he had a clear understanding of the system that governed his strength and abilities. I’ve got to push myself harder. I want to raise my stats, boost my modifiers... get those numbers up. He could see his path to improvement clearer than ever.

As the lecture wound down and the recruits sat quietly, processing the information, Kaiden felt his drive sharpening. He had learned more than he expected, and it was exactly what he needed to fuel his ambition.

Then, right as the sergeant wrapped up and the class was dismissed, a notification flashed in Kaiden’s mind:

Mindforge increased to Level 2. Mana +50. Mana Regeneration +10.

Kaiden barely managed to contain the grin spreading across his face. Hell yeah, he thought. He couldn’t wait to see what other improvements lay ahead.