Kaiden turned to Davick and said, "There are a lot of women here. I didn’t realize women were allowed in the army." He paused, glancing around. Back on Earth, women didn’t serve in the military or fight as part of an army until much, much later. He wasn’t a history buff, but he was pretty sure that was correct."

Davick gave a shrug. "Yeah, of course they are. Some women have stronger abilities than men, which makes ‘em a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Why wouldn’t we want them?"

"Ah, that makes sense," Kaiden replied as he thought about it logically. Magic abilities were the real decider of fighting prowess here. Since abilities were completely random, it made sense that anyone—regardless of gender—could be a powerhouse.

Davick added, "You didn’t see any during basic training because we were separated. They have their own platoons on the other side of the base."

Kaiden nodded in understanding. "But here, we're all together?"

"Yeah, it’s not basic training anymore. We’re allowed more freedom now."

Before Kaiden could say anything else, he heard Davick’s name being called. Davick gave him a nod and headed toward where his new platoon was forming up. Moments later, Kaiden heard his own name and joined him at the new location.

The sergeant who called Kaiden's name was short, clean-shaven, and sported a head of close-cropped hair that made his sharp features stand out even more. He continued calling names, rattling off about a dozen or so more before he paused and addressed the newly assembled group.

"My name is Sergeant Boran," he announced, his voice steady and commanding. "I’ll be your instructor. Welcome to the 27th Platoon. You’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other over the next few weeks, but for now, form up. We’re heading out to a quieter area."

At his words, the trainees scrambled to form up. Without the guidance of squad leaders, it was a bit disorganized at first, but they managed to group themselves into four squads of ten after a few seconds. Kaiden moved into position, falling into line with Davick beside him, but unfortunately, Garin and Harlan didn’t make it into the same platoon.

Sergeant Boran observed silently, his expression unreadable. Either he didn’t care about the imperfect formations or he was quietly testing them. Once satisfied, he moved to the front of the group and, without another word, started marching off. The platoon followed behind him, their boots crunching on the gravel as they moved out to what Kaiden could only assume was their new training grounds.

They marched to a more secluded section of the massive field, close to the treeline. While still within view of the other soldiers and trainees scattered across the grounds, they had enough distance for some privacy. The massive dungeon loomed in the background, ever-present, a silent reminder of what lay ahead. As they neared the treeline, their instructor ordered them to halt and sit down. He took his place on a tree stump, a vantage point that seemed to make up for his shorter stature.

This was probably a favorite spot of his for training new dungeoneers. From his perch, he could look over the group without much effort. The sergeant began speaking calmly, never raising his voice or showing much emotion, his tone almost clinical.

“Over the next four weeks, it's my job to give you the tools to survive as dungeoneers. Now, either you were crazy enough or dumb enough to join the Dungeoneer Corps, but that doesn't mean shit.” He paused, letting the statement sink in. A few of the privates shifted uncomfortably, but the sergeant pressed on, keeping his tone steady. “Training will last four weeks. There won’t be any drills, marching, PT, formations—none of that crap you learned in basic. We’re going to focus entirely on dungeon knowledge and strengthening your skills.”

A murmur of excitement rippled through the group as they realized this was not going to be a continuation of the physical grind from basic training.

“That doesn't mean you should skimp on PT,” Sergeant Boran added, “but it'll be your responsibility and you’ll have plenty of free time in between lessons. After the four weeks, you'll have the option to challenge the dungeon. If you survive, you pass and become a full-fledged dungeoneer. Questions?”

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He paused again, scanning their faces for any reactions. Questions were expected, but the trainees hesitated. Finally, a petite girl with short, dark hair raised her hand tentatively. She looked small and unassuming, with a nervous energy about her. Boran nodded her way, giving her permission to speak.

“Sergeant, you said we’d have the option to challenge the dungeon. Does that mean we can decide not to do it?” Her voice was soft but carried a hint of uncertainty.

The sergeant nodded, acknowledging her question. “What’s your name, private?”

She straightened her back. “Private Liana Drever, sir.”

Sergeant Boran continued. “That’s right, Drever. If you choose not to challenge the dungeon, you’ll be assigned to a support platoon, where you’ll be doing things like caretaking, cleaning, moving equipment, paperwork, and other odd jobs around the base—until you decide to challenge the dungeon. And trust me, it’s not a fun time.”

A ripple of discomfort passed through the group as they imagined the monotonous, tedious life of a support platoon. “You can stay in the support platoon for up to one year. After that, you must challenge the dungeon or you’ll get recycled all the way back to basic training.”

Several soldiers visibly shuddered at the idea of repeating basic training. Boran glanced around, letting the consequences sink in before inviting the next question.

Another hand shot up, this time from a tall, broad-shouldered male with a strong jawline and a no-nonsense expression. His confidence was evident, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

“Private Coren Jass, sir. If the dungeon is so difficult to pass, doesn’t that mean four weeks of training isn't enough? Can we extend that training?”

It was a bold question, almost implying that the training was insufficient. Sergeant Boran, however, didn’t seem insulted. He shook his head slowly and spoke as if explaining a simple truth.

“Four weeks is plenty of time to give you all the knowledge you need to tackle a dungeon of this level. The only way to progress further is by actually entering the dungeon. There are no ‘practice dungeons.’ The only true experience comes from the real thing. And because of the Art of Four, we can’t go in there with you. No instructors, no corporals. We don’t have the manpower for that. It's one instructor per 40 trainees, and no matter how long you train, nothing prepares you for a dungeon except the dungeon itself.”

Jass, along with many others, seemed to absorb this information in silence. The reality of the challenge ahead, the isolation within the dungeon, started to settle over the group.

Another hand shot up, this time from a wiry-looking young man with sharp features and closely cropped blonde hair. His intense gaze stood out among the group, as if he was always analyzing, always thinking ahead.

“Private Kern Dalry, sir,” he said, his voice steady. “Why is the mortality rate so high?”

The tension in the air thickened at the question, and Kaiden realized it was something everyone had been wondering. The colonel’s mention of a 50% mortality rate had rattled them all, even if no one wanted to admit it.

Sergeant Boran didn’t flinch. He didn’t need to raise his voice to command attention. “It's because it’s your first,” he replied matter-of-factly. “A lot of people freeze up. Some get too nervous to think, unsure of themselves. Others panic and run when they should fight. Some get careless—too confident in their abilities. There are dozens of reasons why people don’t make it. A dungeon isn’t like any battlefield or situation you've faced before.”

He let that sink in for a moment, scanning the faces of his soldiers. Kaiden could see some of the recruits shift uneasily, understanding the gravity of what they’d signed up for.

Then, Boran’s next question hit like a punch to the gut.

“Let me ask you this: who here has fought a monster before?”

A wave of silence rippled through the group. The question stunned them all. Kaiden’s eyes darted around, but no hands went up. It was a reality-check moment. Back in basic training, they’d sparred with each other, learned discipline, even staged mock battles. But monsters? That was a different matter entirely. Not a single person raised their hand.

“Exactly,” Sergeant Boran said, reading the silence. “That’s why the mortality rate is so high. Monsters only appear in dungeons. You don’t know what to expect when you step into that dungeon. But you will learn what you can. And that’s what these four weeks are for.”

Kaiden felt his stomach tighten. He had read about monsters in books, seen them in games and movies back on Earth, but imagining fighting one in real life was different. So much more real. The gravity of the situation settled on him—and from the looks on the faces around him, he wasn’t the only one feeling it.

For the first time, Sergeant Boran cracked a smile, his voice calm but edged with amusement. "You get it now? Who the hell volunteers to risk their life fighting these hellish creatures? Where death awaits you at every corner."

The silence was suffocating. He hadn’t fully processed it before. The excitement about dungeons and treasure vanished, replaced by the weight of what lay ahead. The sergeant’s words echoed in Kaiden’s mind. In a dungeon, there wasn’t another recruit swinging a wooden sword at you. It wasn’t a simulated fight where you could walk away with just a bruise.

Sgt. Boran's gaze swept over them. "That fear you’re feeling? Hold onto it. It’s the only thing that’ll keep you alive."

“Monsters, huh...” Kaiden muttered under his breath.