The sun had barely peeked above the horizon the following day and the cadets of Camport Military Academy were already outside waiting outside in their uniforms. Many of them were still groggy and tired as they assembled their gear and marched toward one of the many sleek military coach buses parked outside. These modern technological marvels, equipped with air conditioning and EV systems, hummed quietly as they awaited their passengers.

The crisp spring morning air enveloped the young soldiers, as white wisps of breath escaped their mouths. They conversed in hushed, excited tones.

"Can you believe we're finally taking part in a military operation?" one cadet whispered to another.

"I know, right? I've been waiting for this day since I got here," another cadet with an enthusiastic response.

The twins, Christopher and Kristine, stood with their bags slung over their shoulders like the other cadets. Kristine's hair was swept up in a military bun, a style that should have been unattractive, but somehow still looked stunning on her. Christopher sported a short, tidy haircut, as was required by the military barbers.

The bus doors hissed open, and the cadets filed in, taking their seats with practiced precision. They stowed their gear in the overhead compartments, the sound of zippers and buckles punctuating the murmur of conversation. As the early morning light filtered through the windows, some of the cadets wasted no time in dozing off, slumping into their seats for a few extra minutes of sleep.

As the bus rolled along, the chatter among the cadets began to die down, replaced by the quiet hum of the engine and the gentle rustle of turning pages. Some were reviewing their training manuals, while others stared out the windows, lost in thought.

The twins settled into their seats side by side.

Kristine had closed her eyes with earbuds plugged into her ears. She was absorbed in the music on her phone. Her finger tapped rhythmically but silently to the beat.

Christopher sat by the window, gazing out as the bus pulled away from the academy. He couldn't help but replay the conversation he'd had with his sister the previous day. He knew she was right. He had to find something that truly brought him joy.

His basketball career in middle school had been fun, but it wasn't something he wanted to do long-term. Basketball was merely something he and his sister did to pass the time. And it was something he didn't take it seriously unlike his sister with her music. Perhaps he would find an answer in this military operation.

**

A few hours later, the bus rolled to a stop at its destination. It had finally arrived in Danger Area 642, formerly known as the city of Philadelphia. The cadets look outside bus the windows, eager to get a glimpse of the cityscape.

What they saw was a chaotic scene, with piles of lumber and scaffolding scattered everywhere. Cranes loomed overhead, and the sounds of construction filled the air as military personnel and citizens worked tirelessly to rebuild the city.

The city had been transformed into a strategic base, established as a foothold to reclaim the state of Pennsylvania. Recent Psi-beast attacks had left their mark on this city, necessitating extensive repairs.

Philadelphia was next state in line for reclamation by the United States government and military forces.

The term "United States" was honestly laughable. It was slowly becoming a joke as only 14 out of the 50 states had been reclaimed since the impact winter ended. The rest of the nation laid in chaos, plagued by the fallout from the Icarus Calamity that had unleashed the Psi Beasts and hostile Psion wastelanders upon the land.

The cadets disembarked from the bus and they looked upwards at the sight of the ruined buildings. The stark contrast between the crumbling structures of this city and the cities in their home state was striking.

The twins, Christopher and Kristine, were especially affected by the scene. Having reincarnated from a world untouched by the Icarus Calamity, they had never seen such destruction firsthand. Since their rebirth, they had lived safely in the reclaimed and rebuilt state of New York. Many of their fellow cadets shared similar backgrounds, and the devastated city served as a reminder of the dangers in this world.

As the cadets gazed upon the remnants of a once-thriving metropolis, they couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility on their shoulders. As future soldiers, they knew it was up to them to rebuild and reclaim this shattered world.

**

Suddenly, shouts erupted from the construction workers and guards. "Psi Beast! Watch out!" The cadets turned to see a massive wolf, at least four feet tall in height, leap out of the woods and charge in their direction. It was injured and several horrifying gunshots wounds could be seen on its body.

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Grizzled soldiers emerged from the trees, hot on its heels. The beast's yellow eyes burned with rage, signaling that it wouldn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone in its path. As a wounded beast, it was determined not to let anything impede its escape.

Despite several horrible gunshot wounds, the creature appeared to be in good health. The onlookers saw its injuries squirming and healing at a rapid rate, a clear sign that this was no ordinary animal but a Psi Beast.

Construction workers scattered, and the cadets fled in panic. For many, it was their first encounter with a Psi Beast. The pursuing soldiers held their fire, fearing crossfire. The instructors who had disembarked from the bus prepared to unleash their Psionic abilities to protect the students.

"Get back, everyone!" one of the instructors shouted. "Stay out the way!"

In the midst of the chaos, twins Christopher and Kristine stepped forward. They drew their standard issue knives from their belts and readied themselves.

The instructors, fearing for their safety, yelled at them to fall back. Some instructors, who were aware of the twins' background, felt an even greater concern. The thought of informing the twins' father, a Brigadier General in the army, that his children had died under their watch was a nightmare they could not bear.

"Stop!" The instructors' voices trembled with desperation as they raced towards the twins, intending to pull them back to safety. Their hearts pounded, and beads of sweat dotted their foreheads as they closed the distance, praying they'd reach the siblings in time.

However, the twins were unafraid. The was the perfect time test their powers against a Psi Beast. This was something they had wanted to do ever since they first learned about the creatures from the system. Furthermore, they couldn't give up an opportunity to show off. They enjoyed the attention and system points it would bring them.

As onlookers worriedly watched the twins, they failed to notice Kristine's eyes swirling like a nebula. She was using her Mesmerizing Gaze ability to freeze the wolf in place.

Suddenly, the beast stumbled, its legs giving way, and it skidded to the ground.

A look of astonishment could be seen on the face of the onlookers.

One cadet whispered to another, "I knew Kristine had that Psionic power, but I've never seen her use it like that before!"

A nearby cadet, standing nearby, exclaimed, "Whoa! Did you see that? Kristine just froze the Psi Beast with her eyes!"

"I knew she was Psion, but I've never seen her use her power before," one said, while another added, "That shit was insane!"

Kristine and Christopher ignore the comments as they weren't done yet. They knew they had to act fast, knowing the ability would wear off soon. They hurled both their knives at same time with uncanny accuracy, thanks the "Knife Fighting" skills granted by the "Angel and Devil" system.

Both blades found their mark, burying themselves in the eyes of the prone wolf. The beast let out a howl of agony. The pain from the knives puncturing its eyes awaken it from the effects of the "Mesmerizing Gaze" ability. It attempted to regain its footing and continue fleeing.

The twins wouldn't allow that to happen. They rushed forward without a moment of hesitation, each seizing one of the knives still lodged in the beast's eyes.

With a swift twist of the handle and a forceful strike from the palm of their free hands, they drove the blades deeper, piercing the brain of the Psi Beast and ending its life.

The twins felt a rush of exhilaration as the Psi Beast's lifeless body slumped to the ground. They didn't bother to look at the barrage of Love Point notifications appearing at the edge of their vision.

The onlookers were stunned by how easily these two young cadets took down the wolf. Even some of the military instructors stood frozen in their tracks.

Their movements were both fluid and synchronized. It was a masterful display of teamwork only achievable by two individuals who shared an close bond. The Psi-Beast did not stand as chance.

**

Instructor Silva marched over to the twins who were still covered in the blood, intent on reprimanding them for their reckless actions. He began sternly, "What were you thinking, cadets? You could have been seriously hurt or—"

However, his words were cut off by Captain Bradshaw, the leader of the soldiers who had been chasing the wolf. "Hold on," he interjected. "I think we should be thanking them." He turned to the twins with a nod of gratitude while gesturing at the people around them. "You saved a lot of lives today. Can I get your names, cadet?

A young soldier in the group caught sight of Kristine and gave an appreciative whistle.

The twins quickly recomposed themselves and introduced themselves as Kristine and Christopher Williams.

Captain Bradshaw narrowed his eyes and inquired, "Are you two related to Brigadier General Garrett Williams?"

The twins nodded. "That's our dad," they confirmed while breathing heavily. They could still feel the adrenaline pumping through their system.

The young soldier's face went pale, and the rest of the soldiers and guards exchanged shocked glances. The twins' background sent a murmurs of shock rippling through the crowd.

Everyone in the military had heard stories about how Garrett had married into a wealthy Psion family. It was now clear that these two twins, who had just killed a Psi Beast, were not ordinary soldiers, but scions of that influential family.

"They're not what I expected," one soldier murmured to another. "You always hear about those spoiled, Psion kids in their ivory towers, far from the action. But these two..."