Honor of Kings-Chapter 9: Moving on

"Leave that out now and concentrate on the matter at hand. Get those serums now; how many are present? Create a list and split them into groups of five per day," Levitt commanded, flipping through the file in his hands as they entered the tent.

A series of sleek LED panel lights, mounted on the tent's ceiling, provided a crisp, uniform glow throughout the space, eliminating shadows and ensuring a clear view of the surroundings.

Four soldiers huddled around a small, rickety table, their faces bathed in light as they meticulously arranged a set of syringes into a holder and carefully placed it into a cooler with gaunt faces.

Another two soldiers sat slumped against the far wall, their heads bowed, seemingly lost in thought or sleep.

Other soldiers were busy with the computers in front of them, while some arranged lists and made calls using the available telephones.

Donald rushed to where a few soldiers were organizing lists and instantly began relaying commands as per Levitt's orders.

"Change the lists to five per day, splitting them into groups. The first list should have no delay and must begin tomorrow."

"Uhh... do we have permission from the higher-ups, Sir?" a junior private questioned respectfully, standing up straight with his hands behind his back.

"Yes... get to it now. We have been given full permission over every matter here," Donald replied, prompting the soldier to return to the task at hand.

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Corporal Levitt approached a small freezer, checking the items inside. He found three tubes filled with a blue liquid that moved abnormally, leaving traces of rainbow colors.

"The reaction to the cold is causing it to move and display uneven colors, and we still can't find a word for that. I don't think we should inject it into anyone just yet," said a man in a laboratory white coat, his hands tucked into his pockets, standing next to Levitt.

With his gaze still fixed on the tubes, Levitt replied, "Make sure it's ready to be injected in two days. I will prepare the receivers by that time."

The scientist's mouth quivered as he watched Levitt walk away.

"But..."

Levitt ignored him, already tending to other matters.

"Dunn," he called out to one of the soldiers leaning against the wall with his head bowed. The young man was quick to respond.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Get the students to do some training—body involvement only, no need for combat. Just exercises..."

He saluted, picking up a cap adorned with the United Army camouflage and heading outside, fixing it steadily on his head. Dunn found a few students playing in the field, jumping over barricades and pretending to be soldiers in action, while others remained on the bleachers, smiling and chatting animatedly.

His eyes almost welled up, but he quickly stopped himself, placing a hand over his face.

"They don't know what's coming... and I really wish it could be like this forever. Shit. Why am I crying?"

After a few moments of watching them joke around, he decided to advance.

"Hey! Everyone get in formation!" he called out, gesturing for those playing to stop and the others on the bleachers to come forward. The students didn't hesitate, as he was an officer. They quickly arranged themselves, forming three rows of twenty across the field.

Sky ended up at the back, alongside Finnian, while the class president stood second in the third row, with their group positioned at the front.

Standing in front of them, Dunn cleared his throat and began:

"Training will begin now. This isn't combat-focused, but rather an exercise..."

A profound silence swept through the crowd, as if it were a metaphorical crossbow in a black suit, with arrows aimed at every student, amplifying the awkwardness.

The students reacted with discomfort and sarcasm because no one loved that kind of training. Exercise... exercise!?? That was a daunting prospect, especially when they considered how much harder it would be under the Military's guidance. They could already imagine the strenuous routine ahead—starting with a hundred squats followed by an exhausting 500-meter run, and then repeating it twice around the field. The thought alone was enough to make anyone cringe.

"Yeah, Pig, I think the kind officer up front is directing that toward you. Just look at your size! I bet you could barely fit through a safety evacuation door," one student joked, pointing at the overweight boy in front of him.

However, this was his friend, so the larger boy simply replied with a smirk. Soon, a stench wafted through the air, prompting everyone to cover their noses in annoyance.

"Fuck you, moron," said the student who had called him a pig. The fatty's gaseous release caused chaos in the second row, leading them to quickly rearrange themselves in a new spot.

Dunn smiled with his head slightly bowed, but a minute later, he raised it to meet the students' eyes with a fierce gaze. His furrowed brows quickly shifted the atmosphere around them.

"Get into business. You're all doing 50 squats, 20 push-ups, and a 500-meter run. The girls are no exception; gender equality matters here."

A collective gasp rippled through the group. The girls shot each other wide-eyed looks, their faces reflecting a blend of shock and disbelief. Meanwhile, the boys, despite the impending hardship, shared mischievous grins, feeling a sense of solidarity knowing they wouldn't be facing this challenge alone.

"Finally, we're all in this together!" one of them chuckled, a hint of camaraderie shining through their apprehension.

Dunn's command rang out across the field, urging the students to shuffle into position, a sense of unease settling around them. They lined up, feet shoulder-width apart, ready to tackle the first challenge: squats.

"On my count!" Dunn barked, his voice cutting through the atmosphere.

"Three... two... one... go!"

With that, they descended into their first squat. The girls gritted their teeth, their brows furrowed in concentration, while the boys exchanged glances, sharing a competitive spirit.

"Come on, we can do this!" one boy encouraged, his voice was low but filled with energy.

They continued the squats, each movement synchronized. The burn in their legs grew more intense after a while.

"Fifty, right?" a girl panted, her face flushed.

"Yeah, just fifty!" another boy replied, managing a smile despite the pain.

Soon, a student said, "I can't do this anymore, my legs are weak," before falling onto the ground and panting hard.

Dunn walked over to her, looming above and blocking the sun's radiance like a shadow tower.

"You sure?" he asked.