Chapter 400
The helicopter descended with flawless precision before landing smoothly on the training grounds.
Its massive blades continued spinning with tremendous momentum, whipping up powerful gusts of wind that sent dust and loose gravel swirling across the field.
The Aspirants instinctively shielded their faces.
—He’s here...
—I can’t wait to see what someone from one of the Big Four Legacy Families looks like.
Whoooosh!
Before anyone could continue speculating, every head turned toward the raised platform.
Captain Jake and Sergeant Lincoln had already taken their positions beside it, standing ramrod straight with solemn expressions.
Their appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Then...
The crowd looked back toward the helicopter.
A polished black leather shoe emerged first.
Followed by a long trouser leg.
Moments later...
A man calmly stepped out.
"...."
Ba-thump...
Ba-thump...
Caster’s heart violently skipped a beat the instant he saw the man’s face.
Standing at roughly five foot seven, the man carried himself with effortless dignity.
His wavy black hair rested neatly around his shoulders, barely disturbed by the wind.
Everything about his appearance radiated refinement.
His perfectly tailored black trousers were crisply ironed, their sharp creases impossible to miss.
His polished leather shoes gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
A spotless white long-sleeved shirt hugged his frame without the faintest wrinkle.
Resting over his shoulders was a short black coat whose hem stopped just above his waist, adding an air of quiet authority.
As he adjusted the elegant glasses resting on his nose, several rings adorning his fingers briefly caught the sunlight.
Looking toward the gathered Aspirants...
He smiled.
A calm, gentle smile that revealed a row of immaculate white teeth.
His deep brown eyes slowly swept across the field, observing everyone present.
Soon after, two men exited the helicopter and silently took positions behind him, one on either side.
Their movements were perfectly synchronised.
Bodyguards.
Each wore the same crest proudly pinned to their chest.
A crimson emblem depicting claws and fangs.
—That isn’t the Blade Family’s crest...
—Then who is that?
—He doesn’t look like the Commander... though it’s not like I’ve ever seen the Commander before.
Ba-thump...
"No..."
Caster muttered beneath his breath, his expression hardening.
"Why did he come?"
Ray frowned before glancing sideways.
"What do you mea—"
His words never reached the end.
BOOM!
An overwhelming aura erupted from the man.
The invisible pressure swept across the entire training ground like a violent tidal wave.
Ba-thump!
Hundreds of hearts pounded in terrifying unison.
Several Aspirants nearly collapsed as their knees buckled beneath the crushing weight.
Even breathing suddenly became difficult.
Step...
Step...
Step...
The man calmly walked through the sea of Aspirants as though nothing around him mattered.
His posture remained perfectly straight.
His footsteps were neither hurried nor slow.
Simply... confident.
Every movement naturally commanded attention.
He possessed the bearing of a ruler.
The composure of a veteran warrior.
And the terrifying presence of a predator standing at the top of the food chain.
Without acknowledging the pressure he was releasing, he continued walking until he arrived before the platform.
Captain Jake and Sergeant Lincoln immediately saluted.
The man acknowledged them with a slight nod before ascending the earth-crafted staircase.
Jake and Lincoln followed shortly behind, respectfully stopping several metres away.
"Ah..."
The man softly sighed as his gaze swept across the gathering once more.
"It’s been quite some time since I last visited this place."
The suffocating aura gradually disappeared.
Instantly...
The Aspirants collectively breathed out in relief.
Despite speaking in an ordinary tone...
Every single word reached the very back of the field with perfect clarity.
It was almost as though the air itself carried his voice.
"I can already see the confusion written across your faces."
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"So no..."
"I’m not the Commander."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"My dear friend was unfortunately unable to attend today’s ceremony, so he asked me to represent him instead."
He paused briefly before sliding both hands into his pockets.
"And for those meeting me for the first time..."
"My name is Jack Kyre."
"The Patriarch and Head of the Kyre Family..."
"...one of humanity’s Big Four Legacy Families."
"....!!!"
The cohort’s eyes widened almost simultaneously.
Every single one of them slowly turned toward Caster.
"Tha... that’s..."
"My father."
Caster answered quietly without taking his eyes off the stage.
His expression remained unreadable.
Turning back toward the platform, Ray unconsciously placed a hand over his chest.
’That aura... It was just his aura, yet my legs were shaking. H-He is on a completely different level. I need to be careful not to attract his attention... otherwise, I’ll be snuffed out in an instant.’
"And unfortunately, I’m just as busy as he is, so I can’t spend much time here. Being a leader is a demanding job. I have a lot to do, so let’s get this over with."
Clearing his throat, Jack let out a quiet sigh.
"... I don’t really know how to give motivating speeches, but all I want to say is this: today, we congratulate and celebrate you brave teens who chose to join the Aspirant Corps to train, grow stronger, and fight for humanity."
Jack paused briefly before continuing.
"Many years ago, humanity lived on a planet called Earth before the Aberrants forced us to flee to Alcatraz. Even now, those same monsters continue to wage war against us. They wish to enslave us...
But we refuse."
His gaze sharpened as it swept across the field.
"... We have all lost something to those damned monsters. We lost our home. We lost our families. We lost friends, loved ones, and countless innocent lives.
Enough is enough.
We will not stand by while they continue taking everything from us!"
With every word Jack spoke, the conviction in his voice only grew stronger.
His blazing determination seemed to spread through the gathered Aspirants like wildfire.
Hands clenched into fists.
Spines straightened.
Most of those standing there had survived the fall of Wall Rose.
Most had buried family members...
Friends...
Or people they once called home.
Ray more than anyone.
Every sentence struck directly at the wounds buried deep inside their hearts.
"... They have already taken one of our Walls from us. They have taken so much that even children are now forced to pick up weapons and fight.
Today, you complete your year of service in the Aspirant Corps.
Whichever path you choose after today, never forget that you are still contributing to humanity’s survival.
So COME ON!
It’s time to show those Aberrants that humanity is no pushover.
We will show them that we are not weaklings.
We are the superior race.
Who’s with ME?!"
"...."
— WE ARE!
"I SAID; WHO’S WITH ME?!"
— WE ALL ARE!
— WE WILL DEFEAT THE ABERRANTS!
— WE WILL HAVE OUR REVENGE!
— THOSE APE BASTARDS DON’T SCARE US!
— WE WI—
BLARRRRRRENT—!
The deafening alarm ripped through the cheers, instantly silencing the entire training ground.
Captain Jake’s eyes widened.
He immediately turned towards Lincoln, who had already pulled out his tablet.
Tapping the communicator in his ear, Jake spoke firmly.
"Speak."
BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!
Jack slowly turned around, a faint frown forming on his otherwise composed face as he looked at the authorities behind him.
The Aspirants exchanged confused glances.
None of them understood what was happening.
WEE-OOO! WEE-OOO!
The final siren echoed across the Corps.
Even before the report finished playing through his communicator, Jake’s expression had already changed.
The words that followed merely confirmed his fears.
"What’s wrong? What’s with all the noise?" Jack asked, maintaining his calm posture.
"It’s... it’s an Aberrant attack. Wall Steel is under assault. The Aberrants are attacking with a force even greater than what they used during the Wall Rose incident." Jake replied.
For the first time since arriving...
Jack’s hand slowly slipped out of his pocket.
Although Jake had lowered his voice...
Ray heard every single word clearly.
So did Felix.
Lightning crackled faintly within the Tribrid’s steel-grey eyes.
His fists slowly tightened.
’Those bastards.’
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