Chapter 402
"....."
Watching the helicopter disappear into the distance, the Aspirants quietly processed Jack Kyre’s final words.
A chance...
To join the Kyre Faction?
Aside from joining one of the military branches, an Aspirant could also choose to enter a private faction after graduation.
However, those opportunities almost always came from small or mid-level factions.
The Big Four?
That was an entirely different world.
Unless you were born into one of the Great Families or possessed extraordinary talent capable of turning heads, you didn’t even qualify to stand before them.
The Big Four valued strength above everything else.
Without strength, they would never have risen to become humanity’s shield against the Aberrants.
Without strength, humanity would’ve already been wiped out.
Power was the language they understood.
Power was the only thing they respected.
Which meant...
If you wanted to stand beside them...
You first had to prove that you deserved it.
And now...
Jack Kyre himself was offering that opportunity to a field full of Aspirants.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Anyone foolish enough to ignore such an offer would probably regret it forever.
Working under one of the Big Four meant wealth...
Influence...
Status...
Resources beyond imagination.
More importantly, unlike ordinary soldiers, members of the Great Families were rarely sent on routine suicide missions against the Aberrants.
It was an opportunity countless people dreamed about.
As that reality settled in...
The fear that had filled the field only moments ago gradually disappeared.
In its place...
A fire was born.
A burning desire to obtain the power and recognition that almost every human secretly longed for.
It was time to show those blasted Aberrants exactly what humanity was capable of.
"Listen up!" Jake’s commanding voice boomed across the grounds.
Every eye immediately snapped toward him.
His sharp gaze remained fixed on the tablet in his hand.
"We have less than eight minutes before the Corps comes under attack. So I need every single one of you to listen carefully."
After a brief pause, Jake glanced toward Lincoln.
"I’ll take the Militants stationed at the Corps and reinforce the food production facility. If the Vanguard Order arrives in time, they’ll defend Wall Steel itself.
The rest of you, under Sergeant Lincoln’s command, will remain here and stop the att—"
"—Instead of waiting here... why don’t we intercept them?"
A youthful voice suddenly interrupted him.
Silence instantly swallowed the entire field.
The sea of Aspirants slowly parted.
Revealing...
Van.
"Sorry?" Jake raised a brow.
Van swallowed nervously.
Even he wasn’t entirely sure why he’d spoken.
The words had escaped before he had time to think.
Now...
There was no backing down.
Stepping forward, he saluted before speaking again.
"I mean... if we simply wait for the Aberrants to reach us, we might lose more than we’re trying to protect."
"Explain yourself." Jake folded his arms across his chest.
"And make your point quickly."
Straightening his posture, Van clasped his hands behind his back before continuing.
"I’m one of the survivors of the Wall Rose incident.
And trust me...
This attack is completely different from what happened back then.
When they attacked Wall Rose, their objective was simple.
Destroy everything through overwhelming brute force."
His brows furrowed as he continued,
".... But today, it’s much more coordinated. Targeting the protective Wall means they want to bring it down and allow the Aberrant forces gathered outside Wall Rose to flood into Wall Steel. Once that happens, we’ll be completely exposed.
And even if we somehow stop that... if our food production facility falls, we’ll barely have enough supplies left to feed ourselves."
Rubbing his fingers together out of nervousness beneath the Captain’s unwavering gaze, Van forced himself to continue.
"Now, about the Corps. Yes, there are plenty of weapons and equipment here that could help us defend ourselves. But if we fight here, we risk losing more than just those supplies.
We could lose the training facilities...
The buildings...
The instructors...
Everything needed to raise the next generation of Aspirants.
Targeting the Corps isn’t random.
It’s calculated.
If they cripple the Corps today, they’ll weaken humanity’s future. Even if it’s only by a little... that little difference could decide this war, sir."
"So? It can be rebuilt. We have the technology." Lincoln interjected with a frown.
"Yes, sir. We do have the technology, but do you honestly think the Big Four will prioritise rebuilding the Corps immediately? It’s important, but there are countless places that would also need resources after an attack like this.
The rebuilding could be delayed...
And that delay alone would hurt humanity."
Taking a step forward, Jake pointed directly at Van.
The inventor instinctively gulped.
"What do you propose?"
Van drew in a deep breath before answering at the top of his lungs.
"Instead of waiting for them to come to us, let’s take the fight to them!
We’ll intercept their transport before it reaches the Corps and force them to fight on our terms instead of theirs.
We pick a nearby city or town—somewhere the civilians can be evacuated quickly and the damage can be repaired without relying heavily on the Big Four.
That becomes our battlefield.
Our VMS gear performs best in places filled with buildings.
Out here, we’re standing in an open field with almost nothing to manoeuvre around.
I believe intercepting them gives us the greatest advantage, Captain."
"..."
Silence blanketed the entire training ground.
Every eye was fixed on Van.
Despite feeling as though his legs might give out beneath him...
He refused to lower his head.
His hands remained firmly clasped behind his back.
Nearby, Caster quietly clenched his fists.
His father’s words echoed repeatedly inside his head.
Determination slowly burned within his chest.
— Six minutes until the enemy reaches the Corps.
Mina’s voice echoed through Jake’s communicator.
After several seconds of thought...
Jake finally nodded.
"Locate the nearest city ahead of their route that they haven’t reached yet.
Begin evacuating every civilian immediately.
We’ll intercept the Aberrants there before they ever reach the Corps."
The moment those words left the Captain’s mouth...
Van’s face lit up.
He immediately gave a sharp salute, three fingers pressed firmly against the left side of his chest.
Jake then turned toward the assembled Aspirants.
His expression hardened.
"What are you all waiting for?
Go suit up...
And bring down those towering ape bastards!"
— AHHHHHHHH!
A deafening battle cry erupted from hundreds of Aspirants at once.
Fists shot into the air.
Eyes blazed with determination.
The hesitation from moments ago had completely disappeared.
It was almost time.
The battle...
Was about to begin.
What would humanity lose in this war...?
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