AN: in this chapter, please take the difference in the word-usage of [Units] and [units]. [Units], in the military lingo, are generally used for the entire ‘immediate organization’ of the context (ex: when looking at the structure of the Military, a “Platoon” is a Unit and as a Unit, it is made up of smaller Squads (typically four squads per platoon) as the Elements; while all these Squads are also a Unit, made up of Soldiers, as these soldiers are then called the Elements making a Squad. But that’s leveling it down. When looking up, the [Unit] one level higher than a Platoon is a Company so its Elements then are the Platoons (usually five-six Platoons per Company). One level higher is a Battalion and its Elements then were called the Companies (usually four-five Companies); you get the gist, yeah? No? Okay. Basically, consider a Unit as being made up of Elements as going one level down or higher makes no difference as it was still considered a Unit as a whole). So after you read something with a capital “U” in the Unit in there, I mean it as a Proper Noun. On the other hand, my use of the [units] then is plainly to describe these [Units] as a proper noun (not sure if it’s a pronoun or something else since I tend to get nitpicked by other readers in descriptions and usage of these unusual Proper Nouns so I am saying this now before the chapter; oh and FYI this is real world Proper Noun as well so you can use it in real life)

Nice general trivia, eh?

Well then, enjoy the chapters.

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Chapter 546: Are You Worthy Of Respect?

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The map was a large wheel divided into twelve parts, with 48 resource hotspots, 2/3 of the map being open waters, 30% of the land being forest, 30% a mountainous region, and 40% open fields with some valleys, cliffs, rivers, and grasslands.

Its size was an easy 20km stretch so jogging from end to end of the land would take at least a lot of time even for a flatland, what more if considering the fact that the entire terrain of the land area was riddled with curving slopes, uneven grounds, and also largely-divided landscapes.

For a 20km wide map, this was a very large area for a mere 250+ people to meet and duke it out in cruel warfare until only 30 are left.

On the side of the candidates, this is a brutal yet also logically acceptable situation considering the entire purpose of this event was to find who has the most talent as an “army asset” from their lot.

Twelve teams, Rex being the eleventh and what he expected as a group of assassins as the 12th; each group was expected to be divided into many sections occupying at least 1.6km in its size while expecting that they have enemies that will come from either side of their territories to take them all out and also acquire their resources.

——with the resources being their equipment, the ammunitions they have, and also their vehicles.

Vehicles were important.

In this large map, navigating is one thing but their transport is also another.

Navigation can be purchased through the ‘feature’ list when you got enough stars to buy them. But to get a vehicle was harder than hard. Unless you buy them from the proctors and the proctors had allowed it or it was aligned with the objective(s) of your mission(s), they will be your only source for those highly mobile and amphibious vehicles.

This event, logically, would take more time to be gotten over with if there are no proctors. But the proctors are there to give them the mission(s) and those who do not follow their commands will be a burning example of how the World Government will fail their qualifications to enter the UNICORN.

Many smart candidates realized this and because they knew how the system of this event works, a few of them told some members of their teams so the chaos of confusion was minimized to only the few who really have no idea what to do.

Yet the problem is, for Rex, everybody else is an enemy except for his planned subjects of mercy.

He had no allies to rely on. No one’s going to be there to watch his back. He was on his own.

Aside from taking down almost everybody else in this map, he also had to make sure that he dealt with the assassins and being able to survive until the very end of the event. It was easier said than actually done. He at least admits to that.

1.6km was a large enough area for a group of 20 people to establish their base but it was too big of a land to actually skirmish. As such, it was clearly stated during their briefing period that all of them candidates are to focus on doing their objectives, take structures as their bases, and gather many stars from the indicated resource hotspots.

Yes, unlike the classic strategy game with which it was based on, this ‘event’ was meant to simulate an actual battlefield in the real world and so there will be no 10-second buildings and barracks being built, while the candidates instead were the units operating on the entire map for an objective.

The resources are the stars; the “money” needed to buy themselves after they are eliminated, or to purchase certain features they could use for their own advantages in order to secure the win. One of them useful features was the satellite sweep in which it could reveal everything within an area of 500m to the buyer. This was a tactical feature and in the real world, it also exists so it was granted in here as a purchasable Assistance Feature.

While also being forced to be protective of their team, the candidates knew that only allowing ten of the enemies to live was the only way that they could actually pass.

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“Alright listen up, faggots!” these were words that could be heard from the proctors of the Military Recruitment Event. They were real people so the candidates knew what level of respect they need to give out to these army soldiers. “You have all been briefed and also given time to familiarize to the concept and environment of this event. I don’t need any pussies running around defying orders and playing heroes. I need soldiers who listen to orders and follow every word of my every given command. If you can’t do that, then I will tell you now that you will not get out of this prison until my very permission were given. Aaaand because you disobeyed one of the General Orders I had stated to you NOT to disobey, ya’ll can expect that your time inside until the end of this event will not be a merry picnic. Do I make myself clear?”

These soldiers wore grim, dragon-chiseled taser faces so their every word was intimidating. Even those defiant characters with inner fires wanting to get the trophy of being the best in this whole event had to think twice before answering back.

“We understand, sir!”

“I got it!”

“I know!”

“I will follow.”

Different kinds of replies were heard and even though these candidates meant to follow all and every word of the proctor, it was still just a chaotic sound to him so his already scary crumbled even further, making the lot shut their lips.

“Shut up! You sound like chickens being raped by a peacock in the morning! Since you’re here with a goal to join the army, you all have to learn one of the most basic of the basic and the only reply you are allowed to speak when answering to your officer and that is sir! Every word you speak must start and end with a [sir]. If you have something to say, request it through a permission starting and ending with a [sir]. Every report you make should ALSO start and end with a resounding [sir]. Do you understand?”

Loud. Definite. Enunciated. Clear. The proctor’s voice was like thunder and those who were not used to a Drillmaster’s presence would get scared by his intimidating posture. But make no mistake, it was normal for Drillmasters to have loud voices because it was their job to train stubborn bones in a civilian into the molded perfect shape of those worthy to be called Soldiers.

In the army, a Drillmaster is like a parent. He is a father, mother, your trainer, and also your guide.

Soldiers have to be disciplined in order to follow orders and function as part of the unit. A Unit that can’t function as one will either become liability of the entire division, or the liability of the operation that can lead to mission failure and that’s not what everybody wants to happen.

As such, it was the Drillmaster’s job to instill the Code and Doctrine of the Military Discipline into every soldier candidates’ marrows.

Though there wasn’t enough time to actually train these candidates to the actual “discipline” of the Soldier’s Path, during their short time before they got teleported into this map, these candidates are already briefed about their responsibilities so their inability to follow his commands would make them fail and when they fail, they won’t get to join the UNICORN Army… and that was something that all of them doesn’t want to occur. As such, they have to follow the proctors’ every command!

“““Sir, yes sir!”””

Replied the platoon.

(AN: please take note, in the Military, [Yes Sir] is actually the proper reply but I’m using the Movie Version here for dramatic fx)

“I don’t have to tell you all but for the sake of the slow learners here, I will say it again. This entire event is a one whole scenario. The proctors’ only task is to give you the missions you need to do and how you do it will be the ones we’re grading.”

The proctor paused and looked at their faces to see if there would be someone that will meet his eyes. Whether it was out of fear or not, or maybe because they understood that meeting his eyes will warrant punishment, nobody in the platoon of candidates met the proctor’s eyes so he scoffed.

“(And here I was expecting someone to have the backbone to stare back at me).” Although it was a murmur, it was still loud enough that many of the platoon elements couldn’t help accepting the challenge and met the proctor’s eyes. “What are you looking at, maggot?!! Down on your fours now, ALL OF YOU!! I want a hundred pushups in synch and I want you all to count in fours before you ascend one number! You will not stop until you complete a hundred and you will start again if you fail to do it in synch! NOW MOVE IT!!!”

Many cursed at the treatment but still followed.

Unbeknownst to the candidates, this was part of the script and it wasn’t only them, EVERY ONE of the ten groups of candidates were meant to hear their proctor’s whisper and meet his eyes, leading to them receiving punishments.

This was a way to instill to these civilians that you are to treat your Drillmasters with respect and with recognize their authority.

Meeting them in the eye during a formation is a form of disrespect because, from the onset, the Soldier’s Path is decided by [Ranks] and your Drillmaster is your [Senior]. You two are not on the same level. Meeting them in the eye meant that you think yourself on his level whereas you are actually on the very bottom of the rankings.

Thus, meeting a Senior Officer eye to eye during a formation is a violation of the Military Discipline and it warrants punishments such as these.

Some of the people in the formation knew how to count, Soldier’s Way, and they led the count.

“One, two, three, ONE! One, two, three, TWO...”

With their lead, the other candidates, as smart as they are, realized what “four counts” meant and to repeat this 100 times was the true punishment.

In essence, one count is two and so 100 is 200.

Many cursed and glared at the person who made them waste time like this. They thought that since time was precious, being punished like this was in essence wasting their time.

“Permission to speak sir!”

A brave soul stood up in the middle of the count and he gave a salute and spoke loudly.

“DENIED!” the proctor yelled. “Didn’t you hear a word I said earlier, maggot?!! You will do ONLY the things I ordered you. And right now, I ordered you to give me 100 repetitions of pushups! Am I not scary to you, maggot?!! Go back to zero and ADD ANOTHER TEN TO THE COUNT!! NOW!!”

Many loud curses rung and the brave soul who wanted to voice his concern for their team being left in the dust voiced a complaint.

“I am not a maggot! I deserve to be respected as a person! I earned my right to be invited in this Conclave! I demand respect because I am here!”

The defiant reply earned the support of some but others who understood the discipline grew a bit angry at the ignorant bastard.

And, true enough, the proctor scowled and then raised a hand for all of them to stop. “HALT!”

Many tried to stand but the proctor yelled, “Did I order you to stand up, maggots?” and so, scared, they remained in the pushup position.

In the meantime, the proctor took the few steps between him and the candidate as he stood in front of him and met the boy’s angry pair of eyes.

He drew his face closer to the boy’s and the boy swallowed, stood straight, but clenched his fists to show that he was brave.

The proctor didn’t care about his personal space and made it so that his lips were on the boy’s right ear as he gently whispered to his ear: “Let me ask you something, maggot, are you a soldier?”

Every word is clear, especially the ‘maggot’ part.

Surprised, the boy swallowed and with trembling lips and clenched fists, replied, “No sir.”

The proctor’s voice was whispering but it was still heard by the rest of the platoon. And, still gentle, the proctor nodded at the boy’s reply and spoke once again in the same loud, gentle, and calming whisper, “No! You’re not a soldier! Well, are you a trainee then…… maggot?”

“N-No sir. I am not a trainee…. Sir.”

“So you’re also not a trainee! You’re not a soldier and you’re not a trainee and you still BARK loud in my face demanding respect. You have not even gone through training and you already demand an ounce of respect from me… so tell me, have you gone and ran 20km in the middle of the night with nothing but your underwear without food and as much as water, looking for shelter while trying not to die from pursuers?”

“No si—”

“Then have you completed the ranger course? At least know how to dismantle a bomb, or rappel in a burning building while carrying two wounded in your shoulders and a dangling casualty on your back while bleeding from a gunshot wound on your left thigh? Or at least know how to properly administer CPR in a patient? Or know how to use a knife using your mouth? Know how to open a can using a spoon? Know how to fire a gun? Or maybe saved one or two lives at least? Perhaps have run 30km from 2am to 6am trying to deliver a vaccine to save an entire village of people from a spreading plague created by terrorist?”

The boy was frightened and his trembling voice shook even further, “N-No sir, I haven’t… done at least one of the things you said….. sir.”

“What was that?” the proctor was still gentle. “As far as my memory serves me right, I have said that there’s only one way to reply when asked a question, didn’t I? Did I mishear you just now?”

Knowing he made a mistake on his reply, the boy cleared his throat and meekly said, “Sir, no sir.”

As soon as the meek reply came out of his lips, the proctor’s dragon voice thundered beside his ears: “SO YOU’RE NOT A SOLDIER, NOT EVEN AS MUCH AS A TRAINEE, DON’T KNOW HOW TO DISMANTLE A BOMB OR EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN, AS WEAK AS A NEWBORN BUB SUCKING HIS MOMA’S TITS, HAVE NOT RUN A MERE 10KM STRAIGHT IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE… AND YOU STILL DARE TO DEMAND RESPECT FROM ME?!! DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, MAGGOOOOT?!!”

Realizing the facts of his mistakes, the boy was in the verge of tears as he replied, “Sir, yes sir! I am in the middle of a process of being accepted in the UNICORN Military, sir!”

“In my eyes, maggot, every single one of you is nothing more than just a civilian living a life full of pleasure without anything to be proud of! In this assessment event, you’re lower than a worm so why the hell are you still standing in front of me? I want you down down on your fours, give me 200 now! AND THAT APPLIES TO ALL OF YOU, SO MOVE IT, MAGGOTS, MOVE IT!!!”

“““Sir, yes, sir!!!”””

Every doubts, every shred of defiance, every bit of pride they have in their bones… were stripped out of their bodies and thrown to the gutter.

First and foremost, in the eyes of the Military, all of them are nothing more than smart civilians. It doesn’t matter if they’re the pride of your country, the son of the president, or daughter of a king, in the eyes of the World Government —no— in the eyes of the Military, every civilian is as low as a dirt-crawling maggot, regardless of your descent.

In the Military, discipline is everything. It is your law. It is your bible. It is the letters you put in your very name. Discipline is the silver lining dividing the “worthy of respect” from the unworthy of as much as a single glance.

Discipline is what defines a true Soldier and every soldier is measured by the amount of discipline he or she had adapted in their lives.

Joining the Military, civilians are converted thru a ritual made up of discipline. In here, civilians were turned into respectable people, having their chins baptized in the sanctity of its holy creed.

When a person joins the Military, their name and background is already forfeit and they prove the worthiness of respect by the amount of discipline they can conjure.

This was a lesson these civilians understood this very moment —not just one platoon but all of the platoons that attended the recruitment event.

When the punishment was finished, the proctor gave them a stern look.

Well, this was a simulated reality so with just his finger, the tired and aching bodies of the platoon elements recovered and their haggard breathing restored into its normal pace.

“Now that you’re all aware of where your feet are standing, it’s time to start the true exams. First, all of you should know that this is a military exercise designed to test your mettle, skills, and abilities to adapt. Remember that no one had forced you to be here so don’t complain or even demand a tiny bit of respect from any of your proctors because respect is earned, not demanded. And only those who have finished these assessment tests will be those who are eligible to get, not demand, a tiny shred of respect. Am I clear to you?”

“““SIR YES SIR!!!”””

“Hmp! Some of you are assigned for the support squads while those who had skills and abilities not fit for a Military Combat operation were assigned the duties of frontline soldiers with their only job to take down enemies as you are to protect your allies and yourselves from harm…”

He paused and looked over the countenance of his platoon. He didn’t know how the other proctors were faring but he knew that every one of them were following their scripts and were all proceeding according to the scenario. He simply trusted the higher-ups’ design.

The proctor wanted to add that this “exercise” is actually not designed for clueless lads like them who do not know the basics of Military Operations but because he trusted the scenario, he had no choice but to follow his instructions down to the last bit of every word.

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Disciplined soldiers are strong!

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