“How wonderful”, Nelsen said with joy. “Looks like I have to arrange you to be checked up by an artificer too. Perhaps you even get one of those arrongant bastards interested and get an actual teacher.”

Kaden frowned. “I want to kill people”, he said. “This claw and everything I will craft is there to support that goal. I don’t want to be a crafter. They are weaklings. They might have useful skill, but they arent fighters.”

“I’m not letting you go anyway”, Nelsen reassured Kaden. “There are quite a few people who learn such skills on the side. It can even serve as a secondary path. So don’t worry, you have made your desires very clear and I have all the intention on making use of them.”

Around at that time a soldier came through the door carrying some things. An uniform. In Kaden’s opinion the army uniform was rather gaudy. Why did they have to choose that white and yellow color scheme? Did they think they look more saintly looking like a priest? At least it was better than the red black that Sacronan liked, which looked like you were already stained by blood. He didn’t voice his opinions as he donned the clothing. He was intending to go along with whatever things he needed to. The saint army uniform was nothing unexpected.

“Well, you look the part now”, Nelsen said. “I’ll go and arrange you to my team. As said, this might take time since I just basically picked you up, nor did you cultivate in the military or had any connection before. Learn the basics here, look what a common soldier’s life looks like. Those of your age and young adults that join start here as well. The batch you are going along with has been training for several months already, but your skills are beyond them so you have lost nothing.”

“Is there a military rule book somewhere?” Kaden asked. He wanted to know the rules. Laws of the saint empire were something he had quickly looked up after coming to Corand. Rules could be used and bent. Kaden had all the plans to abuse everything he could find and make himself look exemplary while at it.

“I understand you like rules?” Nelsen replied.

“Its good to know what rules I can break and bear consequences at the same time and what rules and their consequences I can’t handle”, Kaden replied.

Nelsen quietly stared at Kaden for a while, but then decided to ignore Kaden’s interesting point of view on rules. “You can request a rule book or even get one of your own.”

Kaden nodded.

“We should be meeting again in a few weeks then”, Nelsen said and left.

As for Kaden, he left with the old sergeant to outside where he had seen those soldiers training their sword skills. There he was watched as the old sergeant spoke with drill instructor.

“What a good moment”, Said the drill instuctor after the older one left. Then he looked at Kaden. “I am sergeant Sadge. Everyone! Get in line. If you are too slow, you get to do push ups.”

Kaden went and stood some distance away and everyone seemed to line up next to him in rather quick manner. It seemed that they had done this many times. Kaden realized the recruits that had been trained already for a while were exhausted. They got exhausted just from swinging of sword? He was pretty sure the villagers he had been part of had gone through much more until getting tired. City children!

Sadge walked slowly and inspected everyone. He berated at a few people. Apparently they should be able to keep up their appearance up even during the training. Then he came in front of Kaden again.

“What is your name?” Sadge asked.

“Kaden…….sir”, Kaden replied.

“Get here!” Sadge said and emoted Kaden to come out of the line. Then he had Kaden stand there in front of everyone. “I’m very sad! So very sad!” Then he randomly pointed at someone. “What is your age and cultivation?”

“Twenty. Im at sixth layer!” Said the recruit quickly. He was still out of breath so the voice was somewhat weak.

“Pathetic! Do push ups until I tell you to stop!” Sadge said and pointed at another. This time one of the women. “What is your age and cultivation?”

“Eigteen! I’m at seventh layer!” She replied similarly.

“Barely acceptable! Do hundred push up!” Sadge shouted and then continued to look over at everyone. “Do you know why I am sad?”

Silence.

“I am sad because I see you and then I see this kid!” Sadge said. “Recruit Kaden! What is your age and cultivation!”

“Almost fifteen. Mid stage Channel Opening, soon advanced”, Kaden replied. It seemed like this sergeant Sadge wanted to make a show.

Everyone still standing in the line looked shocked. Even the ones who should have been doing push ups stopped for a moment until Sadge shouted at them to continue.

“Do you see why I am sad?!” Sadge continued. “This kid who has barely stopped sucking his mothers tits has reached such cultivation at his age. Barely even old enough to enter army! How is it possible that you, who have had many years more time aren’t even nearly his match?”

Sadge probably didn’t expect an answer, but one of the dumber recruits in line did open his mouth.

“Uh, he is child of some noble!” Said the man. “He has eaten mana food and herbs all his life!”

“Recruit Kaden!” Sadge said. “What have you eaten!”

“Beasts and people”, Kaden replied.

“You, soldier”, Sadge pointed at the one who had spoken. “Have you eaten beasts and people?”

“Uhm, no?” Said the man.

“Then why are you not doing push ups to make up for it?” Sadge said with a questioning voice. “Do push ups until I tell you to stop! This one here is an elite who has just been recruited! You sad excuses for soldiers will probably never reach such level, but take a look. This is what you should aim at! You now have a chance to watch and learn while he stays with us for a time! Better start taking notes!”

There was a moment of silence and then Sadge turned to look at Kaden.

“Do you feel strong?” Sadge asked Kaden.

“Compared to them, yes. They are weaklings”, Kaden replied. “Most of them will die once they first clash with Sacronan’s army… or run into a beast somewhere.”

“Do you feel you are stronger than me?” Sadge continued asking.

Kaden frowned and looked at Sadge carefully. He was still at Channel Opening. High end, but not quite at Formation stage. He didn’t feel that strong. Kaden had killed many people at Channel Opening.

“Yes”, Kaden replied.

Sadge grinned. “Do you respect me?”

Kaden frowned. What was Sadge getting at? Well, he had no reason to lie.

“No”, Kaden replied to the question. “You outrank me in the army, so I will obey you, but respect, no. Respect comes from strength. Why should I respect someone who I can tear apart should I feel like doing so?”

Sadge was grinning even more. “I did hear something of your background just now as you were brought here. You are quite a fighter and not quite right in the head. I can see that now. There is now a problem. If you don’t respect me, then how should I make a soldier out of you?”

“Respect isnt required”, Kaden said calmly. “I only need to respect orders. Not people. Specifically not weaklings.”

Kaden wasn’t quite sure what Sadge was planning. He wouldn’t ask these questions for no reason.

“I see, so respect has to be earned?” Sadge continued. “Strength is indeed important so how about a demonstration? If I beat you, will you respect me?”

“I will respect your strength at least”, Kaden replied. A fight? He had killed many experts at Sadges level. His true strength wasn’t quite enough to deal with Formation stage or High Beasts, but soon his core that was still in upgrading process would reach that level. He was at the most extreme limits of his stage!

“In that case, lets fight”, Sadge said with a grinn and pointed to an open area. It was a small arena where all sort of training fights took place.

“I always fight seriously”, Kaden told Sadge. “What if I injure your or more likely kill you?”

Sadge had a fit of laughter at that point. “Hehe, everyone. Listen! The new recruit, Kaden, will not suffer any repercussion should I be injured or perish!” Sadge even pulled a low grade mana crystal and embedded that information on it.

Kaden frowned. “Fine then.”

He stepped onto the arena and took out his gauntlets. Kaden wasn’t sure why Sadge seemed so certain, but since the man gave him this chance, he would take it and butcher the man. There was no reason to let him live. Perhaps a bad start for his military career, but he didn’t care. He would be exempted from all repercussions.

“You can start”, Sadge said with a smile and simply stood there on the opposite side.

Kaden said nothing as he released enough power to kill. He had enough experience to know the amount. Still, he felt suspicious. Perhaps Sadge was planning on some trick. He charged at Sadge with his claws fully charged and ready to strike.

Sadge did not seem to move as Kaden’s claws struck at him. If hit landed, Sadge would be evicerated immediately.

Kaden had been careful and attacked seriosly, expecting a retaliation. To him it seemed the strike connected, but all he felt was thin air.

“What?” Kaden thought to himself. “What just happened? A trick?”

He released a burst of flames so that he would be able to counter any coming attack. Nothing.

“What are you flailing about?” Sadge said with a grinn and seemed to just stand there casually next to Kaden. There was no sign of him getting hit, not even by the flames that should have hit everything nearby. “I’m here.”

This was not a game! Kaden released himself fully, even the hair plume and furiously assaulted Sadge.

“Ohohoo”, Sadge said and seemed to stand still, but Kaden was missing him somehow. “Quite a bit of power. Those experiments I heard about really gave you a lot of power.”

Kaden was getting angry and screeched as he tried attacking in any way he could think of.

“I thought you were strong?” Sadge spoke then from some unseen angle. “All I see is an enraged beast that is all strength, but no ability to use it.”

Suddenly Kaden felt something connect to his chest. It wasn’t exactly anything with enormous power, but it hit at a really bad spot and knocked air out of his lungs. He took step back, coughing. Then Sadge was somehow next to him. This time he saw a kick, it connected to his knee and at the same time a palm struck his shoulder. Kaden fell over and, while he was falling, more hits landed on him. Each to a joint or some other place. Shocks from these strikes struck Kaden and he was unable to do anything about it. They hurt more than they should!

“He is fast!” Kaden thought as he tried to move out and strike back. Even if he did manage to attack a few times, result was the same as before. He hit only air. “Is that it? He seems slow and not even moving. Then he is not there? Not illusion, I see sand move.”

The fight continued similarly to its end.

Even until the point he was lying on the ground in pain, he could not understand what was happening. It had to be magic! Thats only thing he could think of. What sort of magic was it?

Then it stopped finally. Kaden was trying to get up. He coughed a bit of blood out and looked at Sadge still standing next to him.

“Do I get your respect now?” Sadge asked calmly.

“For now”, Kaden replied and coughed some more.

“All you have is strength, but no skill to use it”, Sadge continued. “Even a genius needs to be knocked around a bit before they can be taught. Do you understand?”

“Yes”, Kaden replied. He didn’t even feel anger. He had been stupid once again.

The purpose of all this was to put Kaden in his place. He could not understand why this was the case. None of his opponents, even stronger ones, had been like this. Then Sadge just trounced him. Effortlessly.

“What was that?” Kaden asked. He had to know. This was a weakness that he could not abide. Weakness! He should have been beyond it by now!

“You have no fighting skill. You have no movement skill”, Sadge replied. “You just rush around and expect your strength to deal with your problems. Some people learn skills as they learn to use their weapons before Channel Opening, but then they forget the basics. They dont usually need to care since their strength and speed grows along with their cultivation. That is until they meet opponent who has actual specific movement and fighting techniques. Those who live after such encounters quickly gather the resources to acquire such abilities. Somewhere past Formation stage, you should expect everyone who got that far to know such skills. Here in army we teach them as soon as possible.”

Techniques? Kaden had concentrated on cultivation and his crafting skills. He had felt his Devour was good spell and his physical abilities, such as claws and his strong body were strong enough. Spells or techniques? Kaden had not planned on getting more of them until he was at Formation stage. High Beast core and his body should have been enough until then.

This was not the case. It seemed the army had more to give him than just resources.