On the training field of the Shadow Mercenary Guild, hundreds of youngsters could be seen lying on the floor with bruises on some of their bodies. Some of them were carried back by the trucks because they couldn't move. It was then that the Corporal and his squad noticed that the trucks bringing the immobile novices also contained the elite team they sent to intercept the novices.
"I'm impressed that although most of you just became level one Body Refiners but you guys were able to counter and defeat some of my Level Two Adept Body Refiners. For that matter, I will spare you the punishment. Although you all failed except for some people but I encourage you to keep it up." The Corporal was truly impressed that the Novices could fight and defeat some of his Adept Soldiers. Never in his wildest dreams did it come that among the 26 unconscious Adept, Bradley single-handedly defeated 15, and Elaine defeated 6. Meaning, the 1198 only managed to defeat 5 Adepts.
"Novice 1199 and Novice 1200. Step forward."
Bradley and Elaine matched forward under the envious gaze of 1198 novices. Two black cases, which were about 60 cm, were given to them along with a badge.
"You can open it." He said.
Bradley and Elaine opened the case. They saw a black rod, which was about 50 cm long, and a pair of black gloves.
The corporal asked them to wear the gloves first before they touched the rod. Bradley and Elaine did as they were told, and the moment the black gloves on their hand touched the cudgel, the length of the cudgel doubled, making it about 100 cm long.
"Wow." The other novices were amazed by what was unfolding.
"M-K-O Cudgel?" Bradley, who had scanned the weapon in his hand with Leonora, said.
When the Corporal and the 9 Elite Adept heard Bradley, they became stunned.
"Who did you know the name of this cudgel?" The Corporal asked him.
This cudgel was one of the latest weapons that the 'Weapons Manufacturing Department' had designed for this year's recruits. Today was the first time it was shown to the public, and that was the reason why they were wide-eyed that Bradley knew its name. They even started to wonder if their top-tier security was breached.
[Now what are you going to tell them? Why can't you control this mouth of yours?]
Leonora, who is always happy when Bradley suffers, took this opportunity to rebuke him.
Bradley smiled and shook his head when he heard Leonora.
"Sir, I happened to meet a senior who is an Adept Soldier who is a weaponeer yesterday, and he somehow unconsciously told me about this weapon, sir." He marvelously generated a lie from nowhere to them.
The Corporal and his squad looked at him for a while with a little doubt written on their faces.
"Okay. By the way, as he said, this weapon is known as the M-K-O Cudgel. It was made by Corporal Weaponeers in this guild with advanced technology, which defies common sense. Just like the Golden Cudgel of the Monkey King Sun Wukong, this cudgel can change in size and length, but there is a limit to the size and length of this cudgel.
You can make it flexible like a rudder pipe or hard like an iron rod. It was designed with thousands of electric nodes that, when activated, the person who would be touched by this cudgel for even 2.5 seconds could be paralyzed completely. Its prowess depends on the level or tier of your body. For instance, if a level 1 body refiner would need 3 seconds to crippled his opponent with this cudgel, a level 2 body refiner will need 1.5 seconds."
"And why is that, sir? Bradley asked before the Corporal could finish his speech.
"The gloves on your hand connect your nerves and internal energy with the cudgel. The potential power of the cudgel depends on the amount of internal energy it absorbs to activate the electric nodes in the cudgel. But know that the effect on someone who is a level above in body refinement will diminish." The Corporal answered the curious novices. After listening to the history of the M-K-O Cudgel, they all looked at the winning couple with envious gaze. Elaine glanced at Bradley, who was examining his cudgel, and wondered what he was actually doing.
"Thank you, sir. My partner and I will train hard and receive more rewards from you." He shamelessly said without any major concern about what others would think.
"Hmph. You are diminished for today. From tomorrow onwards, there will be three sections of training for you, so cherish the free time you are getting today, for there will be none tomorrow."
"Sir, yes, sir!!" They responded and matched away to their dormitories.
"Do you know how to use a cudgel?" Bradley asked Elaine, who was walking with him to the building where they lived.
"Why are you asking?"
She didn't answer him straight away, but she rather asked him a question, too.
"Actually, I don't know how it is used, so I was wondering if maybe you had a fair knowledge about how to fight with a cudgel, you can give me some pointers," Bradley said with a puppy look, hoping that Elaine would find it hard to resist him, but the ice princess didn't even bat an eye.
Bradley awkwardly kept quiet till they reached their dormitory.
"Meet me at the training field at 4 am from tomorrow onwards. If you come there even a minute late, forget about learning to fight with a cudgel from me." After saying that, she didn't even wait for Bradley to say anything and left.
Bradley, who was a cultured guy, couldn't help but admire the disappearing figure of Elaine.
"I'm really blessed for getting myself a diva as a soul mate." He said to himself with a wide smile on his handsome face.
[Ding]
[You've received a new mission.]
[Mission: Make your partner, Elaine, fall in love with you.]
[Time limit: One week.]
[Reward: *Three fighting techniques *Basic mastery over any weapon you hold
*Access to the Weapons Manufacturing Department's storeroom.]
[There would be a punishment for you if the mission is not completed before the time limit.]
"What the fuck?"