After a few seconds of waiting, the red-haired girl's body was swallowed by the light from the emblem on her chest. She disappeared, leaving a glitch distortion in the atmosphere.
Rika looked to the side, seeing the General and his female assistant nodding at her. She bowed slightly and turned her sight to look for Abel's figure.
Her eyebrows lifted and her stiff expression softened as she saw Abel sitting with Cain, who was still sprawled on the floor.
She dragged her heavy feet, approaching her two comrades, who also noticed her presence. Abel smiled as he immediately stood up, unlike Cain, who only peeked and then fell asleep again.
"Rika, congratulations on surviving until the end."
Hearing that from Abel, she choked. Her body started to squirm, barely resisting the urge to dive into the boy's chest standing in front of her.
"Y-Yes, you too. Your fight just now was a close call."
The girl gritted her teeth as she pinched her own thigh to snap her out of her fantasy.
"Well, It's regrettable but I need to do better."
Rika nodded, and both turned toward Cain, who was closing his eyes, seemingly having no desire to move from his spot.
"Then, why aren't you getting up yet?"
Cain opened his eyes, turned to the two of them, and grinned.
"It's nothing. I just want to rest for a second."
After saying that, Cain tensed his stomach and pulled himself into a sitting position. Slowly, he stood up while stretching his muscles that had worked very hard.
'Good, it seems there's no huge problem in my body.'
The reason Cain was lying down earlier was that his body was still feeling the after-effects of using speed that exceeded his body's capacity.
It was faint, but the intense throbbing in his leg subsided, replaced by a sore sensation that twisted the boy's expression every time he moved.
"You've done well, cadets."
The General's voice attracted the attention of the cadets, who immediately ran and lined up neatly like programmed robots.
All except Cain, who casually returned to the back of the line. A spot that somehow had been prepared by the other cadets.
"As much as I wanted to tell you something important, but I know you guys must be exhausted, so you all dismissed."
The cadets stared blankly, and immediately placed their hands on their chests and gave their salute.
"Thank you, sir. As you command."
The General returned their salute with the same gesture, before clapping his hands, which was followed by a rumble that shook the enclosed arena thanks to the applause.
From the spectator's seat, the seniors all rose up from their place, turning the place into a symphony of chaos as they cheered.
"Good job, everyone!"
"Cain, we seniors in Kenjutsu are proud of you."
"Good job, Abel! As expected of our star in the Swordsmanship department."
"Cadet Rika, I want to be shot by you too."
"..."
Cain furrowed his brows when he accidentally heard that last statement. He looked toward Rika and gulped. The girl's face was flat without the slightest emotion in it, which sent chills down his spine.
'You're a dead man.'
The boy could only shake his head and follow the direction of the General's female assistant, who guided them to the exit.
Walking down the long silver corridor. The sound of the cadets' footsteps echoes from every corner.
From behind, when Cain saw Abel and Rika chatting comfortably, he slowed his pace. His gaze lowered, thinking about the development of his status.
'My Agility reached 41, and most of the others are only around 20-30 with Vitality at the lowest.'
He glanced at the number listed below his parameters.
'Okay, I think this will be good.'
[Vitality: 22 > 27]
[Remaining Bonus Point: 5 > 0]
Cain's heart pounded so hard it broke his ribs. He stopped in his tracks, feeling his chest boiling, which began to flow into every vein in his body.
His breath was short, almost depleted. Cain took a deep breath, trying to inhale so much oxygen that was evaporating in his body, and slowly exhaled.
A second passed as if in an hour, but the boy still remained in place, clutching his throbbing chest.
Cain was panting but managed to straighten his posture. He wiped his drenched forehead, then muttered to himself.
'Geez, I'll never get used to that thing.'
The boy patted his chest gently a few times, feeling the gentle rhythm of his beating heart. He resumed his walk. However, his eyebrow twitched when he heard footsteps coming from someone other than himself.
From the opposite direction, a fierce man with a scar on his eye approached. He wore traditional Eastern clothing, a navy Yukata, along with a white Hakama that shows his pride and origin.
"Cain, good job out there."
"Master Kenji."
Cain's body stiffened as he tried to bow. But a wave of the man's hand stopped him.
"No need for that. We are not training, so relax."
"Understood."
The boy nodded, his black eyes staring straight at his reflection in Kenji's eyes.
"If I may ask, what business do you have with me, master?"
"Well, …it's like this."
Kenji hesitantly began to tell everything. Starting from seeing the footage of the test earlier, then the voice of his students who felt proud and wanted to give something to their juniors who had fought to carry their name, especially Cain.
The man took something from the pocket in his hand; it was a small chip.
"Take this."
Cain widened his eyes, his black eyes continually alternating between the chip and Master Kenji's grinning expression.
"A-Are you sure?"
He received the chip from his Master, who nodded happily while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Yes, you deserve it. I originally wanted to give it to you in our training tomorrow, but why wait for tomorrow when we can do it now, right? Bwahaha."
Kenji burst into laughter. He stretched out his hand and patted Cain's shoulder several times before gripping it tightly.
"Train hard!"
The man's voice was soft, yet carried a sentiment of blade that sliced through Cain's consciousness. Also, seeing Master Kenji, who had this nonchalant side, opened Cain's vision toward the people around him.
He realized how little he understood about people who had done him a favor. Cain clenched his fist to hold the small chip that felt heavy due to the respect and expectations placed upon him.
However, instead of feeling burdened, Cain felt he had grown new wings. A pair of thick, feathered wings that were ready to take him soared through the open skies.
"Thank you, Master. I will not disappoint you."
"You must be exhausted. I'm sorry for keeping you here, now leave and get some rest!"
Kenji smiled slightly and released his hand from the boy's shoulder. He walked away, showing his broad, upright back.
Cain swallowed, his gaze briefly peeking at his right shoulder.
'His palm is as hard as a rock.'
How many years of dedication did it take for a man's palm to become as hard as stone? Cain shook his head, unable to comprehend the years master Kenji dedication to a sword.
'I better get going.'
After no one was around, he pinched the chip between his index finger and thumb.
'Scan Protocol!'
In an instant, his black iris changed into blue. And simultaneously, a panel appeared with a detailed description of the object.
[Scan Protocol activated.]
[Microchip = An object that stores a fragment of basic Kenjutsu knowledge. Recorded within it is a memory of the Iai (quick-draw slash) technique named 'Lightning Flash.']
…
[Scanning the Information… Basic technique of quick-draw 'Lightning Flash'. …Scan Complete.]
[Decompressing it into Data!]
[Data successfully saved.]
[Would you like Data Reconstruction to absorb it into your brain? Y/N]
Cain almost tried to install the new data into his exhausted brain, yet he held back by putting the chip away. He licked his lips, a slight regret implied in his eyes.
'I'll absorb it later, in my own room.'
***
While the new and old cadets emptied the building area, the General and his assistant were still engrossed in their work.
"General Dosh, I have summarized all the data on the abilities and achievements of the new cadets from the test just now."
The female assistant handed the terminal in her hand to the man.
"Good job."
Seeing the woman nod, Dosh immediately looked at the terminal screen in his hand. His eyes swept through every last name of the cadets, seeing their achievements. And out of many names, five people seemed promising.
Cadet Name: Rika (19 kills)
Cadet Name: Cain (15 kills)
Cadet Name: Peter (10 kills)
Cadet Name: Abel (9 kills)
…
Dosh rubbed his beard as he lost himself in his own thoughts.
'I think these cadets are ready for the next phase of the training.'