The sun was just rising over the Qin Empire's central district, painting the massive courtyard in gold and crimson. It was a wide expanse of stone and grass, encircled by tall walls and dotted with small wooden buildings — a single, sprawling compound now assigned to the Vardar brothers. Twenty-eight soldiers from our newly-formed squad were already standing in formation, their eyes sharp, every muscle taut with anticipation.
Alex and I stepped into the courtyard together, our armor gleaming faintly under the early sunlight. The clink of weapons and armor reverberated across the stone floor as the men straightened instinctively, a mixture of discipline and curiosity in their gazes.
"This will be your home, and your base of operations," I said, gesturing to the courtyard. "Those buildings are for sleeping, training, and storage. Workers here are at your disposal — treat them with respect, and they will keep the base running smoothly."
A group of workers bowed and scurried off to start cleaning, maintaining, and stocking supplies. Alex and I exchanged a brief glance. It was strange, in a good way, to have stability again. For the first time in months, we weren't running for our lives — though the forest beyond still held threats that would test us later.
I walked slowly along the line of soldiers. Some were tall and lean, their qi visible as faint pulses of color under their skin. Others were muscular, their bodies radiating raw strength. A few younger recruits fidgeted nervously, clutching weapons too large for their frame. I could tell immediately who had natural talent and who would require guidance.
I stopped in front of a young man with a shaved head and piercing eyes.
"Name?" I asked.
"Liang Hao, sir!" he replied, voice steady but tinged with nervousness.
I nodded. "Good. You'll be learning flanking maneuvers. Your instincts are sharp — don't waste them on hesitation."
Next, Alex took over, his voice calm but authoritative. He focused on the spatial mana users, teaching them how to visualize field distortions even in a controlled environment. "Your abilities are powerful, but without precision, they'll get you and your team killed," he warned. His demonstration — bending space to make a sword swing skip slightly — made the air shimmer. Several recruits gasped, their faces lit with awe.
I moved to the rest of the squad. "We'll be training every day in formation, combat drills, and endurance. Everyone must know their role, their strengths, and their weaknesses. If even one of you falters in battle, it could cost lives."
One of the soldiers, a tall Eastern man with a scar across his cheek, raised his hand. "Sir, what about strategy? Shouldn't we be trained in field tactics as well?"
I smiled faintly. "Exactly. That comes later. Right now, learn the basics. Strength, stamina, coordination. Once we're all solid, we'll begin forest exercises and real combat simulations."
As the morning sun climbed higher, Alex and I oversaw the first training drills. Soldiers ran in coordinated lines, practicing maneuvers under our watchful eyes. Spatial distortions, fire pulses, and coordinated strikes formed a complex choreography, and the courtyard soon hummed with energy.
By midday, small skirmishes began — one-on-one duels, paired drills, and controlled sparring. I fought alongside the strongest soldiers, testing their reactions, reading their movements, and subtly guiding them. Each blow, each dodge, each spell-cast was a teaching moment.
Alex, meanwhile, ran exercises with those who wielded spatial mana, teaching them to bend space for both defense and attack. The younger recruits stumbled at first, often overextending or misjudging distances. But under his patient guidance, they gradually began to control their abilities.
After several hours, we gathered the squad in the center of the courtyard.
"You've done well today," I said, my voice carrying over the courtyard. "But today was only about getting comfortable. Tomorrow, we will begin missions outside these walls. We will hunt in the forest, face beasts, and learn to fight together as a unit. Trust and coordination will decide whether we live or die."
Alex added, "And remember — your growth isn't just for yourselves. You are part of this squad now. Every victory or mistake affects all of us. Stand together, fight together, and we will survive anything the world throws at us."
The men nodded, some standing taller, others exchanging glances filled with newfound camaraderie. A few even smiled — the first signs of bonds forming in a group that, hours earlier, had been strangers.
As the day ended, we inspected the soldiers' living quarters. Workers had already begun setting up bunks, storage areas, and communal spaces. I could see the excitement in the younger recruits' eyes as they settled in.
That night, Alex and I stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Lanterns cast a warm glow, and the sounds of quiet laughter and conversation drifted up from below.
"It's going to be different here," Alex said softly. "We're not just surviving anymore. We're leading, teaching, building something."
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Exactly. And when the time comes to face the real threats — intermediate-tier beasts, higher-level missions, or even rival squads — we'll be ready. But first, we need to make this squad strong. United. Unbreakable."
Below us, the courtyard settled into calm, the first night of training complete. The year ahead promised hardship, danger, and growth — and we were ready to lead.