[Right now, you are a soldier of the Zeral Empire, and your barracks consist of a lavish apartment. Today is your first day as a cadet, and its six in the morning! You're almost late.]
[Today they're deciding platoon captains. You can head there in your restaurant uniform, there isn't a dress code. The Zeral Military are passionate about their style. Infiltrate the empire and rise the ranks to General to further advancement]
"Jeez, the guy named his nation after himself. Who am I dealing with here…"
Strangely, on top of many other notions, Vale knew where to go from the room. He even knew what his purpose was as a soldier. Right now, the Empire was starting war preparations, and he was a new recruit that had recently been accepted by reference of his renowned family.
Confused, he asked the system before walking out the door. "This family of mine… the reason why I'm here. Are they real people?" He knew this because in his magical transformation, a few basic lessons were installed in his brain. He had to know this, because if he were outed as someone who didn't know his origins, he'd be labeled an informant.
[Your family are inside helpers made to establish a documented identity for you. You won't see them. Yes, they're real. Now stop with these needless questions and proceed to your first day. Remember, first impressions are important!]
Vale made his way down the grey on the floor, and white on the walls colored hallway. After a few minutes of walking, he realized that he was inside a huge building, the apartments connected to a facility that was bigger, if not more substantial in size to a modern earth college.
After some time of walking, Vale arrived at his ordered station. He opened some clear glass doors, gazing at the giant room that looked to be a training arena, since in the corners were weight machines, punching bags, and other items meant to train the body. The other cadets who were human and mostly male were all grouped up in the middle. They all wore eccentric streetwear and some even donned some armor that looked extremely expensive. Vale took notice to the fact that most of the people in there were human. There were a few odd humanoid beings, one of them being a lizardman, but he expected more alien species.
[Humans are a prominent species in the universe. They exist in countless planets and have a great affinity for magic and technological prowess]
Vale already figured this was the case, but smiled at the system's informative nature.
Suddenly, a muscular male, towering in height teleported in front of the group out of nowhere, making everyone stand in attention. Vale quickly took action, as the last thing he wanted was to stand out. "Did he just teleport? Who knew the universe was so terrifying." Secretly, Vale found himself angered. He... wanted to know how he just teleported, and how in the future, he could do it also.
This levitating man, known as Sergeant Derrick, had long parted black hair, and looked intimidating to the eye. His special black uniform had badges on it, indicating some level of higher ranking.
Taking a deep breath, he screamed in a respectful manner. "CADETS, ARE YOU READY TO TEST YOUR MIGHT ON THE STAGE?!" Sergeant Derrick opened his palm and pointed it to the fighting octagon beside him, where no ring was seen. If someone was knocked off it, they'd simply fall to the floor. "EVERY WINNER IS APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF THEIR OWN PLATOON, AND THOSE WHO SIGNED UP, RISKING THEIR LIFE FOR THIS CHANCE, WILL BENEFIT GREATLY IN THE FUTURE!"
This type of fight was one till death, and was used to put in place qualified leaders. All the cadets knew this, and most of them didn't sign up, swallowing their pride to prevent an early death.
"CAN I GET A YES SIR?!"
Everyone screamed yes sir. Everyone except Vale. He was too busy realizing the obvious power scheme being used here. Prove your strength or serve a brute for a superior. Respect is dictated not by will or wisdom, but overbearing power instead. He didn't like the idea, but a part of being an informant was conforming to ideals that you hate. His idea of how magic operated was vague, but nevertheless, he secretly hoped that the system didn't sign him up.
"First match…" Segarant Derrick, startled, looked at his communications device that acted like a watch, and said, "Vale Luckman versus Zach Bird." Confused, because Vale was enlisted as a medic, he told them to head up to the octagon.
He was learning quickly that the system was addicted to putting him danger.
"Great… I'm dead before I can get the chance to explore at least one planet." Vale, who wasn't ready to die, was freaking out, not showing it as he walked towards the octagon.
"Holy shit, I'm going to die. This is it…" Trying to think of a way to escape, he came up with a genius idea. "Can't I just forfeit? Yeah… easy. I'll just do that."
[Forfeiting will result in your immediate exile from the kingdom, making completing your tutorial mission in time impossible]
"Fuck…" Rolling his eyes, Vale, who was now ascending the staircase to the left side of the octagon, was preparing to die. He knew these cadets were capable of deadly magic. Fire, earth, and muscle enhancements that could burn, smash, and tear his limbs were just the beginning possibilities of what a mage could do. And all these cadets were masters in their own respected magics.
People who could spray flames and elements, that's the type of opponent Vale was facing off against in this death battle!
And... the generous system didn't do anything but turn him into a psychology major.
Vale's adrenaline was off the wall, but holding on to the last string of hope, he put all his chips on the system saving him at the last second. "The system has a plan. There's no way... you have a plan right?"
No answer was seen.
Inwardly accepting his fate, Vale found some pride in not being a coward for once. "I guess I don't have a choice… gotta face all the vain I've built up while being an inferior mortal. Death... I'm really going to die." After all, if he ran away now, he'd be abandoning the pledge he made back in that parking lot, rambling about risking his life. He couldn't bear to speak so highly of himself just to flee at the first threat, so he proudly stepped up into the octagon.
Facing off against his opponent, a young man named Zach Bird stared menacingly at Vale. For his hair, he had a short brown middle part, and his street wear made Vale raise an eyebrow. "These people have some style... speaking of, I wonder of all the cultures in this universe."
"Too bad I'll never know! I'm so fucking dead! There's no way I'm beating this guy. He looks like a beast, huffing and puffing while holding this... intimidating eye contact with me…" Upon closer inspection of his appearance, Vale's eyes grew wider, entering a performative flow state before the fight even started. "But those eyes, they seem awfully sad." Vale's mind took on an untouched creation. Forgetting about dying, he couldn't focus on the fearlessness.
All he cared about was learning about a certain somebody, and his facial features showed that impression, taking on a deep pity for his now offended contender.
Almost instinctually, he was holding eye contact fiercely, that from Zach's point of view, looked insanely kind. There wasn't a doubt of inferiority in Vale's mind, which was surprising for Vale, since he often entertained his inferiority complex. Many alterations were occurring in that octagon.
Zach, who was waiting on Sergeant Derrick to signal the start, questioned the entranced Vale. "Are you fucking with me? Why are your eyes are so compassionate? Don't tell me I have a psychopath on my hands. I should add, you have a plain style. All black fits are so in the past. I think I'll give you a much needed bloody recoloring."
Vale didn't respond, he was too busy diving into another world entirely. A foremost mind state had been reached by his recently awakened neurons, and initially, even he had trouble realizing its meaning.
All he knew is that he liked this feeling, and it made him feel like he mattered for once. Not being in the know about this change in power quickly changed as his first talent finished materializing.