Scouts pt 2
The camera switches with the alpha and shows footage from the right. The camera was above a big tent that showed the monsters in what looked like cages. The camera zoomed in on the tent, with a few others giving us more angles.
"The monsters... they... they're kept like pets," someone said, breaking a bit of the tension in the air.
"Captain, I think I found the weapons."
"I think I found the..."
"Felix, command the right wing. The drones outside the fog move solo. Give up your holos to the left and right inside the fog. Jin, you are now vice. You'll command the right. I'll take center and observe the portal. Remember, our job is gaining information," he said.
From that moment the tension in the room would only drop from then. Every single second the group searched the area it only raised the fear they felt. These monster communicated through speech, had what seemed like military weapons and armour and even used them better than the military or the children of the sun. Any confidence the Enders had was now gone.
Orders we given but they lost their confidence and strength as they continued. Not only were they intelligent they were more efficient and the scariest was what was displayed on the main screen. A world map … of the Earth. These monsters had information bout earth displayed all over the room. They had monsters in cages acting like domestic animals.
---
"Return to home," Seon said, logging off the alpha and giving control to Felix. He stepped off his station with his tablet that contained all the footage they collected. He stood at attention and saluted them before presenting the tablet.
"You modified those drones yourself?" the general asked, his gaze sharp.
"Yes, sir," Seon replied evenly.
"And X—you say he's a new recruit?" one of the other officers questioned. X gave a curt nod in response.
The general exhaled, as if making a decision. "Alright, young man. You are dismissed."
Seon gave one final salute before turning back to his team. The drones were returning as expected, their movements steady. He quickly checked the readings from his own drone, analyzing the data. If everything lined up, he could improve their performance even further once they were back.
"Hey, Seon."
He turned at the familiar voice. Jin.
With everything happening at the academy, Seon had barely thought of him—at least, not beyond unit formations and positions. Felix had questioned his decision to make Jin an ender, but Seon knew better. Physically, Jin was strong, more than capable of making it into an academy. But there was one issue: he couldn't handle blood. Even the scent made him nauseous. Seon had once watched Jin faint on the spot when asked to dissect a low-grade monster in biology class.
"Jin, what's wrong?" Seon asked, scanning his friend's face.
Jin hesitated before speaking. "Nothing, just... those monsters. Will we be...?"
"No," Seon cut in, his tone firm. "That's not our job. We won't be fighting them." He clapped Jin on the back in reassurance.
They followed the other enders out of the room, heading toward the cafeteria. It was nearly midnight, and they were all hungry. Seon most definitely he hadn't eating all day and he hadn't slept in days.
When they finally sat down to eat, the entire room was silent. No one spoke about what had happened in the control room. There was nothing to say. Talking wouldn't change anything. The mission was beyond them—out of their hands, out of their control.
Just like his system.
He searched every database and every platform he had, but nothing gave him any information about the system. He ate his food and looked around the room. He had to get better with or without the system at his disposal. Everyone dispersed after dinner, and Seon went back to his room, showered, and went to sleep. He hadn't slept much, and the sleep deprivation was catching up to him.
---
Seon shot awake. His room was bright yellow, and the siren sounded. He jumped off the bed, put on his pants, and ran out the door while putting on the others. He switched on the lights and siren in the ender house and the main house. Soon he started seeing movement from the windows.
He activated Dominance Aura and went into the main building. The captains were already gathering their squads as he activated the doors to shut. Everyone was in uniform and they looked well slept some how.
"Everyone, in formation," he ordered.
The group started moving. Soon enough they were in rows behind thier captains standing at salute.
"Move out to the mission point," he gave another order.
The group started jogging, following their assigned captains. He followed behind, keeping an eye on the enders, who were also lightly jogging behind them. They were the first to arrive at the mission point, with B joining only a few minutes later. This time, he brought his whole team, unlike last time.
C and A arrived a little later, but it didn't really matter because no one had arrived to address them. After 30 minutes of waiting, Seon's crimson flashed.
"Common room."
He moved towards the common room behind B. When they got there, there was only one person in the room—a man he did not recognize or know. He had nine stars across his chest. They were not told the military ranking, and the one in the database was useless, but from what he knew, the more stars, the more powerful.
They all snapped to attention and saluted.
"At ease, captains. Take a seat," the man commanded.
They moved swiftly, the weight of his presence pressing down on them. He stood in front of them, hands clasped behind his back, as the HoloV flickered to life. A list appeared—unit names. The very ones that had been terrorizing them.
"The military is under immense pressure to strengthen our forces, as you've likely realized. You were meant to train for two years, preparing for the next phase of our operations. That plan was scrapped last week. Now, you get one year. Hence the competition." He let the words settle, then continued, his voice slow, deliberate. "Unfortunately, due to a new discovery, we've had to make even more changes."
The HoloV display shifted, revealing a new list—just four units: C, A, D, and E.
"Units Z and B are moving to the head base. The rest will continue their original training schedule and join the head base in two years—alongside new recruits," he stated, his gaze sweeping over them.
Silence. No one reacted, but tension crackled in the air. Seon understood what this meant. He had seen the signs, but he never thought the military would act on its own like this.
"B, prepare your squads. A, C, take yours to the training room and wait for further instruction. Z, stay behind. Dismissed."
Chairs scraped against the floor as the others moved to follow orders, leaving Seon alone with the man.
"Seon-woo, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"You scored 100 percent on the entrance exam. Is that accurate?"
"Yes, sir."
"You discovered Area 67?"
"Yes, sir."
The man studied him for a moment before speaking again. "If you were to lead at the main base, would you still want the same unit?"
Seon met his gaze, inhaling deeply. The weight of the question was clear.
"Yes, sir."
The man's lips pressed into a thin line. "Good. Go get your squad ready."