CHAPTER 5: TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MAGIC

The next day had begun. Out of 476 recruits, only 226 had made it through. A staggering 250 recruits had been eliminated, their dreams of joining the Japanese military had been destroyed.

The excited 226 recruits stepped foot onto the training ground, their hearts brimming with hopes of becoming part of the world's strongest military force. Every one of them had prepared themselves for the long road ahead.

The instructor entered the ground, his footsteps purposeful, and with a voice that carried authority, he spoke to the recruits. "The hardest training of your lives will continue for the next three years. Only those who successfully complete the training will be allowed to join the Japanese military. However, there's another path—if you awaken your magic powers and master them before the three years are up, you too will be eligible to join."

Borsalio, one of the recruits, stepped forward and asked, "Does this mean that the training is all about magic?"

The instructor nodded gravely, "Yes, the gods have hidden different kinds of powers within each of us. Our job is to unlock and master those powers."

Arek raised his hand, eager to know more. "Have the strongest warriors awakened all of their powers?

The instructor's expression grew solemn, "Yes. The strongest warriors possess all the powers that the gods have offered to mankind."

Amaya, asked with curiosity, "How can we identify the powers hidden inside ourselves?"

"This," the instructor replied, his voice calm but firm, "is what the training is for."

Before Arek could raise another question, a great, overwhelming aura suddenly swept over the training ground. Every recruit froze, unable to move, their bodies paralyzed by the immense pressure of the aura.

And then, in front of them, appeared none other than the strongest one—an unmistakable presence, radiating immense power.

The instructor's voice rang out, "The strongest warrior in the whole world, Kageyama Nishimura, also known as 'The Strongest One,' has arrived!"

As soon as the instructor said these words, the recruits were released from their paralysis, their bodies returning to normal. They were in awe of the sheer presence of the man standing before them.

The instructor then instructed the recruits to bow before the strongest one and greet him with the respect he deserved. Without hesitation, every recruit obeyed.

Kageyama, standing tall with his immense presence, turned to the instructor and, sensing something unusual, inquired, "What is that strange aura coming from one of your recruits?"

The instructor, unable to sense anything out of the ordinary, asked the strongest one about where was the presence coming from.

The strongest one locking eyes with Arek. "What is his name?" he asked to the instructor.

"Arek Takahashi," the instructor replied. 

Kageyama turned to face the recruits once more, speaking with a voice that commanded attention. "I know that all of you are eager to join the military. Let me tell you a little about the Japanese military."

The recruits, including Arek, listened intently, their anticipation growing with each word.

"The Japanese military is divided into three distinct groups," Kageyama continued. "First, there is the Soldier Military, which consists of those with the highest fighting capabilities and greatest strength. Second, there is the Royal Military. These soldiers are not as powerful as the Soldier Military, but they are responsible for serving and protecting the nobility. Finally, there is the Worker Military. They are less powerful than the other two forces, but still much stronger than regular civilians. Your training will determine which of these three branches you will be able to join."

The strongest one paused for a moment, allowing the recruits to absorb the information. Then, without another word, he vanished, leaving the recruits stunned. They stood in silence, wondering where he had gone.

Suddenly, Kageyama reappeared in an instant, his figure materializing before them. "This," he said with a grin, "is the easiest magic: the Disappear Magic. You'll all be able to learn it within a month. However, there's a more advanced technique where you can hide your aura and presence while disappearing. That's a high-level technique, but it's something you may learn one day if you continue your training."

Arek, still filled with questions, raised his hand once more. "How many techniques are there in the basic level of magic?"

Kageyama smiled slightly. "There are 47 basic techniques."

With that, he gave the recruits a brief lesson on the basics of magic and the techniques they would need to master. Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Kageyama disappeared once more, leaving behind a sense of awe and wonder.

The instructor, who had remained silent during Kageyama's brief appearance, stepped forward and addressed the recruits once again. "Magic power has existed since the creation of the world. It is your responsibility to master it. To begin your training, you will spend the next two months focusing on swords and weapon combat. Alongside this, you will also start learning basic magic techniques. After the two months, we will shift our focus entirely to magic, and you will begin training with the weapons that suit your abilities best."

The recruits nodded in agreement, their excitement building at the prospect of their training.

The instructor then handed out a variety of weapons: maces, swords, guns, and more. He created hundreds of training dummies using his cloning magic, each one an exact replica of a combatant. "Practice on these dummies," the instructor instructed. "Work on your combat skills, learn different sword and weapon techniques, and start incorporating your magic powers into your fighting style."

And so, the recruits spent the day practicing relentlessly, honing their skills with weapons and magic. The sun set, and they were given only a small amount of food to eat. Their beds were uncomfortable, and sleep was hard to come by.

The instructor's voice echoed through the camp as the recruits lay down to rest: "If you can't suffer, you can't protect the nation."

The words lingered in the air, a reminder that the path ahead would be difficult, but it was the only way to achieve greatness. The recruits knew that the road they had chosen was fraught with challenges, but they were determined to push forward, no matter the obstacles. They would awaken their hidden powers, master their magic, and become the warriors they dreamed of being.