Rookie Exam

The air felt thick and heavy as the month neared its end. You could practically taste the tension hanging over the rookie training grounds. The new recruits were hit with a barrage of even tougher drills, and they were a mix of hopeful excitement and pure fear.

Kuro's threat was scary enough to make anyone nervous.

But for those who had already survived three months as Marines, failing the basic fitness test was an even bigger nightmare. It meant getting kicked out and losing everything they'd worked so hard for. That was a bitter pill to swallow.

Many had joined the Marines to help their families, hoping for a chance at a better life. But that dream wouldn't come true until they became Third Class Soldiers, when they would finally start earning a regular paycheck.

On the other hand, the newest recruits, fresh and untouched by the harsh realities of Marine life, seemed carefree and relaxed.

----

The day of judgment finally arrived: the Rookie Exam.

A wave of confused glances spread through the training area as Roya confidently walked toward the registration desk. His fellow recruits looked at each other in disbelief.

Only a single month had passed since he'd arrived!

"Roya, are you really taking the exam?" one of the recruits blurted out in shock.

"That's right!" Roya turned, offering a bright, encouraging smile to his fellow newcomers. "Give it your all, guys! Let's become real Marine soldiers as quickly as possible!"

"Uh… we… okay!" they stammered, watching him with a mixture of awe and disbelief.

As Roya turned away, his peers could only stare after him.

Wow, the difference between us is really huge.

Oddly enough, they didn't feel the resentment they expected. Instead, a wave of wry, bitter smiles spread among the new recruits as they exchanged glances.

At first, envy had fueled their dislike of Roya, but as time passed, that envy slowly turned into admiration.

They had seen his tireless effort, the sweat and hard work that paved his way. Deep down, they knew they couldn't do what he did, not even now.

Damn it, he really deserves to get stronger!

"Good luck, Roya!" one of them shouted.

"Make sure you pass the exam!" another yelled.

"Show those cocky old geezers what the New Recruits are made of!"

The chorus of voices, amplified by cupped hands, echoed across the training grounds, drawing curious stares from everyone nearby.

Roya didn't turn around, but he raised his hand, forming a quick salute with his index and middle fingers, flicking them from his ear forward to acknowledge their support.

I absolutely will not fail.

----

Inside the bustling Training Field, almost all the New Recruits taking the Rookie Exam had gathered, numbering over twenty. A murmur of surprise rippled through the group when they spotted Roya.

It was rare to see a Rookie trying the exam after only a month of training. But if it was Roya, maybe it wasn't so surprising after all.

Just a week before, he had already caught up with their training progress.

That kid is really pushing himself!

Roya found his place next to Fullbody, standing perfectly straight and still.

"Yo, Roya," Fullbody whispered, keeping his eyes straight ahead. "That was pretty cool back there."

"Not bad yourself," Roya grinned, his eyes shining with excitement.

After a month of tough training, the moment of truth had arrived. This physical fitness test wasn't just a test; it was proof of all his hard work.

I really believe that hard work can make you stronger!

----

The first trial: Military Stance, standing perfectly still for a long half-hour.

A row of tables and chairs had been set up at the front, occupied by a dozen or so officers from the Branch, including Colonel Rhodes.

No twitch, no tremor, no slightest movement would escape their watchful eyes.

The Rookie Exam was a big deal for the Branch, a moment of pride and investment because the future leaders of their forces would come from these New Recruits.

Rhodes, with a small smile on his lips, looked over the New Recruits, his gaze pausing briefly on Fullbody before moving to Roya standing beside him.

His expression was a mix of emotions: mostly happiness and admiration, but also a hint of annoyance.

"Monka, is that the kid?" Rhodes asked, his voice low.

"Yes, sir," Monka responded blankly, staring at Roya with a puzzled look.

Before arriving, Colonel Rhodes had specifically asked about the New Recruits' chore assignments, especially those responsible for cleaning the top two floors of the Tower.

He couldn't figure out why.

"Well, not bad indeed," Rhodes said casually, but inwardly he was cursing under his breath.

You little brat!

For the past month, he'd been forced to walk up two extra flights of stairs every time he needed the bathroom, and he couldn't understand why someone would clean the toilets so carefully, day after day.

There weren't even any female soldiers in the Branch! It was all tough men!

Luckily, the kid was about to become a real Marine soldier, freeing him from his cleaning duties. His days of walking the extra stairs were finally coming to an end.

"Take extra care of him during training later," Rhodes instructed.

"Understood!" Monka replied, his expression changing slightly.

What's that supposed to mean? Is he telling me to watch him closely?

Could it be that Roya has somehow offended the Colonel?!

It was possible. He'd heard rumors that the Colonel had been visiting the bottom floor bathrooms, competing for stalls with the regular Marine soldiers.

Probably because the toilets upstairs weren't cleaned to his liking.

Now I understand.

Even without the Colonel's direct orders, he would keep a close eye on the New Recruits and wouldn't tolerate any mistakes!

----

Half an hour passed, feeling like forever.

The New Recruits stood firm, like statues made of stone, successfully completing the Military Stance assessment. Failing at this first stage would make them a laughingstock.

Next, the Running Exercise!

A total of 20 laps, a tough 10 kilometers. Finishing the whole course in 30 minutes was considered passing, while finishing it in under 25 minutes earned the special title of "excellent."

"Start!"

At the command, the New Recruits surged forward, their feet pounding the ground as they circled the Training Field. Roya, starting at the back of the group, picked up speed at a steady pace.

When he first arrived, he and his fellow recruits had managed only 10 laps in 15 minutes. Considering how strong the people in this world generally are, completing the full 20 laps with a lot of effort seemed possible.

However, running 20 laps in 30 minutes was much harder than simply doubling the difficulty. Even experienced veterans who had trained for three months often struggled to do it.

Plus, this was just the beginning. There were still five or six more physical fitness tests to get through, and he needed to save enough energy to pass them all.

----

A few minutes into the run…

"What's going on?"

As he ran, Roya felt a sudden chill crawl down his spine, and the hairs on his body stood up. It was as if he was being watched by a predator.

He quickly realized what was making him uneasy: Sergeant Monka!

The walking mountain of muscle stood beside him like an iron tower, keeping the same speed, each step leaving a mark in the sand.

And, maybe it was just his imagination, but Roya felt Monka's steady gaze fixed on him, sending shivers down his spine.

"Gulp!" Roya swallowed hard.

During the Running Exercise test, several Ensigns usually ran alongside the New Recruits to keep an eye on them.

He never expected to become a target of Monka's attention.

"Ha… my breathing is a little off," Roya said, adjusting his breathing and pace. It was hard to stay calm when being watched by such a powerful figure.

Even though Monka was just a minor character in the story, his future leadership of the 153rd Branch showed how capable he was.

The Giant Axe he carried must have weighed a ton! Roya couldn't even imagine lifting it.

Wait, the Giant Axe?

Roya subtly tilted his head to glance at Monka, and his heart skipped a beat again.

Carrying such a huge weapon, yet running with perfect balance, without even breaking a sweat.

So strong!

Roya felt the raw power of a strong person up close for the first time. Even when he'd seen Colonel Rhodes before, he hadn't felt this way.

Truly immovable as a mountain!

"Huff…" Roya was excited.

Instinctively, he focused his mind, carefully watching Monka's running style, the way his feet landed, how far his arms swung, the center of gravity of his body, and so on.

And most importantly, his breathing pattern.

"Hmm?"

Monka, always watchful, noticed the slight change in Roya's behavior, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Is this kid learning from me?