"You're kidding!" Sofia and Catherine turned pale with fright after hearing what Rio said.
"Calm down. We'll search the campsite first for any sign of him! Maybe Ice felt that the situation was too dangerous and returned to Brightwood Camp first!" Carl was just as flustered on the inside but forced himself to endure it.
"Right, right. I'll go back the way we came and look around. I'll leave other places to you guys." John, taking the initiative to do one of the tasks, ran back the way they came.
Seeing that John had gone far, Rio raised his voice and said, "John, if you don't see him along the way, you should go back and check if Ice is back in Brightwood Camp!"
The group saw John firing off a flaming punch into the sky from a distance. It was his reply to Rio's instruction.
Carl exchanged a look with Rio before ordering, "All right. Let's search this place carefully and see if Ice left any traces behind!"
Following John's shout was a deafening roar that resonated throughout the forest, alarming countless animals."I expect no less from Instructor Clark! Only a true-and-certified king of animals can make that powerful roar!" Fatty Pan said in admiration, patting his abdomen.Carl looked at his friends' expressions. Their worried looks seemed to have vanished after hearing Clark's roar.Did they relax after realizing that Instructor Clark had arrived… He sighed, feeling quite uncomfortable.He knew it. He wasn't strong enough to reassure his friends… By the time he could calm the students down with a single roar like Instructor Clark, he would probably be considered a strong War Spirit warrior.It didn't take long for John to appear in front of them in a rush. Behind him was Instructor Clark in his black tiger form as well as numerous combat instructors from the Fight Club.Instructor Yates was among them. As
"Hey, are those three really from the Adjudication Bureau? Thomas said that you can't apply to the Bureau; you can only wait to be recruited! Looks like it's true!" John whispered.Carl and the rest began to discuss among themselves in hushed whispers. After all, Thomas seemed to have finished his explanation and the three soldiers from the Adjudication Bureau started discussing something with Thomas as soon as they appeared...The three soldiers from the Adjudication Bureau seemed to have finished speaking after a while. Throughout their discussion, they kept pointing to Carl and his friends as if they were asking for their information.Thomas took a step forward and told the students below. "All right, I've more or less explained the three divisions to you. What you have to do next is to return and consider whether you prefer to join the Empire-sword or Empire-shield Army."He then added, "Oh, right. Arthur, stay behind. These me
Carl climbed up from his bed early the next morning. The worries that weighed on his mind all night long made him lose the desire to sleep in.Yet, when he turned toward Arthur's bed in excitement, he froze on the spot.The bedding on Arthur's bed was folded as neatly as before. He placed his hand on the bed and felt no warmth whatsoever. This showed that Arthur didn't even return last night!Rio and John happened to wake up at that moment. Since their beds were opposite Carl and Arthur's beds, they noticed what happened as soon as they looked up."What? Did Arthur stay out all night? I don't think there's anywhere in Brightwood Camp that can keep him all night!" John said suggestively. Judging from his expression, he seemed to be suspecting that Arthur had a late-night date with a female student."Nonsense. It's obvious that Arthur left with those three from the Adjudication Bureau. He's probably already on his way to
"Drop it, kid. There's nothing you can say to persuade people who have lost their will to fight!" An aloof-looking Kyd stopped Carl from speaking any further.Carl opened his mouth a few times, wanting to persuade Pierre and the other two, but chose to keep silent in the end."Hmph! If a War Spirit warrior were to lose his will to fight after a single defeat, his War Spirit would become stagnant and never advance anymore." Kyd looked disdainful."You mean, they will likely stay at rookie War Spirit level because of this and can't advance anymore?" Carl asked inside his head, surprised.He was referring to Pierre, Brook, and Fatty Pan because Sofia and Catherine were in a different situation altogether.Fear and avoidance of battles were the same in terms of results but the core of them was different. The former was a result of one being too weak and subsequently becoming afraid of fighting. The latter was a result of o
Rio approached Carl discreetly and reminded him, "All right, I think we should go and meet Clark and Thomas now!"Carl turned his head to look. Sure enough, he saw a few uniformed soldiers bearing Empire-shield Army badges a short distance away on the field. The soldiers were walking toward them with impressive momentum."Looks like it's time for goodbye…" Carl took the initiative to approach Sofia and pull her into a tight hug. He let go after several seconds.Sofia blushed and looked at him, unable to say anything. He patted her cheeks gently with an intimate smile before turning around and leaving with John and Rio.Still her cheeks still red, Sofia watched him leave. Catherine appeared next to her, grabbing her hand to comfort and encourage her.At that moment, the soldiers from the Empire-shield Army arrived in front of them. One of them, a female soldier with long blonde hair, took two steps forward and looked at
An awkward mood hung over the table. It was as if the words "fear of death" triggered endless grievances in Clark and Thomas."By the way, Carl! I'm going to let you guys in on our plans so you don't feel confused." Thomas patted Clark's shoulder, prompting the latter to swallow all of his babbling alongside the wine."Let me start by explaining the military ranks. The ranks represent your rights and duties in the Gamma Empire army. The higher you are in the ranks, the bigger your authority and responsibilities.""What about corporals like us?" Rio asked curiously. Earlier, Thomas said that War Spirit warriors who had completed the rookie War Spirit assignment would automatically be promoted as corporals.If they joined a typical army as ordinary soldiers, they would have to start as an army orderly and slowly climb their way to private, private third class, private second class, private first class, and specialist.To
"Oh, all right. Stop looking, Carl. Sofia and the others are gone!" John patted Carl on the shoulder and kindly persuaded him.Carl smiled and shook his head. "I'm all right. I'm prepared for our separation but seeing Brightwood Camp look so empty still makes me a little emotional!""I didn't know you're so sensitive!" Rio chuckled. He took out a book and began thumbing through it."By the way, Rio, I have been seeing you read this book all this time. What exactly is your War Spirit power?" Carl asked curiously. He couldn't even begin to guess how one would fight with a book as a War Spirit weapon.Before Rio could reply, John was already starting his explanation."Carl, so you still didn't know! Let me tell you then! Rio's power is super magical! He can mimic any of our War Spirit powers and predict what happens next! He's a prophet! A prophet, I tell you!"In contrast to John's joy and excitement, Carl w
Despite Link's earnest face, everyone could still see the trace of playfulness on his expression."Let him be, Yates. It's not like you don't know how naughty this kid is!" Clark laughed, unconcerned. He gave Link a look that said 'Wanna get some drinks tonight?'Link wiggled his eyebrows as a positive answer, indicating that he had received Clark's hint.Catching onto their exchange, Yates and Thomas shook his heads. There was an entire army rank of difference between a second lieutenant like Clark and a sergeant like Link. There shouldn't have been much interaction between them.However, the two of them somehow became drinking buddies during a mission. It was a trick of fate, it seemed."Oh, by the way, are these three the recruits of the Empire-sword Army?" Link asked curiously, pointing to Carl, Rio, and John.Carl and his friends saluted him at once. Though Link was just a sergeant, even a single rank