As they all left the office, Sora sent a ssage to Kara using the friend-list ssaging feature: "Do you know why NPCs don’t take part in the war? And why do people still call them NPCs when it’s impossible to tell them apart from players unless you inspect them?"
Kara quickly replied, "Well, they don’t seem to mind the nickna. They’re bound by stricter rules than we are, and they appeared after the update. They seem and act human, but no one really knows where they co from or if they’re truly human. My master always changed the subject when I asked about her past."
Sora frowned as he read her response, feeling puzzled about the NPCs’ origins after his several interactions with them. ’This ans a lot and nothing at the sa ti’ he shook his head, ignoring the matter for now.
As they walked, the clerk’s respect toward Sora and Kara deepened. He knew these two were going to be big shots, assuming they survived the incoming war. Their lack of reaction to the ranks they’d just been given told him they probably didn’t understand the significance of being a captain and vice-captain in a battalion.
Clearing his throat, he explained, "Being a captain ans you’re responsible for a company of 100 players, divided into 10 teams, with each team having 9 to 10 players split into two squads. Only Colonels can give direct orders to captains, and above the Colonels is the general in charge of the entire division."
Sora and Kara listened, but their expressions remained neutral.
The clerk continued, "You’re now among the top 60 highest-ranked individuals in terms of military hierarchy. A lot of people would kill for the kind of privilege and responsibility you’ve just been handed." He couldn’t help but sigh. Even with all its rules, this world still felt unfair sotis.
Soon, they reached the recruitnt office, where they were asked to provide their identification tokens, aning their adventurer’s guild badge.
After receiving their military tokens, they were handed their uniforms, which had a magical effect. When they equipped them above their armor, they felt the weight of their new roles settle on their shoulders. Their interface updated, displaying options for party chat, team leader chat, company chat, battalion chat, and division chat. They could send written ssages or use voice chat for communication within their unit, but were restricted in higher rank chats.
A ssage imdiately appeared on their screen:
[Player Ralph Eden has joined the company.][Player Kara Spirine has joined the company.][Player Captain Richard Dosse is demoted to Team Vice-Captain.][Player Ralph Eden is promoted to Team Captain.][Player Kara Spirine is promoted to Team Vice-Captain.]
Sora and Kara exchanged a glance. The sudden notifications caused a ruckus in the company chat, with confused and agitated comnts flooding in.
The clerk, noticing their reaction to the interface, chuckled and advised, "I’m heading back to work. You two should introduce yourselves to your company later, when your Colonel is present."
Just then, a notification appeared on Sora and Kara’s interface:
[Summons by Colonel Oliver Evans – Main Hall of the Adventurer’s Guild]
[This is a military order by your superior. Disobeying orders can result in punishnt by military law.]
Sora clicked on the ssage, which explained the nature of a "military order"—a command issued by a superior that had to be followed by subordinates.
He glanced at Kara, who nodded, indicating she had received the sa ssage. Together, they made their way to the main hall.
As they navigated through the bustling guild, a man approached them, offering to guide them to the Colonel. He wore a similar uniform and bore the sa rank as Sora, indicating he, too, was a captain.
They followed the man until they arrived at a large table where a group of players was seated, laughing and chatting. Among them was a young man, probably no older than 25, with a bald head and a bright smile. He radiated positive energy, his presence commanding attention without effort. This man, despite his cheerful deanor, was clearly their superior.
"Ah, my new recruits!" the man called out, grinning as Sora and Kara approached.
When they confird they were from the 5th Battalion, he chuckled. "The Vice Guildmaster really does like to send the troublemakers to . " He waved dismissively at the others around him, who were casting envious looks at Sora and Kara. "Relax, everyone. They’re mine now."
The crowd dispersed quickly, as if afraid to linger under the Colonel’s watchful gaze.
With a welcoming grin, the man introduced himself. "Oliver Evans, Colonel of the 5th Battalion. England." His badge was unlike anything they had seen before, but what truly surprised Sora and Kara was his level—105.
"Stop staring at my hair and follow ," Oliver said, leading them towards a huge stadium in Stockholm. It seed most of the army was stationed in such places, stadiums and open fields. In this stadium, many tents stood, and Oliver led them into a large military tent labeled "Colonel Tent: 5th Battalion."
His expression shifted to sothing more serious and he said. "Listen, there are quite a few people eyeing you two. Your talents don’t go unnoticed, but I’ll crush anyone who tries to steal my soldiers. The other Colonels and the General won’t allow their troops to get out of hand either."
Sora and Kara exchanged relieved looks. It seed that the issue of unwanted attention had been handled.
"However," Oliver continued, his tone becoming sharper, "I’ve already received complaints. Richard Dosse—your old 10th captain—has lodged one. Other team captains and even vice-captains are grumbling. They don’t accept your positions. I can silence everyone if I have to, but if I do that, you’ll both face resentnt, and respect is hard to win back. Everyone is limited to level 80 during the war, but it doesn’t an levels do not matter."
Sora frowned. They hadn’t asked for this responsibility, and now they were stuck with people doubting their rank.
"But," Oliver said, raising a hand before Sora could speak, "there’s another way. Prove yourselves. Show them you deserve those ranks, and everyone will shut up."
Before either of them could respond, he added, "If you succeed, your comrades will only have respect for you."
Sora didn’t hesitate. "We’ll solve this problem ourselves."
Oliver nodded, satisfied. "Good. You’ve got three days before the war resus. You’re dismissed."
Sora and Kara left the tent, already feeling the weight of their new responsibility pressing down on them. Three days to earn the respect of an entire battalion. The clock had started ticking.
As they exited the tent, Sora and Kara exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of Oliver’s words. This wasn’t just about surviving the war anymore; now, they had to prove themselves to a battalion of seasoned players, many of whom already viewed them as unworthy. The tension in the air was palpable, but neither of them was the type to back down from a challenge.
"I don’t understand why they gave us high ranks if it is this annoying to convince others," Kara muttered, her voice laced with frustration, though her eyes remained sharp with determination.
Sora gave her a half-smile. "No, but we’re here now. And we’re going to show them exactly why we deserve these ranks."
They walked in silence for a while, the noise of troops activity in the background as they headed toward their assigned quarters. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city of Stockholm.
As soon as Sora and Kara found their tents, they were greeted by a crowd of roughly 30 people—captains, vice-captains, and even a single team leader.
The group stood with crossed arms, waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and hostility. At the front of them, a young man who couldn’t have been older than twenty stepped forward, his gaze cold and assessing.
Sora’s eyes narrowed as he observed the young man. His youth was deceptive, as age ant little in this world. So of the strongest players were under twenty, and those who had been playing since childhood had beco terrifyingly powerful.
The young man before him was no exception, and Sora inspected and recognized the na above his head from the earlier notification—this was Richard Dosse, the captain who had been demoted.
"Ralph Eden," Richard began, his voice carrying an edge of barely restrained anger, "I’m sure you already know who I am. I was the captain of the 10th company. Now, thanks to you, I’m a vice-captain."
He paused, his hands clenching into fists as he spoke. "I’m not the strongest of the captains, so I’d have accepted being replaced by soone better. But you?" His eyes bore into Sora, sharp with judgnt. "You’re not qualified. You just showed up as this war is ending, and now you’re the one expected to lead the company I’ve bled and fought for with my life and my friends blood? No."
"I get it," Sora said, his voice steady. "You think I haven’t earned this. But what do you suggest?"
Richard’s jaw tightened, his resolve clear. "I challenge you to a duel. I can’t take my rank back through a fight, but if I win, you’ll follow my lead. The company—my company—deserves a leader who understands them, who’s been in the trenches with them. If I win, you’ll let manage the company’s strategy. You’ll still be captain, but you’ll listen to when it cos to leading our people."
Sora’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected this. He had thought Richard just wanted his position back, but the guy actually cared about the lives of the company mbers. There was an odd respect in Sora for this man now.
"And if I win?" Sora asked.
"If you win," Richard replied, his voice firm, "I’ll follow your orders, if you promise to not send the guys to their deaths. I’ll respect your authority and bend the knee if that’s what it takes. But if you lose, you have to understand... I won’t let soone who’s never waged war and doesn’t have strength to play with the lives of our soldiers.The final battle is coming, and I can’t gamble with the lives of my soldiers, and won’t accept their decision if it doesn’t not make sense"
Kara and Sora exchanged glances, both surprised. The guy wasn’t just frustrated; he genuinely wanted the best for his soldiers. Sora, however, wasn’t backing down from a fight. Even if Richard had his doubts about Sora’s experience, the only way to prove himself was through action.
Sora examined Richard’s level, and his heart skipped a beat. Level 95. This guy was leagues ahead of him. The pressure he felt from Richard was intense, like a mortal standing before a mountain.
The young captain’s body was honed to the limit, with well-defined muscles visible beneath his armor. His body forging was outstanding, indicating a heavy investnt in body forging and maybe even tanking skills.
This wasn’t going to be easy.
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