After leaving the panel, Baines arrived at the next building, where he stood in a long line before finally receiving his uniform, sword, and armor.
Then ca the quarters—modest and bare: a bed, a table, and a toilet, this was the supposed higher treatnt he was given; however, he didn’t mind at all. Alongside that, he was given access to the martial techniques of the empire’s military and knowledge.
The army residing on the last front was divided into three legions, consisting of hundreds of thousands of soldiers each:
The Sunblade Legion, composed of elite infantry and swordsn, the Radiant Legion focused on long-range attacks, and the Pyre Vanguard, a fearso force of magic-infused shock troops and heavy cavalry.
And, as an enlister in the Pyre Vanguard, Baines was entitled to a warhorse and a battle lance.
In his quarters, he laid his weapons and uniform on the bed before sitting at the table, eyeing the stack of martial books.
"Eye, scan these techniques."
[SCANNING...]
While the scan processed, he undressed, folding away his worn clothes—clothes that had either beco too tight or had fallen apart from years of wear, then he glanced at his reflection in the mirror emotionlessly.
His body had grown leaner, harder—sharpened by solitude and battle.
[SCAN COMPLETE]
"Do it."
He winced, gritting his teeth as the flood of information surged into his mind. Even at his current level, the neural impact of a full transfer still bit into him.
But once the pain faded, he gave a nod.
"Not bad," he muttered. For an empire that claid strength, its techniques did not disappoint. Though they didn’t co close to those he had learnt, they weren’t half as bad.
He began donning his armor: thin shock-absorbing plates for his chest, groin, knees, and arms, designed to block attacks. Over them, he wore his black uniform marked with elegant golden accents, and a deep red cape attached to shoulder plates. Finally, he wrapped his black scarf tightly around his neck, covering his mouth.
’Ti to go.’ He strapped on his sword, left the room, and stepped out into the open.
He was now a soldier, aning they weren’t given ti to rest.
Thirty minutes later, Baines stood silently with nearly three hundred other recruits in a wide field.
None dared speak. This was the military. Discipline was survival.
The Vanguard legion always had the fewest recruits. Most flocked to the prestigious Sunblade because they were the empire’s main army. But Baines didn’t care. He hadn’t co for glory. He ca to fight.
A massive man soon approached. He was the commanding officer and a five-star sword master. He didn’t begin with any flowery words, soldiers didn’t need that. He went straight to the point.
"RECRUITS! TODAY, YOU RIDE! THE KEY IS COMMUNICATION. CHOOSE YOUR MOUNT!"
He then gestured to the right, where a line of enormous red warhorses stood clad in golden-plated barding. Their sheer presence radiated intimidation.
With the order given, they went to a warhorse each.
Baines moved toward the left, where a horse—taller and broader than the others—stared him down.
"Eye, what do you think?"
[HER EMOTIONS TOWARD YOU ARE FAVORABLE]
"Her?" He raised a brow, then smiled faintly as he stroked her head. "You don’t mind being your rider, right?" He projected his will, not just through thought, but emotion.
The warhorse grunted softly, nudging his palm.
"Good."
He mounted her in one smooth motion. Reins in hand, he signaled gently, and she moved. Fluidly. Obediently. He guided her through several maneuvers like they’d been training for years.
So recruits cast envious glances his way. He only had to stroke its hair and he was able to ride it while so were even getting chased and even bitten.
"He must be the young sword master, Jin," the instructor muttered, watching and nodding his head. "He’s good."
By evening, most recruits were still wrestling with their mounts.
Baines, anwhile, sat alone in the general cafeteria.
"Hey! I didn’t see you in the Sunblade Legion!" a cheerful voice interrupted. Baines raised his head as he heard a familiar voice. It was the talkative young man from the recruitnt line.
Without responding, he continued eating.
"Why are you always so cold?" the boy sighed and took the seat across from him, choosing silence over complaint.
When dinner ended, Baines silently went back to his quarters under the weird gaze of so people. The truth was, so people wanted to jump him and teach him his place, however he was a sword master.
How would they handle the consequences when he was as strong as their instructors?
That night, in his room, Baines tended his plants.
He hadn’t forgotten his roots. If there one thing he didn’t forget during his training, it was his plants. Each day, he experinted on them. Combining new flora and testing their effects.
Now, after six years in isolation, he could identify a plant by scent alone.
Once satisfied, he stored them in his pocket space and went to sleep.
The next morning, training resud, and this ti, they focused on Vanguard techniques.
Once again, Baines was recognized above them all. After a bit of ’mistakes’, to avoid suspicions, he perford the techniques perfectly.
His achievents were bound to reach the ears of the other recruits in the other legions.
"A five-star at 18, now mastering Vanguard techniques in a day? That’s gotta be you, the Silent Recruit." By dinner, the sa talkative boy found him again.
"You’re really not gonna talk, huh?" he asked, taking his usual spot across the table. "They should’ve called you ’Iceblade.’ instead." The boy chuckled at his joke, looking sideways for a reaction.
However,
Baines said nothing.
It was precisely this silence that earned him his na, Silent Recruit. The number of people who had heard him speak was no more than ten, and that was being generous.
On the third day, Baines proved to be very proficient in his movents as a vanguard. Then orders ca for him to learn the signals, formations, and strategy.
If they had a talented person like that, they could as well train a general on the battlefield, right?
And that was when his intelligence shone more.
That night, Baines whispered to his companion:
Over the night to the fourth, Baines asked Eye to transfer all battle strategies and formations that had been used in the wars of the future.
By the fourth day, he woke up as an experienced strategist. Not only had he morized the formations, but he even made suggestions. His insights stunned the instructors.
On the fifth day of his arrival, they decided to throw him in the ’Sunblade legion’.
If possible, their upcoming trump card should be able to learn everything possible. There, the talkative boy greeted him with a wide grin and a raised brow when Baines returned it with a nod.
He also soaked up the techniques like a sponge. Within hours, Baines began adjusting Sunblade techniques, suggesting refinents that enhanced Vanguard compatibility.
His na was spreading more than normal. Well, maybe the worst part was, his na wasn’t really known. However, if one were to ask, do you know the ’Silent recruit’ or the ’Sponge sword master’ they would imdiately direct them.
Soon, rumors flooded all three legions.
Too much fa led to suspicions. Information on his origins was raised, and actions were taken.
Baines wasn’t too surprised about the developnt. However, his surprise ca when soone ca through for him.
"Vole Malakar," Baines whispered to himself when he heard the news.
The Calm Sword Master had claid to have trained him personally.
The na ’Malakar’ seed to have thrown everyone off. How did that massive family enter this equation? Their investigation was cut off like that. Besides, given Baines’ behavior—calm, disciplined, unproblematic—it wasn’t hard to believe.
His identity was cleared without issue.
On the sixth day, he was taught Sunblade strategies, signals, and battlefield roles. Once again, he impressed. This ti, the higher-ups of the recruits were here to see what Baines would change, and he didn’t disappoint.
Even the recruits began to improve, motivated by his presence. Baines was taking all the glory, but that didn’t matter, since they couldn’t reach him, they would settle for ’the man that reached after him’
In the end, the talkative recruit earned that title. He beca the second to display the techniques perfectly and move on to the commanding role.
On the seventh day, the higher-ups, now thrilled, sent Baines to the Radiant Legion to learn long-range fighting.
This ti, the Radiant recruits were terrified. And the terror turned to horror as he picked up the bow and arrow and mimicked the techniques after only just seeing it.
And he did sothing scarier.
He created his own technique.
This ti, it couldn’t go unnoticed. He was summoned to explain its origins before a panel of instructors and left them speechless.
His analysis gave even the veterans new insights. They ordered him to continue developing techniques and taught him the Radiant Legion’s formations and strategies.
Then, they all noticed sothing about Baines during his short stay.
Whenever his black scarf wasn’t covering his face, no matter the situation, Baines never smiled.
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