Lucien took a slow, deep and measured breath as he stepped out of the medical trailer where he spent his night and felt the chill of early morning breeze. The camp was stirring—soldiers and recruits moving among mobile trailers, equipment crates, and weapon racks. The Fifth Division's makeshift command post looked more like a homeless shelter for animals than a recovery center, but it was his new reality and home. He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling Emiluna's gentle touch at the hospital, Jason's energetic encouragement, and Rylen's clipped warning that he is still an unofficial member of the fifth until he'd proven himself that he deserves to be Nightguard force.
Jason slapped Lucien's back with a supportive grin on his face."Ready for Week 2 young champ?"
Lucien said with a smile on his face. "What do think? Of course I ´ m ready Jason."
Emiluna fell into step beside him, her pink hair swinging as always. "You did great job with understanding the theory previous week. Now comes the action."
Rylen, scanning his tablet and led the recruits towards the large briefing tent where the entire current cohort—fifty hopefuls—had gathered. Inside, low chatter between the young hopefuls rose to a hush as he stepped forward.
"Listen up," Rylen began. "Fifty candidates started this year. Only those who meet the minimum requirements advance to Week 3 of this month long trial. Today we begin Week 2 of the trial: six days of intensive combat training to help you to evolve to the next level, followed by one day of live exercises against real monsters."
He tapped on the holographic display that sprang to life between two poles. First a map of the training grounds appeared, overlaid with fifty green dots—each one of them representing a recruit—and secondly a grid marking the arena.
"After six days of intensive training, on Day 7, you'll face Level 5 and very weak Level 4 monsters deployed throughout this enormous arena. There are one hundred monsters in total spread over the entire arena: ninety of them are Level 5 and ten Level 4. Your objective is to score at least ten points to proceed to the next trial. Each Level 5 kill or neutralization grants you one point; each Level 4 kill grants you five points. Points do not carry over—fail to reach ten on Day 7, and you're out of this trial."
A murmur rippled through the crowd but Rylen clapped his hands and continued
Rylen clicked forward to a new slide which was titled "Week 2: Skill trials & Combat Conditioning Combat.''
"Days 1-6 will test your raw physical and combat capacities," Rylen explained. "Day 1: Strength Test. Day 2: Speed Test. Day 3: Durability Test. Day 4: Stamina and Endurance Test. Day 5: Combat Skills Test. Day 6: Mental control & meditation with Emiluna."
He turned his face to Lucien ´ s directly. "Your performance in these six days determines if you're ready to face the monsters on Day 7 Lucien. Prepare yourself well."
The Intensive combat training started:
Day 1 — Strength Test
The recruits gathered at a long row of weighted sleds the recruits gathered at a long line of weighted sleds and they couldn't wait to start. Beside each sled lay weighted plates, ranging from 50 to 1500 lbs. At the far end of the course was a timing gate. Each candidate would push the sled from the start line to finish line which was about 200 yards far; the heaviest sled successfully moved from start to finish and back marked their strength tier.
When Lucien's turn arrived, he set his shoulders behind the handle of a sled loaded to 1,000 lbs. He braced himself, muscles full with adrenaline. With a big grunt, he lunged himself forward. The sled budged—inch by inch—until at last it slid smoothly across the ground. Lucien almost sprinted, pushing with every last bit of his newfound power. He crossed the gate in record time and reversed direction immediately, pushing the sled back to the start.
A digital display blinked: 1,000 lbs — PASSED.
Nearby recruits cheered for him. Jason gave him a thumbs-up. Lucien took a deep breath and he felt relief and pride mixing in his veins.
Day 2 — Speed Test
At dawn, the recruits lined up on a 440 yard track. Each wore a soft harness linked to a radar gun. One by one, they sprinted as hard as they possibly could.
Lucien stood in the line. He felt the tension in his legs and stomach—still recovering, but eager. The starter's horn was shot. He exploded forward leaving everyone behind him, muscles firing in perfect sequence, his recent injuries completely forgotten. In a instant, he crossed the finish line.
The radar gun displayed: 100 mph.
Whistles and cheering echoed around him. He had clocked a speed no ordinary human could ever reach. Rylen nodded with a smile as Lucien jogged back, breath rushing but his heary was calm and steady.
Day 3 — Durability Test
A hard durability drill awaited the recruits on the training grounds: recruits sat against a wall while an instructor struck them repeatedly with an iron-reinforced baton. The goal was to endure those hits—those who lasted longest without flinching, bleeding, or screaming proved their toughness and their determination.
Lucien sat with his back against the wall. His ribs and spine luckily still ached from the monster's strike, but he brazed himself. The instructor's baton fell again and again.
Each blow echoed through his bones. It hurt. Doubt whispered that he might break, but Lucien clenched his teeth togehter and focused. He only thought about 1 thing: I will endure.
The hits continued until recruits began to slowly drop out one after another—some after ten strikes, others after twenty. Lucien's vision blurred as the baton struck his shoulder again, but he remained seated. After thirty solid blows to Lucien his body, the instructor called time.
He staggered to his feet, bruised and hurt but undefeated.
Rylen tapped on his tablet. "Durability: just above average. You held out longer than most could, given your injuries. Well done."
Lucien allowed himself a drowsy smile.
Day 4 — Stamina/ Endurance Test
For Day 4, recruits braced themselves in two positions: a plank against a flat surface and a wall-sit.
First, Lucien assumed himself into the plank position, forearms and toes on the ground, body stiff. The test began. His core burned him within seconds, sweat dripping of his forehead, but he held firm. One minute… two… three… four...until finally, at six minutes, his arms trembled and he lowered himself to the ground.
Minutes later, he was up against the wall, back pressed flat against it, legs bent at ninety degree angle. His thighs hurt very badly. Each passing second felt like an hour to him, but he refused to fail. At seven minutes, his legs finally gave out, and he slid down to sit down.
Rylen recorded: Plank: 6 min& Wall-sit: 7 min. Above average for a recruit.
Day 5 — Combat Skills Test
Real combat training: recruits squared off in one-on-one drills. Armed with wooden swords and bucklers, they sparred in timed battles which were 3 minutes per battle . Points were awarded for accurate strikes, successful defenses, and battle IQ.
Lucien stepped into a battle against a highly rated recruit from the Division named Kagetsu Fushikado. He wasn't that tall about 5'7, and had black hair pulled back. Even though he didn't look dangerous or strong he was the biggest prospect that entered the trials this year. The battle started and Lucien only remembered a little about formal swordplay but relied on his newfound fast reflexes. His first clash saw him parry awkwardly and not technically correct, then Lucien landed a glancing blow. The opponent lunged forward; Lucien sidestepped with agility, landing a counter. Yet his striking lacked finesse; his stance was off. The bout ended with Lucien losing on points, 2–5.
Rylen nodded thoughtfully: "Combat: Weak/ below average. But this will improve in the near future."
Lucien scuffed his boot. He had raw power, but lacked technique. He made a mental note to drill footwork, parries and strategic insight relentlessly.
Day 6 — Meditation & Mental Control
The final training day focused on the mental state of the students. Recruits sat cross-legged on a hard surface, eyes closed, guided by Emiluna's gentle voice. The aim was to quiet the mind, resist impulses, and to be able to remain calm under stress.
Lucien struggled. Every moment of stillness brought intrusive thoughts of the God of Vengeance. His mind raced with images of destruction and fury. He got attracted to it for a second but then he shook, unable to find silence. Tears started to come out of his eyes as guilt and power warred within him.
Emiluna opened her eyes and placed a comforting hand on Luciens his shoulder. "Breathe. One breath at a time." But Lucien could not still the storm he had inside of him. The session ended with him the last to open his eyes— he was defeated but determined.
Dawn of Day 7
Lucien awoke before sunrise, muscles felt as painfull as ever but his spirit was unbroken. Today was the real test: tracking and defeating actual monsters—90 Level 5 and 10 Level 4 that roamed the training grounds. He flexed his hands, remembering the drills, the numbers, and Rylen's warning: 10 points to advance to the next trial.
As he laced his boots, Jason dropped by with extra rations. "Good luck out there buddy," he said. "Just remember: you can do this, your built different."
Emiluna added, "Stay focused. And remember your heart—you're not just power. You're Lucien."
Rylen appeared in the doorway, helmet under his arm. "Gather at the staging area in fifteen minutes. Let's see what you learned this week."
Lucien squared his shoulders. He was still an unofficial member, his place not guaranteed. But after six days of grueling tests, he was as ready as he'd ever be.
He stepped outside into the dark night. The training ground stretched before him—empty now, but soon to be alive with Monsters.
His pulse raced with anticipation. He was Lucien—no surname, no past—yet determined to carve out his future here.