Shi Lang was taken away by Commander Aries in a heavy lev vehicle. The man drove the thing like it was nothing. Shi Lang was prepared for this but he did not expect him to be such a fast driver. The man grunted, “These things, can they not have some more friction with the asphalt? Too difficult to drift around the corner.”
Shi Lang said, “Sir, that is why it does not have tires in it.”
Aries glared at him and then shifted his gaze back at the road. He said, “Do you know, that only this is the place where you have the privilege of driving these lev-cars. Outside the primary solar system, The Federation is still the same old earth. We use the tired jeeps at the battlefront.”
Shi Lang was surprised and asked, “What? But that is opposite of what they show you on the recruitment video.”
Aries chuckled and said, “I want you to enroll?” His chuckle turned into a burst of laughter. They stopped at a signal and he said, “Kid, I will tell you now. The recruitment video is made at the places where The Federation has a firm foothold and that place is under our command, you think, they will wage wars on planets while equipping the soldiers with a lev vehicle. Do you not know the conditions you need to drive these around?”
What he said was true, the lev vehicles needed a special magnetic node inside the road to be driven and without that, it was not possible. That was why Lev-cars could only stay on the roads and never do they get involved in an accident on the sidewalk or the road divider. Who, in their right minds will install the magnetic nodes on a war front?
So, Shi Lang digested the fact given to him. The boy said, “So where is this camp?”
Aries smirked and said, “You will find out soon.”
The signal turned green and the lev vehicle moved again.
…
After twenty minutes, Shi Lang stood in front of the porthole window as he watched the planet where he spent his whole life, turning into a distant object. He could not believe what was happening to him. The boy suddenly heard a voice, “Everyone, this is your captain speaking, please strap in, we are now going in space jump.”
Space Jump, using advanced tech, the speed of the vehicle can be increased to the point where it can make the ship travel faster than light. It was more like scrambling the particles of the ship, projecting them at a calculated distance in a matter of seconds, and putting them back together. All this was to be done within a second. However, those who go through this taking-apart and putting back up feel like this second was akin to a long time.
Shi Lang sat down on a chair and pressed a button on the handrest, an automatic seat belt strapped him in. Aries sat beside him and said, “Kid, hold on to the paper bag for me.”
Shi Lang did not know what the man meant but he did it anyway. The next moment, the teenager could have sworn that he was regretting his decision of accepting the camp invitation. As he was cursing himself, the squeezing stopped, followed by strong dizziness and then flushing his guts.
He brought the paper bag close to his mouth and puked out all he ate in the morning. Aries just undid his straps and got up. The man stretched his body lazily and said, “It always feels light after a good squeeze. Huh, how the good things cannot last.”
With that said, he walked out of the passenger cabin. Shi Lang did not pay attention to this guy and mumbled, “This is what happens when you replace spirit laws with technologies. You knock-offs.”
He was feeling grumpy at this moment. The boy had never felt such sour in his mouth. After ten minutes, it was announced that the ship was about to be docked at the port. He stood up with effort and circulated his blood. The circulation made him revitalize and sighed as the wariness shook off his body.
He stood up and exited the passenger cabin. This cabin was big enough to hold hundred people but at this moment, only Shi Lang and Aries were traveling along with the crew. The boy got out and following the lights on the corridor ceiling came to the exit port. Before he boarded the ship, he was told to follow the lights and not to wander around the ship, if he did not wish to be shot at sight.
Aries told him this was a military vessel and thus, the strictness. He spotted Commander Aries standing in wait. The man said, “Took you long enough to get your shit together.”
The boy did not reply, he realized that he was slow in his recovery. The commander gestured and the two people got off the ship through the hatch door. Shi Lang looked around and found himself in a big military port, the place was crawling with soldiers and mech patrols. They all carried the latest guns and armor.
Slight tension was there in the wind. The boy asked, “Is this a war front?”
Commander Aries nodded and said, “Welcome to Ao. This planet is located at the border of the frontier, this is the second closest planet to the frontier. The enemy force here is called Shamantis. These people specialize in something we might call witchcraft. They are ferocious fighters. The situation of this warfront has been stagnant for the past two decades.”
Shi Lang asked, “Why had the Federation not pulled back?”
Aries said, “This place is rich in one thing, Ores. There you have the answers, and there you have your camp.” the man lifted his finger and pointed at the entrance of a desolate-looking compound.
Above the entrance, sharp words wrote Camp Ragnarok.
Shi Lang said, “No wonder the survival rate is low.” as he stepped forward. Aries said, “All the best, I will not be going inside. See you if you manage to come out.”
He did not take a step inside, however, Shi Lang had already crossed the entrance threshold. He turned around and found that the way back was now blocked with a magnetic field. He raised his eyebrow and took a step to the side. A hole appeared in the ground where he stood.
An eery voice sounded, “Good reflexes and keen perception. You pass the first test. Welcome to camp Ragnarok.”
Shi Lang looked around and found nobody, he said, “Thank you.”
The boy was smart enough to know that the person who struck at him, does not want to show himself. So, even if he asked, it will be a waste of time. The voice did not react, “Follow the lights and report to the camp master.”
A few meters ahead from the entrance was a cottage. Other than that it was all just a small compound. At the entrance of the compound, a bulb was blinking. The boy sighed and walked over.
…
Inside a dim-lit room, a screen was projecting Shi Lang’s performance in the group battle a day ago. In front of the screen sat five people shrouded in darkness. One of them said, “He is brave.”
The rest of the people did not react, one man said, “Can I have my fun with this one? He does not look like those dolls.”
A sigh sounded and a lady spoke up, “Carlos, when can you stop talking like a psychopath?”
The man chuckled and the lady said, “Take it easy on the start. See what is his limit. Slowly break his limit and increase it. Understand?”
Four voices replied, “Understood, Campmaster.”
The speaker was General Knight, a.k.a. the war maiden of The Federation. The lights of the room came back on but the other people were already gone. Only General Charlotte Knight was left, as she raised her head the screen displayed how Shi Lang was making his way to her office. She mumbled, “Let me see if you are what they told me you are student Shi Lang.”