It was a day no one would forget.
The opening ceremony of Earth Imperial Defense Academy began at sharp 7 AM.
In the huge auditorium, the new cadets joined for their first ever official programme. They were dressed in the standard camouflage uniform of green and brown.
The second year cadets managing the programme stood in the background, ready to handle any problems
"Click"
"Click"
Deep and periodic footsteps resounded and everyone in the audience felt the air turn heavy. It was as if they were carrying a weight on their shoulders.
The cadets lifted their head and saw the man stepping onto the stage.
He was in military uniform adorned by the medals and his rank demanded respect — High General. The only rank higher was Marshal. There were only 3 marshals in the entire Human Federation.
The cadets held in their breath as the high general, with a scar running down on his left cheek, reached the podium.
They knew him. So they felt even more suffocated.
He was Evander. The Commander of Earth Forces. A Legendary Level 9, poised to be a Sovereign in the future.
He also had another identity. Dean of the Imperial Defense Academy.
"I hope you prepared yourself for this." Evander began his speech with a light tone. However, his indifferent expression didn't waver in the slightest.
"You came here for different reasons. Money, Power, Recognition, and more — These are what drove humans since times immemorial." He paused.
Most of the cadets felt connected.
They were hailed as geniuses since childhood, but still worked their ass off to pass the entrance.
Why?
Why so much hardship?
Why spend training 14 hours every day for 3 years?
Of course, there was an all-encompassing reason to save humanity. To protect everyone.
But what about their personal reasons?
Despite being hailed as geniuses, they sacrificed their social life and immersed in training.
Most in the room were from middle-class families. They weren't so poor that they had to fight for three meals a day. They weren't rich that their future was secure.
They wanted to secure their future. More Strength ensured money and influence. A position in military made life meaningful and respectable. The recognition in military was unlike any other.
So they embraced the hardship to make their dreams a reality.
"The premise of everything you want is survival." Evander's voice turned deeper.
"After blink, we went through nuclear wars, murloc crisis but never was our existence was so threatened than by Abyssals. Ask your grandparents, if they're still there, about Humanity's first war against Abyssals."
The cadets clenched their fist and tried to calm themselves. Their grandparents witnessed the darkest era of humanity.
"They lived in bunkers. Ate leftovers. Slept in common dorms. They had no life to speak of. They just survived." Evander took a deep breath and suppressed the grief building inside him.
"Today, we're at a crossroads. We can finish off the Abyssals and achieve peace or be taken down by them, one by one, like Pluto."
Some cadets started crying. Just 6 years ago, Pluto was invaded and captured by the Abyssals. More than a billion humans were slaughtered. Abyssals broadcasted the slaughtering of cities in major social media.
It was a traumatizing experience. Especially for the ones who recognized their dear ones.
Some of them lost their parents. Others their elder siblings. A few, their relatives. But everyone crying lost a dear one. They couldn't even give them a proper burial.
"Right now, we are in a delicate balance. We have 8 Sovereigns and they have 8 Abyss Kings. This is our chance." After pushing them into despair, Evander's words kindled hope.
"Right now, we can defend ourselves, but we can never rest in peace until we end them. The day we have the 9th Sovereign is the day humanity achieves peace." Evander lied.
'If only things are so simple. But it's good to give them hope than despair.'
As intended, there was a fire in the cadets' eyes. Even if only 8 out of 50 Billion humans became Sovereigns, they wanted to give it a shot.
"I hope to see a Sovereign from you. You are the future." Evander concluded and stepped back.
The human anthem started in the background, and everyone stared at the Human Federation flag on the stage.
The cadets stood up and saluted. They sang together. With passion, devotion, and grief.
Humanity started from tribes, to villages, to towns, to cities, to kingdoms, to empires, to nations and united as Human Alliance.
Human Alliance evolved into the Human Federation. It was an arduous journey, but one that saved humanity.
The anthem ended with the iconic line that kept humans alive.
"Hope in our Souls last forever."
A woman, also in military uniform, walked onto the stage and spoke, "Your three years is your best opportunity.
Your performance will be awarded with merit points. The cumulative merit points you have at graduation will push you ahead of your peers.
Corresponding to your mp, you will start at a higher officer level, get faster promotions and have more authority."
The cadets were inspired and aimed to earn the most merit points.
The second years looked at them and shook their head. They had the same thoughts. But reality proved them naïve.
They signed up to take care of this event for merit points. They'd never imagined being in this position a year ago.
"A second year will give you a tour of the academy and inform you of the basic info. We'll end the ceremony by awarding the first three of the entrance test." The female officer said and smiled.
"Despite having the lowest time, all the top 3 came from a single batch." She glanced at Evander, and he nodded lightly.
"Ryan Albert. Ranked Third overall."
Ryan stood up and sauntered to the stage. His head was high, and he looked casual.
Evander shook hands with Ryan and said a few words of praise.
Ryan was the grandson of Sovereign Albert and had one of the strongest backgrounds.
The cadets felt it was natural.
"Narcis Xander. Ranked Second overall."
Narcis Xander stood up stiffly and scurried to the stage. He clearly didn't like being called second.
Narcis was the second son of Sovereign Julius Xander. Him getting second was also natural and didn't earn any envy.
Evander followed the routine and said something extra, which made Narcis mad.
"I thought you'd be the first. Your brother Charles was first in his entrance test."
"My bad." Narcis barely held himself together. Evander might respect his father, but he had no respect for him. So Narcis kept himself in check from this so called Future Sovereign.
"Varian Konstant. Ranked first overall."
Narcis felt veins pop up on his forehead. He just couldn't forget this name.
'Why?! If you just died, I would've been first. Now everyone says I'm inferior to that bastard Charles.' His blood boiled, and he was barely holding it in.
The cadets were eager to see who this mysterious person was. He even surpassed Narcis Xander, undoubtedly the strongest freshman, by a long shot.
There was envy and curiosity at "Varian".
The auditorium was silent. Everyone waited for this first ranker to show himself.
And they waited.
And waited.
The silence persisted for a while and it turned awkward.
The woman on the stage signalled to the second years, and they checked the IDs of the ones in the stadium.
They shook their heads at her.
'What guts!' The woman thought and looked at Evander. His face was expressionless as ever and he gave her a brief look.
'... I wish I was a telepath and communicate with your mind, Mr. Evander.' She lamented.
"Varian Konstant. First Rank. Come onto the stage." She said perfunctorily. She'd just have to repeat one more time and be done with it.
"Final call, Varian Konstant, are you here?" She was about to end the fiasco.
"Yes, Mam!" Varian dashed into the room and yelled.