'No!' Kai thought, dodging the wooden sword at the last second. Even though he could see it coming, it was faster than he had calculated.
It didn't stop there; Gray's strikes came in double after the first strike. They were brutal, calculated, and fast, enough to knock Kai down, not to kill, but even with that, Kai knew how much pain would roam in him if a single strike touched him.
Every eye around him and the lieutenant widened when the lieutenant's movement became faster. The movements were so intense Kai's body nearly failed him. He didn't know exactly what to do and had no time to think twice.
After several struggles, he remembered the movements of the soldiers he saw in his village. Instead of dodging, he moved the wooden dagger quickly, meeting Gray's.
A loud crashing sound echoed from the impact. Kai was thrown several meters back, flying, but Gray stayed in his place.
In the air, the boy straightened himself and landed on his feet, breathing heavily for the first time after the shadows merged themselves with him.
His hands trembled, but Lieutenant Gray saw a strange light forcing its way from the boy's grip and into the sword and knew he was just holding his strength back.
Gray attacked faster this time. Kai tightened his hand around the daggers, as if knowing where the lieutenant would strike. Instead of meeting the lieutenant's strike head-on, he instinctively deflected it.
The knocked stick flew by his side, hitting the ground with a dry cracking sound and breaking on impact. But before the boy could celebrate, he saw a palm already inches away from his chest. He moved his two small arms and crossed them over his chest.
Yet still, Gray's palm hit him, sending a terrible burning into his body. He got thrown back again, this time feeling a slight break of bone in his arms.
Staring at Lieutenant Gray's calmness, Kai inhaled deeply, his hands still at his chest.
'I thought I was stronger now, but what is this? He's much stronger, faster, and moves strangely. Did I let the expressions around control me?' Kai thought. He had thought dodging would be easy.
Gray, who hadn't experienced this in a long time, moved his hand in the air, about to attack again when one of the soldiers shouted that it had passed two minutes.
Kai collapsed, sitting on the ground and breathing heavily.
"Haha! Brat. No, Kai, congratulations. You've passed as the first novice soldier of the year yet to be assigned a badge and a skill grade." Gray approached with a sincere smile on his face, extending his hand to Kai, and helped him get up.
Kai had mixed feelings, but happiness overshadowed all the feelings of getting what he wanted.
'This isn't as bad as it looked. Lieutenant Gray is absolutely the strongest and fastest person here. If he trains me, I can defeat him easily,' Kai said in his mind, staring at Gray.
Gray felt a slight shiver when he noticed that look. It was as if the boy had made a rival out of him. He found it amusing but liked the boy even more than the previous ones he had faced throughout the years.
A sudden rumbling sound came from Kai's stomach, letting him tear his gaze from the lieutenant, who was now looking at him with sharp eyes.
"I'm hungry. I need food," he said, brushing his hand slightly over his chest.
"Alright. Max, take the boy to the cafeteria to eat before the others," Gray said, pointing to the soldier who first hated Kai.
No one uttered a word as Kai and the soldier walked out of the courtyard.
When the door shut, Gray looked at the ground where his wooden katana stick had broken. He clenched his fist, remembering the whole fight.
'This kid is truly a reincarnated monster. His strength, reflexes, reaction time, speed, and fighting instinct are all above an ordinary human child's own. The only thing that makes him less alarming is his small body.'
'His awkward movements make sense if he's never fought before. But what I still don't get is how he followed all my movements as if he had them drawn in his mind.' Gray sighed and turned toward the remaining recruits.
'His eyes, how can a human have eyes of two rivalries? He'll surely surpass me in less than a year if he's consistent with this attitude. But this place is too small for him.'
"Share the rest among yourselves," Gray said, crossing his hands on his chest and watching the soldiers move in groups towards each and every soldier.
…
'This child has the talent to achieve what I couldn't. I'll train him with everything I've got and send a letter to the headquarters to come for him when I'm done,' Gray said with a happy face as he walked out of the courtyard entrance.
The other recruits, who were waiting for their turn to step on the arena, stood there reminiscing on how the lieutenant fought with the little boy. Some tried repeating the moves they learned through that fight and got the chance to defeat or reach exactly one minute before falling.
"Wipe those looks from your eyes. Don't try comparing yourselves to the little boy. He's someone only strong people can fight against. You can try him if you don't want your life," the junior soldier said, gesturing toward the group Kai left.
After all the fights had taken place, some sat on the courtyard floor, clutching their shoulders, while the few ladies among them stretched themselves on the ground as if dead.
…
'What food am I going to choose when we get to the cafet… what word was that?' Kai thought, scratching his hand on his scalp as he followed the steps of the soldier.
The smell of meat and fresh bread hit them after walking for a long time. It was practically empty when they got inside, only six soldiers sitting and chatting in a corner.
The soldier went and brought meats and five loaves of bread, but the little boy finished them within minutes, forcing the soldier to go back for another set.
He felt happy, finally being able to eat properly after coming to the city. In fact, ever since his body began to grow stronger, he'd been feeling hungrier than usual.
Meanwhile, the conversation of the other soldiers reached his ears.
"How many do you think will pass this year?" one of them said.
"I doubt ten will even pass, at most maybe seven, same as the number that passed last year," another grumbled.
"No, this time it's different. I saw more numbers than usual. Also, both the bandits and monsters are cutting off our only supply route for food. If the number keeps being the same, famine will strike the city into chaos."
Kai chewed the second set of bread that was brought to him as he listened to every word.
'The bandits are what? I know of monsters. But the lieutenant I fought with is strong. I think he alone can fight the monsters,' he thought curiously.
At that moment, Gray entered the cafeteria. The six soldiers stood up and greeted him respectfully. He nodded back before approaching and sitting at the table where Kai was.