The early morning sky was tinged with a faint glow, and soft orange sunlight filtered through the gaps in the thin mist, casting a gentle light over the corners of the naval training base.
The serene atmosphere was broken by the sound of orderly footsteps as a group of new recruits marched in formation toward the training ground.
Zephyr stood at the front of the line, his eyes scanning the faces of each row, ensuring that everyone was ready to take on the day's mission.
Every time his gaze swept over a section, the recruits instinctively straightened their backs, clenched their hands behind them, and their expressions grew more serious.
However, there were still a few who stood lazily in the crowd. Zephyr's eyes lingered on them for a moment.
"If you don't want to participate, I won't force you. You can leave on your own, and I won't stop you."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.
Those who had been slacking off immediately perked up, their feet shifting as if to step forward, but then they seemed to remember something and quickly corrected their posture.
Zephyr understood. These individuals weren't here by choice—likely, family pressures had brought them to this training camp.
But that wasn't his concern. "Since no one is leaving, then listen to orders and complete the mission properly!"
Though known as the "Non-Killing Admiral," Zephyr was also famous among the naval higher-ups for his strict discipline.
He had no tolerance for slackers, and he would never allow one bad apple to endanger the lives of an entire group.
If those who had considered leaving continued to perform poorly, he wouldn't show them any mercy.
Zephyr looked at the recruits before him and declared, "My name is Zephyr. Most of you probably already know me, so I won't waste time introducing myself."
"I am your head instructor. From this point on, your previous ranks, achievements, and merits will be irrelevant. Here, you have only one identity: students."
"Here, the only thing you need to do is obey. If I tell you to eat dirt, you will do it! Understood?"
"UNDERSTOOD!!!"
The recruits shouted in unison, eager to meet Zephyr's expectations.
Among them, three individuals—Renji and his two companions—shouted the loudest, determined to stand out as the best in the training camp.
If they were going to do this, they were going to be the brightest stars.
"This is the second time I've organized a training camp. It will last three years. Of course, if you want to graduate early, that's possible—but only if you gain the unanimous approval of the naval higher-ups. If you can manage that, you can graduate as early as you want."
Zephyr laid out the conditions for early graduation, though he knew few would achieve it.
"You're all already elites," Zephyr continued, his gaze sweeping over the group. He noticed the subtle shifts in their expressions as he spoke. "The first lesson I will teach you is... to experience the battlefield firsthand."
Some of the recruits exchanged glances. Many of them had already fought against pirates, so Zephyr's first lesson felt almost trivial.
But others looked uneasy. They had never been on a real battlefield, and the idea filled them with reluctance.
They had joined the naval training camp to build connections, not to face life-and-death situations on their very first day.
Zephyr wasn't surprised by the mixed reactions. He had seen this many times before.
But this was a reality every naval recruit had to confront—unless they transferred to a desk job, it was only a matter of time before they faced combat.
Calmly, Zephyr said, "I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of students like you. Make sure you take care of your own safety. I don't want to have to collect your bodies because you got careless and died on the battlefield."
His words left the recruits, including Renji and his companions, stunned. A few even broke out in cold sweat.
Zephyr was clearly a seasoned instructor, and his blunt words carried weight.
Renji, however, was unfazed. He had heard similar warnings countless times before and was practically immune to them.
"Enough talk. Let's get to the details of your mission."
Before the recruits could fully process his words, Zephyr moved straight to the point.
"This sea mission is a team mission. You can form your own squads, with three to five members per group. The headquarters will dispatch ships to escort you near the mission location."
"Your task is to locate and eliminate your target using only your own skills and the help of your teammates."
"You will receive no assistance from us. You can only rely on yourselves and your teammates, so choose your partners carefully."
Zephyr's eyes scanned the group, imprinting each face in his memory. Though his words were harsh, he cared deeply for these young recruits.
They were the future of the Navy...
But he also knew that without trials, they would never grow into the pillars the Navy needed.
Zephyr continued, "You must prioritize your safety. Stay vigilant at all times. Outside of your teammates, trust no one."
"Once you complete your mission, return to the nearest naval base and contact us. We will arrange for your retrieval."
As soon as he finished speaking, the recruits began to murmur among themselves, forgetting for a moment that their instructor was still present.
Team missions weren't new to them, but being asked to form teams with people they had just met was daunting.
This mission could mean life or death, and they couldn't afford to make hasty decisions.
Moreover, they didn't even know who their targets were, which added another layer of difficulty.
The recruits were like ants on a hot pan, completely overwhelmed.
"Instructor Zephyr, what happens if we fail the mission?"
"We barely know each other. Forming teams under these conditions is too difficult."
"If we're in danger, can we request backup?"
"..."
Zephyr didn't answer their questions. These were things they should have already understood when they joined the Navy.
His cold gaze swept over those who had spoken, and his voice was icy. "Remember your identity. You are Navy recruits."
"When you joined the Navy, you should have been prepared for this. Even I could die on the battlefield at any moment. If you're not ready for that, quit now!"
His words silenced the recruits.
Perhaps they had grown too comfortable, losing the courage to charge forward.
But they couldn't forget why they had joined the Navy in the first place.
...
...