Bishop F7

The third strategy meeting had concluded, leaving the Zodiac Warriors with their most daunting challenge yet: assembling an army capable of taking on the enemy forces.

The task at hand was monumental - over 200 sergeants had been assigned to train a formidable force of 1,800 soldiers.

However, the Zodiac Warriors were not ones to shy away from adversity.

They knew that their success would depend on transforming untrained recruits into a disciplined fighting force, a challenge that they were eager to tackle.

Their first order of business was to designate training grounds.

With only ten percent of the land available for soldier training, meticulous planning and management would be required to ensure that every inch was optimized for maximum impact.

As the six core members of the Zodiac Warriors, they had been tasked with leading the troops as generals.

It was both an honor and a tremendous responsibility, and they did not take it lightly.

With their vast knowledge and expertise, they were confident in their ability to transform these raw recruits into a force to be reckoned with.

They were determined to use whatever means necessary to achieve their objective.

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The sun had just started to rise over the horizon when the sergeant burst into the barracks, barking orders at the bleary-eyed recruits.

"Get up, you maggots! You think war is going to wait for you to catch up on your beauty sleep?"

The recruits scrambled out of bed, pulling on their uniforms and lacing up their boots.

They had only been in training for a few days, but already they knew that the sergeant meant business.

The next few weeks were a blur of physical conditioning, drill and ceremonies, and weapons training.

They learned how to march in formation, assemble and disassemble their rifles, and engage in basic marksmanship training.

For many of the recruits, it was the hardest thing they had ever done.

They were pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally.

They were woken up before dawn and forced to run laps around the barracks, do push-ups until their arms gave out, and crawl through mud pits until they were covered in filth.

But as the days went on, they began to see the payoff.

They were stronger, faster, and more disciplined than they had ever been before.

They learned to work together as a team, watch each other's backs, and rely on each other when the going got tough.

As the end of basic training approached, the recruits were put through a final test: a grueling obstacle course that included climbing walls, crawling through tunnels, and running through a gauntlet of smoke bombs and simulated gunfire.

The recruits were exhausted and battered, but they pushed on.

In the end, they all made it through the obstacle course, some with bruises and scrapes, others with a sense of triumph and pride.

They had passed their first test as soldiers.

As they collapsed onto their bunks that night, exhausted but elated, the recruits knew that they still had a long way to go.

After completing basic training that lasted for six weeks, the soldiers were sent to the advanced training camp, where they would learn the more specialized skills required for their particular roles in the army.

Some were trained as snipers, others as medics, and still others as airship pilots.

For the first few days, the soldiers were given a chance to rest and recover from the grueling basic training.

But soon enough, the instructors were barking orders and pushing them to their limits once again.

The days were filled with intense physical training, including long runs, obstacle courses, and weight lifting.

But the soldiers also spent countless hours in the classroom, learning about military strategy, tactics, and the intricacies of the weapons they would be using.

Each soldier was given a specific role, and they trained relentlessly to become experts in their field.

The snipers learned how to blend into their surroundings and take out enemy targets from long distances.

The medics learned how to treat wounds and save lives in the heat of battle.

And the pilots learned how to operate their vehicles with precision and skill.

As the weeks went on, the soldiers grew more confident in their abilities.

They knew that they were being trained to be the best of the best, and they were determined to succeed.

But it wasn't just the physical and technical skills that they were learning.

They were also learning the importance of discipline, teamwork, and trust.

They were taught to rely on their fellow soldiers and to work together seamlessly to achieve their objectives.

The instructors were tough but fair, they pushed the soldiers to their limits, but they also took the time to mentor and guide them.

They knew that the soldiers' lives would be in their hands someday, and they wanted to ensure that they were as prepared as possible.

As the advanced training came to a close, the soldiers were given one final test: a simulated battle scenario.

They were split into teams and tasked with taking out enemy targets while avoiding their casualties.

"Remember, the enemies are just automatons," the commanding officer reminded them before the simulation began.

The battle was intense and grueling, with explosions and gunfire all around.

As they fought on, the soldiers began to notice something strange about the enemy targets they were taking out.

One of the 'automatons' suddenly shouted, "Please! Please don't kill me! I have a wife and family to feed!" The sound was no longer that of an automaton, but of an actual human.

"What the...?" one of the soldiers said in confusion.

The commanding officer's chilling command shattered the soldiers' confidence and sense of duty. "KILL THEM, NOW!"

The soldiers were in shock and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.

They began to turn on each other, and their once-solid bonds shattered in an instant.

Screams and gunfire filled the air as they fought to survive.

The simulated battle scenario had turned into a gruesome and deadly reality, with no clear distinction between friend and foe.

Blood stained the ground as the soldiers relentlessly pursued their teammates, driven by a twisted desire to be the ones who survived.

In the end, only half of the soldiers remained standing, their bodies battered and bruised, their minds scarred by the horrors they had witnessed.

The rest lay motionless on the ground, their lifeless eyes staring up at the sky.

As the survivors gathered together, they knew that they had passed the final test, but at what cost?

"What have we done?" one of them said in disbelief. "We killed our own brothers in arms."

"Happy New Year! Today marks the first day of Dragonbreath, and congratulations to those who have survived the final test," said the Vice-captain of Zodiac Warriors, smiling. "For those who do not wish to fight or want to return to their peaceful lives, you may go."

The soldiers looked at each other, the weight of their actions heavy on their hearts.

"I can't believe this is what it's come to," one of them said. "We were trained to be killers, but we never imagined that we would have to turn on our own."

"I killed innocent people," another soldier said, tears streaming down his face. "I was only here to end all forms of enslavement or maybe die an honorable death, but what have I done? If I were to withdraw now, I would just be wasting the lives of all my comrades. I don't have a wife or family, I'm just an orphan. I killed someone who has a family or even has their parents sick in bed. Even the devil himself won't forgive me in hell."

After completing their intense sixteen-week advanced training, the soldiers' world was shattered.

The sergeants, who had been their mentors, had either gone missing, retired, or tragically committed suicide.

The soldiers themselves had been pushed to their limits, and many of them couldn't handle the pressure.

One-third of them had taken their own lives, leaving only 600 remaining.

It was then that the world changed forever.

Out of those 600 soldiers, two out of three of them awakened to what the world now calls the 'System.'

No one knows how they got it or when they got it; it was as if it had chosen them.

The 'System' granted them inhumane power and knowledge beyond comprehension.

Some soldiers resonated with an element, becoming ten times more powerful than a normal soldier who didn't have the 'System.'

The remaining soldiers were left to grapple with this new reality and the terrifying power of their fellow soldiers.

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During the third strategy meeting.

...

The tension in the strategy room was palpable as the captain spoke up, her voice trembling with emotion.

"No! I will not allow this. Have you gone insane? Forcing system awakening is illegal and inhumane in every possible way," she said, her words piercing through the heavy silence.

The vice-captain shifted uncomfortably in her seat, knowing that she had to speak up. "Captain, I don't think I can disagree with this one. Every war that used the forced system awakening tactic has never been lost. This is our only chance," she said, trying to reason with her.

The captain turned to her with tears streaming down her face, her heart breaking at the thought of what they were about to do. "You agreed to this, Amy?" she asked, her voice choked with emotion.

The vice-captain hesitated to reply for a moment, her own tears threatening to spill over. She knew that this was a difficult decision, but they had no other choice. "I did, captain. We all did," she replied softly, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.

As the captain turned to leave the room, her steps faltered as she struggled to hold back her tears.

Her heart was heavy with the weight of the decision they had just made, and the thought of the lives they were about to sacrifice was almost too much to bear.

Feeling a lump form in her throat, the vice-captain stood up and called out to her, extending her hand in a desperate attempt to comfort her friend.

"Captain!" she cried out, her voice trembling with emotion.

The captain stopped in her tracks, her back turned to the vice-captain as tears streamed down her face.

She hesitated for a moment, wanting nothing more than to turn around and seek solace in the arms of her friend, but the weight of her responsibilities kept her rooted in place.

With a heavy heart, the captain slowly shook her head and continued to walk out of the room, leaving the vice-captain standing there with tears in her eyes and an ache in her heart.

She knew that the captain needed her now more than ever, but she also knew that sometimes, there was nothing she could do but stand by and watch as the people she loved were consumed by the weight of the world.

The chief strategist cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. "That will be the end of our meeting. Thank you for joining," he said, dismissing everyone.

Airi couldn't leave without asking one last question, her voice choked with tears. "Mika...? Is this the only way?"

Mika looked up at her, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "In a world that's gone to hell, you have to be the devil to survive," he replied, his voice heavy with resignation, and his eyes filled with despair.