Author’s notes: I will use “[ ]” for the alien language. I hope you enjoy the story.

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The news left the audience speechless. The Global Army was offering a free journey to Onia where the recruits could get real-combat training.

Needless to say, whispers began to resound among the recruits. None of them managed to remain silent in that situation. Even the wealthiest kids felt excited.

“The Global Army can’t pay for your Master,” Lieutenant Unchai explained, “But they can join you on Onia if they can cover the expenses of the travel. Yet, some of them will need to obtain permits, so make them contact the related offices.”

The few recruits who still had doubts about that chance felt relieved to hear that. Some of them had strict training programs to follow, and a trip could considerably delay their improvements.

“Please understand that this is a special situation,” Lieutenant Unchai continued. “We must make sure that the members of the special class know how to protect themselves. Also, this travel won’t affect the normal schedule of your lessons. You will still have to face the missions at the end of the semester.”

“What do you think?” Martha asked Khan while keeping her voice down.

“They are giving me the chance to go to another planet,” Khan said while wearing an excited smile. “How can I even miss it?”

“This sounds so interesting,” Martha exclaimed as excitement inevitably seeped into her voice. “I have never been to another planet. We will also get the chance to see the Ef’i!”

“I wonder how off my accent is,” Khan whispered. “I’ve only learnt a few words.”

“I saw you taking notes during Professor Thogett’s lessons now that I think about it,” Martha teased him while pulling his sleeve. “Tell me something in their language.”

“[Hello, peace,]” Khan said in a strange language that featured guttural sounds. “I only know these two words.”

“Are they useful?” Martha asked.

“I hope,” Khan laughed before moving his attention back to Lieutenant Unchai.

The Lieutenant had removed his phone from the floor and had begun to descend from the stage. The recruits opened a path for him, and the soldier raised his voice once more to explain the last details behind that mission.

“We depart in one week,” Lieutenant Unchai explained. “Your phones will gain access to a new menu tonight. You must sign it to become part of this event. You can also find other important information there, so read carefully.”

Lieutenant Unchai then made his way through the crowd, but he slowed down when he passed next to Khan. His eyes inevitably fell on him, and a faint smile even appeared on his expression.

“You were a natural-born fighter apparently,” Lieutenant Unchai whispered before going on his way and leaving the basement.

The recruits remained in the hall, and their voice inevitably rose now that the soldier had left. Everyone was excited. The sole idea of going to another planet made them unable to contain themselves.

Even the usually calm Luke seemed interested in that opportunity. His fingers tapped on his phone non-stop as he made plans for the imminent mission.

“What is it?” Martha asked when she noticed Khan’s pensive expression. “I thought you would have loved this chance.”

“I do love it,” Khan replied while scratching his head, “But I don’t know how to warn my father about this. He should have gotten out of jail by now.”

Martha’s excitement slightly dispersed when she remembered about Khan’s situation. His father was in the Slums, where contacting a single person was fairly difficult.

“Try asking Lieutenant Dyester about that,” Martha suggested. “He might not be able to find him, but he can warn him if he visits the camp.”

“That sounds good enough,” Khan exclaimed. “Thank you, Martha. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

Khan then left the basement in a hurry. He had to attend his usual training with Lieutenant Dyester and warn him about the mission. His schedule would probably change after that news.

Martha stared at his departing figure. She remained a bit disappointed that he didn’t even bother to exchange a few more words with her, but the excitement about the incoming mission made her forget about that.

After all, her entire class would go to another planet. She would have time to spend with Khan.

Khan ran toward the prisons of the camp, and the trapdoor promptly opened as soon as he stepped on the lawn.

“You are late, Dog, “Lieutenant Dyester shouted from the bottom of the basement.

Khan ignored the new fake name that the Lieutenant had chosen for him lately. He ran down the staircase and began to explain the contents of the meeting as soon as the trapdoor closed.

“A training camp on Onia sounds interesting,” Lieutenant Dyester said while lighting a cigarette. “I wonder if they’ll make you fight against Ef’i. Maybe the self-protection thing is just an excuse to prepare you for the tournaments.”

“I didn’t think about that,” Khan honestly revealed. “Still, should I go? I can’t miss this chance, right?”

Khan was almost begging Lieutenant Dyester to share his opinion. His curiosity was exploding, but he would accept the soldier’s words if he happened to be against the travel.

“You must go,” Lieutenant Dyester announced. “You have fought against weaker kids and sparred with me for two months. It’s time to understand your actual level and get a real idea of where you stand compared to your peers.”

“Peers and aliens,” Khan reminded him.

“We should stop sparring then,” Lieutenant Dyester continued while ignoring his previous words. “Focus on your forms without using mana. Let’s maximize your muscle memory before the trip.”

“No mana?” Khan asked with a disappointed tone.

His training with the Lightning-demon style was going well, and the mental exercises only helped in the process. His meditations even strengthened his body and made it able to memorize different moves quickly. Khan had almost reached the point when he could perform a few correct techniques with mana.

“Mastery beats unstable performances,” Lieutenant Dyester snorted. “You have almost removed your bad habits, but your ability must go past that. Stabilize your foundation before building on top of it.”

Khan nodded, but he still felt a bit disappointed. Regular techniques were nice, but their versions with mana were far stronger. He had superpowers ready for him, but his Master wanted him to stick with the basics.

“You will get there,” Lieutenant Dyester said when he noticed Khan’s expression. “You must breathe, dream, and live for the Lightning-demon style. Adding mana will be far easier if you don’t have to think about your movements. Moreover, it will make you less useless in an actual battle.”

Khan nodded again. He understood Lieutenant Dyester’s point. He only felt restless about using mana.

“Stop looking so depressed if you understand!” Lieutenant Dyester suddenly shouted. “Activate the damned holograms! You have a long day ahead of you. I want at least two hundred perfect executions of the entire training program.”

“I don’t have enough time for that!” Khan complained.

“Then you keep trying until you make the time!” Lieutenant Dyester shouted. “Go on. Start from the first and reach the end. I hope you won’t commit mistakes during the first cycle.”

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.

.

Khan’s training became even harsher during that week. Lieutenant Dyester didn’t let him rest for even a second. He wanted to finish imprinting the Lightning-demon style on his body and remove the last trace of his bad habits.

Khan also mentioned his father during that week. He had no way of contacting him from the training camp, but Lieutenant Dyester promised that he would take care of the matter.

Lieutenant Dyester didn’t have a good reputation, but that only helped Khan’s cause. The soldier could warn all the buildings that handled the acceptance of guests and similar about Khan’s father. Those in charge of those offices would send Bret to him if he happened to visit the camp.

The week eventually passed, and Khan prepared for the imminent travel. The new menu on the phone had instructed him about the event. It would last only two weeks, and all the recruits would go directly toward the location of the semestral missions after that period.

His first semester inside the training camp would end in a mere month, and Khan could already sense how much he had changed during that short period. He had friends now, and his body had never felt so strong.

On Monday, the special class gathered in a distant area of the training camp early in the morning. No recruit roamed through the streets at that hour, so no one could question the reason for their presence in that place.

Lieutenant Unchai soon appeared in the distance. The soldier greeted the recruits and led them toward an immense building nearby. The structure resembled a three-story-tall stadium that occupied a large area.

The group entered the building through large metal doors that slid open as soon as Lieutenant Unchai neared them. They had to go through a series of body scanners and sign a few forms before the soldiers protecting the entrance allowed them in the insides of the structure.

A series of soldiers wearing white medical coats tinkered with the many consoles placed at the sides of a large circular room. Khan could identify all of them as scientists, but he ignored the reason behind their presence there.

“I’ve never been to a teleport,” Martha suddenly said when she pointed at the large structure at the center of the hall. “They say that everyone pukes on their first time.”