Episode 65

It's been a few months since Xing and co. entered the Aeternum army, while other's has chosen to enter the various department, Xing applies to stay in the army even after the mandatory training and service. He was glad and proud to call himself an Aeternum Soldier, wearing the all-black military uniform was his pride, and by the second months he entered the Dungeon Clearing and Expedition Division, he got recommended to enter a Special division called Aeternum Special Forces, known to Aeternums as the Swords of Aeternum.

Only the best of the best can enter the divisions, among 100 that were recommended only 10 stayed, the training they had in the division was the hardest and the toughest even the Knights Crusade training can't be compared to it. Some say that Special Forces soldiers were the 3rd most powerful Division after The Maidens of Aeternum that were personally trained by His Excellency Mr.President himself. At this moment there's only 100 Special Force Soldier that in the division. Normally they work in a squad of 4, Task with hunting a Level 5 monsters or scouting a dungeon, today Xing or now Sergeant Xing with his unit, Corporal Alehandro, Corporal Leku, and Corporal Lucas were just relaxing in at the Army Bar in the commercial district, the famous place for the Armies to get together and celebrate.

"Hey Xing, I heard you guys took down a Level 6 monster last week at the Solar field..is it true?…". (Sucong)

Unlike the 4 buddies, Sucong didn't stay at the armies instead he opened the Army Bar after taking out a 20 years loan with the National Bank.

"See this?…this is the tip of Desert Scorpion Stinger, a freaking Level 5 monster..you know how we do it?…we the damned thing with 4 grenades, then…poof…like fireworks it goes..hahahahah…Look, Look…amazing right..". (Lucas)

Lucas show the Desert Scorpion Stinger and put it on the table, it was akin to a rapier sword but it was black and far stronger than any metal, Lucas even shows the sharpness to the audience as he simply stabs the Stinger on the table, it went through as if the 3-inch thick wooden table was a bread.

"C'mon Lucas…you're ruining the table..<Ding>..woah".

(Xing)

As military personnel everyone was issued the Military issued Phones, of course, a normal Aeternums can buy the phone's, but only government staff and the military got the smartphones with the pristine glass screen. In the middle of their conversations, Xing, Leku, Alehandro, and Lucas's phones rang.

[All Special force Unit. Report to the base, at 1900 hours.].

The text was simple, but the gravity of the message was heavy. There's never before an order specifically saying the words 'all', usually it would address a specific squad or person, this is the first time that the order comes in, and as a Special Force Member, Xing and co. knew something big is going down, right now it was 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Xing stood up and head to the bar where Sucong was, to pay their bills.

"Hey Suchong, how much?..". (Xing)

"You know the rules man…pay after you come back, Godspeed soldier..". (Sucong)

"Thanks..then, I see you when I got back…". (Xing)

Everyone knew Special Forces soldier has always turned away and left as they get an order, no matter what they were doing, they will drop it and leave for their assignment. Everyone said they were crazy, but it wasn't an insult, but a phrase that differentiates them from the others, as they were the bravest, the strongest and the first on the front that protects Aeternum from any threat, In Army Bar that Sucong owns and any premises that serve foods and drinks in Aeternum, this is the customs that everybody knows, if a soldier comes in and comes out after they receive an order, never charge them, instead encourage them to return.

At 18:30 pm all 100 members of Special Forces already in the military base, briefing hall waiting for their superior to comes in and tell them the missions, surprising enough, the Secret Service and The Maidens Divisions also in the hall with them.

"This is definitely something big…Look isn't that Major Sasu?…".(Leku)

Sitting at the back row where all the Special Forces are, Xing and co were busy observing everyone in the room. This is the first time the 3 top divisions come together and sat in the same room.

"ATTENTION!!..". (Major Colleen)

Major colleen from The Maiden Division suddenly stands up, with her order the rest of the room follows, the door suddenly opened, what comes in was the 5 Ministers, Minister Rafaela of Health Minister, Minister Andrea of Resource Department, General Bina and General Mina of The Army, Vice President Elijah An Quers, the famous 5 goes upstage but didn't stand in front of the podium but on the back.

"SALUTE!!..". (Major Colleen)

Still Standing, with her shouts everyone in the room including the 5 ministers on the stage put their hand on the chest and bow 45 degrees. In Aeternum there are 2 kinds of salute were teach to the citizen, 1. a right hand on the heart was the normal salute, for everyone that is superior ranks and the 2. right hand on the heart and 45-degree bow was only for one person, His Majesty The President. For Special Forces members, this is the first time ever they ever did the salute, and the very first time they will be meeting the man himself.

Though they never met the man, Special Forces hold him in high regards, because of him the situation they're in now was possible, because of him they were able to live as a free person, he was the man that gave them hope and new life that they never thought possible. They also heard that the man was of otherworldly beauty and strength, he defeated a level 9 Skeleton king in just 5 minutes, which a feat that no one has ever done before, even the continent Hero Aslan and his party of 10 took 1 month to fight a level 9 Lich King, and that's was 10000 years ago.

Finally, a man comes in, with a long white silver fluttering in the air, wearing the golden gilded black uniform and a Sword hanging from his waist, he comes up to the stage and stands at the podium, instead of speaking, he just stood there and look all over the room, all of a sudden the whole room atmosphere changed, everyone felt that they were being watched by something horrendous and life-threatening, as every second slowly passed the killing intent became thicker, for Xing and his member they felt as if death scythe was inching closer to their neck. But still, no one moved, the whole ordeal continued for 20 seconds before the feeling suddenly dissipates.

"No one passed out…looks like the training paid off...All right At ease everyone and sit down..to everyone that met me for the very first time…I am your President, Mies Sai…as you all probably knew, we recently subdued multiple bandit groups in our regions….in the process, we have found something sinister is brewing…and it threatens Aeternum, threatening your home!!…. I build this nation and as long as I am alive, should there anyone or anything that threatens it….I will kill it myself….so, In our investigations, we have found the traced of Hallerus nobles and the Church from the principality of light in almost every bandit group that involved…they looking to weaken the Duke Merrica power on his land, Duke Merrica and Aeternum are allies…we have to help our allies, we need to because I just receive intel that after the Duke, Aeternum will be their next target…".

The whole room went silent, everyone was contemplating and cursing the same thing, The Church, the room was consist of 97% of non-human races that have experience the unjust and hostile treatment by the church, now the bloody church threatens to harm their new home. Everyone was furious, they share the sentiment to their President and deep down they knew the man on the podium won't just let such thing continue as it is.

"In a span of 1 month..we have to quell the sprout of threats..we have identifies the multiple individuals and organizations that have been involved in the scheme..we will eliminate every single one of them..we will start with the that close Duke Merrica…..I want all the 200 targets suppressed in 3 days!…everyone in here will be divided into squads, all squad will be assigned a target, and you should never lose that target…if you do, you will be court-martial!!..that's how serious I am in this operation…Day one of Operation Death Stroke begins!!..".