Chapter 219 — New Talent Rises in Every Division
S.C. 1512 — A Week After the Oil Discovery
Hidden Island — Training Sectors & Division Camps
The island felt different now.
Busier.
Louder.
More alive.
The discovery of crude oil had changed nothing for the public—because Ren kept it secret—but the energy among the leadership had shifted.
Everyone moved faster.
Trained harder.
Worked sharper.
Why?
Because the island was growing, and with it— new talent was emerging everywhere.
---
1. Silver Moon — Mira's New Right Hand
Silver Moon's field camp sat near the southern farms—a mix of tents, crates, merchant wagons, and sparring circles.
Mira watched ten recruits practice footwork, her wolf-enhanced senses catching every misstep.
"No.
Your heel is too heavy.
Spread your weight."
One man adjusted, copying her.
A woman nearby tried again, but stumbled.
Mira stepped behind her and corrected her legs with gentle, precise pressure.
"Balance isn't brute force.
It's awareness of the ground."
The woman—Seri, a sharp-eyed ex-servant from Goa Kingdom—straightened her posture.
Her movements improved instantly.
Mira nodded.
"You learn fast."
Seri bowed deeply.
"I want to be your right hand someday, Lady Mira."
Mira paused.
Lady?
She suppressed an amused exhale.
"Just Mira is fine.
Keep training."
Behind her, Leo watched Seri with narrowed eyes.
"She's good."
Mira replied quietly:
"She will be better."
Seri had potential—sharp instincts, calm mind, and fighter's spirit.
Perfect for Silver Moon's future leadership.
---
2. New Dawn — Kiro's Rising Captain
On the west side of the island, near the docks, the New Dawn combat barracks echoed with clashing steel.
Kiro was training a young man—Rex—who had shown extraordinary talent since arriving as a refugee.
Rex was lean, fast, and frighteningly disciplined.
Kiro swung a wooden sword at him.
Rex dodged— barely.
Then countered with a clean strike.
Kiro blocked.
Again. Again. Again.
Finally, Kiro smiled.
"You're reading my movements faster."
Rex stepped back, panting.
"You said—to survive on the sea—I must become better than any pirate."
"And you're on the right path."
Rex's doriki had soared from 120 to nearly 300 after taking the S-Type serum. He wasn't ready for animal genes yet, but his foundation was excellent.
Kiro tossed him a cloth.
"Train with Mira next week.
Learn how she handles speed.
You're becoming captain material."
Rex froze.
"C-Captain?"
Kiro shrugged casually.
"You'll need to lead a ship someday.
Might as well start now."
Rex bowed deeply.
"Yes, Commander!"
Kiro smirked.
"Don't call me that. You'll scare the kids."
---
3. Dusk Hammer — Bram's Iron Wall in Training
The north quarry had recently become a training ground too.
Bram stood shirtless—massive, veins running like iron cables—towering over twenty workers.
He lifted a 3-ton stone block like it was a toy, thanks to his bull gene variant.
"THIS—"
He tossed it into the air.
"—is strength."
The workers gaped.
One muscular trainee named Jugo stepped forward.
"I want that power."
Bram nodded.
"Then you'll work for it.
Lifting is only half of strength.
The other half—"
He punched a stone slab.
BOOM.
The slab cracked.
"—is intent."
Jugo's eyes widened.
Bram tossed him a weighted vest.
"Wear this for a week.
If you're still standing… then we'll talk about you being Iron Guard."
Jugo accepted it without hesitation.
Bram grinned.
"Good. Let's see how far you go."
---
4. The Island School — Talent Among Children
Near the central village, Ren walked into the newly built open-air school.
Dozens of children sat on benches, learning reading, writing, basic math, and survival skills.
Lira stood at the front, towering at nearly 6 meters even when kneeling, her gentle but commanding aura calming them instantly.
Ren observed quietly.
One boy—Diro—was drawing a map in astonishing detail.
Clear coastlines.
Accurate angles.
Smooth ink strokes.
Ren crouched beside him.
"You're good at this."
Diro blinked. "I like shapes. And the sky."
Ren smiled.
"Do you want to learn navigation?"
The boy's eyes lit up.
"Can I?!"
Ren nodded.
"I'll assign Kiro to teach you."
Lira, overhearing, smiled warmly.
"He's been practicing every night with charcoal. Maybe… maybe he's gifted."
Ren looked at the child—frail in body but bright in spirit.
"Yes.
He is."
This boy could become the island's best navigator one day.
---
5. The Mutant Beast Training Pens
At the east forest edge, Mira and Leo had been testing interactions with newly tamed beasts.
Sword Mantis (S-1)
Electric Spider (E-2)
Blazing Horse (B-1)
Iron Armor Rhino (I-0)
Rainbow Butterfly (R-3)
Royal Bee Swarm (R-1)
Water Monkeys (W-2)
Each species required careful handling.
A young trainee named Pinna stepped toward an Iron Armor Rhino.
"Easy… easy…"
Mira watched.
The massive beast snorted— but didn't charge.
Pinna placed a hand on its plated head.
It calmed.
Mira's eyes widened slightly.
"Impressive. Not many can soothe a beast that strong."
Pinna bowed nervously.
"I—I like animals…"
"It shows," Mira said softly.
Pinna would be one of their first Beast Keepers.
---
6. Evening — Ren Reads the Reports
Inside the upper Hive Lab, Ren sat with a stack of daily updates.
He read:
Seri — Potential Second Commander candidate.
Rex — Eligible for officer training.
Jugo — Iron Guard candidate.
Diro — High potential navigator.
Pinna — Beast specialist.
Ren leaned back, thinking.
The island wasn't just getting stronger.
It was growing a future.
---
7. A Quiet Realization
Zemo rested his head on Ren's knee.
Ren scratched behind his ears.
"…They're becoming something greater," Ren murmured.
Not warriors.
Not followers.
But leaders.
A generation shaped not by hunger and fear, but by strength and opportunity.
Ren closed the last report.
Tomorrow, more training.
Tomorrow, more growth.
Tomorrow, the next step.
But for tonight…
He allowed himself a small breath of pride.
The island was no longer dependent on him alone.
It had people
—real people—
who could carry its future.
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End of Chapter 219