[Right now, you are a soldier of the Zeral Empire, and your barracks consist of a lavish apartment. Today is your first day as a cadet, and its six in the morning! You're almost late.]
[Today they're deciding platoon captains. You can head in there your restaurant uniform, there isn't a dress code. The Zeral Military are passionate about their style. Infiltrate the empire and rise the ranks to General to further advancement]
"Jeez, the guy named his nation after himself. Who am I dealing with here…"
[A complete ego maniac. But rest assured, he's not the worst— not as bad compared to those egotistical Starlord's]
[Anyways, you ready to be teleported? The greatest psychologist shouldn't have to walk alone, its depressing]
A short turn of his head showed he wasn't ready. But by now, he was well aware that the system didn't care for those short lived comforts.
An identical green magic appeared, and rushed towards the flinching Vale faster than it did back on Earth. Once it grabbed his feet, it ascended way too fast for him to prepare a thought.
"Here I go, teleporting around worlds again."
Just like before, he blinked and he was in front of two glass doors.
Positioned across those entrances, he, now encouraged to set off on his adventure grabbed his right hip, and then confidently walked with a smug grin besting that of a cult leader greeting his followers.
Scary, but this was how his brain operated, and was attributed to his life motto.
"Be confident for no reason, and everything will find its own absurd way of working out"
Grasping two metal handles, he flinged those doors open. Taking it upon himself to stroll in, he gandered around the giant room that looked to be a training arena where in the corners, weight machines, punching bags, and other items meant to train the body sat tidy and clean.
Directed in the middle, about forty cadets who were human and mostly male were all grouped up waiting for someone. They all wore eccentric streetwear and some even donned armor that screamed daddies money. Vale took notice to the fact that most of these people were human, and he wondered also, did they speak English? There were a few odd humanoid beings, one of them being a lizardman, but he expected more alien species.
[Humans are a prominent species in the universe. They exist in countless planets and have a great affinity for magic and technological prowess. Universally, most civilizations above tier two speak English fluently and with an American accent. It's more fluid and empowering, they say]
Vale already figured this was the case, but smiled at the system's informative nature.
Suddenly, a muscular male, towering in height teleported in front of the group out of nowhere, making everyone stand in attention. Vale quickly took action, as the last thing he wanted was to stand out. "Did he just teleport? Who knew the universe was so terrifying." Secretly, Vale found himself angered. He... wanted to know how he just teleported, and how in the future, he could perform that spell.
This levitating man, known as Sargant Derrick, had a long mullet style, and looked intimidating to the eye. His special black uniform had badges on it, indicating some level of higher ranking.
Taking a deep breath, he screamed in a respectful manner. "CADETS, ARE YOU READY TO TEST YOUR MIGHT ON THE STAGE?!" Sergeant Derrick opened his palm and pointed it to the fighting octagon beside him, where no ring was seen. If someone was knocked off it, they'd simply fall to the floor. "EVERY WINNER IS APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF THEIR OWN PLATOON, AND THOSE WHO SIGNED UP, RISKING THEIR LIFE FOR THIS CHANCE, WILL BENEFIT GREATLY IN THE FUTURE!"
This type of fight was one till death, and was used to put in place qualified leaders. Every cadet knew this, and most of them didn't sign up, swallowing their pride to prevent an early death.
"CAN I GET A YES SIR?!"
Everyone screamed yes sir. Everyone except Vale. He was too busy realizing the obvious power scheme being used here. Respect wasn't dictated wisdom or intellect, but overbearing power on the contrary. He didn't like the idea, but a part of being an informant was conforming to ideals that you hated. His grasp of how magic operated was vague, but nevertheless, he secretly hoped that the system didn't sign him up.
"First match…" Sargant Derrick who appeared startled, slightly gawked at his communications device that acted like a watch, and said, "Vale Luckwish versus Zach Bird." Confused, because Vale was enlisted as a medic, he told them to head up to the octagon.
He was learning quickly that the system was addicted to putting him danger.
"Great… I'm dead before I can get the chance to explore at least one planet." Vale, who wasn't ready to die, was freaking out, showing it clearly as other cadets parted for him to create a path.
Walking towards the octagon, it growing closer felt like he was nearing the edge of a skyscraper.
"Holy shit, I'm going to die. This is it…" Trying to think of a way to escape, he came up with a genius idea. "Can't I just forfeit? Yeah… easy. I'll just do that."
[Forfeiting will result in your immediate exile from the kingdom, making completing your tutorial mission in time impossible]
"Fuck…" Rolling his eyes, Vale, who was now ascending the staircase to the left side of the octagon, was preparing to die. He knew these cadets were capable of deadly magic. Fire, earth, and muscle enhancements that could burn, smash, and tear his limbs were just the beginning possibilities of what a mage could do! And all these cadets were masters in their own respected magics.
People who could spray flames and elements, that's the type of opponent Vale was facing off against in this death battle!
And... the generous system didn't do anything but turn him into a psychology major.
Vale's adrenaline was off the wall, but holding on to the last string of hope, he put all his chips on the system saving him at the last second. "The system has a plan, yeah. There's no way... you have a plan, right?"
No answer was seen.
Having no other choice, he accepted his fate, which was death, with open arms.
Vale found some pride in not being a coward for once. "I guess I don't have a choice… gotta face all the vain I've built up while being an inferior mortal. Death... I'm really going to die. I want to run away and live a normal life, but honestly, that's just my brain trying to trick me." His bravery, ever since he could remember, was placed in an environment that never changed or made sense.
Brawling with both his past hatred for the idiot he was in his youth, and now, his precarious security of who he was becoming as an adult. He came to the rightfully, and completely reasonable conclusion that there was never an answer to begin with.
Pride also existed, and some things you can't take back. If Vale ran away now, he'd be abandoning the pledge he made back in that parking lot, rambling about risking his life. He couldn't tolerate to speak so highly of himself just to flee at the first threat, so he proudly stepped up into the octagon.
Two young men, who could now be called warriors, were faced off against each other, both knowing their lives were on the line. On the other side, a young man named Zach Bird gave a menacing glare at Vale, that he, after some thought, found he wasn't welcoming for a honorable fight. Zach was a bland looking guy, he had a short brown middle part, but his street wear and unique belt made Vale raise an eyebrow. "These people have some style... speaking of, I really do want to learn about the weird cultures of this universe."
"Too bad I'll never know! I'm so fucking dead! There's no way I'm beating this guy. He looks like a beast, huffing and puffing while holding this... intimidating eye contact with me…" A subtle pause occurred, and upon closer inspection of his appearance, Vale's eyes grew wider, entering a performative flow state before the fight even started. "But those eyes, they seem awfully sad." Vale's mind took on an untouched creation. Forgetting about dying, focusing on the fearlessness would be a waste of time in the nexus of ideas rushing around in his head!
All he cared about was learning about a certain somebody, and his facial features showed that impression, taking on an insulting pity for his now offended contender.
Almost instinctually, he was holding eye contact fiercely, that from Zach's point of view, looked insanely kind. There wasn't a doubt of inferiority in Vale's mind, which was surprising for Vale, since he often entertained his inferiority complex.
Many alterations were occurring in that octagon, including the infuriation of Zach, who thought he was being mocked.
Zach, who was waiting on Sergeant Derrick to signal the start, questioned the entranced Vale. "Are you fucking with me? Why are your eyes are so compassionate? Don't tell me I have a psychopath on my hands." Vale didn't respond, he was too busy diving into another world entirely. This just elevated Zach's anger. So much so, he started insulting Vale's perfectly all black fit. "I should add, you have a plain style. I think I'll give you a much needed bloody recoloring."
"Does he think I care? I'm like, seeing the world differently right now." A foremost mind state had been reached by his recently evolved neurons, and initially, even he had trouble realizing its meaning.
What he knew for a fact is that he liked this feeling, and it made him feel like he mattered.
Not being in the know about this change in power quickly changed as his first talent finished materializing.