Apocalypse Redux - Chapter 267: Graduation

Kids were so incredibly adorable. Of course, the kids in question were in the middle of the third Evolution, on par with anyone not considered monstrously strong by most standards, hardened veterans of every torture Isaac had been able to sneak past his military overseers, but still … in his eyes, they were still kids, and so incredibly cute.

One and all, they were wearing their dress uniforms, magical artifacts gleaming. Some, they’d won by excelling at Isaac’s challenges, others had been provided by their home nations to make them not look like ugly ducklings when compared to those who’d gotten artifacts worthy of getting their own legend.

They looked good, they had the stoic look down pat, but they hadn’t seen real war yet. They lacked the gravitas of Arthur, Ardouin, or even Bailey. And no amount of training would give them that.

Isaac stepped up to the front of the large hall where the graduation was taking place. Military brass was there, as was the press. Isaac was happy with the former and hadn’t been able to keep out the latter without calling in favors that would be wasted on something this insignificant.

“In German, the phrase for knighting someone roughly translates as ‘hitting someone into knighthood’. This refers to the fact that the ceremonial taps with the sword onto the new knight’s shoulders were, in fact, the final blows that the knight would have to accept without being able to retaliate. In the same vein, today is the last time you have to listen to me. In fact, the next time we meet on the battlefield, I’ll probably have to listen to you.”

Isaac waited for the polite chuckles to die down before continuing.

“I know the last eight months haven’t been easy even when there were no cult-related disasters, but you’ve persevered and come out the other side with epic [Classes] and skills that no one else gained so far. You represent the first group of officers to ever have their training fully integrated with the [System] and everything it offers to you.”

He pulled a large object from his storage space. A metal suitcase, reinforced to a ludicrous degree.

“This suitcase is a gift from your respective nations, and it contains a series of [Raid Boss] Aspects, as well as a suitable base Aspect to build upon so you can get two [Skills]. One of your choices will be [Moment of Immortality], and the second will depend on you, based on which Aspect you choose.

“I’ve prepared Aspects suitable for you based on your builds and personalities, but if you want something else, there are more than enough spares here. Thankfully, we don’t have to figure out which country gets what Aspects back if you pick one they didn’t provide.”

Another round of stifled chuckles.

“It’s been a great honor to be given the responsibility of training you all, and I hope that you do as much good as so many people think you’re capable of.”

Then, the reporters got chased out of the room when it became time to hand out Aspects. The fact that these things were being gifted was a publicity stunt that he’d been asked to publicize, but that didn’t cover revealing details of anyone’s builds.

The [Raid Boss] Aspects being passed out were “just” at Tier 6, and primarily being granted to make the recipients a little less squishy, rather than for the other powers they could give.

Despite this, there was an inevitable argument about who would take back which spare Aspects because, of course, some of his students had decided to slot Aspects other than the ones he’d intended for them. But Isaac didn’t have to deal with that, and if he’d thought he’d be able to get away with it, he’d have broken out the popcorn.

***

Allan Smith, now a First Lieutenant, could still hardly believe that it was really over. Where were the traps, the insane challenges, the puzzles? Perhaps all this was some kind of insane trap?

No, that was ludicrous. Eight months, that was how long this was meant to take, and eight months had ended. And it was right there on his status sheet, “Aspect of the Tornado Golem”. What could that possibly be other than a graduation present?

“Man, that was insane, right?” Yu sighed, “Isaac fucking Thoma. Who the hell could ever have expected him to teach us?”

“Shh!” Brassad hissed, “He can probably hear you.”

“We’ve called him worse names in training where he definitely heard us,” Allan reassured the French Lieutenant, “If he was going to retaliate, he already would have.”

“Seriously though, what on Earth? I mean, seriously, we’re done?” Yu continued, “We survived that?”

“I mean, he’s always said that true power comes from challenge, of course he threw all that stuff at us,” Allan pointed out, “But he was weirdly calm for a trainer. I think he only yelled a few times.”

“German drill instructors don’t yell, generally, it’s more ‘I’m not mad, I’m disappointed, that’s worse’ energy.” One of the German former trainees explained.

“He did yell, though,” Allan pointed out.

“Well, he’s not actually military, is he?” Yu asked, “And when he yelled, it was because you almost chopped yourself in half with your sword. And when Brentz blew up the latrine. Pretty sure the profanity was warranted.”

“Hey,” Brentz complained, much to the amusement of everyone else.

“Seriously guys, it’s been real,” Allan announced, “This has been an insane journey, I’ll remember you all, but right now, I really need to get out of here as soon as humanly possible for some me time. Seriously, I love you guys. See you around.”

And with that, he headed over to where the American group was waiting. Four of the regular trainees, another of Thoma’s trainees, a portal mage, and four escorts of the two-star General who’d shown up for his graduation.

“So, Lieutenant Smith, have you considered which direction you want your career to go?” General Burke asked, “Are you considering field command, or are you aiming higher? Maybe strategic command?”

At first, Allan only got out an incomprehensible squeak in response, before he began to talk about how he’d like to eventually end up in command of [Raid Boss] response, leading a mid-sized team to hunt down some of the [System’s] strongest.

And, of course, he was hoping to not have embarrassed himself too much.