Chapter 495: Officially a Vanguard!

Chapter 493

".... For those who don’t know me, I’m General Luther Shields. And now, let the induction ceremony begin!"

"....."

"May all the new members step forward?" Raze called out.

Ray looked at his friends and then, together, they all walked forward while the other three awkward members stepped forward too until the ten Aspirants stood a metre in front of the others.

Luther’s eyes scanned the ten members for several moments before he looked back up at the others behind them.

"Today, we welcome these ten new members. A group of brave Aspirants who went through arduous training like each and every one of us.

Not only did they go through the training, they came out victorious."

The General paused for a moment as his gaze dropped to the ten with that same expressionless look in his eyes.

"... Unlike some of you, these Aspirants got a taste of what we fight against. Unlike most of you who didn’t really know what you were getting into till you joined this Order, these Aspirants battled those abominable creatures.

Not only did they battle the Abberants, they came out victorious."

The older Vanguard members nodded amongst themselves as they stared at the backs of the newer members.

Most of them had been on the field with Captain Raze and Ella, so they hadn’t watched the livestream like everyone else.

It was after the whole battle, when everything was back to normal, that they were able to watch the clips online.

Indeed, the Aspirants fought bravely.

During most of their time as Aspirants, they had never encountered a single Abberant, but not only did they encounter one during a supposed mini mission, they came out victorious.

Then the invasion came, and yet, these kids didn’t back down.

They watched their friends and comrades fight, yet they didn’t back down.

"... They got a taste of what we go through and yet, still decided to join the Order in order to keep going through wars against these creatures.

Not only are they strong and brave physically, but they are mentally strong too. Because it takes a lot of mental might to go through what they went through and still choose to keep fighting." Luther spoke with powerful conviction, his words resonating with almost everyone standing there.

Glancing at the older Vanguard members at the far back, his eyes narrowed.

"If most of you had gone through what they did on time, you wouldn’t have joined this Order, just like the hundreds of remaining Aspirants from their batch that ran to the Iron Corps instead...."

’Indeed. Out of over two hundred Aspirants, it’s shocking how only ten of us joined the Order today. Considering the fact that the Order is every child’s dream.’ Ray mused inwardly as he let his perception flood the hall, allowing him to sense everybody aside from the General.

’—I won’t blame them though. If I was the one in their shoes and I didn’t have the Tribrid System and the strength I have at the moment, I would have given up and run to the Iron Corps.’

Thinking for a few seconds, the Tribrid recalled something.

’Come to think of it, my initial dream was to join the Order but remain at the back and not join the frontlines at all. Now look at me today....’

"... It’s sad that we only have ten members today, but we will have to make do with this number. As we always say...?"

The Vanguard members all straightened and simultaneously shouted.

—Each member is worth ten men!

The corner of the General’s lips curved upward with a nod.

"Yes. Each one of us is worth ten men, so having ten of them with us means we have a hundred. Always be optimistic." Luther chuckled dryly before looking back at the new members.

"Anyway,"

The man clapped his hands twice and soon, transparent blue screens rose from the ground, snapping into place like mirrors in front of the teens.

They were almost taken aback by how the screens had risen, but when they saw words being written across them, they calmed down and read inwardly.

’It’s almost like my system.’

"Aspirants!" Luther shouted firmly, causing the teens to jerk their heads up and stand as straight as bamboo.

"... Those words are your vows. Each of us has said those words before fully being accepted into this Order. Read those vows aloud NOW!"

Ray, his friends, and the other three glanced at one another before looking back at the screens.

Then,

— I am the sword—

Luther shook his head.

"Is this a princess party? I want you to scream those words with your damn might! Speak them, believe in the words, scream them with conviction. COME ON! I have somewhere to be, damn it!"

Tightening their hands into fists, the new members screamed aloud with all their might.

— I AM THE SWORD THAT SERVES HUMANITY.

I’M THE WINGS THAT PROTECT HUMANITY.

AND THE PROTECTOR OF ALL PLANETS.

AND TODAY, UNTIL MY LAST BREATH, I SHALL DEFEND HUMANITY!

After shouting, the teens began panting lightly while Luther nodded his head in satisfaction with a small smile on his face.

"Remain as you are."

The teens looked down at the screens to see one last order and then, as if they were robots,

They all lifted one leg a few inches above the ground, with three fingers poised towards their chests.

Then,

THUMP! THUD!

They slammed their legs back down with immense force while pressing their three fingers against their chests with resolved, determined looks in their eyes.

Luther smiled subtly before looking back at the Captains and then at the teens down below.

"Remember those vows. Meditate on them. Don’t ever break them, otherwise your heads will be displayed for all to see." He uttered, his gaze drifting towards Ray for a split second.

The Tribrid caught it.

The next moment, the General shifted his attention.

"As the General of this Order, allow me to personally welcome you all."

Flinging his hands open as though he wanted to give them a hug, he spoke:

"From today henceforth, you aren’t Aspirants but Vanguards. So welcome, Vanguards, to the Vanguard Order! And now, your battle begins."

Ray’s teeth pressed tightly against each other as he stared at the General with his eyes twinkling.

’I-I did it. I got in! Mum, Dad, Jesse, are you watching? I made it!’

"Enjoy the rest of your day however you see fit. Mingle, drink, eat, or do something else. You have the day off." Luther declared.

And with that, he walked out of the hall with the third Captain following after him, leaving Raze and Ella in charge of the rest.