The office of the Head of Eastern Vanguard Training Camp was quiet, dignified, and imposing in its own way.
Polished metal shelves lined the walls, each holding trophies, medals, and insignias earned across decades of service. Some were awarded for battlefield command, others for portal suppression campaigns, and a few bore markings from joint operations beyond Earth. At the center of the room stood a large desk, spotless and orderly.
Behind it sat Major Adam.
A Rank Four warrior, and one of the most respected veterans in zone E5. He had earned his rank not through inheritance or political backing, but through blood, sweat, and survival. His presence alone carried weight—calm, controlled, and sharp, like a blade that had been honed over countless battles.
Standing before him was Lieutenant Surge, a Rank Three Enhanced warrior, posture straight, hands clasped behind his back.
"Report," Major Adam said, voice steady.
Lt. Surge nodded. "There was a minor incident yesterday during breakfast, sir. A verbal altercation between elite cadets. One cadet lost his temper and attempted to start a fight. The instructors intervened immediately. No lasting damage."
Major Adam leaned back slightly. "Cadets spar. Tempers flare," he said calmly. "That's common. As long as it was handled properly, I see no issue."
"Yes, sir," Lt. Surge replied. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then continued. "However… there is something else."
That hesitation made Major Adam raise an eyebrow.
"Go on."
"One of the elite cadets," Lt. Surge said carefully, "Nikks Simmons, displayed clear signs of awakening during evening sparring."
Silence filled the room.
Major Adam straightened in his chair.
"…Awakening?" he repeated.
"Yes, sir. Confirmed by instructors. Energy manifestation occurred during weapon use."
For the first time, emotion flickered across Major Adam's face.
"That young?" he asked.
"Fifteen, sir. Almost a year before the standard threshold."
Major Adam let out a slow breath, then gave a short, sharp laugh—not amusement, but genuine excitement.
"Early awakenings aren't unheard of," he said, "but a full year ahead? That's rare."
Lt. Surge nodded. "There's more, sir. The manifestation was elemental."
Major Adam's eyes sharpened. "Which element?"
"…Lightning."
The room seemed to tense.
Major Adam stood up slowly, hands resting on the desk. "Lightning," he repeated, a trace of awe in his voice. He was more surprised because he knew more.
Elemental awakenings were already rare. Only the powerful families bloodline granted the chance of awakening an elemental power. Even among the members it was not common. They had to meditate from an early age to increase their chance of awakening an element.
"The way thier body adapts to aether determined their talent. And the boy was grown up in a normal enviornment never touching a meditation manual. It means that he is blessed by lightning." The major thought.
Most awakened gained nothing more than reinforced bodies—greater strength, endurance, and durability. But elemental affinity was different. It didn't just enhance the body.
It refined control over it.
And lightning—
Lightning was special.
On the battlefield, lightning-aligned warriors were terrifying. Faster reflexes. Sharper responses. Explosive speed. Their nervous systems operated on a level others could only envy. Power, precision, and momentum—combined into one lethal package.
"It's a top-tier gift," Major Adam said quietly. "Not just power. Efficiency."
"Yes, sir," Lt. Surge agreed. "The instructors believe his body was already prepared. Years of conditioning paid off."
Major Adam nodded slowly.
"That was the goal of this camp from the beginning," he said. "To forge bodies capable of withstanding awakening."
He paused.
"And now one of them has crossed that line."
Lt. Surge understood immediately. "Then he no longer needs to remain here."
"No," Major Adam said firmly. "This camp serves the unawakened. Once awakened, a cadet's path changes."
He looked up.
"Call Nikks Simmons," Major Adam ordered. "Immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Lt. Surge turned and left the office.
Major Adam remained standing, eyes drifting toward the trophies lining the walls.