ARCHDEUS

NEW WAVE(4)

Three weeks later after the announcement of Alexandreia's military enlistment was issued, the front yard of the Alexandreia barracks building was being filled with rows of young men who wanted to become soldiers.

Based on the leaflets that had been shared earlier, Alexandreia needed a large number of regular soldiers even though they were not an aura user or mana.

This program is done to meet the county defense quota especially this region is in the recovery phase.

Rain was the one in charge of recruitment. As the head of the County Security Authority, Rain's responsibilities were not only in spite of civil security matters but also military matters that Alexandreia was obliged to have.

However, Rain was still a young boy who was only 20 years old. He has no experience in organizing programs of this magnitude.

Fortunately, Grain and Riven helped Rain. The two men already had enough experience when they were still top military officers in the Barony of Alexandreia. Although Riven has now left the military and turned into a civilian official, precisely the mayor of Hadalon, but he still has time to help Rain in taking care of all this business.

The three people knew that if these activities failed, it was possible for them to get counseling from Alex for the rest of their lives.

While the three men were currently in the barracks office to take care of administrative matters while awaiting the arrival of Alex as lord, the registrants seemed to gather quite enthusiastically.

They had not expected that there would be so many people signing up like them. There are at least 5,000 s/d 10,000 people who are here. This amount is equivalent to approximately 10% of the total population of the county. It seemed like the registrants were not only from Hadalon but came from the entire Alexandreia region.

Yeux who became one of the enrollees was also shocked with enthusiasm all this.

They were led to gather in the outer field that was in the courtyard of the barracks that seemed to be used for training.

With some help from the soldiers who were there, they were asked to march upright there.

Yeux stood at the front row so that he could see everyone wearing luxurious clothes appearing one by one from the barracks office.

He thought it seemed like those people were the top military officers in Alexandreia.

Until he saw someone appear among them.

That guy looks very different. Other than because of the person's striking height, he was emitting a very different air among the others. His eyes looked as if he was a predator at the top of the food chain.

Yeux who had experienced eye contact with that person even though only a few seconds felt shivering and immediately lowered his gaze.

Although it has not been told yet but it seems he knows the identity of the person.

The man walked towards them followed by the military higher-ups behind him.

Somehow but naturally the whole person who was there bowed towards that person including Yeux. It was as if to show that the person was a true ruler from birth.

The man sat in a chair not far from the podium.

One of the people who was seen as a subordinate stood on the podium and loudly spoke to all of them.

" ... Thanks to all of you who have voluntarily attended the registration as a loyal soldier of Alexandreia. My master will receive as many as 1,000 and those chosen are the best among the best" the person said.

"As a first test, you will be asked to stand there and stay that way until the ten arrows are flown towards you" he continued.

"What!?"

Everyone was shocked to hear the man's words. How could anyone want to do such a ridiculous thing.

But who would have thought, after Justin said that, a demonstration was carried out. It was seen a man standing in front of an archery target then a few meters away from him an archer had stretched his bow and pointed his arrow at that person.

The arrow shot out and hit the target board that was behind it.

Everyone is finally aware that this exam is a mental test. Through this exam, their mental will be tested to the lowest point.

But everything they thought turned out to be wrong when the third shot happened.

"Aragh!"

The arrow struck the shoulder of the person who was the demonstrator.

Quickly those who wore white robes that seemed to be from the temple treated that person using a spell.

They are really aiming at us!? 

Everyone thinks so.

In reality, what happened was all planned.  It was Alex's plan to have a test like this. He used one of the best archers from the previous ruler who had joined Alexandreia and hired several volunteers as demonstrators. They are paid to stand as archery targets and at some point, arrows will hit their bodies. But the arrow will not stick the vital part so it will not threaten life.

But still, for the people who saw it, it still seems like an accident.

"Look! Don't think we're just testing your mentality. This is a random shot so everything will depend on your luck. We think luck is part of ability. So for those who are not confident in their luck, then it is better to resign now" Justin said.

As expected, with such an absurd test, the initially enthusiastic enrollees were now mentally shaken. At least 2/3 of them eventually resigned with moody faces.

While the rest remained there with trembling legs.

"It looks like there's still quite a lot of people signing up, sir,"

Justin who had stepped off the podium immediately whispered to Alex who was sitting in front of him.

Alex did not say anything and only saw one by one the registrants start to stand upright in front of the archery object.

Some were unlucky not to get shot by arrows but some in small numbers get injured even though it is not life threatening. Those who are injured immediately get treatment from the temple and after recovery they have to take the next exam.

The next test is called defense and conquest or conquest of the fortress.

Here the registrants are divided into two groups called black and white groups. There was no significant difference between the two but the two groups would fight each other. They would ride horses and wear spears or wooden swords. The rule is, to win the war, they must be able to knock their opponent off their horse or the opponent admits defeat. This is quite difficult as it requires teamwork and not to mention appointing someone as the chairman.

Yeux did not expect a test like this. He was more hopeful that on the second exam was a duel-like test against one-on-one whether it was with a fellow participant or with an examiner. But this second test was too beyond his expectations.

He was now in a black-flagged group and since the participants who had escaped the previous stage numbered around 4,000s, each group was filled by around 2,200 people. That's a lot for a group.

"Hear all! You can choose any weapon that is there!"

Justin pointed to the neatly arranged wooden weapons not far from them. Various weapons ranging from swords, shields, spears, to axes that are all made of wood without the slightest mixture of metal.

"Remember anyone who falls from his horse or declares surrender is declared dead. In addition, in this exam we will not judge based on the group who won but based on your individual performance. Even though you are in the losing group but you still have the potential to be selected as the escaped participant. Remember that! The decision to pass or not you are the absolute decision of my master and cannot be contested. Understood?!" scream Justin.

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Unwittingly by the participants, Justin's remark that judgment is not based on group victories and defeats has made a trait that should not exist in a group just emerged. The trait in question is the selfish nature that has appeared in their hearts.