5 Basic Training

The first night at Army Dormitory was a restless one for Noa. He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, lost in a haze of confusion and frustration. Questions swirled in his mind like a tempestuous storm.

"Who am I?" he wondered as he tightly clutched his head in frustation. "What happened to me? Who are my family?"

But despite his mental efforts, the answers remained elusive, frustratingly out of reach.

He glanced around the dimly-lit room, taking in the rows of bunk beds lining the walls. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and stale air, and the room was filled with the sound of soldiers shuffling about.

Noa felt like he came from a different world, surrounded by strangers who were all focused on their own thoughts and concerns.

As the night wore on, the soldiers gradually drifted off to sleep, leaving the room shrouded in silence. But Noa remained awake, his mind racing with questions and concerns.

Suddenly, the sound of boots striking the floor echoed through the room. A moment later, a loud banging filled the air, jolting Noa from his reverie.

He sprang up from his bed, his heart pounding with confusion and fear. The soldiers around him stumbled out of their bed. The blue-eyed guy next to him also suggested that he follow them.

When the door opened, he saw the stern face of a military officer staring back at him.

"Get dressed and report to the training grounds immediately," the officer barked, his voice cold and commanding.

"What time is it?" Noa mumbled to himself, squinting at the clock. He groaned when he saw the time - it wasn't even morning yet, but still midnight.

"What's going on?" he muttered, his voice laced with confusion.

"Hurry up! There's no time to waste," the officer growled, his voice firm and uncompromising.

Noa's mind raced as he tried to process what was happening. He quickly got dressed, throwing on whatever clothes he could find in his locker. As he was getting dressed, a device fell out of his used pants.

"What is this?" Noa furrowed his brow, eyeing the device suspiciously.

It looked like a large ballpoint pen, with a cylindrical body that was about 6 inches long. The device was made of high quality plastic and comfortable to hold. The top of the device had a small microphone surrounded by LED lights, while the bottom had a small USB port and a button.

Curiosity got the better of Noa and he pressed the button, causing an audio recording to play.

"Is this mine?" he wondered aloud.

Assuming the device belonged to him since he found it in his pants, Noa put it back in the deepest and most hidden part of his locker. He didn't want to risk it falling into the wrong hands.

Without wasting any more time, Noa ran towards the door to join the other soldiers.

In the darkness, Noa struggled to navigate the training ground, the faint outlines of his comrades barely visible around him.

The eerie silence was soon shattered by the barking of drill sergeants, ordering the soldiers to disembark and line up in front of them.

Sweat began to bead on the soldiers' foreheads as they stood at attention on the parade grounds. The drill sergeants continued to shout commands and insults, driving the soldiers to their limits.

"Drop and give me thirty!" one of the drill sergeants barked, and Noa instantly hit the ground, his muscles burning with effort as he struggled to complete the required number of push-ups.

The other soldiers watched in silent horror as the drill sergeants berated and cajoled them, pushing them harder and harder each day.

As the grueling weeks wore on, Noa and the other soldiers adapted to the harsh demands of their training. They ran longer distances, lifted heavier weights, and drilled incessantly until their movements became automatic and precise.

But despite their physical improvements, the mental toll of their training continued to weigh heavily on them. Many soldiers struggled with homesickness, anxiety, and trauma as they were forced to confront the reality of what it meant to serve in the military.

Communication with their families was limited, and the soldiers had no opportunity to meet with them in person. For many, the only way to find out if their loved ones were still alive was to complete their mission. 

Despite the challenges, Noa and his fellow soldiers were chosen for their talents and strengths. Basic training was designed to transform civilians into disciplined soldiers. It was harsh and cruel, and had it not been for their physique, they might've broken down.

Noa was amazed at how quickly his muscles were growing after each training session. He had abandoned his conventional glasses and opted for advanced soft lenses that provided more comfort and didn't interfere with his training.

The training itself became more intense with each passing day, as the soldiers learned critical military skills such as weapons training, first aid, and tactics. Physical training was also a core component of basic training, with grueling drills and obstacle courses designed to build strength, endurance, and resilience.

After six months of rigorous physical training, Noa and his comrades were ready to engage in simulations and live-fire exercises, learning how to effectively engage enemy targets while ensuring the safety of their fellow soldiers. Each task was carefully designed to test the limits of the soldiers, challenging them to dig deep and persevere through adversity.

Noa had adapted to his new life in the military, receiving basic equipment and a small allowance each month. He had even grown accustomed to eating whatever was provided, including artificial foods and nutrients that tasted like plastic and fertilizer.

Although he had started to get to know some of the soldiers by name, Noa kept his distance from them. He had been in contact in So-Rin, and she once advised him to not get too close to anyone during training, as the world was gradually changing around them.