Chapter 2 Level 0

"Instructor, I've finished running!"

Seeing that the bald instructor was stunned and did not respond to his words, Ryo Carter raised his voice and shouted again, a bit louder this time.

"Oh, okay, go back to the team!"

The instructor came back to his senses, adjusting his mentality a little before responding calmly.

Ryo immediately returned to the team, behaving like a good soldier. He had made a mistake and was called out for it, but fortunately, the system had assigned him a task. He had completed it along the way. He couldn't afford to get messed up by the instructor again.

Since all the recruits were new, the early training consisted mostly of basic exercises. The three-dimensional maneuver gear couldn't be equipped yet because they weren't familiar with theoretical knowledge or how to operate the equipment. At this point, they were limited to learning some basic and theoretical skills.

The instructor went on to lecture them about the rules, belittling their skills and making them doubt their lives.

Ryo understood that this was part of the training corps' tradition—breaking down the recruits' old values and outlook on life to help them build new identities as soldiers. Only then could they face the Titans, who were a terrifying threat.

The Titans were brutal and deadly, feeding on humans. Once a person fell in battle, they were not just dead—they would become food for the Titans. That's why the instructors constantly referred to the recruits as the "rations for the Titans."

To fight the Titans, soldiers needed to overcome immense psychological barriers. The sight of comrades dying, or even being devoured, was a nightmare none of them could fully prepare for.

Those who had never encountered the Titans or understood their power had a very low chance of survival when facing them for the first time.

The mortality rate of the Garrison Corps was as high as 90%, and nearly 100% of recruits died on their first deployment. Even the Survey Corps, known for its elite soldiers, faced a 50% casualty rate.

"Hey, it's finally time to eat!"

After a grueling day of training, the recruits finally got their lunch break. Afterward, they would only have half an hour to rest before the afternoon field training.

The Training Corps had many courses: theoretical knowledge, combat training, exploration courses, and field survival skills.

All soldiers from the Training Corps were eventually assigned to one of the three military divisions: the Survey Corps, the Garrison Corps, or the Military Police Corps.

"It's really stingy. There's only one potato and one piece of bread. How are we supposed to get full on this?"

"Isn't there some soup over there? Stop complaining. If you're not full, just drink more soup!"

"Those soups are like water! They taste terrible! Whoever wants to drink it, go ahead!"

During lunch, the recruits began to complain. While their rations were guaranteed, unlike the refugees outside the walls, the food was barely enough to keep them going. They were not formal soldiers yet, so their treatment was minimal.

The food mostly consisted of preserved items from the Rose Wall, many of which were close to expiring. While this helped clear out the inventory, it left the recruits with less-than-ideal meals.

When Ryo first arrived, he couldn't stand the food. He was used to modern meals, and the half-cooked sweet potato and hard, smelly bread didn't appeal to him at all. But after being hungry for several days, he had to compromise.

The food was bad, but it was still food. If he added a little seasoning, it was bearable.

Ryo's seasoning of choice? A small jar of spicy seasoning mix!

This jar was perfect—small, portable, and easy to carry. With just a little sprinkle, it made even the blandest meals taste better.

"System, how much supplies do I have left for this month? I still have that seasoning, right? How is it already gone? Did you take my things?"

Due to the scarcity of supplies in this world, the system provided a monthly allowance to help Ryo survive. While it wasn't enough to live on entirely, it made life in the Training Corps much more manageable.

Ryo's current rating was only level 0 as a recruit, but as long as he completed more tasks and gained experience, he would level up and receive more supplies, including better food. For Ryo, a self-proclaimed foodie, gaining more supplies and delicious food was a major motivation to get stronger!