THREE DAY RUN

Cadet 118 was going to be the beginning of something new and what it will grow to will be up to him, as Zero was getting the feel for his new title new information enter his mind again it was a map and on the map the was a big X making the location of the training camp.

Looking at the training camp, Zero could tell how far from the southern fate the training camp was, and looking at the distance there was no way to make it in time.

Looking at the shocked gazes around him Zero could tell that the was no mistake in his token taking a deep breath Zero made his way out of the crowd and by the time that he made it out of the crowd he was no longer walking but running at a slow and manageable pace.

All the other recruits looked at Zero like he was a fool to even try making it to the campsite in three days but when they looked at the well dressed boy not too far away from them all thoughts of complaining vanish and slowly one by one some kids took following Zero running until all of them were running.

Zero did not even look back to see what was happening behind him the only thing that was on his mind was how to get water.

Along the road to the camp, the were several small lakes and rivers but the most troubling of all was the mountains on the path to the training camp.

The training camp was in the middle of three mountains and it was the highest mountain being the one that Zero would have to take on.

To even have a small chance of making it to that training camp Zero had to pass through that mountain, he could take the valley but that would add at least another day.

After Zero got to this world he started to research the ways of the cultivating world and there were a lot of things that he found out from asking around and the most important was that cultivation was separated into different realms.

The first realm and the one that Zero was in was called the Mortal Origin Stage and there nine levels in the Mortal Origin Stage.

Zero was a level 1 Mortal Origin stage cultivator and what that meant was that Zero had taken the first step to leave the mortal world behind.

A level 1 Mortal Origin stage cultivator was not that much stronger than a normal human but the was some benefit and one that Zero was enjoying the most now was the increase in endurance, stamina ,and running speed.

Zero had running for two hours and his speed did not slow down a bit and he was slowly approaching the first of the small water source along the way.

While others might look at this as punishment but Zero did not feel the same he could already feel how good running was on his cultivation.

Looking at it most would not notice anything but as Zero was running he used up some of his Spirit Qi and after it was used it would be replaced by another and more pure Spirit Qi.

When Zero arrived at the water source it turned it was not even carrying that much water, Zero drank his fill and continue on his way.

Zero run all night and Zero was not only tired his whole body was soaking wet and his breath was heavy.

His pace had slowed down to almost a walk. looking at the sky Zero could see the light chasing away the darkness signaling that sunrise was not too far from now.

Looking at the map Zero knew that he had to pick up his pace but that was not possible at the moment and Zero was depressed.

This was his chance to see what he could do and he was disappointed what he could do. Zero felt that this was not the limit of what he should be capable of, but the was not much he could do and this test by the military had shown Zero just how weak he was.

When Zero arrived at the next water source he did not care anymore and just throw his body into the water trying to cool himself down.

A few hours passed and Zero had not moved at all, it was already mid when Zero saw the first of the other cadets. It was a young man and from the way he was dressed Zero could tell that this boy was an orphan like him.

The boy came to the water and drank and set down to breathe and refreshen himself and after an hour he got up and started running again.

In all that time the boy did not say one word to Zero and he did not even look at Zero but Zero did take a good look at him he could see a little and weak flame burning in the boy's eyes and what amazed Zero the most was that even if the flame was weak it still burned strong and bright showing no sign of given up.

From that boy, Zero could tell that he was not a cultivator like him but the fire in his eyes put Zero to shame, if someone who has not step into the cultivating path could have such determination then what is stopping him from having the same.

Zero slowly got up and looked in the direction the other cadet went and Zero started to follow him and he started slowly at the beginning but he slowly builds up his pace to an all time high.

Zero ran like a beast he forgot about water and other things and the only thing that was on his mind now was running and only running and at sunrise, on the third day he finally saw his biggest challenge yet.

The mountain was closed to 50 kilometers high and Zero only looked at it once before rushing at it like a mad man.

Between three mountains a huge basin could be seen and in the basin, the training camp stood, the was nothing remarkable about the training camp. The were several basic structures and looking at it one could see that this base was built with one thing in mind and that was functionality.

In the middle of the training camp, the was a humble little house with a front porch. Sitting comfortably on the porch was a middle aged woman enjoying the sunset.

If Zero were here he would recognize the middle aged woman as the scary lady from the military. As the middle aged woman was enjoying her self when she heard foot steep coming closer to her and a frown showed on her 'I told you not to disturb me'

The footstep stop and a shaking voice spoke 'sir I'm sorry to disturb you but the is something that you need to see at the main entrance

Before the soldier could finish he was interrupted by an angry voiced step 'speak up and speak quickly you fool or I will make you regret ever wasting my time'

'it's one of the cadets Sir' the soldier spoke this time he spoke loud and clear the fear in his voiced unmistakable.

'What's up with them' aked the middle aged woman but this time the was no anger in her voice but the is a hint of curiosity

'one of the cadets is making his way down the mountain and judging by his pace he may just make it in time.'

When the soldier finished speaking he realized that he was speaking to himself as the middle aged woman was long gone rushing to the main gate.

The main gate to the was packed with almost all the soldiers in the camp and they were all looking in one direction in the distance there was a figure making his way down the mountain if one were to look closely then they could tell that it was Zero and at this time he looked nothing like the living.

His clothes or what is left of them were now falling off his body, the were a lot of cuts and bruises on his body and he was cover from head to toe in blood.

The soldiers at the main gate looked on not moving at all even when zero would stumble and fall down the mountain rolling for hundreds of meters they would do nothing but just watch.

They all knew from moment that the middle aged woman have then new cadets the task that no one would make it in time but looking at the Zero now they saw a glimmer of hope.

A small glimpse of hope so all they could do was watch, they all had one thought in mind a new brother is about to join our ranks let us see what this brother can do.

When the middle aged woman arrived no one noticed as they were all preoccupied. She too did not do anything but just watched as Zero got closer and closer to the training camp.

When the final rays of the sun were about to vanish from the horizon, the almost impossible to recognize Zero walked past the main.

Only three steps that were all Zero could do three steps past the main gate and he collapsed on the ground.

All the soldiers looked at him without moving they were all shocked by the state Zero was in now that they could see him up close they could tell how badly he was injured. The cuts and bruises were only minor injuries the troubling ones were the broken bones.

While they were busy admiring Zero a cold voice broke the silence

'what are you waiting fools you fools do you want him to die at the gate, take him to the infirmary