Chapter 3: Soldiers Who Fear Death Are Exactly What’s Needed

A week of training before the mission. Though called training, its main purpose was to help soldiers get used to each other and to distribute equipment and supplies. Additionally, it took time to integrate a combat team into the fighting force, as it involved overall strategy, as well as issues like deployment locations, rest periods, and mission planning.

Temporary base of Star 745: Wild Valley No. 17.
All 66 members lined up, waiting for CaptainNeo’s speech.
Standing on a makeshift platform made of cargo boxes, although all six were present, the other five seemed like mere decorations. Aside from Канито, who was obsessed with siege spiders, the other five did as they pleased. In Нио’s view, if they were willing to participate, he welcomed it; if not, it was fine for them to just muddle along. What Нио needed was this structure, the name Star 745. As for the members of this team—helping the weak and achieving victory might be fulfilling and interesting, but this world was ultimately one for the strong. Things wouldn’t go well if that order was reversed.

“From now on, we’ll all be in the same boat. You’re soldiers. Put nicely, it means defending our homeland—a duty of soldiers. Put harshly, you’re paid to die, and your livelihood depends on fighting. Soldiers are trained for days only to be sent into battle at the last moment. This has been told to you from the start and approved by you. When the time comes, trying to back out won’t work.”

Most of the men below looked dejected, with low morale, especially the fighters. Star 745 was nothing but an overpriced military tour group—60% were support troops, with only 22 actual fighters. With such a weak overall combat strength, on a similar mission, the fighters of Star 745 would likely face certain death, and even if the combat troops perished, how could the support troops survive? That was nonsense!

But Нио continued, “Maybe many of you, especially the fighters, are wondering why those who want to fight and aren’t afraid of death stay in the camp, while you have to go to the front lines to fight?”

The soldiers looked at Нио. Yes, why? They had long wanted to know the answer.

“Because I like it!”

The crowd was stunned, then filled with anger. Damn it! They’d encountered a freak!

Нио went on, “I like those who fear death because I fear death myself. We suffer from the same condition, hahaaha!”

“…” Silence reigned below, with only Нио’s laughter echoing in the vast valley. Even the two dim-witted guys behind Нио rolled their eyes. “Sick!” Кокар muttered.

After laughing, Нио continued, “It’s good to fear death! It’s fear that drives people to do everything possible to survive! With such a proactive and positive will to live, at least 70% survival chance can be achieved. The remaining 30% depends on luck. If luck is on your side, you might even choke on a sip of water when you return to earth!”

Hm? Hearing Нио say that, everyone thought it made some sense. Those who were determined to die or unafraid of death would most likely die. Only those who took death seriously enough had a chance to survive.

At that moment,Neo spoke again, “But everyone knows that seeking survival doesn’t mean seeking victory. Some might think, ‘Of course I want to survive; I’ll fight when things are favorable, and if not, I’ll just slip away.’ That’s what seeking survival means. Who will care about anyone else then?”
“That’s the truth!” Carnito spoke on behalf of everyone, agreeing.
“But in reality, you can’t do it—no one can,” saidNeo, pointing at the half-assembled pile of machinery at the edge of the field. “Many of you must recognize this as a siege spider. Some have even thought that it serves as a support device for our Star 745, not an offensive weapon. Well, that’s correct. In fact, it has another function—it’s a signal tower under my direct control.” Saying this,Neo took out a small object that looked like a round flower with iron petals, with a substance resembling amber in the center, resembling a brooch or badge.
Neo showed the object and then declared loudly, “In our team, there’s a dwarf master from Dandorith. You may have heard of him—Dandorith’s bombs are very famous. This little thing here is a bomb. It will soon be on everyone’s neck. If you try to remove it, it will explode. If you get too far from the signal tower, it will explode too. And if I’m not pleased, it might explode at any time.”
Chaos ensued—everyone was furious, many waving their fists in protest.
Neo, who was prepared, quickly pulled out a document. “This is an agreement. Your former military unit has approved this military experiment.”
“Bullshit military experiment! We’ll sue! The Alliance has military laws, and Hylfanis has its own laws…”
“Yes, I understand that too.” Neo took out another document. “This is an agreement I reached with the head judge of Hylfanis’ local military court, worth 3,000 dinars. If you sue me, you’ll lose. As for the Alliance’s military court, according to its regulations, it will take at least two months to respond—something impossible. Even if you try to bribe them, it will only speed things up a little. Until then, by military law, as soldiers, you’re still under the control of your direct superior, that is, me. In two months, I’ll always find a way to make those who resist die heroically.”
“…Demon! You’re a demon!”
Neo pointed at the person who called him a demon. “Well, you’re bold. I know you—Frank Manson, part of the combat unit. You’re right, but this ‘demon’ has done his best to provide you with logistical support. Compared to your comrades, you get the best food, the fastest medical care, vehicles, and equipment. When not fighting, you live like kings, and when fighting, I, the demon, fight alongside you. All you need to do is defeat the enemy, defeat death, and win the chance to survive with me. What are you not satisfied with? Want me to send you to another frontline unit? I guarantee that with your abilities, you’ll fight just two more battles before being sacrificed like a true cannon fodder, in order to gain a chance at a partial or total victory. Don’t tell me you don’t understand what I mean.”

The people below gradually fell silent. Throughout history, whenever war broke out, there were always soldiers who cried for help and tried every means to avoid fighting. There would be another group who might indeed manage to escape by doing so, but it certainly wasn’t them. Those who had the money or connections already spent it to secure their safety, while those who stayed behind were either penniless or had failed in their attempts. Thus, given the circumstances of the war, going to battle was inevitable. The only thing they could hope for was to attach themselves to someone powerful, increasing their chances of survival. Interestingly, the more powerful these figures were, the tougher they tended to be, and their teams were also composed of strong individuals. They would rather lack members than let weaklings fill the gaps, so the idea of clinging to powerful figures was nothing but a wishful dream. People were upset not because they didn’t understand the complexities, but because they doubted Team 745. In their eyes, it was the unit that couldn’t fight at all, yet the task assigned to them was to engage in combat—a truly hopeless situation.

“How can we survive? Ugh…” Some cried out in despair. More simply sighed in silence, creating an atmosphere of gloom.

“To survive, of course, we need to find a way. I know you don’t trust me,” Neo said from the stage. “We’ve only known each other for a short time; it’s impossible for you to trust me—or the other five commanders. A bunch of youngsters who gained power through bloodline connections, with at most a little family knowledge—how can they decide others’ lives and deaths?”

“Yes, that’s a problem. But some questions don’t have easy answers. Sometimes, even if we know something is wrong, we still have to carry it out. This isn’t just your sorrow—it reflects the constraints of the entire system. So, are we just going to die like this? Do you think I’m pushing you to the brink just to see you die?”

The people were drawn to these questions, pondering as they turned their attention back to Neo.

“The answer is obviously no. Even for my own sake, how could I let you die? Or die easily? What benefit would it bring me if you died? Would I bribe a judge with 3,000 gold just to watch you die and put myself in danger as well? No! It’s only meaningful if you live. If you live well, I’m safer too, and we can all share the rewards. So, when I push you into a desperate situation, it’s to make you work with me. There’s only one way out: to fight to the death against anything that stands in our way.”

“No matter which team you join, the first to die are always the cannon fodder. And whether you’re cannon fodder or not, you know it in your heart. After being repeatedly discarded like fruit, you should already understand. Only here, in Team 745, aren’t you cannon fodder. If you are, then we’re all cannon fodder—because I’m with you. I’ll protect you. In battle, I’ll be at the forefront. Without your cooperation, I’ll die miserably. Without me to withstand the enemy’s heavy attacks, you’ll die just as miserably. You don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you, but we’re already tied together.” Neo said, holding up a delicate device in his hand. “This thing just helps us stay connected. I won’t run, because I have my own plans and confidence. You can’t run either, because that’s not a path to survival.”

And so, the soldiers were tied to the war chariots byNeo. Later,コカル askedNeo, “Did you really bribe the military court judge with 3,000 gold?”Neo then handed him two documents. Upon looking at them,コカル saw that they were supply request forms.
Neo indeed used the gadget he had shown in public, but it wasn’t a remote-controlled bomb—it was a surveillance device invented byNancy. He knew that having eyes and mouths in the team was allowed, but they had to be under his control, so he could see what needed to be seen and say what needed to be said. This was crucial.
Whenレノとthe militaryのwhoかがWhen Leon and someone from the military witnessed Neo’s impromptu mobilization speech, they didn’t know that what they were seeing was the last un…，They didn’t know that what they were seeing was the last unfiltered true report.，Since then, there has been no such candid report..
On the second day of training,Neo launched his ambitious plan.. All soldiers were required to master two things: first, their respective specialized skills; second, the ability to run fast.
In terms of specific training, the combat troops received the least instruction.Neo taught them only one technique. one technique—no matter how the opponent fought, they were to raise their long curved swords and swing down with all their strength from the top right to the bottom left. That’s all there was to it.
The cooks didn’t need much effort; the soldiers could train together, with the most skilled one being the squad leader. The same applied to the logistics team—they needed to understand the wagons and beasts of Star 745 and figure out how to ensure the team’s mobility while carrying enough supplies to handle various situations.
The instrument masters were led byカニトо. They would be the main force for repairing equipment and maintaining weapons in the future team.Neo didn’t want to queue up with his colleagues to fix weapons and equipment, and there would be more and more mechanical constructs and related devices to maintain, so these instrument masters were indispensable.
What worriedNeo the most was the medical team. He wasn’t satisfied with their basic skills in bandaging. They not only had to be capable of performing surgeries but also have extensive knowledge of medications. They wereNeo’s magic potion assistant, responsible for collecting, harvesting, and growing herbs, from raw materials to finished medicines, from pills to decoctions, from topical applications to internal use—all of which they had to handle. For this reason, he paid high fees to hire professional doctors to give lessons. He covered those costs out of his own pocket.
Of course, the real focus was still on building combat strength. No matter how well other aspects were managed, if an army couldn’t fight, it was useless.Neo used a method of tempering through strength to make the soldiers scream in pain every day. As for boosting confidence and guiding beliefs,Neo led by example. When he used his long curved sword and the technique he taught to split a tree that no one could lift alone into two with just one swing, even the soldiers watching were stunned.
“Who says you can’t kill someone without combat power? As long as you time it right, are fast enough, and fierce enough! Even magical beasts can be cut in half with one swing. Besides, just because you don’t have combat power now doesn’t mean you won’t have it in the future. Haven’t you felt your strength growing these past few days?”
Neo cultivates his army with ambitious vigor.，The Varugs are also envious.。In Neo’s view，These are just a passing fancy.，It can be seen from their enthusiasm for cultivation.。

In the midst of the battle, Nio, clad in full armor and equipped with weapons and protective gear, transformed into a werewolf, stood firm against three Ironclad War Rhinos. Though not magical beasts, these creatures possessed strength far surpassing ordinary monsters—thick skin, massive weight, and immense power. It was said that even steel war chariots could be overturned by those terrifying Ironclad War Rhinos.

“Argh! Argh! Argh!” Nio roared wildly, arms outstretched, head thrown back. As a warrior, he was fully in his element, utterly fearless. Along with his mind-shaking battle cry, the three war rhinos breathed heavily through their nostrils, their front hooves digging into the ground. Then, two of them charged at Nio with loud horns, and the tremors caused by their movement could be clearly felt by the warriors watching from afar.

A bright silver light flowed like ripples across Nio’s body and armor—this was the protective power of the Abyssal Sighs. Every Chosen One received a sacred artifact’s power, which grew as the Chosen One matured. Some chose to cultivate it as their own innate strength. If it could truly merge with their innate power to become a power prefixed with “sacred,” its might would increase dramatically. In either case, this power would return to the sacred artifact after the owner’s death. For most people, this didn’t matter—make the most of it while alive; why worry about what happens after death?

Just as the lead war rhino was about to collide with Nio, when everyone thought Nio would use his shield to block, he shouted, “Ha!” A tenfold increase in silver light erupted from his body as he swung his shield outward.

Whoosh! Boom! With a loud noise and brilliant light, the charging war rhino was flung backward, its horns broken and bleeding. Judging from the strangely twisted angle of its neck, they were likely severed!

Hiss… The spectators gasped in shock—it was terrifying! Absolutely stunning! A war rhino weighing over a ton was sent flying just by a single strike! What kind of power was this?

At that moment, another war rhino arrived, charging even farther and with even more force than the previous one!

“Hah…” Nio let out a fierce roar. Not only did his weapons emit intense silver light, but they also glowed with bright red light.

Boom! The shield struck not the war rhino but the ground, creating a radiant fissure in the earth. Mud and debris flew into the air, and earthwaves rolled out, sending the massive war rhino soaring into the sky.

People saw a brilliant red light glowing on Nio’s right-hand serrated axe. The red light was so eerie that it seemed to distort and absorb all surrounding light. With that red glow, Nio swung the axe in a circular motion. Instantly, a blinding red streak appeared in midair—like red lightning or a raging wave of blood—flying toward the war rhino in the sky. Crack! The war rhino was split in two, and as its body fell to the ground, a rain of blood filled the air.

By now, people forgot even to breathe; their minds were completely blank.

Aaaah… Nio’s fighting spirit seemed to grow even stronger. His roars made the blood in everyone’s veins seem to boil, and around him, blood rain rose into the sky amid red flames, forming a massive ball of light that resembled a blazing flame, emitting a sizzling sound in the void.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Nio began to run, heading toward the war rhinoceros that was already charging the farthest from him. With a shield and weapon weighing over 200 pounds, armor weighing over 200 pounds, and his own weight exceeding 200 pounds, this 700-pound steel monster moved swiftly. Yet compared to the tonnage of the war rhinoceros, Nio’s pace appeared even more ferocious and astonishing. Every part of his body exuded a sense of power—making it seem not like a person or an animal, but rather a mountain! Unstoppable.
Aaaah… With a fierce howl, Nio accelerated, executing a three-stage charge, merging the first two stages into one. At that moment, dust flew, and shockwaves rolled out as he rushed forward like a meteor flying just above the ground, trailing red light.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The head-on collision ended with the war rhinoceros flying backward, and the intense energy from the impact created a large crater in the ground. But that wasn’t all—Nio launched the final stage of his charge. The red meteor caught up to the flying war rhinoceros, and the swirling blood-red light engulfed it. When the light faded, what remained was the corpse of the war rhinoceros, split down the middle.
Aaaah… With continued roars, energy ripples spread across the ground centered around Nio, with waves of soil disturbance expanding in circles. Even rocks dozens of meters away seemed to dance.
“Damn beasts!!!”
“Dragons must have been killed by people like this!”
“This isn’t just fury—it’s Blood Rage. The captain’s combat energy is blood. Blood Rage protection—legend says it grows stronger the more battles you fight, the more hits you take. Damn! No upper limit to combat power—too terrifying…”
Nio’s wolf ears twitched. OK, hearing that last sentence satisfied him. He had brought three war rhinoceroses here today for three reasons: first, to test his own combat power; second, to establish his authority and boost the soldiers’ confidence; and third, for this “Blood Rage.” He needed a plausible explanation for his combat power and the use of blood energy. Blood Rage—good excuse. Though accidentally turning into a roaring form, the feeling wasn’t bad. He had only roared like this before in the arena when his fighting spirit burned. Now, as a way to utilize blood energy, it was indeed helpful, and he felt great too—his fighting spirit soared, his strength surged, and he became unstoppable.
Boom! Boom! Covered in blood, Nio strode forward. Although the blood energy had faded, his fighting spirit hadn’t completely dissipated. The fierce and deadly aura forged through countless battles of life and death made everyone tremble in fear. No one dared to meet Nio’s eyes, sharp as blood-edged blades, at that moment.

Zanjin and the others stared wide-eyed, fists clenched tightly, filled with both fear and excitement. “It’s… it’s so fucking brutal! It’s so fucking awesome! I want this! I must have it!” Varug acted like a child—in just a few moments, he had decided to abandon the hard-earned Shadow Assassin qualification he had obtained after traveling tens of thousands of miles, and devote himself to the glorious path of a warrior.

“Me too! Me too! This is what I want—this fits our Rockhoof Clan’s style!” Nio was so charming that even the bull-like Zanjin switched sides.

“Hmph! Changing minds easily and being two-faced—how can you master skills like that?” Kokar, with his human body and horse head, said this, but he soon gave in. Because Nio told the two bulls, “Besides emphasizing stealth, Shadow Assassins also focus on extremely powerful one-hit kills. Although you, Zanjin, can’t cast many spells, if you apply single-target enhancement spells to yourself and occasionally use single-target damage spells on enemies, you can still be very effective. Because what I just used wasn’t just Blood Rage—it was also a technique for refining the body with blood energy, which is perfect for you.”

“What about me? Can I become a Blood Caster? But I don’t want to turn into some dark, blood-sucking creature.” Kokar stepped forward.

“Blood sucking is a rather inferior way of utilizing blood energy. Its principle is digestive absorption. My method is different—we absorb directly and create through synthesis,” Nio said, extending his hand. A mass of blood mist appeared in his palm, drifting without dissipating. After a while, faint rays of the four elements gathered and merged into the blood mist. Soon, the light disappeared, and the mist grew darker. Then Nio absorbed it back into his body. “How about that? As a Blood Caster, you’ll be able to defeat those Blood Caster vampires everywhere.”

“I’ll learn! I’ll learn!” Kokar rubbed his hands excitedly.

“Me too!” Even Mary, who usually stayed silent, stepped forward. She was indeed the most suitable—blood energy plus frenzy—she could be called Bloody Mary in the future.

“What about me? If everyone else is using blood energy, it’s boring without me! I want to learn too!” Kanito joined in the excitement.

Nio smiled, revealing his pale wolf teeth. He looked like a cunning gray wolf, while Zanjin and the others resembled foolishly excited little white rabbits.

Although smart people aren’t easily deceived, like Kanito, his problem was his low emotional intelligence. A tech fanatic often fails in life, so he eventually gave in as well. Not entirely true, though—Nio did use blood energy to control the others on Star 745, but this control was subtle, seemingly masked by benefits. Zanjin and the others unconsciously began to obey Nio’s will, following his commands and strategies, because their goals were in Nio’s hands. To gain blood energy and possess the ability to create blood energy through synthesis—something even Nio himself hadn’t mastered yet, used only as a trick to deceive others—was a very long process!