Chapter 141: Red Sun
The Red Sun.
The Solaris Empire’s most elite force stood as a bulwark against external threats like the current situation happening across the empire. Their strong army was a thousand-strong, never increasing or decreasing in number.
Each soldier was at least a sixth-star who was a magic swordsman, led by the Sun Sword Saint, a ninth-star imperial commander. Their ten divisions, each a hundred strong, were housed in ten castles on a sprawling, fortified plain, distant from the Sun Palace’s golden spires.
The castles’ sizes reflected their hierarchy, the tenth castle being the smallest and humblest, squatted in the shadow of the first’s towering ramparts, its stone etched with runes that glowed faintly under the glowing sky.
Baines arrived and was led directly to the first division’s training ground, a vast arena of packed earth, encircled by obsidian pillars pulsing with mana.
Today, soldiers from all divisions gathered here. It was the only time it was ever allowed, when a new soldier was entering their ranks.
Tradition demanded that the newcomer select an opponent from the fourth to the tenth divisions to claim their rank. By accumulating achievements, one could obtain enough merits to challenge for a higher rank. Meaning, in this place, there was no place to slack off. Either one progressed or got demoted to the Golden Knights.
Except those on official assignment, all divisions were to appear. However, with the empire’s turmoil, only about five hundred soldiers assembled.
And with the first and second divisions absent on assignment, the third division leader, a figure in crimson armor whose presence radiated authority, officiated.
Baines had already shed his Kirk Barns disguise, revealing his true face, sharp, unyielding, with eyes that screamed rage.
"Recruit Jin," the third division leader’s voice boomed, his voice echoing across the arena, "you are to challenge any numbers from 401 to 1000. Whose position will you take?"