CHAPTER 1: RECRUITS AND YOTA’s E-CLASS PROMOTION NOVEL VER.

18 Years after the 8th King of Wars inauguration…

———

Eighteen years later.

The capital of the World United Government shimmered beneath a sterile haze, the skyline sharp as a blade against a pale sky.

Steel fences surrounded the open military yard.

A hundred recruits stood in formation beneath the watchtowers.

“ATTENTION!” Sergeant Kert’s voice tore through the silence.

He stood before them — scarred, broad-shouldered, the kind of man whose aura alone emits power. Four Corporal Officers lined up behind him, eyes forward, backs straight.

“You recruits are the future of this Government,” he declared.

“The next generation of heroes… and officers.”

A tear slid beneath the rim of his cap. “And for that, it’s truly an honor to stand before you.”

Murmurs broke in the ranks.

“Is he crying?”

“I know, right… what a joke.”

Corporal Daley smirked beside him, mustache twitching. “They’re mocking you, Sarg. The ones in the back.”

Kert turned slightly, confused. Daley didn’t look at him — still facing forward, voice low.

“Insubordination isn’t tolerated in the WUG. You won’t let them get away with it, right… leader?”

Sora, another corporal, slightly sweaty as he panics. “I don’t think they meant anything…”

But it was too late. The recruits stiffened.

All eyes fell on the two culprits — 11 and 60.

“You two, step forward.”

Kert’s voice was calm… but heavy.

He sighed. “Then we’ll set up a cage match. For insubordination against an officer of the WUG Academy.”

Daley grinned.

“Good. Follow the rule book — teach them respect.”

Sora whispered, “Isn’t that too much…?”

The Cage Match

The crowd circled the dirt floor. Recruits chanted like spectators at an execution.

Recruit 11 stood relaxed, hands in his pockets.

Recruit 60 trembled beside him, eyes darting.

“This has to be a test,” 60 whispered. “You’re not actually gonna hurt me, right?”

“I can’t promise you that,” 11 said flatly.

From the crowd, a whisper:

“How ’bout it? Quick bet 33?”

“What’s your name?”

“Doesn’t matter. My bets on 11.”

32’s grin widened. I already feel the outcome, he thought. Recruit 11 will finish this in seconds.

11 didn’t move. He smirked. “Go on, I’ll give you the first shot. So you can at least say you tried before I finish you.”

60 raised both hands, desperate. “Wait— maybe if we apologize—”

A flash.

A punch.

BOOM!

11’s fist sank into 60’s ribs, the shockwave rippling outward.

60’s body flew across the circle, crashing into the arms of stunned recruits.

The crowd gasped.

“This government doesn’t care about your morals,” 11 said, walking toward the limp body.

“They just want to know if you’re powerful enough… to disrespect them.”

He yanked 60 from the crowd and slammed an overhand punch into him.

BOOOOM.

Cracks split the floor. Dust and silence fell together.

“I’m not done just yet—”

“That’s enough!”

A glowing palm caught his next punch.

Ms. Merble stood between them, eyes hard. “You proved your point already.”

11 pulled back, clicking his tongue. “Tsk. I was just starting to have fun.”

He turned and walked away, hands in pockets.

“Don’t act as if you care…unless you would have stopped me sooner.”

32 threw both arms up. “Yes! I won! Time to pay up!”

33 stared. “Wait, you knew he’d win.”

32 smiled weakly. “O-Of course not. Just lucky.”

33 flat. “Well I can’t pay you anyway — we can’t bring any money.”

32 deflated. “Oh yeah… right...”

At the edge of the circle, Kert sighed into his palm.

“He guessed right… it was a test of respect. 11 was too powerful, didn’t want to listen.”

Daley chuckled. “That’s how this nation was built. The strong have the last say… and the first.”

Sora frowned as Kert walked away. Ms. Cassy stayed silent, gaze forward.

Merble knelt beside the unconscious 60.

“Bring a medic — now!”

From the crowd, three recruits watched:

Saki (#1), calm; Cal (#2), worried; Toya (#3), unreadable.

“The ranks weren’t even close,” Cal muttered.

“It was over before it started.”

“Not surprised,” Toya said. “It’s their way to send fear to the weak.”

Saki’s eyes narrowed towards the scene.

———

E-Class Promotion

Later that day, far from the training yard, a mop dragged across cheap tile.

“Aw, this place sucks.”

Yota mumbled under his breath, sweat on his brow.

He glanced at the “Employee of the Month” wall — same smug kid as always.

Four years and I couldn’t even make manager. The boss’s kid wins every month.

He sighed and kept mopping.

“Still… can’t complain. The pay sucks though. Even if I’m just a low-class.

The clock ticked. Shift almost over.

“Can’t believe it’s been eighteen years… and I still haven’t found the fifth one.”

He stared at the breakroom calendar, finger tapping his chin.

“Thought I’d have felt his power by now…”

“Shift’s over,” he muttered, tossing his apron aside. “Later, Mr. Sato.”

“Mmrrph. Yeah, whatever,” the old man grumbled behind his newspaper.

“What a surprise,” Yota whispered. “You don’t care.”

⸻

F-Class District 4

His apartment was a mess of ramen cups, tangled wires, and dreams long expired.

“C’mon… c’mon…!”

The screen flashed GAME OVER again.

“Thirty tries?! Who makes games this hard?”

His phone buzzed against the pile of trash.

Notification: To Yota — From World United Government.

He frowned, thumb sliding across the cracked

screen.

Promotion Confirmed — F-Class → E-Class.

Privileges Unlocked.

“E-Class? That’s it?! I waited five years for one rank?”

He groaned, slumping back on the couch.

“Because I was a former felon, huh? Not even my fault. Typical.”

After a pause, he muttered, “At least the pay’ll be better. Maybe I can move out of this dump.”

———

The Manager

“Come in!”

Mr. Sato barely looked up as Yota stepped inside.

“Well, I just got promoted to E-Class,” Yota said carefully. “Think that means I can get a small raise?”

The man smirked over his glasses. “About that… we won’t be needing you anymore. Cutting labor costs.”

“What?!”

There’s only four employees, Yota thought. He just doesn’t want to pay me.

“But,” Sato continued, “if you want to work off the books—there’s still an opening.”

Yota’s eyes half-closed. “Yeah… no thanks.”

He turned for the door.

“I quit.”

“Get back here!” Sato shouted after him. “That E-Class promotion means nothing, you hear me?!”

Outside, Yota exhaled into the cold evening air.

A shopper passed with a baby in her arms.

“Well,” he muttered, “that’s done. Now I just need another job. Great.”

⸻

End of Chapter 1 — “RECRUITS AND YOTA’s E-CLASS PROMOTION”