In the following weeks, the Initiates continued to refine their skills.
Tatiana informed them that the more they practiced with their weapons, the stronger their bond would become. They occasionally received specialized courses designed to improve their skills.
Naya had nearly cried tears of joy when Tatiana personally corrected her fighting stance and the speed at which she swung her spear. She had talked about it the whole day nonstop.
Specialized simulators were also introduced to help them adapt to their weapons. Kira spent most of her time perfecting her archery. Wayne sparred with other sword users, and Naya practiced spear movements through a simulator, same as Kiah.
In one of Kiah's simulations, she was tasked with striking down grotesque degenerate clones, aiming for their necks with a single, clean hit. It sounded simple enough, but one wrong move caused the degenerates to multiply. If she made too many mistakes, the room would quickly be overrun.
Thankfully, with the help of an AI assistant, she learned to maneuver effectively, striking each target with precision. Every perfect blow reduced a degenerate to glowing sparks.
And so, the two weeks came to an end.
When she took time to evaluate her progress, Kiah realized how far she'd come. She was faster, more fluid, and her group on the Labrys had become second nature. Sometimes, she felt like the weapon responded to her touch with a subtle him. Tatiana confirmed it was a good sign of synchronization.
The next phase in the training exercise was to study the anatomy of degenerates. Unlike before, this phase didn't require time in the training room. Instead, they moved to a classroom setting.
Their new instructor was a woman named Dr. Helen. She was the same doctor who had patched them up several times, and many initiates were familiar with her. She had a calm presence and a soothing voice that made the lessons easy to follow, though not quite relaxing enough for anyone to fall asleep.
Helen guided them through the fundamental understanding of degenerate biology and behavioral patterns.
Kiah always sat in the middle row with her companions during the lectures, her notebook open and ready to jot down key points.
Dr. Helen's classes quickly became the one lecture everyone looked forward to each morning.
The first few sessions covered material Kiah already knew, things Killan had already taught her about. But as the days progressed, the lessons grew deeper, and Kiah found herself discovering new things.
In one lecture, projected images of the brain of a degenerate flickered across the screen. The degenerate was one of the few they had caught in the early stages of the attacks for study purposes. Dr. Helen herself had done the dissection and put together a small study material.
Such a calm-looking woman dissecting a degenerate was something Kiah had never imagined. She could just visualize Dr. Helen in a lab, surrounded by degenerate body parts and holding a scalpel in her hand.
'Expect the unexpected, I guess.'
Dr. Helen explained:
"If you look closely, you'll notice that the cranium is distorted. Some degenerates retain fragments of memory, which makes them… unstable. They are intelligent enough to stalk and lure prey, so don't take them lightly. They are not always mindless and irrational…"
Kiah's pen scratched quickly against her notebook.
From what she understood, a degenerate didn't necessarily lose all cognitive function upon turning. For example, if a trained boxer or soldier were turned into a degenerate, they could retain their combat instincts and fight like a pro. Facing one would be nothing like fighting an ordinary brute.
In that case, an initiate had to work extra hard to defeat such a thrasher. Such thrashers were even capable of coordinated attacks, though it was rare.
Wretches, on the other hand, were good at coordination. Aberrants were worse. They didn't just coordinate, they strategized.
In another lecture, she showed them a side-by-side comparison of a human skeleton and a degenerate's.
"Degenerate bones are significantly more dense than human bones, and this density increases with every rank. This makes them heavier, and their attacks carry more weight. Notice the increased bone density, especially in the forearms and shins. These regions are used as weapons. You'll often see degenerates using their limbs to break through walls or disarm you."
Kiah leaned forward, intrigued.
"Can a degenerate wield a real weapon? Or bond with one?" She had asked.
Helen paused, then answered with a measured tone.
"Good question. Degenerates cannot bond with a weapon. If they were bonded before they turned, the connection breaks because the virus corrupts their DNA. Their nervous system can no longer sustain the link. Generally, it has never been reported that a degenerate wielded a weapon," she hesitated briefly, "and I sincerely hope it stays that way. That would be catastrophic."
A chill swept through the room.
Helen moved on.
"Decapitatuon remains the most effective way to kill a degenerate irrespective of the rank. When you sever the spinal column just below the skull, it disrupts the neural control. But don't expect them to stand still for it. Evolved degenerates often have protection measures against decapitation, so don't always expect their heads to roll down with a single strike."
The room went quiet.
Shortly after, the lecture ended and everyone returned to their rooms thinking of the horrors ahead.