Among the soldiers running back and forth, small walkers could be seen being maneuvered. Xi Zhang observed everything, from F.C.s with small groups of soldiers training across the flat area, to P.C.s, the Small Runners, with their two metallic legs, usually used as scouts on missions or by messengers. To the left of the new students, dozens of war machines were gathered. Mobile cannons with three or four reinforced metallic legs fired at targets hundreds of meters away. The students watched wide-eyed as beams of bluish light shot from the cannons, moving at an alarming speed toward their targets, which were shredded into pieces.
Coming from a family with many military members, young Zhang knew most of those war machines. He quickly counted five Gastron, each with three reinforced legs and a light cannon mounted on top. The Gastron required three operators: two for locomotion and one for firing. In addition to the tripod tanks, the area contained two Houno and four Vargreom. Houno were armored tanks with a heavy cannon in the center, supported by four robotic legs similar to the walker that had brought the students to the Academy. The Vargreom resembled a mix of the other two tanks, with four support legs like the Houno, but instead of a heavy cannon, it had two lighter cannons on each side.
"Holy crap!" exclaimed the tall Feng Dol to Xi Zhang's left.
The sixth son of the Zhang family followed Feng Dol's gaze and was surprised to see, not far from the war tanks, two War Gods standing still. Huge humanoid robots over eight meters tall, piloted from a cabin in their armored chest. Each War God carried a massive enerjom rifle, standing like giant steel sculptures beside the training field.
"It's a shame they're not moving," Xi Zhang whispered, recalling the first time he had seen a War God.
"Agreed!" Feng Dol said, eyes glued to the robots. "Honestly, I wish I had passed the test to become a pilot."
"Being a War Lord would be way more exciting," Xi Zhang said with a faint smile. "But it's not worth thinking about now."
Feng Dol nodded in agreement, and together they refocused on the Director, who was still standing atop the F.C., waving his hands to draw the students' attention. It took the shouts of the fat instructor Gon Wu for the young students to calm down.
"For those who complete their training here," the Director began, "you will have access to all the resources the Academy can provide. These brave men, trained here or at any other Academy training base, will follow your orders… if you prove worthy of being followed."
Then Director Zou Jinx gave a quick nod to Lee Bay before sitting on one of the F.C.'s rear benches. The one-eyed instructor limped, supporting himself with his cane, to the pilot seat at the front of the small walker. Activating the machine, he turned to the students.
"Class 1 A! Follow me."
Xi Zhang and his classmates quickly separated from the other students, following the walker with the instructor and Director toward a massive building carved into the mountain. As they moved, Xi Zhang glanced back, seeing some commoner students leave their lines to follow the group of five nobles.
"Looks like we'll have plenty of scum companions," muttered Muh Xao at the front of the group.
"You should watch your words," Xi Zhang countered, giving the Silver a serious and reproachful look. "If Instructor Mor Dalu hears you say something like that…"
"A commoner as an instructor," Muh sneered. "Looks like the Academy really has declined in these times of peace."
"Why don't you say that to Instructor Lee Bay up there," Feng Dol said, flashing a wide grin at the now furious Muh Xao. "Or better yet, the Director."
Seeing Muh Xao's sour expression, Xi Zhang couldn't help but smile. Feng Dol was deliberately provoking him, knowing how proud the Silver was.
Before the group could hear Muh Xao's response to the provocation, they reached the building carved into the rock. They passed through a rectangular entrance over ten meters wide and at least fifteen meters high.
The youths found themselves inside a large rectangular hall, where dozens of uniformed men moved about. The hall was illuminated by dozens of lamps powered by enerjom, the pure energy that drove civilizations in the world of Maya.
"This way!" called Lee Bay, limping alongside the Director to a rectangular elevator near the opposite wall of the entrance.
The youths followed the two veterans into the elevator until there was no room to move. The instructor and Director stood beside a man seated in front of a panel full of buttons and levers. Xi Zhang and the other young nobles stood side by side just behind the adults, while the commoners crowded near the entrance of the rectangular machine, keeping their distance from the nobility.
The Director said something to the seated man, who began manipulating the levers and buttons. Xi Zhang felt the metal floor vibrate beneath his feet and heard the elevator doors close behind the commoners.
With a jolt, the elevator started moving—first forward, then diagonally upward along a metal track. As it gained speed, each student's stomach churned slightly. When they thought they might vomit, the elevator began to slow until it stopped completely.
Behind the commoners, the doors opened again, and they were allowed to exit by Lee Bay. As the youths stepped out and spread across a circular platform, the Imperial Military Academy's landscape unfolded before them.
Xi Zhang and the others stood before a massive ten-meter-high gate made of dark metal. Flanking the gate were two towers carved into the rock, small cannons pointing down at them.
Xi Zhang's trained mind quickly assessed the Academy's formidable defense. Even if an enemy managed to pass through the training area they had just come from, they would still have to survive this narrow platform under the cannons' aim, with nowhere to hide.
The gate slid to the left, entering the mountain and revealing the true Academy. Barely had it opened when a group of twenty black-uniformed soldiers approached in two perfect lines, led by a woman wearing the same black attire as the instructors.
"So this is the new batch of potential officers?" the woman asked, bowing to the Director and giving a quick salute to Lee Bay. "I am Ye, of the Cham family from the White Peaks Province. Welcome, young officer candidates."
Ye Cham opened her arms, and behind her, the youths could see a gigantic castle carved into the peak of Mount Fuu. Xi Zhang fixed his eyes on the castle, imagining his next two years of training. No matter what, he would reach the top.