The training for the Doghouse immediately came under way.
Felicia and Ramona were doing pushups in the corner of the courtyard, their arms trembling, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped from their chins onto the cracked concrete. Neither complained—not because they didn't want to, but because they didn't dare.
Nearby, Yurei took on both Sally and Beatrice at once.
Longinus moved in arcs of golden light—not striking, but guiding. Deflecting. Correcting. Each time one of them made a mistake, the spear shaft tapped the offending limb.
"Beatrice, your shoulder is lagging again."
Beatrice adjusted her stance, grunting.
"Sally, focus more on using your blessing efficiently. You're wasting Aether on every punch."
"Yes, Highness!"
Both women began following her advice, their movements slowly becoming smoother, more economical.
Hiro watched from the sidelines alongside Marian and a few of the unit members. The morning sun had climbed higher, and the shadows had shrunk to puddles beneath their feet.
"Yeah, Marian," Hiro said, glancing at the other unit members watching the spar. "I've been meaning to ask. Why are there so many people in this unit?"
It had been bothering him since the first time he arrived at this base. The difference in numbers between their base and this one was huge. The 13th Royal Unit had maybe six to ten people, including him. Here, there were easily fifteen to twenty.
"It's just that the Captain prefers it that way." Marian didn't look away from Yurei, who was calmly beating the pulp out of the two strongest people in the base. "She says that having too many utility staff will make us indulgent and dampen our skills."
"Utility staff?"
"Haven't you noticed?" Marian gestured toward the soldiers scattered around the courtyard. "Most of the people here have zero stars. That means they aren't combat soldiers. They're utility soldiers—cleaning, cooking, making sure the main unit is always ready."
Hiro looked closer. The soldiers Felicia and Ramona, the ones running supplies, the ones standing at the edges with clipboards.
"That kind of makes sense."
"Look at those two." Marian pointed at Felicia and Ramona, still struggling through their pushups. "They're one star and one-and-a-half stars respectively. That means they've awakened their blessing and acquired a beast slave."
"So acquiring a beast slave is a requirement?"
"No, it's just a recommendation." Marian finally looked at him. "Otherwise, how would any of us in the 13th unit have been promoted?"
---
Hiro's understanding of the Imperial Army's hierarchy had been vague at best. Now, standing in the sun-baked courtyard, Marian laid it out for him.
There were seven official ranks.
The first six were based on a star system—zero being the lowest, five being the highest. Zero stars meant utility. One star meant awakened. Two stars meant combat-ready. Three stars meant elite. Four stars meant officer. Five stars meant commander.
Above them were the Princesses—the elite of the young generation. Only thirteen could exist at any given time.
Above them were the twelve Divine Generals. Monsters who wielded the twelve Divine Armaments of the Imperial Army—Imperial Gear so powerful that the Generals couldn't have slaves anymore. Didn't need units. Didn't need anyone.
And at the apex—the strongest in the entire army, the entire URG—the Matriarch. Ruler of the thirteen regions.
"So what are your ranks?" Hiro asked.
Marian ticked them off on her fingers. "I'm a five-star. Daisy is a four-star. Elira is three and a half. Bailey is four and a half."
"Wait, you're the highest ranked?"
"Yeah." Marian's voice was casual, but something flickered behind her eyes. "Being a five-star allowed me to become a princess candidate. And before you ask—Bailey is more suited than me to be the Vice Captain of our unit."
"She mentioned that." Hiro paused. "What happened?"
Marian was quiet for a moment.
"Well, let's just say I pissed off the wrong people. Made my family kinda… disown me."
"Your family disowned you?"
"Yeah. I was already on thin ice—couldn't form a beast slave contract, you know? Being a failed princess candidate isn't exactly part of the Urahame family portfolio." She shrugged, but the motion was stiff. "So they disowned me. I ended up here. With most of the people here."
"Then—"
"Yurei found me."
Marian's voice softened.
---
She could see it like it was yesterday.
Already at the edge of death and despair, facing an endless horde of Abyssals she had overestimated her abilities. She had been cocky. Arrogant. Hellbent on proving her family wrong.
Five hours of fighting. Her Aether reserves dangerously low. Her body screaming. Her mind numb.
She was ready to meet her bitter end.
Then she appeared.
A rain of radiant spear thrusts cleared a path through the seemingly endless horde. Golden light. Pink hair. Crimson eyes that held no fear.
Yurei carved through the Abyssals like they were paper.
Then she turned to Marian—bruised, bleeding, broken—and extended her hand.
She rescued her.
Both figuratively and literally.
---
"Damn," Hiro said quietly. "How much more cool can Yurei get?"
Marian grinned. "You'd be surprised."
A pat on the shoulder brought Hiro out of the conversation.
He turned. Scott stood behind him, flanked by the other beast slaves—Winston, Stanley, and a few others Hiro hadn't met yet.
"Hey," Scott said. "Since your mistress is training our mistresses, me and the guys thought we could give you our own personal training."
He cracked his knuckles.
"You up for it?"
Hiro's eyes widened.
Beast training. From actual beast slaves.
"Hell yeah."
Scott's grin widened.
"Great. Follow us."
Hiro took a step forward—then hesitated.
"What?" Scott asked.
"Nothing." Hiro shook his head. "Just… I have a feeling I'm going to regret this."
"You probably will."
"Great."
Hiro followed them into the shadows of the base.
Behind him, Marian watched him go, a small smile on her face.
Good luck, rookie, she thought. You're going to need it.