Endless Horde: Through the Eyes of a Godking

Chapter 171: Rude Awakening, End of Shift

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Cedric's words were not a threat but a promise. He's under a legal obligation to execute people who abandon their posts for personal gain, especially on a battlefield like this.

In fact, it would've been fine if he actually killed the guy because what he said was definitely treason. The army would not blame him for his actions because if they were in the same position as him, this guy would not be spared.

Seeing the coward back down in fear, nearly pissing himself in the process, Cedric retracted his weapon. He then looked at the leader of Squad #3 and said:

"This matter will be escalated upon our return to the camp. As their Leader, you should be more proactive in your role. Expect a Disciplinary Action enforced upon you..." Cedric then looked at the frightened guy, "...and him, especially him, upon our return. Of course, that's under the assumption that all of you return in one piece."

"The state of your team doesn't give a positive impression of that outcome."

After saying that, Cedric turned around to continue with their patrol flanked by his team, leaving the dumbfounded and intimidated Squad #3 behind.

They could only look as Squad #1, who's quite possibly the most stable and strongest team there is in this batch, walked away to perform their duty, wishing that they were on this team instead of this.

Seeing how well-off Cedric's squad made Isabella jealous. Why can't her team be more like them? If she had those members instead of these people, she would probably have an easier time in this dangerous place.

If he had those behaved and obedient people on her team instead of these cowards, she probably wouldn't be as stressed as she is right now.

'Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Lady Frostwind.'

Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief after hearing Cedric's voice inside her head.

'Did you honestly think that if we were to switch teams right here and now, all your problems would be solved? Do you really think it's that easy? If you do, then wow...you're as pompous and as entitled as I initially think you were.'

'The state of your team reflects your capabilities as a leader since that's what you are here. Did you think that your aloofness and disgust towards men helped your team to be competent at their responsibilities?'

Isabella was alarmed. How in the world did Cedric know about that? She's not surprised that he knew she was aloof and distant because that's public knowledge, but how did he know about her disgust toward men?

'Distancing yourself from your team is practically saying that you're leaving them up to fate and had no desire to lead at all, which is contradictory to your sworn duty since you accepted the position, did you not? As far as I'm aware, the Knight Captains wouldn't force anybody in this position, you had a choice and you made it.'

'Your final rating in this mission will be decided based on your team's performance. Granted the state of your squad, do you think that you're doing fine?'

Isabella looked down involuntarily when the facts were laid out in front of her. She had no words to refute.

'The world doesn't revolve around us, Lady Frostwind. Glaring at a problem wouldn't make it go away. There will be no knight in shining armor here, Babe. If you wanna be saved, you must do it yourself. Get off from whatever high-horse your own, get down and dirty. Crawl your way out of this hell, if you must, only then you will know the real meaning of strength.'

'If you don't move now and use whatever knowledge you have in that brain of yours, you will die here. My team could confidently escape the hunt of a Capra Demon, can your team do the same? Let me remind you, that thing is still out there.'

'That's all I have to say. Best of luck, #3.'

Just like that, Isabella watched as Squad #1 left their field of vision under Cedric's lead.

Goosebumps ran throughout her entire body as she was reminded, harshly if one might add, about the place they were currently in and the dangers lurking around.

Cedric's words rang in her ears. As painful as they were, all of it was the truth. As much as she wanted to deny it, she couldn't. Not when they're facing the real threat of death.

"Get up, all of you!" She snarled at her team, surprising every single one of them.

Frightened by the sudden change in her, they stood up and gathered around her. In their eyes, Isabella was downright murderous right now.

"This is all my fault, I should've tightened my leash around you since day one. Maybe things would've been different if I did that." She uttered with clenched jaws. "That won't fly anymore. From here on out, I expect obedience from you. Fail to show that and I won't hesitate to throw you out to the jaws of demons lurking around us."

"We will stay in formation and continue with our route. However, in addition to that, all of you will learn how to do Ki Pulse. I don't care if we attract the attention of demons while we do that cause we will just fight them off."

"Not knowing Ki Pulse is just as dangerous as fighting those abominations anyway. I will not accept excuses. All of Squad #1 knows how to do it, if those people could learn it, then so are you."

"If you have any objections to that, leave at once. I don't care what you think. If you say, then obey. If you don't want to obey, then fuck off to somewhere, I don't care. How about that?"

"Any objections?"

If they weren't already intimidated by her before, then they sure are now. This was probably the most words they all heard her say in the collective amount of time they knew her, including their time at the academy.

Right now, Isabella's far scarier than the demons lurking around them. She intimidated them to obedience. And Isabella couldn't help but feel surprised with how easy that was.

Do you mean to say that all she had to do was snarl and scold them so badly to get their complete obedience? Why did nobody tell her? She would've done so earlier!

But of course, she wouldn't forget that this was only possible because that man woke her up from her stupor. As much as she hates to admit this, he's right.

'If want to be saved, you must do it on your own.'

She'll think more about that later, for now, she had a task to finish and survival to do. They're already late on their schedule so they must move now.

**

More toxic swamps, flesh-eating trees, unstable and corrupted landmass, hordes of migrating demons, and a couple of hours later...

The Cadets' shift was approaching its end.

Squad #1 performed as they always have, with machine-like precision and perfect teamwork.

They faced horrors after horrors but they remained steadfast in their task. Their communication is smooth and their collective will remains unbreakable.

As expected, they fought more demons on their way, but they eliminated them all. They didn't not pick fights because that's not their duty but they also didn't back down from it.

By now, every single one of Squad #1's members wasn't afraid of the True Demons anymore. Sure, they get intimidated from time to time but it's not crippling them anymore.

They became brave enough to look at a True Demon's eye and kill it without flinching. All of this was possible because Cedric conditioned them to it.

He kept them at a stable pace, watching over them and keeping their minds alert and sharp by consistently talking to them either out loud or through sound transmission.

Because of that, the team fell into a rhythm that only seasoned squads/teams could get to. None of his team members knew this, not even Cedric himself, but they didn't have to since their focus should be on their task.

Right now, Squad #1 made it back to the transmission area - the place where they were dropped off earlier. Their shift was over and they were just waiting to be transmitted out of the field.

They stood in formation when light descended on them. When they blinked, they found themselves standing at the Transmission Room reserved for Knight Captain Silverwing's platoon.

"We've returned team. Let's pulse just for good measure, yeah?" Cedrid ordered, which the team obeyed immediately.

"Good work, Squad #1." Captain Silverwing shimmered into existence, wearing a wide smile on his face.

Cedric hollered at his squad to give salutations to the Knight Captain and thank him for his praise.

"At ease." The fox-eyed man smiled in return. "I can see that you're all tired. Give me your compiled reports to look over, you're dismissed after that. Tomorrow's your day off so have a good rest."

"Thank you, Sir." Squad #1 replied in unison, grateful at the prospect of being able to rest.