On the day they pleted their training, Floch led the group of nearly fifty low-ranked demons directly from the training grounds to the administrative building.

  The building wasn’t far from their barracks, but the sight of a rge group of low-ranked demons marg in formation behind Floaturally attracted attention.

  The mid-ranked demons lingerihe building noticed them immediately.

  When they reized Floch at the front of the group, along with the fresh batch of low ranks behind him, looks of uanding crossed their faces.

  One of them stepped fng at Xaren’s group as he addressed Floch with an amused grin.

  “Floch! Running your crazy wing training again, huh?”

  The ent drew a wave of realization through the low ranks. This wasn’t the first time Floch had subjected new low ranks to the gruelling training they had just endured.

  The mid-ranked demon shook his head and tinued, his tone half-joking.

  “Most batches finish up in a month, but you took what—five extra weeks this time?

  Seriously, it’s just teag them how to fly and use their wings as magic catalysts. Why do y it out so long?”

  Floch raised a brow at the remark and replied with a question of his own.

  “The real question is why you take so little time to do it. Is it because you ’t be bothered to teach them properly?”

  His words drew a few chuckles from nearby demons, but there was no denying the truth behind them.

  Most of the mid-ranked demons, all of which had higher military ranks, didn’t bother to put in much effort when training the lowest-tier soldiers.

  Instead, they handed off the work to other low-ranked demons, preferring to supervise from the sidelines.

  Floch was one of the few who actually taught and traihem.

  “You lot just skim the surface since you couldn’t be bothered to care too much. But I teach them thhly.

  That’s why, despite always taking lohan you, I’ve never been reprimanded for it.”

  The mid-ranked demon scoffed but had al. Floch’s words were true.

  Despite pushing back schedules by a full month every time he trained a batone of the High-Ranked demons ever called him out for it.

  It wasn’t because they didn’t notice; they were well aware of the deys. Instead, it was because they tacitly approved of Floch’s methods.

  Reminded of this fact, the other mid-ranked demon merely sighed, shaking his head in resignation. Eager to steer the versation away, he waved dismissively and spoke.

  “Just go ahese guys their new gear already.”

  Floch smirked, brushing him off.

  “I nning to without your reminder.”

  With that, he turned ahe group to another se of the administrative building.

  This was where their proper demon army uniforms awaited them—far better than the rugged training clothes they had worn for the past two months.

  Ihey were hahree sets of uniforms, each bearing the insignia of their new military rank, ‘Private’.

  Along with the uniforms, they received three pairs of bat boots and standard-issue ons, including two main ons, daggers, and partial armour desigo yer over the ented fabric of their uniforms for extra prote.

  For Xaren and Ilya, who already had Runebdes and magic pouches stocked with potions and s, those Runebdes were to be their primary ons, while the standard-issue gear would serve as spares.

  Ohe distribution was plete, Floch called out four names—Xaren, Ilya, Carack, and Bjorn.

  “You four, with me. The rest of you, back to your barracks.”

  The selected group followed Floch to yet another se of the administrative building, where they entered a familiar fabsp;

  The mid-ranked demoness, the one who had outfitted Xaren with ented clothes on his first day, was seated behind a desk. She looked up as they entered, exhaling an exasperated sigh.

  “Finally, you’re here,” she muttered under her breath, then yanked open a drawer arieved several rolled-up parts, unceremoniously tossing them toward the group.

  They caught them reflexively, and as they examihe items in their hands, she added with a dry tone.

  “Your rewards for killing that giant two months ago. You should’ve received them back then, but this idiot—” she gestured toward Floch “—dragged you straight into training before I could get these to you.”

  The demoness’s sharp gre settled on Floch as she finished her pint, and the fire demon turned his gaze away, attempting a poor whistle that fooled no one.

  Rolling her eyes, she plucked a key card from her desk and flung it at Floch’s head. When he caught it before it could hit, the demoness clicked her tongue.

  “That’s the key card to the special training rooms. Let them go use those souls in there.”

  Turnitention back to Xaren, Ilya, Carack, and Bjorn, she added a stern warning.

  “Don’t open those parts until you’re ihe special rooms. Unless you’re in the mood to get bullied by stronger low-rank demons who want to snatch those souls from you.”

  The four of them nodded silently, quickly tug the parts into their bags, hidden among their uniforms and boots.

  Without further dey, Floch led them out of the administrative building. Their destination: the special training rooms where they could safely use the souls.

  ◇　◇　◇

  The souls they had been rewarded with were those of low-rank angels around their level, with a few from existences 10 to 20 levels higher.

  The absorption process wasn’t quick or easy—it took the group aire day to fully absorb the energy in those souls, ending with their stat levels increasing signifitly.

  For Xaren, his durability, which had gged behind the rest, finally caught up, reag D+, while his energy and agility inched closer to bsp;

  The day, after their m drills and breakfast, they were herded onte bus. To Xaren, it was a curious, elongated version of the cars he had seen around the base.

  Their destination was the Outpost where their new unit was.

  Floch, however, did not apany them. His job ended when he was doeag them how to use their wings.

  He passed the group off to a Lieutenant, who would oversee their transition into active duty.

  And like so, Xaren’s group was relocated to a new Outpost, where dozens of other new low-rank demons from across the ti had already been stationed for over a month.

  ◇　◇　◇

  Floch yawned and stretched as the long bus carrying his test batch of recruits disappeared down the road.

  With his task finally plete, he turned back toward the administrative building.

  He spotted one of his friends nearby and was just about to sling an arm around their shoulder when the nearby space door in the lobby activated.

  From it stepped the figure of the High-Rank demon Naephas. At the sight of him, Flod his friend quickly bowed and greeted him in unison.

  ““Gooday Sir.””

  Naephas turned when he heard them, and upon spotting Floch, he raised a brow. "Oh, are you finally doh your batch?"

  "Yes, sir," Floch replied with a nod.

  “Good. e with me,” Naephas instructed, already moving toward the staircase leading to the top floor where his office resided.

  Floch followed silently, his feet thudding against the polished floor as they asded.

  "Your batch hasn’t been on any missiohe others who pleted their wing training a month ago have already been on one or two missions and have fought one or two battles.

  Long story short, yroup is weaker than the current average."

  Floch gave a quiet nod, aowledging the critique without protest. Naephas tinued.

  “While it ’t be helped, it wouldn’t do us any good to let them stay weaker. I’ll assign them missions to improve their skills a EXP.”

  Naephas reached out iy air and space distorted, revealing the entrao his subspace. He then grabbed some files from inside and tossed them towards Floch who caught them deftly.

  "One of those missions doesn’t involve direbat for the most part, but it’s the most important of the lot.

  I’ll leave it to your discretion to select the right demons for that one. For the others, review the records of those in your batd choose those capable of handling the tasks and battles outlined."

  "Uood, sir."

  After Floodded, Naephas was about to dismiss him, but he hesitated, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

  “Since a few of those under Lord Xynax’s watch are among them…”

  He raised a finger and traced a magic sigil in the air, giving it physical form before sending it floating towards Floch.

  “Once you’ve finalized your seles, attach this seal to the proposal sent to the tral Outpost. It will ehe highest priority is given to it.”

  Floch bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude. As the Highest Ranked demo, any dot bearing Naephas’ seal would be fast-tracked without question.

  “I’ll be expeg results, el Floch.”

  Floch’s eyes widened slightly at Naephas’ use of his full rank, but he quickly recovered, snapping a salute.

  “Yes, General.”