Time: October 12, 2007, 09:14.
Location: Waters near Minos Island.
.
"Splash—~ Splash—~"
In the vast blue sea, waves splashed from time to time, making a hypnotic and beautiful sound.
The sky was clear for ten thousand miles.
The water sparkled.
"Splash!"
"Plop~!"
Several white dolphins unique to the Indian Ocean leaped out of the water playfully, drawing semicircles in the air before falling back under.
If there were an inflatable lounge chair, paired with a glass of sugar-free cola with ice...
Mmm~
Simply paradise on earth.
"Vroom—! Vroom—!"
Suddenly, the roar of two engines resounded through the sky.
A black V-22 Osprey bearing a red and white Umbrella logo passed over the area where the dolphins had just appeared.
Dual tilt-rotors deployed diagonally upward, flying at low speed and low altitude.
Inside the cabin;
On the opposite seats sat fourteen 'children' in desert camouflage, wearing short sleeves and long pants.
Their backs were straight, their gazes sharp, and their faces expressionless, exuding the aura of absolute elites.
The boys had neat buzz cuts, while the girls had ear-length short hair.
They were the children Halsey had chosen from six million people for their superior genes, known as Spartans.
But...
Calling them children now was slightly inappropriate.
Because the Spartans, with an average age of twelve, were all over 180 centimeters tall.
Their body proportions were excellent, and their exposed arms had well-developed muscle lines.
It was hard to believe these Spartans were only twelve years old.
However, since the day the spartan project began, more than half of the t-virus and vaccines stored in the Hive had been consumed.
Every Spartan's physical fitness was safely and steadily pushed beyond the peak of ordinary humans by Umbrella, essentially by throwing money at it.
According to the combat values visible only to William...
30 for an adult male.
50 for military Soldiers.
70 for special forces.
90 for UBCS.
120 for USS.
Hank's Base value reached 150, close to the peak of humanity.
The unmodified Spartans...
Had already reached over 200.
However, if a Spartan were to fight Hank barehanded, Hank could still play around with these little guys.
After all, experience cannot be replaced by numbers; the Spartans still needed a baptism of fire.
The three sitting at the rear hatch had gazes clearly more resolute than the others, with a sky-high confidence.
Those three were John, Karl, and Myron, whom William had summoned.
John was much more mature than before, resolute, with short brown hair.
Myron...
Myron's face was somewhat square, his brow relaxed, unlike other Spartans who always maintained a serious expression.
Karl, sitting next to John, had extremely rare natural silver hair and pale yellow pupils.
"Tap-tap-."
The sound of military boot footsteps echoed in the cabin.
Kent, dressed in instructor-style black combat pants and a short-sleeved shirt, walked with his hands behind his back, inspecting each little Spartan.
The Major, who was supposed to be stern, unconsciously nodded slightly, as if very satisfied with the current state of these trainees.
"Beep—!" Suddenly, a chime rang out.
Kent looked up and saw the indicator light above the hatch light up. He quickly walked to the rear of the cabin, grabbed the handle, and pressed the button to open the hatch.
"Whoosh~" The salty sea breeze rushed in.
Kent first looked out of the hatch.
Seeing the 'moving' sea surface slow down and finally hover at forty meters, he turned to the cabin and reminded:
"You bastards, it's time for you to swim back to Minos.
Hurry up, hurry up, don't dawdle there. The sooner you get back, the sooner you eat!"
The Spartans stood up in unison and responded in their pre-pubescent voices: "Yes, Major."
At this time.
Myron, also standing at the rear of the cabin, saw the altitude of the Osprey and asked loudly and with extreme seriousness:
"Major! I have a question!"
Kent, hearing Myron speak beside him, couldn't help but roll his eyes, looking slightly impatient.
"Number Three, out with it."
"Yes!" Myron organized his words and said forcefully:
"Major! This is the first time a Spartan is attempting a forty-meter dive. If I'm the first to break the previous record, could I...
Aaah—~!"
"Plop——!"
Before Myron could finish his pointless words, he was kicked right out by Kent.
Falling freely and spinning in the air, he crashed into the sea feet-first, creating a large splash.
After a few splashes.
Myron's head popped up from the sea. Looking utterly resigned, he opened his mouth to spit out water and gave a thumbs up toward the Osprey in the sky, shouting:
"Major! The forty-meter height is perfectly fine, no danger at all!"
"Pfft... Haha!"
The Spartans gathered around the rear of the cabin couldn't help but laugh seeing Myron's goofy look.
"Sigh!"
Kent looked helpless, sighed, and whispered to himself: "You little bastard."
The Major didn't emphasize discipline but joked along with the little Spartans.
Things reach their extreme and then reverse.
Relaxing at the right time is also beneficial for training.
Moreover, after more than half a year together, it was inevitable for Kent to be more tolerant of these children forgotten by the World.
.
"Number Seven."
Karl leaned in toward John and whispered with a chuckle, "Number Three... does he not think before he speaks?
Haha, he makes the Major angry every time. He's so silly."
Hearing this, John first turned to look at Karl, then gazed at Myron in the water and said solemnly:
"He's not silly.
He just wants to add some fun to our dull lives."
"Hmm?" Silver-haired Karl tilted his head in confusion, not quite understanding.
"Ahem, alright!"
Kent cleared his throat, turned to the cabin, and ordered: "Spartans! Prepare to jump in sequence... (Interrupted)"
"Officer."
A pilot opened the cockpit door, walked quickly to the rear of the cabin, and said to Kent:
"Dr. Halsey has requested that the Spartan training be temporarily suspended and that we return to Minos immediately."
?
Kent was stunned for a moment, but still nodded in agreement: "Fine, return to the Base as the Dr. said."
"Yes." After receiving instructions, the pilot returned to the cockpit.
A few seconds later, the hovering Osprey began to climb, preparing to return at maximum speed.
But...
"Eh?"
Myron, who was swimming toward Minos Island, noticed the Osprey flying over his head.
Could the training content have changed?
But no other Spartans had jumped down...
Floating on the sea, Myron's expression turned from confusion to bewilderment, and finally to terror.
He hurriedly quickened his swimming pace and shouted:
"Hey! Wait for me! Come back! And... glug (choking on seawater)...
Bah! I'm still down here!"
Meanwhile, inside the Osprey cabin;
"Officer."
John raised his hand to stop Kent from going to the cockpit and reminded him calmly: "You forgot Number Three again."
"Number Three... *hiss*..."
Kent raised his hand to rub his forehead and shouted toward the cockpit: "Turn around, quickly!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"