*SMACK*

"Are they ready?"

*SMACK*

"Ready than they will ever be."

*SMACK*

"The success rate?"

*SMACK*

"Eight out of ten."

*SMACK*

"And the suits?"

*SMACK*

"All are ready and are awaiting their other half."

*SMACK*

"I see."

*SMACK*

"... Are you worried?"

*SMACK*

"The better question is, are you?"

*SMACK*

"... I will be lying if I say that I'm not."

*SMACK*

"This is a major leap for you, it's ok to be anxious."

*SMACK*

"I just hope that my preparations are enough."

*SMACK*

"You have already done what you could. All you can do now is to have faith, both in yourself and in them." Yuki pointed at the cold-faced ex-Major, right when he threw a sickening punch that knocked out the punching bag and made it hit the wall at speed.

*SMACK* *CRASH*

The impact, not just from hitting the wall but also from the extremely heavy punch, split the punching bag in half and spilled its contents all over the floor. Were this the first time Yuki and Mobius see the man in action, they would have whistled, impressed at the display of strength. Yet, this is far from the first time the ex-Major, a Raven candidate, wrecked a heavy-duty punching bag.

"How many bags would this make?" Yuki asked as she watched the ex-Major going to a side, unwrapping the cloth around his arms.

"I believe that this would be exactly one hundred." Mobius informed, upping the respect Yuki has for the man a few notches.

"Knowing his circumstance, it's unsurprising that he would want to vent before today."

Mobius nods at Yuki's words before unfolding the folder containing the most promising Raven candidate up to date.

"Emile Grimm, formerly Major until the fateful day when his family was murdered by Japanese spies, after that, he signed up for the RAVEN program, always earning top rank in conditioning exercises. If there's a person that can survive the treatment and make the best out of it, it will be him... Did we ever do anything against the Japanese for their blatant violation of our sovereignty?"

Hearing the question, Yuki wastes no time replying. "Not yet since we're still bagging the last of the spies. As of right now, Japan's leadership has already realized that something is wrong and when they make a move, we will slap them with enough evidence to call off every agreement we have with them. After that, we can be more upfront about supporting the Chinese... That's the plan, at least."

"I understand... The man and his family deserve justice for what happened."

"Being sentimental, aren't we?"

"What has occurred to them, I wouldn't even wish for that on my worst enemy."

"Yeah..."

The conversation then falls into a lull as they watch the medical personnel streaming into the gym, performing last-minute health checks on the Raven candidates in the gym. They watch as all the candidates are given the clear before them, together with the stoic Emile Grimm, filing away to the operating room. Mobius and Yuki follow behind them before they're joined by Einstein, who is waiting for the first candidates to suit up with her magitech armors, and Nicolae who is curious to see the fruit of their labor. After all, each Raven candidate has a worth rivaling that of a naval destroyer, meaning the first batch of Ravens amounted to 50 candidates.

Even just 50 alone has already stretched the coffer for the RAVEN program.

------------------------------------------------------------

My hands are itching.

My soul is seething.

An endless rage is burning inside me, only to be doused by cold, hard logic. Finally strengthened and sharpened by loyalty and perseverance.

A time will come for my revenge, just like what my revered Reich Marshal has said: "A gentleman can wait ten years for vengeance."

It's best that I survive the trials ahead and then grow stronger from them first.

Being guided to what's called a stasis pod, a device that will perform the enhancement procedure on my body while at the same time a lifebuoy for when something goes wrong, I am then told to lay inside the pod with nothing but my underwear. Finally, doctors and nurses strap me to the pod securely but not uncomfortably. I then spare one last glance around me, seeing men and women, with disabilities or not, being helped onto their pods, each with calmness and purpose.

We all know what we signed up for, there's no use in holding fear in our hearts.

I then direct my gaze forward and upward, seeing a viewing room towering over us. There, I can see the leaders of this project, the RAVEN program, and the Reich Marshal herself. Behind them are notable members of the military, eyeing the procedure down here with great interest.

It would seem like our existence hold a certain weight though that is not surprising considering the investment poured into us. We would be ungrateful and dishonor ourselves if we fail to repay the trust they place in us.

After ten minutes of prepping all of us, the Raven candidates, for the operation, we are asked by the Reich Marshal herself.

"Are all the candidates ready?" Her regal voice persuaded us to give soundless nods.

"Then steel yourself, as you have before. May Yggdrasil bless you." The marshal said while overlooking us with a steady gaze.

That gaze alone is enough to bolster the warrior spirit inside us. For if our Marshal is unflappable, then why should we be distracted by uncertainty? I thought as the stasis pod closes up with only a small viewing port allowing light from outside to pour in. Moments later, the pod's internal lighting system lit up while a set of mechanical hands start appearing and moving about with needles at their ends with white tubings leading to the containers holding the serum. Before they operate, a mixture of gas is released into the pod, my guess is they will reduce the pain and trauma that will arise from this operation.

After they position themselves along my veins, heart, and finally the two sides of my forehead, I brace myself as they start inching closer and closer to my body. Finally, after what's probably the longest and most silent five seconds in my life, the needles puncture my body before a mixture of blue and yellow liquids are pumped along the white tubings and into my system. At first, the itch of needles piercing your skin is bearable... But the feeling when the serum mixture hit your body is something else.

It makes you wish those five longest seconds back.

------------------------------------------------------------

I come to be after blanking out for an unknown amount of time, free from the restraint of the stasis pod. However, it doesn't mean that I will be hasty to sit upright. Slowly moving my head around the now opened pod, I ignore the medical staff measuring my health while taking a look at the other candidates. Unfortunately, the two closest pods to my side are unopened and glowing purple magic formations are activated beneath them as glowing runes run along the surface of the pods. It doesn't take an enhanced human to figure out what happened to them.

Offering the two occupants of the pods my silent respect, I am somewhat relieved to see that not many candidates succumbed to the fate of being put under stasis for an undetermined amount of time. An accurate number is given by the Marshal as the speakers in the operating room ring.

"Of the fifty candidates, forty have accomplished the operation without a hitch. My congratulation to you all for being the first to break past human limitations and my condolence to those that are put to sleep, for now. Those unfortunate ten will not be sleeping forever, we will get them back once we have the technique to do so."

With the short congratulation and reassurance out of the way, many, including myself, can't help but feel a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Figuratively and metaphorically, of course. 

For me, I can feel that my strength, clarity... most probably all other bodily or spiritual aspects have increased substantially. And although I've been one of the rarer humans to be adept at the magical side of things, never have I found myself to be so attuned to the mana inside my body and externally in the atmosphere. Mana itself seems to reinvigorate me after the operation, it's such a fascinating feeling that makes me feel like a fish in the water.

The Marshal is right to say that we have broken humankind's limitations.

And let's not forget to mention the fact that the disabled veterans with their lost limbs, or worst yet, a candidate that completely lost their sense of touch... All have been cured of their ailments, and their body reformed to their prime. It's safe to say that a few manly or lady tears have been shed today, no offense though. Even I will be emotional after living years without being able to feel the physical world, only to have it cured today. And that's coming to a snarky and cold bastard that is me right now.

They can cry and nobody will fault them for it. If there's a person that says the opposite, I won't hesitate to explore my kukri through their rear.

Ok, that may not be an apt thing to imagine.

------------------------------------------------------------

Running across the trial range faster than a Kubel on a paved road, I pump another round for the S-8G, an enlarged, 8-gauge version of the S-12G shotgun, before blasting the hefty package at the magically-made holographic target. Though the holographic enemy dissipated into motes of light, the same can't be said for a physical enemy when being hit by the chunky pellets contained in the 8-gauge shell.

Discarding the shotgun before pulling out my secondary weapons, a kukri on my left hand and a USP-S on my right, I stab forth with the kukri as a holo enemy rounds a corner before blasting another one in the head with my sidearm. Again, while the standard USP is using 9x25mm pistol cartridge, the USP-S or USP-SOCOM uses heavier and more deadly 12.7x40mm rounds with a 12-round magazine. Of course, to handle the bigger round, the frame of the USP is enlarged, much like the S-8G. Another notable difference of the USP-S is the addition of an integrated suppressor and muzzle brake, making it one hell of an expensive pistol that is only fielded by Ravens and special operation units.

I also don't need to say that the pistol can cut off limbs if required. Anyway, I digress.

Storming the garrisoned building, doors, and walls inconsequential, I take the simulated enemies by surprise as my pistol continues piercing their skulls until I need to reload. Before that though, I throw my kukri faster than the I can see and shatter the holographic head of an enemy holding a hostage, thus saving them. Quickly retrieving them and placing a fresh magazine into my pistol, I clear the entire building before heading outside to welcome my last test.

This time, it's not some formless enemy.

The sound of a propeller blade is heard and with my improved vision, it takes me no time at all to spot a Skyraider barrelling towards me with enough bombs and rockets to strike me back to the Stone Age, enhanced and armored or not.

This is it, this is my last obstacle before active field duty.

Bracing myself and my armor for the incoming attack run, I cast layers upon layers of protective spells on top of the already absurd protection level of my full-body armor. To make it harder for the opposing pilot to hit me, I run straight toward the aircraft with the occasional side leaps to dislodge his aim. It works, somewhat, since half of his autocannon shells and rockets miss me by a fair margin, the other half hitting and shattering my barriers but failing to do any meaningful damage. While all that is happening, I can't stop myself from showing a wide grin for feeling the adrenaline and power pumping through my vein. It's easy to grow arrogant from this feeling of invincibility, granted by the supersoldier serum. Yet, I am, no, we Ravens are knows better than to be drunk on power for it will be our undoing.

The Marshal has advised and counseled us personally after the treatment, she helped us open our eyes to the wider world, showing our places in it. Though we are strong in our own right, there do exist stronger opponents, an extreme example will be the current Empresses. Hence, each Raven carries themself with dignity, caution, and most of all, loyalty to never forget ourselves. Though the Marshal jokingly said that we are allowed to have a bit of fun if the situation permits it, it doesn't help to be too uptight, after all.

This is why I can't help but laugh out loud when the pilot of the Skyraider has had enough and proceed to dump a 1000 kg bomb directly at me. Knowing fully well that my battered shielding won't be enough for me to survive the blast from that Big Chongus, and yes the bomb is named that way on its side, I opt to do the seemingly impossible and insane.

I welcome the bomb heads on with a jump.

"I'm ready! How 'bout you!?" I shouted midair before, with incredible finest, smacking the side of my kukri against the body of the bomb, diverting its impact point further behind me.

A second later, a big explosion sweep me away as supersonic fragments bath the remaining of my barriers as they flicked in and out of existence in glimmering golden light. This will hurt like a bitch, I thought as I am forced to do a dozen rolls on the ground at high speed.

But more importantly... I SURVIVE!

Stabbing my kukri against the ground, I use it as leverage to stand up before limping forward to my destination. Though I'm not bleeding, much, the magitech armor, my personal suit, let me know that I have a few internal injuries after my barriers gave way for the shockwave. But as I said, I will live.

Reaching the end of the line, a bell tower at the end of this trial range, I sheath my kukri on my right shoulder piece before working to hold the bell rope with both of my hands and through the dusty visor. Then, with renewed strength, I swing the line with a vigorous shout, casting a resounding chime across the entire range.

This is not just to signify my victorious run, not just to prove the feasibility and importance of the RAVEN program, but to also prove that Ravens can shatter impossible odds.

After all, the Marshal did say this.

"If somebody gives you an impossible task, you best reply with 'I need a weapon.'"