HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 11

[HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch — Main Training Grounds | 9:03 A.M.]

The silence lingered.

Heavy.

Absolute.

One hundred forty-four trainees stood perfectly still beneath the morning sun.

Not a single person dared move.

Not a single person dared speak.

Every heartbeat seemed louder than normal.

Every breath felt heavier.

Every second stretched longer.

High above—

Instructor Faye allowed the silence to settle completely before speaking again.

Her gaze swept across the assembled formations.

Measuring.

Observing.

Remembering.

Seven months.

She had watched many of these faces arrive on their first day.

Confident.

Arrogant.

Terrified.

Determined.

Some had believed talent alone would carry them.

Others had believed hard work would be enough.

Many had learned otherwise.

Now—

Only the strongest remained.

Instructor Faye finally spoke.

“Seven months ago.”

Her voice carried effortlessly across the massive grounds.

“Three hundred recruits stood where you stand now.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody blinked.

“Three hundred people believed they were prepared for HSBA.”

A brief pause.

“Most were wrong.”

The words landed heavily.

Not cruel.

Not mocking.

Simply true.

“Since then, you have endured physical hardship.”

“Sleep deprivation.”

“Combat conditioning.”

“Psychological evaluation.”

“Tactical assessment.”

“Environmental survival exercises.”

“Field operations.”

“Leadership examinations.”

“Failure.”

Her eyes remained steady.

“And loss.”

Several trainees lowered their eyes.

Remembering friends.

Roommates.

Teammates.

People who had left.

People who had quit.

People who had failed.

“Today.”

Instructor Faye continued.

“Only one hundred forty-four remain.”

The number echoed through the field.

One hundred forty-four.

The final survivors.

The final candidates.

The final group.

Then—

Unexpectedly—

Instructor Faye smiled.

Very slightly.

“Regardless of what happens today.”

A few trainees looked up.

“You have already accomplished something extraordinary.”

Surprise flickered across dozens of faces.

Many had expected another speech about pressure.

Another warning.

Another challenge.

Instead—

Recognition.

“You survived seven months of HSBA.”

The statement hung in the air.

Simple.

Yet powerful.

“You endured what hundreds before you could not.”

“You continued when others stopped.”

“You adapted when others failed.”

“You remained standing.”

For a brief moment—

Some of the tension eased.

Only slightly.

But enough.

Then—

Instructor Faye’s expression hardened once more.

“And now.”

There it was.

The turn.

The entire field seemed to tense again.

“Day Zero Test.”

Nobody breathed.

Instructor Jonathan stepped forward beside her.

His voice boomed across the grounds.

“Many of you believe today is a test.”

A pause.

“It is not.”

Confusion appeared immediately.

Several trainees exchanged quick glances.

Instructor Jonathan continued.

“Today is verification.”

The confusion deepened.

Even among the instructors below.

Verification?

Silence.

Confused glances spread through the formations.

Somewhere in the third row, a trainee frowned.

Another looked toward the evaluation zones.

Nobody understood.

Then—

Instructor Mark stepped forward.

“Everything that needed to be tested…”

His eyes swept across the formations.

“Has already been tested.”

Silence.

A complete silence.

One hundred forty-four trainees stared upward.

Trying to understand.

Trying to process.

Trying to figure out what that meant.

Below—

Trainee Laurie blinked.

“…What?”

Trainee Ashley looked equally confused.

Trainee Mirco frowned.

“…Verification?”

Trainee Ysabelle’s eyes narrowed.

Her suspicion returned immediately.

Above—

Instructor Azhette spoke next.

“Strength was tested.”

“In combat.”

“Under pressure.”

“Under exhaustion.”

“Under fear.”

Instructor Syndie continued.

“Leadership was tested.”

“Discipline was tested.”

“Adaptability was tested.”

“Judgment was tested.”

Instructor Monique folded her arms.

“Character was tested.”

The field remained silent.

Many trainees suddenly found themselves remembering countless previous evaluations.

All the exercises.

All the simulations.

All the impossible situations.

Then—

Instructor Arch Jude spoke.

“Day Zero exists for one purpose.”

Every trainee focused completely.

His next words struck like lightning.

“To determine whether you trust yourselves.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Nobody had expected that answer.

Not a single person.

Even many instructors below looked surprised.

Then—

Instructor Landrieu stepped forward.

“For seven months…”

His voice remained calm.

“You have been taught.”

“Guided.”

“Corrected.”

“Evaluated.”

“Observed.”

A brief pause.

“Today…”

His eyes moved across every formation.

“You will act without guidance.”

Immediately—

The trainees understood.

Or at least partially understood.

The tension returned.

Stronger than before.

Instructor Faye finally raised one hand.

The movement alone captured every eye.

“Today’s evaluation will begin in ten minutes.”

The field stiffened.

“Each trainee will be assigned individually.”

“Each trainee will receive instructions only once.”

“Questions will not be answered.”

“Clarifications will not be provided.”

“Excuses will not be accepted.”

A familiar HSBA rule.

Many swallowed nervously.

Then—

Instructor Faye delivered the final statement.

The statement that immediately sent a chill through the entire training grounds.

“Whether you graduate today…”

A pause.

“Will depend entirely on the person you have become.”

Silence.

No cheering.

No speeches.

No dramatic announcements.

Just truth.

Simple.

Unavoidable.

And terrifying.

Below—

One hundred forty-four trainees stood motionless.

The weight of seven months pressing against their shoulders.

The final ten minutes ticking away.

Unknown assignments waiting.

Unknown outcomes waiting.

Unknown futures waiting.

And hidden among them—

Three instructors wearing trainee uniforms.

Four trainees who had already unknowingly crossed the finish line.

And one mystery named Instructor Ravielle whose existence had somehow unsettled nearly an entire training branch.

Far above—

The eight main instructors watched quietly.

The countdown had begun.

Day Zero Test had finally arrived.

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