Working Out and Getting Infested

While the rest of the new recruits lagged behind I ran ahead with ease, my stamina had been boosted to obscene levels and I noticed the Captain eyeing me with a look of intrigue. I did a few more laps around the yard before he approached me with a jog causing me to stop with interest.

"Let's keep moving while we speak, I need to get my blood warm anyways." I gave a nod and picked up the pace again as we lightly jogged next to each other.

"You seem to have prepared quite a lot for joining the Silvermane. What's your routine?" I gave a smile and didn't really know how to respond to the question.

"I've always had good stamina, just something to thank THEM for I guess." He had a thoughtful look before looking over his shoulder and shouting a bark at the drained recruits.

"Let's keep it moving!" He turned back to me with a serious expression. "Glad you stopped by when you did, we'll need all the help we can get for the brewing storm." Here's hoping the storm that blows over and lets Belobog rebuild without their boss being a Stelleron minion.

"The entire incident with the people from beyond the sky, right?" He gave a solemn nod at my words.

"Indeed. They entered the fragmentum and haven't been seen since. Still waiting for the report on that. They haven't returned yet, I hope the away party is doing all right." His eyes narrowed as he stared off into the distance.

I hope everything is going alright on their end.

Dan Heng POV

"Yes! The team is back together and we've made it out without a scratch!" I turned to Sam who remained covered in snow. I raised an eyebrow to him and asked him a question.

"What happened? Are you alright?" He gave a casual nod who smiled towards our group.

"Teleportation accident I guess, and I'm doing alright now that I'm back with everyone." I gave a small nod and March hugged the taller man in response while I pondered the incident.

That's never happened before with the space anchors. Something had gone very wrong. Something that had become potentially harmful to himself, but if I did not want to share the details then it was not my place to question him for answers.

I was simply happy that he was unharmed and back with us.

"Reintroductions can wait. We aren't out of danger yet, they'll be in pursuit soon enough." March let out a huff as she peeled off Sam, Stelle grabbed his hand and started pulling him along down the path in response causing March to let out a 'Hey!'.

Sometimes I feel like my life has become one of those romance novels March likes. I tilted my head slightly as I watched my companions and smiled. I wasn't touching that whole situation with Cloudpiercer even if it was four meters long.

I moved after them and despite the situation I couldn't help but relax at their antics. Only to prop up Cloudpiercer as I spotted Fragmentum monsters.

More specifically a small swarm of birds made of ice and flame. I rushed in, and Sam glowed pink as he charged in as well. Stelle also acted quickly with her bat while March summoned her bow and shot a few arrows through them.

The fight was over before it started, and I locked eyes with Sam for a moment whose expression turned from absolute focus to a simple smile causing me to raise an eyebrow. He looked a little embarrassed at my glance before giving a small sigh and speaking lightly.

"We should keep moving and get to a safe place." He rushed past us causing my eyes to widen as he rocketed forth and slammed into another fragmentum monster. We moved with haste through the Fragmentum until we'd encountered some of the Silvermane Guards.

However the ruckus got their attention and forced us into a conflict we did not want to be a part of. I let out a small sigh as I hefted my spear and prepared for battle.

Gunfire started flying towards us, no time was wasted on words and while I deflected the incoming strike to me, March wasn't as lucky. Sam however jumped in the way of the incoming bullets and took the damage without flinching as his eyes narrowed.

The pink energy of his body burst and his wounds healed immediately causing me to wince.

I don't think I was ever going to get used to that.

I let out a sigh, we had a battle to win.

Sam Fuller POV

They're probably all right. My clone is helping them out as well. I let out a small sigh as I turned to the blonde man and sent him a small smile.

"All we can do is hope? Right captain?" He gave me a boisterous laugh at that.

"Indeed. While the others finish their conditioning, how about we see your skill with a proper weapon?" My eyes widened at the man for I gave a curt nod.

"That sounds good, I don't really have any experience using a weapon so I'd appreciate it a lot!" He left for a moment before tossing me a wooden polearm.

"Alright, show me your best combat stance. You're certainly blessed by the Preservation so you can hope to one day have a unit of your own.  He moved one of my legs slightly backwards with a stick of his own to set me into a proper stance. "Fighting outside of a formation while your formation protects you will be part of your training." He gave me a once over and then smiled.

"Widen your stance a bit, and bend your knees slightly." I followed his command and he nodded. Then he gently pressed the stick into my chest, but I didn't move an inch. The stance easily allowing me to stay balanced.

"Good start, getting knocked down in a fight could be deadly. You'll most likely be wearing some pretty heavy armor, probably not bulwark class equipment considering your compact form . . . but we'll need to prepare you for that." I nodded to the man who smiled, then he turned to a massive man in powerful armor that approached us, though I didn't recognize him at all.

"Commander Dunn, good timing."

"Captain Gepard! What can I do for you?"

"We've got someone who follows the path of Preservation just like the two of us, I'm going to get some special weights. Think you can see where the rookie's strength level is currently at?" He gave a laugh.

"Of course Captain, I'll see what he's got!" I gave an awkward laugh at that. I had a bad feeling about this. As Gepard walked away Commander Dunn rolled his shoulder and slammed a fist into his palm.

"You're blessed by Preservation, right?" I gave a slow nod at his words before the man set his helmet down on a bench revealing a head of blue hair and orange eyes. I still didn't recognize him but he had a big smile and my answer.

"Alright then! Let's see what you've got!" He threw an arm out in an attempt to push me backwards, nothing that would hurt me, but a clear indicator of his intentions to initiate a light spar. I dodged the attack causing him to smile, then I threw a slam with my stick towards his heavy armor but it just bounced right off causing him to smile.

"Feel free to aim for the head, I'm a tough nut to crack!" He threw out a forward kick towards me and for a moment I was tempted to Propagate but I resisted the urge. There was literally no reasonable way to explain a glowing pink magic aura. Instead I swung my stick towards his head at his own request.

I didn't want to hit the guy too hard but my stick just bounced right off of his thick skull. What? He took the window of opportunity to grab me and throw me in the air. I went up about twelve feet in the air before he grabbed me again and set me back down softly on the ground.

"You can do this, don't hold back alright!" I nodded and picked up my stick from the ground.

"Sorry I'm not used to facing off against someone as durable as I am." He gave a light chuckle.

"We're a rare breed, that's for sure. But you've got to get used to fighting someone on your level. The fragmentum won't hold back." He was right. My foes wouldn't hold back in a real fight, though I was opposed to using my actual abilities I could still fight to increase my skills against a real opponent.

"Alright. Let's try this again then!" I ran at him and slid between his legs as he tried to grab me again. Then I used my stick as a pole vault and kicked him with a spinning back leg while moving away from his body. I could feel my instincts guide me, granting me the ability to blend in and infest this group. Weird, but I won't complain about being a better fighter.

He rubbed the back of his head as he turned around with a smile.

"Nice work! Time for me to get a little serious!" Uh oh. I ran surprisingly quickly towards me and attempted to charge through the area I was in. I managed to dodge to the side but he clotheslined me with an arm. I managed to recover and throw myself over the limb but he took advantage of my momentary lapse to slap me into the snow.

"Ugh." I pulled me out and paused.

"Are you alright?" I gave him an awkward smile. I was used to fighting at double my capacity, but improving that capacity itself could be super useful in all honesty.

"Yep, let's keep going!" We spared for a bit longer however the Captain showed up soon enough lugging a massive crate over his shoulder before setting the thing on the ground with a huge thump noise.

"Alright then, here we are." He pulled out a thick bar of metal and put it on the ground with relative ease.

"Go ahead and try to lift this weight here." I went over to it and tried to pick it up only for Dunn to grab my shoulder and pull me back.

"Have you ever done this before?" I gave an awkward laugh. No, I hadn't. I didn't have the desire to work out in the past, so I'd never done it. I probably was doing something wrong.

"No, no I haven't." He looked a little surprised but continued.

"Alright then, your senior officer will give you some lessons then!" Gepard smiled as he looked at us and nodded.

"Commander Dunn, can you take it from here? I think I'm going to be checking on the away party to make sure everything is alright." He gave a thumbs up to his boss.

"Of course, I'm always happy to help a newbie learn to lift!" He patted me on the shoulder and continued. "Alright extend your butt back and bend your knees, use your hips like a door hinge and I'll help adjust you for the rest." I followed his instructions and he nodded while lightly pressing down on me.

"Anything hurt?"

"Not really." He nodded.

"Good it shouldn't yet." Alright here we go! "Grab the bar!" I leaned down to grab the bar and gently pulled upwards. Instead of moving it just sat there causing me to blink.

"Pretty heavy right? It's a special material. You gotta put your all into it! Make sure your shoulders are over the bar!" I tried to lift with full force but he cut me off. "Make sure you don't change your stance, throwing out your back is an easy way to get sent to the med-bay." I went back to how I was before and just barely managed to pull the thing off the ground for a moment.

The stretch of my lower back felt amazing but it was way too heavy so I was forced to drop it. I nearly fell backwards but the Commander caught me.

"Thanks!" I smiled up to him and he smiled downwards at me before I pulled away with a breath. I still wasn't tired . . . but my arms hurt a bit. I suppose I was built to be constantly healing myself so that made sense. I kept deadlifting for a while before the mountain of a man had me switch to pushups and situps. He was a pretty good teacher and my stamina pushed me forward despite the pain I was feeling. The hour long workout had me feeling loose as Dunn went to compliment me.

"You're doing well-" He was caught off as Captain Gepard ran up to him with a serious look.

"Commander Bronya has gone MIA, and her unit was found mostly unconscious in the Fragmentum. Get your unit to help carry the injured, this might turn uglier than it already is." He then turned to me with a look of restraint before shaking his head.

"You didn't hear this." I gave a slight turn of my head.

"Hear what?" He nodded.

"Good." Dunn patted me on the shoulder before lifting up his helmet and running off however it was at that exact moment that my heart stirred in my chest and I felt a surge of mental energy rush th rough me. I felt something within my soul unwind and I had access to something I hadn't before. I had access to my phone. More importantly I felt the rush of Data. The manifestation of a Bug and it's desire to Propagate with a potential candidate. My mind was flooded with the information on Isa's document and my eyes widened. I had a lot of medical information in here, and I was in school to be a doctor anyways. I'd also picked up some skills with Isa . . . maybe I could be of use with this newly acquired ability of mine?

"I know a lot of first aid." The captain's head whipped around to me in confusion.

"What- We need all the help we can get. If you're confidant in your abilities than follow me. If you end up joining the Silvermane Guard I'll add it to your paycheck, unless of course you mess this up." He threw me the glare of a man that held a deep care for the soldiers he fought alongside.

"If someone dies because of you, we'll have a lot more than a problem."

I gulped at that. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything!

AN: Gym Bro Dunn makes his arrival and must guide the young padawan into actually improving his physique which will have the unintended consequence of making his Propagations stupidly overpowered. Dunn isn't super expanded on but I'm making him a music nerd/gym nut hybrid . . . someone has to carry around all the band stuff after all.

The Propagation's desire to infest is not to be underestimated. It will do anything necessary in order to infiltrate, adapt, and get itself closer to potential targets. Isa is on that list . . . so it has responded in kind. Swarm creatures have also been able to become data lifeforms so this ability actually does have precedence. The abilities of the Emantor are developing nicely!

Other!Sam also causes chaos immediately because he's not really sure what exactly he's supposed to be doing while avoiding suspicion.

Feel free to leave comments and questions down below, I read them all!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed it