The recruits' training would begin in a flat area of Sector Omega Zero. No one was exempt; everyone participated. Zhao Ren, Shen Bao, Hu Zhan, Hu Jian, Ye Han, and the rest of the recruits trained with determination. Even Ethan joined them.
As for the Hu brothers, the day they completed the delivery mission, Ethan told them about his idea. Without hesitation, they decided to join him, and as a result, they received their codenames: Otus for Hu Zhan and Efiates for Hu Jian.
The new recruits did not yet have distinctive names. Ethan decided to turn it into a tradition: only those who achieved certain merits would receive a name. Until then, they would simply be numbered from V-0001 to V-0010.
The training was not simple. Ethan wanted to forge true special forces, warriors capable of facing cultivators with pure skill, endurance, and discipline. To do so, he turned to AION's database, extracting extreme training programs used by elite forces in his world. With the AI's help, he optimized each routine to adapt it to the available resources.
Dawn marked the beginning. Before the sun peeked over the horizon, the recruits were already in position, carrying sandbags tied to their bodies as ballast.
"Run!" Ethan ordered firmly, starting the run himself.
The course was not a simple jog; it was a brutal endurance test, crossing mud, climbing small hills with the weight on their backs.
The second phase was even worse. Calisthenics to the limit: weighted push-ups, squats carrying a log, burpees in the sand until their muscles burned. Ethan did not lag behind. He knew he couldn't lead from comfort. His body had to match his ideals.
Then came the combat test. No weapons. Only wooden knives and bare hands. They faced each other in endurance fights, where the only goal was to stay standing. Hard strikes, aggressive blocks, and relentless takedowns. Hu Zhan and Hu Jian fought each other, clashing with a ferocity that made it clear their codenames were not earned through words.
Ethan observed carefully. Most used a mix of wild and fierce fighting, but that was not enough. He stepped forward and called one of the recruits.
"Attack me."
The young man hesitated for a second before launching a direct punch. Ethan dodged, intercepted his arm, and turned, pressing his thumb into the opponent's throat while sweeping his leg. In an instant, the recruit was on the ground, gasping for air.
"Strikes to the joints, the throat, the diaphragm. Always aim to incapacitate or kill," Ethan said indifferently, looking at the others. "We are not cultivators; we do not seek martial ethics. We are soldiers."
After that, the fights changed. It was no longer a simple display of strength; every move aimed to disarm, neutralize, or execute.
Finally, at nightfall, the weapons training began. Musket firing at moving targets, reloading under pressure, and close combat with real knives. Hands bled, muscles burned, but no one stopped.
When the day ended, the recruits collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Ethan, covered in sweat and dirt, smiled with satisfaction.
"Tomorrow, we increase the intensity."
No one complained. No one quit.
Those who survived this hell would become the spearhead of Astralis.
Ethan would train only two hours a day, focusing on endurance and combat. Unlike the others, he couldn't dedicate all his time to training; his true role was in coordination and leadership.
In the following days, Shen Bao continued recruiting people outside the base, focusing on villages and small towns. Thanks to this, the number of troops increased to approximately one hundred soldiers. Additionally, old Zhang fulfilled his part and delivered a new batch of parts, ensuring that weapons would not be an issue. However, there was a more urgent obstacle: housing.
If they wanted to continue recruiting, they needed a place to accommodate the new troops. To solve this, Ethan ordered the extraction of limestone, intending to begin cement production.
He ordered it to be crushed into small fragments. To break it down, he built a rudimentary kiln using mud and clay bricks. With coal and wood as fuel, the calcite began to burn slowly, releasing carbon dioxide and leaving quicklime as a residue.
After hours of cooking, the material became brittle and whitish. Once cooled, Ethan had it ground into a fine powder. To improve its strength, he mixed the quicklime with sand and small amounts of clay, thus creating cement.
With the cement in hand, the next step was construction. He already had a few ideas. First, he decided to divide Omega Zero into strategic areas.
The total available area covered 4 km². Beyond its limits, there was still unexplored terrain, offering possibilities for future expansion. For now, he had to focus on the essentials.
Ethan took a piece of parchment and sketched the base's layout. In the northeast, he established the dormitories and barracks, designed to house soldiers. In the northwest, he organized the warehouses and storage facilities, ensuring an efficient supply of weapons and provisions. In the center and north, he allocated large training fields, while to the west, he placed the shooting ranges, where they would test weapons and long-range artillery.
His laboratory and office would occupy a protected section in the south, near the cliffs, a place that guaranteed security and control over the base. Further southeast, the mess hall and kitchens would ensure the growing force's sustenance. Finally, watchtowers and perimeter walls would define the base's current boundaries.
To the east, an entrance to the underground cave offered a natural water source, which would be key to the base's future development.
With the plans ready, Ethan wasted no time and assigned specific tasks. The soldiers began leveling the ground and laying the foundations with the cement mixture. Omega Zero was taking shape, with each new structure.
The work began with the excavation of deep trenches, where the first layer of reinforced concrete would be poured. AION recommended placing a base of large rocks and compacting them before pouring the cement. Ethan approved the idea and reorganized the soldiers into specialized teams.
While one group collected rocks from the surroundings, another was in charge of preparing the concrete mixture. Steel rods were manufactured to reinforce the structures. The bars were placed in crisscross patterns within the molds before pouring the cement, ensuring that each structure would withstand pressure and the passage of time.
The barracks were the first priority. They were designed with thick reinforced concrete walls, with iron reinforcements at the corners and vaulted roofs to support additional weight in case of future expansion. Instead of simple openings, small windows protected with steel bars were built, ensuring ventilation without compromising security. The doors were made of thick stone slabs and covered with a layer of metal, ensuring resistance against any attempted intrusion.
The warehouses followed a similar design, but with even thicker walls to guarantee the security of weapons and supplies. Inside each storage facility, Ethan ordered the construction of stone supports and concrete shelves to organize supplies. Drainage systems were also implemented with underground channels made of stone and baked clay, preventing moisture buildup that could damage the reserves.
With the barracks and warehouses in progress, Ethan directed the construction of the perimeter wall. Initially, the idea was to erect a temporary barrier, but he decided to go directly for a reinforced concrete wall with steel rods. The wall would have a solid rock base, with sections filled with cement and steel, creating an almost impenetrable perimeter. Watchtowers were added at strategic points, with stone platforms and internal access routes, allowing the sentries to move quickly.
To the south of the base, near the cliffs, Ethan personally supervised the construction of his laboratory and office. This building was designed with a reinforced structure, featuring a double layer of concrete and an internal iron vault to protect delicate equipment. Ventilation ducts made of stone and baked clay were installed, ensuring proper air circulation in case of experiments or tests with hazardous materials. Inside, specific areas were designated for metallurgy, chemistry, and the design of new weapons.
The pace of work remained constant for weeks. Thanks to the combination of technical knowledge and the soldiers' discipline, the structures advanced faster than expected.
At night, Ethan reviewed the blueprints under the light of an oil lamp, making adjustments and planning the next steps. Omega Zero was not yet complete, but its foundations were solid. With each wall that rose, his vision took shape.
Soon, this base would no longer be just a refuge but the epicenter of his technological revolution.
"If I want to continue developing advanced weaponry or new technologies, I need a proper place for manufacturing."
Ethan set the pen down on the table and leaned back in his chair, observing the parchment spread before him. The barracks were under construction, the warehouses were slowly filling with supplies. However, a true workshop was still missing—a place where he could work without restrictions, manufacture weapons, refine materials, and conduct experiments without being detected.
Then, he remembered the underground river.
A vast natural resource, hidden beneath the earth, far enough to avoid detection but accessible to his people. The idea of developing an underground workshop took root in his mind. Not now, but one day, when the time was right, that place could become the industrial heart of Omega Zero.
Ethan exhaled slowly and adjusted his glasses, his gaze drifting toward the open window. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale glow over the base. Below, scattered torches flickered in the darkness, illuminating the movement of soldiers as they stood guard or worked late into the night.
Currently, Omega Zero housed around 105 people, including himself. A small force, but one with potential. Other plans could take effect in time—plans beyond technology, beyond steel and fire.
Understanding spiritual energy…
He tapped his fingers against the table, lost in thought. That power was the foundation of this world, yet it remained an enigma to him. If he truly wanted to challenge the cultivators, he needed to comprehend their strength. But for that, he required samples. Real data.
Ethan reached for a bottle and poured himself a glass of Dragon's Breath, the liquid swirling under the dim light. He took a slow sip, feeling the warmth spread through his chest.