Chapter 275: Alpha Squad
Uhtred instructed them to meet with Dennis to finalize the details regarding their cultivation chamber access — securing the necessary clearance keys, scheduling their time slots, and handling the paperwork.
For Sophie Albert, he simply told her to focus on her daily training, promising that he would check back in on her at least once before he made his return to the Tower.
With the six dismissed, Uhtred finally turned his attention upward toward the balcony, where he had asked Sofia to wait for him.
He flashed up to the balcony to meet her, and the moment he arrived there, he noticed a visible change to her demeanor. She had clearly been deeply impacted by seeing her friend become his in-name disciple.
Uhtred picked up on that change instantly, a knowing, faint smile touching his lips. Right then and there, he decided on what her light punishment would be.
"Alright, Sofia. I know your father asked me to take particular care of you. But you’re already an adult," he began, his tone casual at first. "You survived the Trial of Ages just fine on your own. So I trust you’ll handle this just fine too..."
His voice then shifted into a more formal, authoritative tone, his expression turning stern. He was no longer speaking to the daughter of an ally, but addressing a capable ascender under his command who had broken protocol by snooping on a private meeting and required a proper reprimand.
"Starting today, you are being assigned to the Capitol’s Alpha Squad," he said. "You will be deployed directly to our frontline forces in Zone 2."
Sofia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Even with her newfound determination, she knew enough about the Capitol’s various squads to recognize that this was extremely dangerous.
"Lord Uhtred... But that squad is made up of ascenders already at the Mortal-Nascent Realm boundary, or at least very close to it..." she said, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.
"I am well aware," Uhtred nodded, his tone remaining formal. "In fact, I am more aware of the details of that squad than you are. In case you don’t know, that squad is made up of suicidal maniacs. They are ascenders who are the best of the best of their Level anywhere in the world. They push the boundaries of what is possible at their level, trying to replicate my own early feats."
As Uhtred spoke, various rumors and reports that Sofia had heard about the Alpha Squad flashed through her mind.
Everyone in the Capitol knew that Zone 2 was the designated territory for those in the Nascent Realm, whereas Zone 1 catered to those still in the Mortal Realm. The deeper one traveled into Zone 1 — especially near the border separating the two zones — the stronger and more aggressive the wild beasts became.
The Alpha Squad was comprised of people whose cultivation levels were still technically stuck at the Mortal-Nascent Realm boundary, or even a few levels below it. Yet despite the level deficit, they routinely crossed into Zone 2 to hunt.
They were reckless risk-takers, just as Uhtred described, constantly seeking to claim System titles and better beast cores by fighting beasts far above their levels.
Of course, because of this, their death rate was exponentially high — much higher than any other squad of ascenders in the Capitol. But at the same time, the depth of their skills was very evident.
It was just like Uhtred had said. Those guys were trying to replicate his own feat of being able to fight much higher than his level, even while he was in the Mortal Realm.
As a result of that, any single one of the Alpha Squad ascenders could take on any ascender of their own level and dispatch them without breaking a sweat.
Not just anyone could get into the Alpha Squad. They worked together as a cohesive unit, with each ascender covering each other’s bases. They took on the most dangerous missions, clearing out beasts in areas where outposts were meant to be built, carrying out reconnaissance missions on traces of Ancient Variant movements. In fact, they also dealt with ascenders of other factions when required.
In a way, being placed in the Alpha Squad was an honor for Sofia, proving that Uhtred acknowledged her talent... but at the same time, it was also a harsh punishment.
Sofia knew her current skill and combat experience wasn’t anywhere near the level required to blend seamlessly into a squad like that. Uhtred was effectively throwing her directly into a Squad that dealt with the bloodiest conflicts that Capitol of The Elite was engaged in at any time.
Of course, it wasn’t like Sofia wasn’t used to danger, she had, after all, survived in the Trial of Ages on her own. But even back there in Australia, she hadn’t truly been on the frontlines.
She never met Uhtred in the trial. She had only survived, just like every other ascender that survived.
This, on the other hand, was an entirely different ball game.
"... After joining the Alpha Squad, by the time I return from the Tower next time, I expect you to have moved up from your current Level 18 and entered well into the Nascent Realm. You are a Rare Grade talent, after all," Uhtred said. "Only by pushing yourself to the limit, always fighting above your level, would you truly maximize your full potential..."
It was a punishment, but at the same time, a very great opportunity. Sofia could recognize that Uhtred was putting on a similar path to the one he had walked — always fighting and grinding, ever pushing the boundaries of his Level.
Sofia could choose to take the safe route and grind levels like the normal Capitol of The Elite ascenders. Their training was already far more intense than practically any other force on the planet. They were always fighting beasts regularly within Zone 1, taking on missions to keep clearing the area and controlling the population of the wild beasts.
𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
They also had access to the lower Floors of Uhtred’s regional dungeon, where they could face alien species with a totally different fighting style and usage of Cosmic Essence.
Sofia would actually continue to level up with the normal training routine, but she would never truly reach the full potential of her Rare Grade class. Only by pushing her boundaries and fighting above her level regularly, being at the verge of death and getting used to it, would she become someone truly remarkable on the global stage.
Her gaze firmed up, and she bit down any other excuse she was about to say.
With a curt, professional nod, she accepted Uhtred’s order. "Understood, Lord Uhtred. By the time you return, I’ll be waiting for you, already within the Nascent Realm..."
Uhtred nodded in response, maintaining the formal air. But internally, he smiled at Sofia’s conviction.
He dismissed her, instructing her to head down to Dennis to process her transfer. The scholar would know exactly how to integrate her into the Alpha Squad.
Based on the latest reports Uhtred had reviewed earlier that morning, the Alpha Squad was currently deployed somewhere deep within Zone 2, so the specifics of how Sofia would rendezvous with them were best left for Dennis to manage.
As Uhtred watched her leave, he made a mental note to talk about her deployment with Dennis separately.
At the end of the day, Sofia was still Black Sun Mateo’s daughter. Uhtred was well aware that tossing her into such an elite squad was dangerous. If she happened to die out there, Capitol of The Elite would lose Black Sun as an ally instantly, without any room for negotiation.
Mateo had made it very clear on multiple occasions that Sofia was the only thing in the entire world he truly cared about. Therefore, silent safety measures had to be established behind the scenes to make sure she would be safe, even within the Alpha Squad.
We have to make sure the Squad leader prioritizes her safety at all times, Uhtred concluded as he walked down from the balcony and began to leave the hall too.
With that, he had finally attended to all his urgent duties, and now the next thing on his agenda was to gain a new, powerful path of magic...
"At least now, Diya no longer has any excuses," Uhtred smirked, his previous eagerness returning to his eyes. "It’s time to learn Healing Magic..."