Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 164: Ayushmann Badhana - 2
Rewari Kingdom, Pataudi Village, Mercenary Recruitment Camp
As the faint sunrise painted the sky with soft hues, the camp was abruptly awakened by the loud croak of a hen.
The once-quiet camp sprang to life as recruits emerged from their tents, some still groggy, others already alert.
Clad in their new brown uniforms of plain kurta and matching pajama, along with polished leather boots, they hurried toward the training grounds.
However, it soon became apparent that one section of recruit was not ready. Many lines of newcomer were incomplete, and more cadets scrambled to fall into formation, some even buttoning their shirts as they rushed. Soon, the timing ended with the sound of two drums.
The twins stood proudly at the back of a fully assembled line, watching the stragglers. They were among the fortunate ones to fall into line just in time.
Prakhar whispered with a smirk, "Look at those half-wits. If the rumors are true, we’re in for a good show."
Ganesh, cautious, replied, "Shut up. What if this serious guy reports us for your big mouth?"
He nodded toward Ayush, who stood at the front with a serious expression. Ayush had already reported two incidents of their pranks among their fellow recruits, leading to punishments the previous night.
As the recruits tried to settle into formation, the sergeant in charge, a broad-shouldered and imposing figure clad in a blue uniform and turban, noticed the disarray. His eyes narrowed with disdain as he strode over, halting the latecomers in their tracks.
"Attention, recruits!" he barked, his voice slicing through the morning air. "Those who have fallen into line, shift to the right side."
His eyes narrowed as he took in the incomplete formation. He let the scattered recruits fill the gaps before continuing, "You useless worms! Look at this pathetic excuse for a formation! Half of you dimwits think you can stroll in here whenever you like. Do you think this is a damn holiday camp?"
A tall, burly cadet, attempting to assert himself, spoke up. "Sir, some of us joined just moments ago. Why are you discriminating against us first-timers?"
The sergeant’s gaze hardened. "You maggot, step forward!"
The recruit, feeling insulted, started to protest. "My lord, my name is Dhyanchand..."
Before he could finish, the sergeant twisted his legs, causing him to fell on the ground, "Learn to stand properly," then delivered a forceful kick to his stomach." Then spell your name, you little piece of shit!" he added one more, " And call me sir, not a lord."
Dhyanchand writhed in pain, clutching his stomach, while the other recruits looked on in stunned silence.
The sergeant’s voice cut through the air like a whip. "GET INTO YOUR MINDS, YOU ALL ARE WORMS HERE UNTIL I SAY OTHERWISE, AND THOSE WHO DENY IT CAN GET THEIR ASSES OUT NOW!"
A heavy silence fell over the recruits, though a few whispers could be heard from the back. The sergeant let it pass and scolded Dhyanchand for setting up the example, "Give me thirty push-ups, right now!"
Dhyanchand hesitated, looking around for support but all he found were the hardened expressions of his fellow recruits. Reluctantly, he began his push-ups, enduring additional kicks on his rear, whenever he paused.
Prakhar, standing in the back, couldn’t help but smirk at the spectacle. "Stupid fool! Why challenge a soldier?" he whispered with a chuckle.
Ganesh quickly silenced him with a sharp elbow to the ribs. "Keep it down, you Jhandfakir(moron)," he hissed.
The twins’ brief sense of satisfaction was short-lived as the sergeant’s gaze swept over the assembled recruits. "So, you’re proud of yourselves for showing up early?" he sneered. "Why are there whispers while I’m giving your comrade a private lesson?" His eyes scanned the line, searching for the culprits. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"Becoming a soldier isn’t just about wielding a musket. It requires the trust of your comrades, the loyalty to your commander, and discipline in your actions." He stepped forward, his imposing presence nearly taking the breath from everyone.
"Let me make it clear: you’re all the same to me: useless worm, until you prove otherwise."
He made them complete twenty push-ups, encouraging compliance with the added motivation of kicks to their rear. The recruits groaned and struggled, but the sergeant was relentless, driving them to complete the task with no mercy.
His next words sent a shiver down their spines. "In this army, if one makes a mistake, everyone shares the blame. Since you half-wits couldn’t even get your comrades assembled on time, the punishment falls on all of you! Next time, if anyone doesn’t show up, you better drag them here by force or share a kiss! All I care about is your line filled. Is that clear?"
The recruits stood silently, their earlier bravado replaced by growing dread. "I said, is that clear?" the sergeant roared.
"YES, SIR!" the recruits shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the camp.
"Pathetic," the sergeant muttered under his breath, though his scowl softened slightly.
He made them complete twenty push-ups, encouraging compliance with the added motivation of kicks to their rear. Few recruit managed to finish somehow, while the others struggled. After allowing them a brief respite, the sergeant addressed them once more.
"Today, there’s no special training," he announced, pacing in front of the exhausted recruits. "Instead, you’re going to face a challenge. And let me be clear, if you fail to complete it, you can kiss your lunch goodbye!"
The recruits exchanged uneasy glances but before they could react, the sergeant continued, "The first five of you to finish this challenge will be rewarded with extra chicken for dinner. That’s right, a nice, juicy piece of chicken for those who aren’t completely worthless."
At this, a few recruits couldn’t help but cheer, their excitement breaking the discipline of the line.
The sergeant’s face twisted into a scowl. "Did I tell you to break formation? Who gave you dimwits permission to celebrate? Get down and give me twenty push-ups, more!"
The recruits hastily dropped to the ground, grumbling as they started their push-ups.
"Let me remind you," the sergeant snarled as he paced in front of them, "you’re here to follow orders, not to act like a bunch of half-witted buffoons. The next time any of you break formation without permission, you’ll be doing push-ups until your arms fall off! Is that clear?"
"YES, SIR!" the recruits shouted in unison.
As the recruits stood at attention, the sergeant pointed toward the far-off training ground, now filled with rearranged obstacles. "Listen up!" he barked. "We’ve set up a race to retrieve the flag. There will be five rounds, so everyone gets a chance. First, you’ll crawl through the ditch. Then, grab two sandbags from the pile over there, complete one lap, and finally, you’ll cross the net barrier, climb over the hut’s roof, and claim the flag. Any questions?"
The recruits remained silent, steely-eyed. The sergeant nodded. "Good."
His eyes narrowed as he spotted Ayush, who met his gaze with an unwavering stare. "You there, step forward!" the sergeant barked.
Ayush stepped out from the line, standing tall. The sergeant’s eyes bore into him. "What do you think of yourself?" he demanded.
Without hesitation, Ayush responded loudly, "USELESS WORM, SIR."
For a moment, the sergeant was taken aback, then a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Good. Now, let’s see how this useless worm crawls."
Ayush was placed in the first group of fifty participants, lined up at the start of the vast training ground. As soon as the whistle blew, chaos erupted. The recruits hurled themselves into the slippery ditch, scrambling over each other with no clear boundaries. Collisions were inevitable, some recruits grabbed at legs to pull themselves forward, while others flung mud in desperation, hoping to gain any advantage they could.
Ayush resisted the urge to join the dirty tactics. Instead, he let the chaos unfold around him, allowing others to pass as he found a clearer path forward. Mud-covered recruits struggled blindly, but Ayush’s patience paid off as he navigated the ditch more smoothly, emerging from the other side slightly behind the leaders.
Though trailing, Ayush didn’t lose his resolve. He quickly grabbed two sandbags from the pile and started running with all his might.
As he approached the net barrier, he noticed the three recruits ahead of him struggling to make it over, their legs tangling and their bodies twisting in awkward, futile attempts.
Ayush joined the fray, trying to climb the net , but it was a grueling task. His legs repeatedly got caught, and at one point, he found himself hanging upside down. Frustration gnawed at him as more recruits reached the barrier, creating a pile of entangled bodies.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Ayush spotted something the others hadn’t: a ladder leaning against the back of the hut. Realizing the opportunity, he quickly untangled himself from the net and made his way to the ladder. The onlookers fell silent as Ayush effortlessly climbed up, leaving the struggling recruits behind.
Reaching the roof, Ayush grabbed the flag and held it high, waving it triumphantly. Laughter and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the watching soldiers, while the other participants cursed him hard.
None of them had expected the ladder to be left there.
From the sidelines, the sergeant frowned, his eyes narrowing at the scene. "This maggot," he muttered to Captain Raghav, who stood beside him, "trying to play smart."
But the captain raised a hand, stopping him. "Hold on, Sergeant. Leaving that ladder was your mistake, not the recruit’s. The goal was to retrieve the flag, right?"
The sergeant hesitated, concern flickering across his face. "But sir, the other recruits will complain."
Captain Raghav chuckled, giving the sergeant a knowing look. "Do you care?"
With renewed determination, the sergeant snapped to attention. "No, sir."
The captain patted him on the back. "Good. Give him three piece of chicken instead of two , and drill him thrice as hard tomorrow."
A grin spread across the sergeant’s face. "Yes, sir!"
Soon the race resumed, but this time with no ladders.
