Chapter 51: Alex's side story: Rank C fighting a Rank A merc.

Ever since he has been adopted by Carlo, Alexander Samarita has been trained to be the perfect soldier for battle. He had trained for three years and now his adoptive father Carlo thinks he's ready for a mission. Alexander had recently registered as a mercenary but because of his relation to Carlo's squad, he had shot up two ranks and directly became a rank C mercenary.

The ranks given to mercenaries isn't given by allies there were given by the enemies. The Ranks are given to see the threat value of an enemy. The reason Alex was given a higher rank than most newbs is because he was part of a squad who the weakest mercenary is Rank A.

So now that he has gained his official status as a mercenary, his dad decided to give him his first mission to test him. The mission was supposed to be a simple reconnaissance mission. Find the enemy's position, check the surrounding area for traps, then return to report. That was all he needed to do, but what had happened was unexpected, he had set off an alarm, and now he was being chased by a famous Rank A mercenary in a godforsaken forest.

The Rank A mercenary had an eyepatch in his left eye, and his build and looks indicated that he was around thirty-something years old. Based on how efficiently he was finding Alex, while he runs and hides made him look like a mercenary that is good at tracking. Alex while running tried to remember the files his dad had given him about the enemy force.

There was only one Rank A mercenary on the other side and that was Mark Stone, a tracking specialist whose combat style revolves around knives. While Alex was thinking of countermeasures he noticed that the person following wasn't there anymore. Alex didn't let his guard down, it was impossible that a first-rate tracker such as Mark, could lose track of him. He must be nearby when Alex thought of that someone spoke from behind him.

"What's this? It's just a brat?!" Mark looked at the tiny ten-year-old Alex and looked a bit angry. "Is Carlo looking down on us so much, that he actually sent a f*cking ten year old for recon?!" Alex who was looking at Mark had felt the same feeling he had three years back, this was the feeling of death.

"Well, whatever... Sorry kid, it's your fault for stepping on the battlefield." Mark was trying to grab Alex, and quickly end him. Alex seeing the approaching hand, got his M1911 handgun and shot at Mark, who had quickly evaded. "So you plan to resist?" Mark took out his two Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knives and dashed towards Alex.

Alex was shocked at his speed but not too much since he had seen people who were faster. Alex calmly started shooting at Mark, while increasing their distance from each other. Mark, on the other hand, used the trees as cover and charged at Alex without slowing down.

Alex in his very first mission was facing a merc who was better than him in every way. Still, even in this dire situation, Alex showed his abnormality, instead of running in fear Alex was trying to remember the layout of the area while shooting the enemy in a systematic order.

Alex had long ago buried his fears and insecurities. To be human was to be weak, he needed to be strong, so he needed to more than human.

Mark had finally closed in on Alex and was able to cut a bit of Alex's right forearm. Due to the shock, even though Alex's face wasn't showing it, he was actually very hurt. The pain made him loosen the grip on his gun and let go. Mark seeing Alex let go of his gun pressed on the attack and slashed at Alex with no mercy. Alex having a very small body frame used it to his advantage. Mark couldn't get a clear hit since it was difficult even for him to hit an enemy who was at least three times smaller than him.

Alex was trying to understand the opponent's rhythm like he was taught. He was trying to see what quirks and combinations Mark like to use when fighting.

"Kid in battle don't be distracted!" Mark almost sliced Alex's head off. Alex took his own military-grade knife and held it in his left hand.

"So you're going to fight back? Whatever kid no matter what you do the outcome is still the same, you dying by my hands!" Mark with renewed vigor attacked Alex. This time the attack was not just simple slashes he started to throw the knives as well. There was a thin wire, attached to the knives, so every time he throws it, the knives would simply come back. Alex had already figured out that Mark could do this, based on the way he stabbed and sliced as if he was trying to do something else. Yet even though he knew it was coming he couldn't react in time, so Alex still got nicked a bit.

Alex finally figured out the rhythm of Mark's attacks and was now barely able to evade. Alex waited and waited for the right time to attack. Mark finally showed an opening, Alex attacked the opening, but it turned out to be a trap. Mark purposely showed that opening, to lure Alex in and attack.

Mark had countered Alex's attack with a kick to his gut. Alex was now on the ground trying to control his breathing. Mark slowly approached him and sighed. "You really are too green kid. You couldn't even tell it was a trap. You should've stayed back home kid, now your going to die."

BANG!

"huh?" Mark fell to the ground dead. It turned out Alex was the one who lured Mark into thinking he had fallen into a trap, but instead he forced Mark to kick him to the area where his gun was at. "You talk too much," Alex said as he looked at Mark's dead body. This was the first time he had ever killed another human being, Alex felt like he wanted to puke, yet he held it in. Alex kept on repeating to himself, I need to be strong, I need to be more than human. He kept on repeating these words until he felt nothing from killing Mark.

This was the beginning of Alex's perfect mission record.