Afterward, Reinhardt learned from Erich that the Military Rank system was a traditional and ancient method for evaluating a Knight's strength.
According to the calendar used in the study of ancient history, the emergence of the Military Rank system could be traced back as far as the primordial era of the first millennium.
Each Silver Star represented that an Official Knight had developed a new ability from their foundational Knight Power, or had mastered a new Combat Technique.
In other words, the reason Reinhardt could bypass the long adjustment period for new Knights and directly possess the strength of a One-star Military Rank was all thanks to the special ability granted to him by the Morphic Armor: Extreme Speed.
The main feature of this Military Rank system was its lack of an upper limit. If an Official Knight's 'Power' possessed one hundred different special abilities, then he would be a Knight of the Hundred-star Military Rank.
Of course, this was only a hypothetical scenario. Looking back through the long history of Knights, a Knight with a seven Silver Star Military Rank was already a legend at the pinnacle of power!
This was because it wasn't just a matter of the number of special abilities and Combat Techniques one had. Every new special ability that emerged, every new Combat Technique that was mastered—all of it had to be supported by the Knight's formidable Physique and Spiritual Energy!
Those powerful Knights whose fame spread far and wide, some even recorded in the annals of history, were, without exception, all powerhouses on the level of a Hexagon Warrior!
Extraordinary comprehension, profound wisdom, a formidable Physique, and an indestructible, iron will!
On the battle-scarred ruins, sunlight spilled across the ground as two figures, one tall and one short, sat side-by-side on a broken wall.
Seeing Reinhardt listening, lost in thought, Erich teased, "I didn't say all this to make you start daydreaming. You just need to remember that for a great Knight, inner strength is just as important as one's Physique.
The Second Squad hasn't been re-established yet. For now, you'll be operating with me. Let's head back."
He stood to return to the barracks, but then he heard Reinhardt suddenly ask from behind, "Vice Commander Erich, can a Knight's Power possess two different attributes?"
Erich turned to look at Reinhardt. He considered the question seriously for a moment before replying, "In theory, yes."
He didn't elaborate further, but he found it strange that the small, dark-haired, dark-eyed boy would suddenly ask such a question.
'If a Knight's body could actually contain two different types of Power, their Physique and Spiritual Energy would have to be monstrously, terrifyingly strong!'
'At least, in my limited understanding of the world, I've never heard of a Knight possessing two completely different types of Power.'
'Even if such a monstrously powerful being did exist, they were likely far beyond my reach in terms of both status and strength.'
After the Abyss Legion's first wave of probing attacks, the war seemed to enter a brief lull. According to the soldiers rotating off duty from the fortress walls, there was no sign of any Demons on the icy plains outside.
Nevertheless, the inside of the fortress remained in a state of high alert.
Some Knights suggested they should retake control of the fortress's first wall, but Vice Commander Erich vetoed the idea.
He had been fighting Demons his entire life; he knew firsthand how cunning those beasts were.
If the Abyss Legion had hidden a Teleportation Gate between the first and second walls, then retaking the first wall would put the fortress at risk of being breached from within.
During a meeting in the command tent, Vice Commander Friedrich seconded Erich's assessment. Only Sedon remained grim-faced, staring silently at the order in his hand appointing Reinhardt as the captain of the Second Squad.
「In the barracks.」
Reinhardt's appearance was like that of a major celebrity with a halo over his head. The followers in the training camp flocked to see the Lord Knight who had condensed his Power—and who was, of course, also the captain of the Steel Knight Order's Second Squad!
Pachy and Carl were bursting with pride for having killed an Abyssal Hound with their own hands—even if all they had done was pass over the weapon.
"Reinhardt! Tell us what happened that night? Did you really kill thirteen Abyssal Hounds by yourself?"
"Show some respect! You're supposed to call him Lord Knight Reinhardt!"
"Hmph! That bastard Carl must be trying to take Knight Reinhardt's credit for himself! I saw the Abyssal Hound's corpse with my own two eyes. Three of Carl put together wouldn't have been enough for a single meal."
Big-nosed Robie and his two followers, Ober and Lupu, sat by themselves on the other side of the barracks, not mixing with the others. In the past, this genius youth, Robbie Hiling, son of Sky Knight Duval, had been revered and sought after by the followers. Now, he just sat silently on a tree stump.
In the past, he would have been indignant and taught Reinhardt a lesson in secret, warning him not to steal his thunder. But one battle had changed everything.
'That short commoner kid had not only condensed his Power, but he'd also become the captain of the Second Squad on the recommendation of two vice commanders!'
'And what about me? I was just a pathetic wretch, crying in a corner, not even mustering the courage to go take a look near the walls.'
'If Vice Commander Sedon hadn't sent men to find me in the fortress, I might already be dead.'
"So what if he condensed his Power? What's the big deal? You'll condense your Power tomorrow and make them all green with envy!"
Lupu saw that something was wrong with Robie's expression. He didn't know what had happened on the night the Abyss Legion attacked the fortress, but he was sure that for the once-arrogant Lord Robie to end up in this state, it had to be connected to Reinhardt.
That night, Robie had snuck out of the underground bunkers alone, taking advantage of the chaos. He had even solemnly promised the two of them that he would bring back a war trophy or two.
But now, only a day later, Robie was like a completely different person, suddenly silent and withdrawn.
Lupu assumed Robie was like this because he'd taken too great a blow from the news that his rival, Reinhardt, had condensed his Power. But as for the real reason, perhaps only Robie himself knew.
Just as his mind was racing to find a way to cheer Robie up, a beautiful silhouette caught his attention.
It wasn't just him.
When Eliza Hearn appeared in the barracks, all the young men's eyes practically popped out of their heads.
As all eyes watched her with fervent gazes, they noticed her head was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze. It seemed she had been seriously injured outside the confinement cell that day.
The daughter of Lord Hearn glanced at Reinhardt from a distance, giving him a slight nod that seemed to be a gesture of thanks for his help the other day. Then, flanked by two Knights, she walked into the command tent.
Lupu's eyes never left her. He sighed quietly, "So beautiful..."
The ever-blunt Ober glanced at him, wiped the snot from under his nose—which was about to freeze solid—with his sleeve, and said, "She's Lord Hearn's daughter, Lupu. Even if you stare your eyes out, she won't give you a second look."
"Ober! Shut up! No one's going to think you're a mute if you just keep your mouth shut!"
The two followers bickered at his side, but Robie paid them no mind. His right hand, hidden inside his sleeve, was clenched into a tight fist. His eyes were locked on Reinhardt, filled with a deathly stare!