Chapter 16 - Entrance exam (9)

The air crackled with tension as Nathan stood across from the man, his black hair and beard framing a face twisted with rage.

The man's eyes burned like embers, and the air around him shimmered with heat as flames danced along the edge of his massive butcher knife-like sword.

Nathan, on the other hand, was calm. His nano-tech suit clung to his body like a second skin, its sleek, matte-black surface reflecting the faint glow of the flames.

In his hands, he twirled his mechanical daggers, their edges humming with energy.

A grappling hook mechanism was visible on the hilts, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice.

The man moved first. In an instant, his form blurred, and he materialized before Nathan, his sword already mid-swing.

The blade cut through the air with a fiery trail, aiming to cleave Nathan in two.

But Nathan was ready. With a burst of agility, he sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and precise.

The sword missed him by inches, the heat from the flames licking at his suit.

Kael didn't let up. Before the swing could finish, he redirected the blade into a horizontal slash, aiming for Nathan's torso.

Nathan reacted instantly, darting a few meters back with a quick burst of speed from his suit's enhanced capabilities.

The blade sliced through empty air, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

The Fantasian prisoner pressed the attack, closing the distance with remarkable speed.

He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one precise and calculated, targeting weak points in Nathan's defenses.

His movements were so fast that only someone with enhanced reflexes could hope to keep up.

But Nathan wasn't just keeping up—he was thriving.

His daggers moved in a blur, deflecting each each and every one of them.

Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal, the sound of their battle echoing through the empty battlefield.

As the fight dragged on, Nathan began to gain the upper hand.

His movements became more fluid, more confident.

The prisoner's attacks, once relentless, began to slow.

The man's breathing grew labored, his flames flickering as his mana as well as his stamina waned.

Nathan saw his opening. With a quick flick of his wrist, he activated the grappling hook on one of his daggers, sending it flying toward the man.

The hook latched onto the man's sword, yanking it out of his hands and sending it skittering across the ground.

The man snarled in anger, summoning a burst of fire from his hands to create a makeshift weapon.

But before he could attack, Nathan's suit began to change.

A space between his shoulder blades opened up, and with a sound like unfolding metal, a pair of large, white wings erupted from his back.

The wings shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow, their feathers adjusting with every movement.

Nathan took to the air, his wings carrying him high above the battlefield. The man stared up at him, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief.

Nathan hovered in the air, his wings beating slowly as he reached for a small device on his belt.

It was a compact cylinder, no larger than the palm of his hand.

With a press of a button, the device expanded, transforming into an energy rifle.

The weapon hummed with power, its barrel glowing faintly as it charged.

As Nathan gripped the rifle, a voice echoed in his mind—a calm, synthetic voice.

**"Synchronization rate increasing. Current rate: 9%."**

Nathan wasn't surprised. The memories of his new body had already told him about the suit's AI. He adjusted his grip on the rifle, his eyes locked on the man below.

**"Synchronization rate: 12%."**

Kael roared, summoning a massive wave of fire and hurling it toward Nathan.

The flames surged upward, but Nathan dodged effortlessly, his wings carrying him out of harm's way.

**"Synchronization rate: 15%."**

Nathan fired the rifle, a beam of energy shooting toward the prisoner.

The man barely managed to dodge, the beam scorching the ground where he had stood moments before.

**"Synchronization rate: 19%."**

Nathan's movements became even more precise, his attacks more devastating.

He fired again, this time hitting Kael square in the chest.

The man screamed as the energy beam tore through him, disintegrating his body into dust.

Nathan landed gracefully, his wings folding back into his suit. The AI's voice spoke once more.

**"Synchronization complete. Combat efficiency at optimal levels."**

Nathan didn't respond. He simply stood there, staring at the spot where the Fantasian prisoner had been.

But now. He was gone. Poof. Just like that. And for the first time it hit him that he was in a war torn world, in a novel where even the main cast were not safe.

And now he knew. He knew that in order to survive, he would have to be a ruthless killer. To protect himself and her.

His best friend Natasha