Nytherite Weapons.

Adam pressed his back against the cold metal wall of the dormitory corridor, his breath still ragged from the night's escape. His uniform was scuffed, dirt clinging to his boots from the restricted sector he'd barely managed to flee. Even now, as he stood outside the entrance to his shared room, the echoes of Arc Aegis' patrol guards barking orders still rang in his ears.

He'd been on the run for hours, evading detection after being forced into the penalty survival mission. The system had thrust him into a brutal test on the harsh surface of the planet that was dominated by extremely dangerous beasts, a trial where the only outcome was survival or death. And yet, here he was, a survivor.

His fingers trembled as he placed them on the access panel of his dorm room. A soft beep signalled the door unlocking, and as he stepped inside, he exhaled a breath of relief.

The dormitory was silent, his arrogant Ascendant roommates were deep in their slumber.

Adam sighed in relief, dropping onto his bunk with a quiet thud.

His body still felt the lingering effects of the system's penalty mission. His muscles ached, but he could feel the growth, the change within him. He swiped his hand forward, summoning the translucent blue system window before him.

Name: Adam Reed.

Race: Human.

Level: 5.

Beast Energy: 22 out of 100.

Genetic Purity Classification: Outcast, Progress: 15%.

Class: Locked. Unlocks at Level 25.

Stats:

Strength: 19.

Agility: 16.

Intelligence: 18.

Stamina: 25.

HP: 35 of 35.

Abilities:

Primordial Light. Rank: Unknown.

Skills:

Stealth level 1.

Silent step level 1.

Passive skills:

Inspection Eye, level 1.

His eyes flickered as he scanned the changes. His combat ability had improved significantly. His strength and agility had both increased, meaning he would be much faster and stronger in battle. The most intriguing thing, however, was the new skill he had obtained. Stealth.

Just thinking about the advantages he could gain for 30 seconds of invisibility. This would change his battle tactics and style entirely.

He was now faster. Faster than any normal human should be.

Adam clenched his fists. That's exactly why I can't stop.

He slowly closed his eyes, he knew one thing for certain, whatever came next, he would be ready.

The next morning, the recruits were ushered into the main lecture hall for their weekly history class. The room was massive, rows of seats stacked in a curved formation, allowing every student a clear view of the massive holographic screen at the front.

Commander Selene stood at the podium, her sharp gaze sweeping across the recruits.

"Today, we revisit a fundamental truth," she began, her voice sleek and commanding.

A flicker flashed and the holographic screen lit up with the glowing image of Arc Aegis. A massive megastructure, floating in the vastness of the atmosphere, its seven colossal training bases scattered across its surface like large domes. There were over twenty turrets the size of a storey building lined across the Arc, each pointing in the direction of the planet's surface.

"This," Commander Selene continued, pointing to the projection, "is Arc Aegis. As cadets, you are in one of the seven bases spread across this floating fortress." She added as she points at the seven gigantic domes on the projection.

Murmurs rippled through the class as the screen zoomed in, highlighting each base in a different color.

"Base 1, Titan's Hold," she announced. "This is the heart of Arc Aegis' elite forces. Only Pures train here, and it is the command center of our military operations."

Because of the small number of Pures whose families choose to pay for the specialized training, the base training sections are smaller than the rest. It mainly serves as a station manned by specialized forces.

Adam tensed. That meant that there was a specialized training for not just pures, but the richest ones even among pures. "Talk about privilege." He muttered under his breath.

"Base 2—The Iron Bastion," Selene continued. "This base is primarily composed of high-ranking Ascendants, this base specializes in mechanized combat and battlefield strategy. Many of the large Ascendant families get a recommendation of the Grand Marshal to get into that base." She added.

One by one, she listed the bases, each specializing in different forms of combat. Ranged warfare, assassination tactics, even aerial maneuvers. Then, she reached their own.

"Base 7—The General Division."

A wave of silence passed through the hall.

"Unlike the other bases, Base 7 has a mix of all classes—Pures, Ascendants, and Outcasts. It is seen as an experimental base, meant to test unconventional methods of training. Many believe it to be a joke."

Adam clenched his fists. So that was why their base was treated differently. They weren't meant to be the best—they were meant to be an experiment.

"However," Selene continued, "that perception is about to change." She said as she waved to Commander Darius hidden among the students to take the stage.

Many of them had not even noticed him, he was wearing normal cadet uniform and had sat in a corner that many of the students had not even bothered to check out.

The screen shifted, and a new message appeared.

ANNOUNCEMENT: ARC AEGIS INTER-BASE TOURNAMENT.

The hall erupted in whispers.

Darius walked to the stage and let the murmurs continue for a moment before silencing them with a single glance.

"The tournament will test the strength of each base. Each will select ten cadets to compete in a series of trials. The winners will gain access to classified training and resources. And advance to the next level of the training program ahead of their peers"

Adam's heart pounded.

"This means that only the best will be chosen to represent Base 7," Darius said. "And the selections have already been made. I have been monitoring each and every one of you since you arrived, as the rules of this base allowed, I was at liberty to select whoever I please as your combat instructor. Whether you are a pure or an outcast, it didn't matter. My selections are final." He added.

With a single wave of his hand, a list appeared on the screen. Adam's eyes widened as he saw his name.

Seraphina Kennedy.

Eve Reed.

Bryan Graves.

Alec Rho.

Marcus Vale.

Aria Kelsin.

Jaden Holt.

Alden Cross.

Silvia Moore.

Adam Reed.

A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.

"Outcasts in the tournament?" someone scoffed.

"The commanders must have lost their minds."

Adam ignored the voices, his focus on Darius, who continued, "Your performance in the last five weeks determined this selection as I earlier stated. If you disagree, prove yourself in training, because there will be no second chances."

"The Ten of you selected should wait behind, the rest of you are dismissed," Darius said.

The chosen ten recruits were led into the forbidden area where only the teachers and high-ranking personnel were allowed, the armory.

Adam felt the weight of dozens of stares from the soldiers around them and the rest of the students. They entered a massive underground chamber where racks of glowing Nytherite weapons were stored.

General Kael, the commanding officer of Base 7, stepped forward. All of them instantly recognized and collectively saluted him.

 "Enough with the pleasantries", he snarled. "Each of you will choose a specially designed nytherite weapon that will complement your ability. These weapons are designed to enhance combat prowess."

One by one, the recruits made their selections. Eve chose a sleek Nytherite bow, its energy-infused arrows humming with explosive power.

Adam approached the racks, his fingers grazing the hilt of a curved sword. The moment he touched it, a spark of golden energy flared between them. The weapon resonated with him.

"A fine choice," General Kael remarked. "That blade reacts to those with unique energy signature."

He turned to Eve, watching her carefully. He nodded his head in approval and laughed arrogantly.

"You twins are more popular than you know, but I am satisfied." He said, looking at Darius before walking closer to where Eve was standing.

"These arrows are made from high-quality nytherite shards that have been carefully calibrated with two skills. The first and obvious one is their timed teleportation back into the specially made quiver, which solves an archer type's greatest problem of limited arrows. Most people who choose this weapon only realize this ability, but it seems that's not the reason that you choose it."

Eve pulled out one arrow and held it. Instantly, it started to glow.

"If I infuse some of my energy into the crystal, I can change the explosive power in it into an ice-type explosion." She said.

General Kael nodded in agreement.

He raised one of his legs slightly and stamped the floor.

Instantly, the metal from the floor liquified, raising slightly and forming 10 metallic dummies.

"Each of you should try to destroy one of the dummies." The general commanded.

Eve was the first to step forward. She pulled one of the 15 arrows in the quiver and loaded it on the bow. Using all of her strength, she pulled it back and infused her energy into the arrow. The tip of the arrow glowed blue and emitted a faint wheeze just before she released it.

The arrow zoomed near the ground, freezing everything in its path. When it hit one of the metallic dummies, a blue explosion erupted, followed by spikes of ice that engulfed the entire dummy. Although the radius of the explosion was small, it managed to touch the hand of the adjacent dummy, and the arm had been frozen solid and broken off, falling to the ground.

As for the dummy she had hit, it had gone from shiny steel to deep blue in color, as soon as the arrow teleported back into the quiver, the dummy broke into pieces and fell apart.

Seraphina stepped forward and drew the blade she picked. It was a long sword with a red crystal embedded just above the handle. When she injected her energy into the sword, the red crystal turned blue.

She pulled the sword backwards, charging an attack and with a single thrust, the sword was engulfed in blue flames.

A blue flame in the shape of her sword but slightly larger flew at an incredible speed, hitting the second dummy.

Instantly, the dummy was engulfed in blue flames and melted.

Jaden and Aria, both pures from the same family placed their hands on the necklaces with the large nytherite pendant attached. Having the same ability, they chose the pendant necklaces.

With a choreographed dance, they formed two large water blades and swung five times in a mesmerizing choreography. When they were done, two dummies were reduced to small metallic cubes scattered on the floor, sliced up by their water blades.

The next boy, Alden, was a silent person. He doesn't care much for conversations and didn't really have any interest in making friends with any of the other Pures or Ascendants in the team. In general, he didn't care for any of the two classes, as long as they know their place. Which was why he attacked Adam before. To simply put him in his place.

Earlier, he had picked a set of twin curved daggers, one of them black in color, the other one white.

With a single swing, he was engulfed in a dark mist and vanished for a few seconds, before appearing again, sheathing both daggers.

In the front, another dummy had been cut from the head down the torso, split into.

Adam and General Kael have managed to see what had happened. The boy teleported at the moment of impact and cut the dummy into two.

Adam gritted his teeth, realizing how much stronger Alden was compared to him.

Sylvia Moore was about to step forward, but General Kael shook his head.

"Not you Sylvia. I don't want to pay for the repairs of this room." He said.

Adam and the rest of the students were confused, but they would not dare question Kael on his decision. Sylvia took a step back and stood in place. She was the only student among them who had not chosen a weapon, that was because she already had one. A sword on her hip that had been oozing a sinister energy since she placed her right hand on it.

Lastly, Marcus, Alec and Bryan stepped forward.

Alec had switched from the large shield he normally carried to a smaller one that could be worn on his back like a backpack. He pulled it out and with a single twist of one of the buttons on the inside, a red energy materialized around the shield, expanding the area it blocked. He charged forward with the shield and just before he slammed the dummy, the shape of the energy portion of the shield contorted and formed spikes, piercing through the metallic dummy.

Marcus had picked two gauntlets earlier, with a single strike, the dummy broke into pieces.

Bryam had an air ability, he had chosen a spear earlier.

With a gentle leap, a current of air floated hum above the ground where he raised the spear in a throwing position. As he inserted energy into the spear, streams of air were rotating around the spear, turning in a small but powerful vortex that was rotating the spear in his hand. With a sudden throw, he thrust the spear towards the last standing dummy.

A strong gust of wind had enveloped the weapons room and the spear hit the target, a large hole in the shape of a vortex appeared on its chest.

Finally, it was Adam's turn.

He drew out the curved blade and held it with both hands. Seeing how the rest of the students had impressed General Kael, Adam figured it was not the time to hold himself back.

He gathered all of the energy in his body and forced it towards his hands. When the energy entered the sword, it started vibrating, coating the sharp edges with finely gathered primordial light.

For a brief second, General Kael felt a disturbing sense of threat. He looked at Adam, who cluelessly continued to infuse his primordial light into the sword and shouted.

"Enough!"

"I told Sylvia that I do not wish to pay for repairs, but here you are about to slice the entire chamber in half without even knowing it. You can take this weapon, but I forbid its usage on this Arc." Kael commanded.

Adam instantly sheathed back the blade. Only then did he realize the sharp cut on the floor and the room's ceiling.

"Did I really do that? I don't recall launching an attack." He thought, wrapping the sword in a reinforced nytherite shield casting material to further secure the blade.

As the selection process concluded, the recruits have gained General Kael's approval.

The general walked out with his soldier.

"Follow me." Darius said to the ten recruits.