Identity Plaque

+ "Damn, that blue ring around her eyes was beautiful… I got lost in them for a second." 

++ "..." 

+ "Alright, alright! I sincerely apologize—it was just a joke… okay?" 

++ "Hmph…" 

The dragonfly-shaped drone flew toward Damon, extending a delicate mechanical arm from its metallic body. It held out a small, triangular blue pill and spoke in a childlike voice: 

** "Please take this pill and lie down on the bed. Thank you." ** 

+ "Asharaa, I swear this dragonfly's gonna perform surgery on me…" 

++ "I don't care. Don't talk to me." 

+ "...." 

Damon took the pill from the drone, swallowed it, and lay back on the bed. It barely took ten seconds before the drug kicked in, making him feel drowsy as his vision blurred. 

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the sight of Decanus Cromwell's slender, well-proportioned figure moving away. And then… everything went dark. 

---

When awareness returned, a mild headache lingered in his skull—but the moment he opened his eyes and saw the scene before him, he forgot all about it. 

Lying on his back, staring at the ceiling of the laboratory, his first thought was: 'I've turned into a cyborg'.

All around the edges of his vision, various symbols and text had appeared, each representing something different—signal strength, time and date, communication, media, apps, a marketplace, a wallet, and countless other functions he had no idea how to use. He was going to need Asharaa's help to make sense of it all. 

+ "Asharaa?" 

++ "What do you want?" 

+ "I already apologized…" 

++ "Fine. Just this once. But let me fully sync with the Soul Gate first. The drug affected me too, you know—I only just regained control. After that, ask me whatever you want about it." 

+ "So… we're back to normal?" 

++ "Maybe." 

+ "thank god or gods or whatever is up there." 

Fighting off the lingering drowsiness, Damon forced himself to sit up. 

"You woke up fast! What do you think? Pretty cool, right?"

He turned toward the voice and saw Decanus Cromwell sitting on the bed beside him, smiling. The first thing that came to his mind was 'her eyes'….

"Honestly? It's a little weird and confusing… but yeah, it's really cool."

Decanus hopped off the bed. 

"It was confusing for me at first too. But before long, you won't even be able to imagine how you ever lived without it. Alright, rest for a few more minutes until the drug completely wears off. Then, put on the uniform I left on the bed. I'll be waiting with Dr. Remington."

Damon thanked her, closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths. Suddenly, several notifications popped up before him, clearly not from his own system. 

{Dear Citizen Damon Grey, we welcome you to the Empire and sincerely wish you success. May you contribute to the progress and prosperity of the Empire. — C.C.A.} 

{The Imperial regulations and guidelines have been sent to your inbox.}

{A sum of 10 Golden Credits has been deposited into your wallet as a welcome gift.}

{Your new apartment's location has been sent. Please configure your security settings upon arrival.} 

Shortly after, additional messages from the military followed.

{The Imperial Grand Army's entrance exam will commence on October 7th. Please be present at your registered residence six hours prior to the exam.} 

{Wearing the military uniform is mandatory for all registered candidates at all times. Do not appear in public without it, as it symbolizes the army.}

{Basic *Ka* Absorption Technique uploaded.}

{Hapkido Martial Arts uploaded.} 

{Basic-Level Skill: Herculean Strength uploaded.} 

Bombarded by the flood of messages, Damon blinked several times, taking a deep breath. 

+ "How the hell are we supposed to learn all this in a week? We should probably focus on the most important ones first. Once we pass the exam and get into the army, we'll have time for the rest… Damn, couldn't I have been born at least a month earlier?" 

++ "Relax. Do you think symbiotes are so valuable for no reason? Or why those with high compatibility are so rare and powerful? It's because a symbiote can directly upload all this information into their host's mind. I'll help you with the learning, and you just need to train our body…"

++ "Right now, we only need a good place to train. Today's already halfway over, but starting tomorrow, we'll devote all our time to training and strengthening ourselves." 

Damon nodded in agreement and climbed out of bed. On the neighboring bed, he spotted two black garment bags, each emblazoned with a golden emblem of a sword and shield—the insignia of the Imperial Army. Quickly, he unzipped one and donned the uniform inside. 

Unlike Decanus Cromwell's uniform, which was navy blue with gold embellishments on the sleeves, shoulder insignia, collar, and buttons, Damon's attire was much simpler: a long, high-collared navy-blue coat, a gray shirt, and fitted navy-blue trousers. No decorations, no frills. But despite its simplicity, the fabric was high-quality and well-made. 

With a shrug, he slipped on the plain black combat boots that had been placed beside the garment bags. After stuffing his old clothes and shoes into the empty bag, he set off toward Decanus and Dr. Remington. 

"Looks good on you. Ready to go?"

Damon hesitated before asking,

"Uh… can I ask where my holo-watch is? I had some important data on it that I'll need."

Dr. Remington reassured him,

"Don't worry, kid. All the data from your holo-watch has been securely transferred to your Soul Gate. If you check it, you'll find everything there."

A moment later, Asharaa confirmed in his mind: 

++ "He's telling the truth. Everything's in place, and I don't think it was tampered with." 

Before Damon could thank the doctor, Remington handed him a device in the shape of a wristwatch. 

"This is the final component of your Soul Gate—we call it a wristband. While it's not a core implant, it's incredibly useful, especially for someone like you, who's clearly joining the military. It's well-designed, but if you ever lose it, break it, or run into issues, you can request a replacement from the C.C.A.—for a fee, of course. Or, if you prefer, you can buy a different brand from the market with extra features."

After expressing his gratitude, Damon turned to Decanus, who handed him a sleek, rectangular black plaque about the size of two fingers, printed with strange symbols. 

"This is your Identity Plaque. You must wear it on your coat at all times. It serves two purposes—first, to let Karaas verify your identity, and second, to grant you clearance through security systems. That is, until you pass the exam and get registered into the army's facial recognition system."

"One more thing—never, under any circumstances, forget it. And don't worry about losing it. Just bring it close to your coat, and it'll magnetically attach itself. Only you can remove it by touching it yourself."

Damon fastened the plaque to his coat, and with that, the two of them wasted no time escaping the chaotic, deafening hum of the laboratory, heading straight for the army's left wing.