Two percent

"What?" The surprised exclamation echoed through the space.

A sharp pain pierced Kassian's head, as if his brain was being torn into many pieces.

Myriads of sounds and smells merged into a single abstract cacophony, attacking his eardrums and nose, bringing information to his brain, thereby overloading it even more.

Every rustle, even the breath of the simulated wind, was like torture.

*Cadet Kassian, — a voice rang in his head, — please calm down, you will soon adapt to the circumstances, bear with it, it will take from two to ten minutes.

Kassian's huge metal body, writhing under the weight of newly acquired sensitivity, destroyed everything around. Every second felt like an eternity.

This continued for about eight minutes until the pain finally began to subside.

"Ha...ha...ha..." heavy breathing echoed through the empty hangar.

Turning over onto his back, Kassian lay looking at the ceiling.

*Cadet, are you okay? — asked the voice in his head.

"You can read my condition anyway, why ask?"

*According to protocol, a full dialogue has a positive effect on the cadet's mental state. I repeat, are you okay? — the voice became more insistent.

"I'm fine, but my head still hurts and it feels like nails are being driven into my ears," Kassian answered slightly sarcastically.

*This effect will disappear after a while, — the voice did not react to the sarcasm. — Since the cadet's condition has normalized, let's proceed to the next test. Try moving again.

Sighing tiredly, Kassian began to rise slowly. This time it required significantly less effort. The body, although heavy, felt much lighter and more mobile.

"Such a huge difference from just one percent?" Kassian involuntarily muttered.

*Your current task is to get out of the hangar under two percent synchronization. Proceed with the task.

Kassian carefully approached the nearly completely closed hermetic gates. They were covered with a layer of rust and dirt. Through the gap between the shutters, a shaded corridor was visible.

Inserting his fingers between thick layers of metal, he pulled in different directions. Rust particles spread through the air, and the door barely budged.

After a few minutes of effort, the door, making a terrible prolonged creak, finally gave way.

The previously closed corridor was terribly mangled. Pieces of military equipment were scattered everywhere. The metal walls were pitted with huge claw marks and dried blood, and the biological remains on the floor were impossible to distinguish.

"Ugh, what a mess. What happened here?" Kassian asked the accompanying voice.

*Your situation is simulated based on data obtained from Citadel number fourteen.

"And what happened there?" Kassian asked again.

*Incident data is unavailable, — came the dry response.

"Great!" Kassian grimaced. "Navigator, what next?"

*Your route: move forward along the corridor to the next airlock.

"Really, how did I not guess that I just need to move forward?" Kassian muttered to himself.

He took a few steps forward, trying not to step on the remains. The corridor stretched into the darkness, but further emergency lights flickered. A dry, acrid smell of rust and dust hung in the air.

After a minute of walking, a dull metallic sound was heard from the depths of the corridor, as if something heavy had shifted.

Kassian froze.

"What the hell was that?! I'm supposed to be here alone," he looked into the dark distance.

*Attention! Changes have been made to the simulated situation. The cadet is advised not to move during the update.

"What? What update? What the hell is happening?" An incessant barrage of questions poured out on the unresponsive voice.

*Eight percent... Twenty-six percent... Forty-two percent...

The noise was slowly approaching; from the increasing pressure, a shiver ran down Kassian's spine.

*Ninety-three percent... Ninety-seven percent... One hundred percent. Congratulations, the download is complete, — the enthusiastic voice announced.

"Finally! So what should I do now?!"

*...

"Hey! Hello! Where are you?"

*...

"What the hell?!"

The noise was getting closer. The screech of metal against metal and heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.

"Damn it! It seems there's no other choice..."

Indeed, Kassian made a decision. Final and irrevocable. Full of determination, he spun around and without looking back, dashed in the opposite direction. He decided to tactically ignore the thoughts that he was being watched.

His metal body was still heavy and unwieldy, but it did not prevent him from moving at an incredible speed. He knocked down everything that came under his feet — barricades, wreckage of equipment, even the remains of his own dignity.

The source of the noise, previously approaching slowly, noticeably accelerated. The sound of destruction coming from behind was gradually getting closer.

*The objectives have been changed, — the voice in his head sounded again. — Current goals: survive the encounter with a nephilim class sentinel, leave the military block of Citadel fourteen.

"Well-timed, you damn bastard!" Kassian shouted at the voice. "Sentinel, seriously? We were promised a trial simulation of controlling a nexus, so what the hell is a nephilim doing here?!"

*Due to the successful completion of the assigned tasks, the conditions for the cadet have been changed, — came the quick response.

"What did I accomplish to make things so complicated?! Staggering around like a drunkard, wandered around an old hangar? That's what I call an achievement!" Kassian continued to grumble.

The noise was getting closer and closer.

"Voice! Where is the nearest exit?!" Kassian shouted.

*Analyzing... Complete. The nearest exit is one thousand three hundred meters from you.

"Damn it... Why is it so far?!"

*Request received. Citadel fourteen is classified as a small citadel and includes one military block, occupying an area of approximately three square kilometers. You are currently moving towards the exit of the right wing.

"Why do I need this information?!"

A shadow flickered on the walls behind Kassian. Something huge, with three pairs of long limbs.

Kassian turned on the run, and at that moment something struck his side. He flew forward and crashed into the wall, leaving a huge dent in it.

A huge figure, covered with armor plates with pulsating lines of energy along the body. Three pairs of disgusting limbs. The upper ones resembled two huge curved blades, and the others ended in finger-like claws.

*The chance of winning against the opponent is only ten percent. It is highly discouraged to engage in combat, — the mechanical voice said.

"What a pity... And I so wanted to!" Kassian sneered in his head. "So what should I do now?"

Kassian stood face to face with the monster. The creature was in full combat readiness.

Slightly bending, Kassian grabbed the remains of armor lying at his feet. Nexus fingers pierced the metal, providing a firm grip.

Noticing the movement, the monster lunged forward, intending to slice Kassian, but at that moment a multi-ton piece of mangled metal hit the creature. The monster, deflecting the attack, hesitated for a second.

Kassian, taking advantage of the time, was already running as fast as he could.

The nephilim let out a deafening roar and resumed the chase.

Corridors flashed before his eyes, illuminated by dim emergency lights. Kassian raced forward, heavily pushing off the floor with his metal legs. Behind him, the furious roar and the thundering steps of the monster were getting louder. The beast was rapidly closing in.

"Voice! Where can I at least delay it?!" Kassian panted, dodging scattered debris.

*In four hundred meters there is a corridor intersection. The left section is partially collapsed, which may create an obstacle.

Kassian glanced back. The nephilim was very close. Its upper limbs-blades glinted in the dim light, rising for a strike.

*Evasion chance: 37%

"Damn it!"

Kassian sharply shifted his body to the side. The monster's blade passed by his shoulder, leaving a deep groove in the wall.

Ahead, the intersection appeared. As mentioned: the left corridor was partially blocked. There was a narrow passage by the wall, through which the monster likely would not be able to squeeze.

Kassian dashed there, sliding across the floor. He barely managed to slip into the narrow gap when a deafening impact sounded behind him.

The corridor was enveloped in clouds of dust. Standing by the passage, Kassian observed a comical picture: the huge creature, having pushed forward its blade-limbs, was futilely trying to squeeze through.

Kassian almost wanted to gloat over the nephilim, but suddenly the blocking debris slightly shifted.