Danger

Seon's fingers flew over the controls, typing commands into the tablet with the precision of someone who had spent years preparing for this moment. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins as the live feed from the simulation flickered on the control room monitors. What had once seemed like a simple drill now carried a weight he hadn't expected. The calm of the past moments vanished. This was no longer a simulation—it was real.

"Confirm the status of the squad," Seon commanded, his voice betraying none of the anxiety rising in his chest.

"Sir, all teams report as ready. Minimal resistance expected for the next ten minutes," the comms officer replied.

Then a sharp, dissonant beep echoed through the room. Seon's gaze snapped to the monitor, his stomach dropping as a flashing red warning appeared.

"That's... impossible," he murmured under his breath, narrowing his eyes at the screen. The map, once familiar, now displayed an anomaly—movement in the maze, real movement.

"Captain Seon!" Felix's voice crackled over the comms, cutting through his thoughts. "We've lost contact with Omega Squad. Last transmission reported engagement with a hostile entity. It's bigger than expected."

Seon's blood ran cold. The world seemed to slow for a moment. He had anticipated monsters, but this—this was different. He knew his team's capabilities, but this was the first real test, and it had escalated in a way no one had expected.

"Alert the teams to move out. Locate Omega Squad. Now!" Seon barked, grabbing his gear and heading for the exit.

Just as he reached the door, the system pinged, its emergency notification flashing across his field of vision.

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Emergency Quest:

Objective: Defeat the Level 3-Class Monster in the Maze.

Time Limit: 1 Hour

Failure Consequences: Unknown

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Seon's eyes flickered over the message, his resolve hardening. He didn't waste a second. His fingers swiftly acknowledged the quest.

"Nexxus, take command here. I'm heading in," Seon said without looking back. His tone was firm, even though his mind raced with the gravity of the situation. A flicker of movement caught his eye—Nexxus was following him. Seon found it odd but continued with his mission, boarding the aircraft.

The engines roared to life, vibrating beneath him as the aircraft ascended into the sky. His thoughts swirled with chaos, but his training kicked in. The system's voice crackled in his ear, steadying him.

Mission parameters locked. Initiating combat protocol.

Seon didn't reply. He focused on the mission, hands gripping the seat as the aircraft sliced through the air, the ground below a blur.

"Location of the lost squad confirmed. Sending coordinates now," Felix's voice pierced the static.

The aircraft hummed as it began its descent into the maze. Seon's gaze locked onto the shadows in the trees below. The monsters weren't just simulations anymore. They were real—and just as deadly.

With a heavy thud, the aircraft landed, its gears scraping against the uneven terrain. As the hatch opened, a distant roar split the air—a chilling reminder of what they were up against.

Seon didn't wait. He bolted out of the aircraft, the system's guidance already taking control. His body moved with mechanical precision, and the world around him blurred into action. He didn't think—he just moved.

Before he could adjust, a massive shape emerged from the trees, its dark form blocking his path. It was an abomination—a hulking creature with jagged scales, massive claws, and eyes that burned like embers. Its roar made the ground tremble beneath Seon's boots.

He drew his weapon, the rifle clicking into place. But as soon as he aimed, the system's voice boomed again, adjusting his combat strategy.

Combat parameters adjusted. Initiating counterattack strategy.

The creature lunged, claws swiping through the air like razor-sharp blades. Seon's body reacted without thought, dodging the blow and rolling to the side. As he sprang to his feet, he fired a volley of shots, the energy rounds slamming into the creature's thick hide. The monster howled in pain, but it didn't fall.

"Focus on its weak spots!" Seon shouted into the comms, his voice steady despite the chaos. The system had already highlighted the creature's vulnerable points, glowing faintly beneath its armored exterior. He knew the information about the monster and its weaknesses showed in the holov bcak in the control room because he heard the Edners giving targets to the Valkyrie squadron. 

As Seon kept firing, Valkyrie Squadron's drones swooped in, laying down suppressive fire while the ground teams moved into position. Ghost Division deployed explosives, their precision keeping the monster distracted.

Seon didn't pause. His orders came as naturally as breathing.

"Keep the pressure on! Omega, flank from the east. Ghost, get ready to trigger the traps once we've weakened it."

His mind calculated every angle—timing, positioning, wind speed—all while staying focused on the fight. It wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about winning. About protecting the people relying on him.

"Captain, it's on us!" one of the soldiers shouted as the monster turned toward them, its menacing eyes narrowing.

Seon didn't hesitate. "Deploy the firepower. Now!"

A barrage of missiles and explosives rained down from all angles, enveloping the creature in a blinding explosion. The monster shrieked in agony, thrown back by the blast.

Seon didn't give it a chance to recover. He fired a final round of high-impact shots into its exposed weak points. The creature shuddered violently, then collapsed, a massive thud echoing across the maze. For a moment, the world stood still. Then, the system pinged once more.

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Quest Complete:

Objective: Defeat Level 3-Class Monster.

Reward: System Enhancement, New Combat Skill Acquired. [king of world]

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Seon exhaled, his body shaking from the intensity of the battle. He had done it. They had done it. The squad had fought together, and the monster was no longer a threat.

"Aegis, move out on the aircraft. Valkyrie Squadron, ship out. Edners Squad, mark the location of the remaining cadets, and send them out to Aegis. This is now a rescue operation" he ordered before heading back to the aircraft.

"Felix, casualties?" Seon asked, his voice steady despite the tension still gripping him.

"From what little information we have currently.None," Felix replied.

"How many injured?"

"Thirty percent of Omega Squad, forty percent of Ghost. From those that have been located already"

"Let's get moving. Good job, everyone," Seon said, stepping onto the aircraft, followed by the higher-ups.

The comms buzzed with reports and status updates, but Seon allowed himself a moment of quiet. There were no active monsters nearby, so he could rest easy. They had survived the first true test.

He landed on top of the main building, making his way to the common room. As he entered, the sounds of yelling reached his ears.

"Are you kidding me? Half my men are dead out there because you couldn't wait for the right moment!" A's voice rang out as she pointed accusingly at X. C sat in silence, clearly devastated. B was absent, but Seon understood—something had gone wrong during the practices of the other units not just his.

A threw her hands up in frustration while C remained motionless. Seon took a seat, observing the tense atmosphere. B eventually walked in, looking equally devastated. Realization dawned on him—everyone had just gone through the same ordeal.

The room quieted as the higher-ups entered, their presence commanding instant attention. All the soldiers stood at attention, eyes forward. Seon and the other captains jerked to their feet, standing with the unit leaders. His hands clasped behind his back, he focused on maintaining the discipline drilled into him by X.

The head of the operation, stepped to the podium. His piercing gaze swept across the room, taking in the anxious faces. Without a word of introduction, he began.

"We've been monitoring the development of the top-tier units across the globe," The general said, his voice as sharp as a blade. "There are over a hundred operational units now, and we've been evaluating them. But as the stakes grow, we realize that slow assessments won't cut it anymore."

A murmur of uncertainty rippled through the room, but He raised his hand, silencing them.

"You've trained hard, and it shows. But we need more than just effort. We need speed. Efficiency. And we need to know which units are truly the best—and we need that information now."

The General's words settled heavy over Seon's chest. This was no longer just about surviving—it was about something much bigger. The clock was ticking.

"We are implementing a ranked system," He continued, his voice like steel. "Units will be ranked based on combat effectiveness, leadership, strategy, and overall performance. The top units will receive priority, resources, and missions. The bottom units... Well, they'll be reassigned."

The weight of the General's words hit Seon like a physical blow. Reassigned? It was clear—failure meant obscurity. There was no room for weakness.

"The final exam—what you thought was just another test—is now the first step in a global competition. This will determine the future of every unit," Varun's voice hardened. "The exam has been moved up. This is no longer just a skill test; it's about how quickly you can adapt. And the clock is ticking."

Seon's mind raced, a cold thrill of fear and excitement flooding him. This was his chance, but the pressure was immense.

"Each of you will face different challenges," Varun concluded. "The results will be immediate, and we'll be evaluating your performance across every level. Those who make it through will be among the top 10 units in the world."

Seon exchanged looks with the other captains—determination and fear alike reflected in their eyes. The challenge had just begun. And this time, the stakes were higher than ever.