Chapter 6: A Taste of Power

Finn's unexpected victory sent ripples through the gaming world, sparking a flood of curiosity—and challenges. Most dismissed it as a fluke. In a game like Cosmic War, miracles happened, sure, but rarely. Finn's record was a staggering 1,321 losses, a statistical oddity that made him a punching bag. For him to suddenly pull off a Thomas Spin Kill? It defied reason.

Yet one fact gnawed at the skeptics: his opponent wasn't some lightweight. Blood Asura fought with ruthless precision, never easing up even against weaker players—a trait screaming professional soldier. Only someone drilled in military discipline would bring that kind of intensity to every bout, no matter the stakes.

Meanwhile, a young man in a crisp military uniform sat staring at his screen, dumbfounded. Broad-shouldered but sharp-featured, he exuded the aura of a calculated strategist. As one of the Evantian NUP's North Star Seven, Jay Stone had been slumming it with human-grade mechs to toy with the masses. His 25 wins came against higher-ranked foes, and his only two losses were to Colonels with tricked-out machines—opponents he swore he'd dismantle in ten moves with equal gear. But losing to a BS001 rookie? That cut deep.

"Yo, what's got our pretty boy Jay Stone so down?" a voice teased, dripping with mock elegance. Crystal Lynn, the lone daughter of the Iron Curtain Lynn family and a fellow North Star Seven star, sauntered in. Stunning, fiery, and undeniably skilled, she was a force of nature. Jay Stone frowned as she glanced at his screen. "Still wasting time on that dumb game?" she jabbed. He snapped it shut, but her razor-sharp mind had already clocked the opponent's ID. The North Star Seven were NUP's elite youth—students and soldiers alike—and rivalries ran hot. Crystal's aristocratic flair grated against Jay's no-nonsense roots.

She didn't stick around, already scheming to track down whoever had shaken him. Jay Stone, though, stayed glued to the replay, dissecting every frame. From terrain picks to the final strike, it was flawless. A BS001 nailing a Thomas Spin Kill? Absurd.

He wasn't the only one reeling. Finn stared at his body scan, baffled. Everything checked out normal—except a mysterious ten-pound weight gain, no fat in sight. Weird, but the thrill of that move still surged through him. Was it a one-off? He had to know.

Back in Cosmic War, his inbox exploded—challenges, how-to pleas, even love letters from smitten players. Finn ignored the noise and hit the solo training arena. Breathing deep, he recalled the Thomas Spin's rhythm. His fingers flew across the controls, and the BS001 responded, carving the full motion with eerie precision.

A primal yell ripped from him. Hell yes! Something had clicked—his strength, his reflexes, now razor-sharp. The BS001's bulk felt weightless, an extension of himself. He'd cracked it.

His short break had fueled rumors: Blade Warrior's scared. It was a fluke. Finn just grinned. Wins and losses? Meh. He craved the raw rush of piloting. But training alone wouldn't prove it. He scanned the challenge list and locked in a Lieutenant—his first shot at a higher rank. No masochism here; he was hooked on winning now.

ID: Inferno Dual, Lieutenant. Evolved Beast-Type Mech: Wolf Demon V2. Record: 590 wins, 238 losses, 25 draws.

A veteran with a monster rig. The Wolf Demon V2, a game-only beast, fused agility, control, and amped-up firepower—a fantasist's wet dream. Players split into two camps: realists like Finn, who loved gritty authenticity, and fantasists like Inferno Dual, who chased over-the-top thrills. Both had their pull.

BS001 Blade Warrior vs. Wolf Demon V2 Inferno Dual lit up the servers. Over a million tuned in live—a record for a Private-Lieutenant showdown. The devs jumped on the hype, milking it for all it was worth.

Finn wasn't used to the spotlight, but the battlefield grounded him. Years of self-discipline snapped into focus, sharper than ever. The terrain was rugged rock—no desert this time, just uneven chaos. He didn't care. A true warrior molded any ground to their advantage, even the unfamiliar. That's what separated the best from the rest.

The stage was set. The crowd held its breath. Could Blade Warrior pull off another miracle?