Chapter 15: The Super Soldier

Finn was stumped. GoldieTron had hammered it into him: every monster's got a weak spot. But this thing? He'd tried everything—every trick, every angle—and the beast didn't even blink. Finn was down to 60% strength, battered and bleeding, while this freak of nature looked ready for round two.

This is how I die, huh?

The monster didn't expect Finn to still be kicking. Its massive frame moved way too fast for something that size, lunging at him with claws like steel beams. It blocked both escape routes, its jaws glowing red-hot. Dodge, and he'd be a crispy human skewer.

Finn's back was to the wall, and he was done playing nice. Okay, no weak spot on the outside? Let's see what's under the hood. The mouth was the only soft spot he could spot—problem was, it spat fire. Still, he'd noticed something: every time it prepped a blast, it struck a pose—head back, chest puffed, tail swinging. Quick as hell, but not instant. He had a window.

The beast saw Finn freeze and went full throttle, claws ready to turn him into a pancake. Finn flicked his Alpha Alloy Knife straight at its eye. He knew it wouldn't land—tried that already—but it always ticked the thing off. Right on cue, it roared, fury boiling over. It had to fire now.

The wind-up stretched two seconds longer than usual. Finn didn't hesitate—every muscle screamed as he launched himself, not at its claws, but its face. He latched onto its snout like a human vice, arms and legs locked tight.

Either I'm ripped apart, or you're toast, buddy.

The monster's muffled bellow shook the ground. Finn yelled right back, both of them going feral. His fingers dug into its armored hide, blood pouring as his bones scraped metal.

The beast's body ballooned—flames trapped inside with nowhere to go. Finn's vision blurred, pain searing through him, but he held on.

BOOM.

The explosion ripped the monster to shreds, flaming chunks flying everywhere. One slammed into Finn's chest, snapping ribs like dry twigs. He hit the dirt hard, thinking, Well, at least I took it with me.

Thud.

Finn braced for the end… but nothing happened. He cracked an eye open. The Devil Forest was gone—just an empty room and GoldieTron floating there like nothing had happened.

"Congrats, Master. Devil Forest survival training: complete. Perfect score."

The pain vanished as the sim reset. Finn hauled himself up, glaring at the bot. "Perfect score? Since when are you generous?"

"That Glassto Fire Beast wasn't scheduled. Given your current level and gear, winning was statistically impossible. You pulled it off, so I bumped your sixty-one to a hundred with a thirty-nine-point bonus."

Finn clenched his fists. This smug little… "So, perfect score means a reward, right? Like, I dunno, going home for a breather?"

"Sorry, Master. No breaks until the special training's done. System's low on juice—after this, I'm out for a long nap. For your safety, you've gotta finish."

Finn snorted. Safety? You're the one trying to kill me. "Fine. What's next?"

"You beat the Fire Beast, so you've got three hours free. Reflect, rest, whatever. Next phase starts after that."

Finn nodded, too wiped to argue. Three hours felt like a luxury. He crashed onto the floor, stretching out, letting his mind wander. The Devil Forest had taught him stuff no one else would ever learn—grit, guts, and how to outsmart death. Three hours later, he was on his feet before GoldieTron could nag him.

"Let's do this."

GoldieTron's lights blinked—almost like it was impressed. "Survival training, round two. A warrior adapts to anything. Based on Earth's setup, you're hitting the ocean, sky, and zero-G space. First up: ocean."

Finn didn't bother asking details. GoldieTron's games always had a way out—just barely. Underwater, he learned the hard way: holding his breath, swimming, fighting in a world humans weren't built for. Before he blacked out, he took down a shark. A week of brutal basics turned a land-dweller into a ghost in the deep.

Then came sky and space—two weeks of pure chaos. Freefall in Earth's gravity? Check. Dogfighting in fighter jets (way easier than mechs)? Done. Space combat in clunky suits on the Moon, Mars, and a busted starship? Bring it on. He fought humans, sure, but mostly cosmic nightmares that'd make anyone else scream. Finn? He just saw targets.

Two months in, Finn wasn't the same guy. No fancy uniform or salutes, but he oozed veteran—the kind carved from blood and chaos. And still, that cocky grin hung on his face like a badge.

Cliffhanger

Finn stared at his reflection in the training room's wall. Scarred, tough as nails, and still breathing. He'd beaten the unbeatable. But as GoldieTron's hologram flickered back on, a chill hit his gut. The bot's next words weren't gonna be good news.

"Master, your final test is up next. Fail this, and you're done—for real."

What's waiting for him? Can Finn's new edge carry him through?