Training Field or Graveyard

[Location: Nova Academy – Outdoor Training Arena | Early Morning]

The morning sky above Nova Academy was pale, washed out like a canvas that had forgotten how to reflect light.Fog still clung to the edges of the metallic field, and beads of dew coated the artificial ground panels.The cold air settled low, dense in a way that made it feel like something was watching—just out of sight—beyond the mist.

[Location: Briefing Room C-7]

A group of cadets stood at attention in full training gear.Deren lingered in the back corner, sipping tea from his thermos with half-lidded eyes.His shoulders hunched, chin dipped, trying to blend into the shadows behind him.

One slow step to the left. Then another.The sweet spot—least visible, least accountable.

He scanned the room once, sighed heavily.Next to him, Kael yawned so wide it cracked his jaw, while Ryn quietly reread the mission data on his terminal.

"Red zone simulation?" Deren mumbled. "Aren't those reserved for Rank B and up?"

"Because of yesterday's incident," Ryn replied, "the Astrelis faction requested additional field trials. Our team was selected due to... 'demonstrated crisis adaptability.'"

"Or because we accidentally saved a delegate with an old trap system," Kael added.

"I just leaned against a wall and hit the red button," Deren muttered, deadpan.

[Location: Gamma-3 Training Zone – Ruins Terrain Simulation]

The team was deployed to Gamma-3—a wide, open zone with rubble-filled slopes and broken test scaffolds.It was an old simulation zone once used for beta-type Metavore trials. Officially marked as safe.

But from the start, something felt off.

Deren narrowed his eyes at the misty landscape.

That resonance... too wild. Not from training gear. And way too similar to the signature of my leaked tech.

"You feel that?" Ryn asked softly from behind.

"Yeah. Someone's using my gear out here. Without permission."

Kael frowned.

"Metavore?"

"Worse," Deren replied. "Unauthorized users."

[Location: Central Simulation Field | Five Minutes In]

Ryn's scanner beeped.

"That's not from the training sim. It's real. We've got an active creature signal."

A distant rumble followed. The rubble shook.Through the fog, a quadrupedal beast emerged—half metal, half raw tissue.A cracked metal face. Glowing red eyes.

"That's... a new type," Ryn breathed."Not in the Academy's database," Kael muttered, stepping back.

Deren clenched his jaw.

Of course it is. This is what happens when Eidolon tech gets in the wrong hands. If they trace this back to me... I'll end up in an inquiry committee. Or worse.

The creature lunged.

Its first attack vaporized a section of the energy barrier.Cadets scattered. Two fell to the ground.Kael fired back—his bullets bounced off.

"It has a shield!" Kael shouted.

Ryn yanked one of the fallen cadets up, eyes darting to Deren.

"We need a plan!"

Deren glanced at the device in his pocket—a custom-modified wrist tool.It could reactivate old auto-defense systems buried beneath the zone.

He pressed the button.

Beneath their feet, something roared to life.A deep mechanical growl echoed through the fog.

The ground shook.Panels slid open.An old defense turret rose from the earth, rotating as blue energy flickered across its barrel.Power surged into the air—static electricity danced across the debris. Cadets flinched as their hair stood on end.

No one moved. No one spoke.

Except Deren, who stood there silently—expression flat—as if he'd just turned on a coffee machine.

Emergency Protocol: Activated. Target Verified. Commencing Elimination.

A blue beam sliced through the fog, striking the creature with precision.A sharp explosion rocked the field.

"WHAT was that?!" Kael yelled.

"Old training gear," Deren replied. "I... serviced it last week."

The creature staggered. Then retreated—dragging itself toward the maintenance tunnel.

Ryn stared at Deren like he was trying to see through him.

Eyes narrowed.One brow lifted.Somewhere between awe and accusation.

"You repaired antique weapons systems... in a training zone?"

Deren shrugged.

"I needed a testbed for small experiments. Plus, Nova's security network hasn't been updated in years."

[Cutaway – End Chapter – Location: Nova Academy Surveillance Room]

Tessan watched the feed silently.Nayra stood beside him, eyes fixed on the replay.

"He just saved everyone. Again," Tessan muttered.

"And somehow still looked like he was doing absolutely nothing," Nayra added.

Tessan didn't answer immediately.

"You still think he's not hiding something?"

"I'm sure of it," Nayra replied.

She didn't smile. Didn't blink.

"That's exactly why I'm more certain than ever."