Weapons, Signals, and Misunderstandings

[Location: Nova Academy – Strategic Simulation Chamber | 16:42 PM]

The orange glow of late afternoon filtered faintly through Nova Academy's dome, but inside the main strategy room, the atmosphere was anything but serene.

Holographic maps floated in the air. Tactical diagrams blinked.And I—Deren Arkwright—stood at the front of the projection panel, nursing the last few sips of lukewarm tea from a rapidly depleting thermos.

Behind me, the team sat:Ryn, serious as ever.Kael, already halfway to napping.Nala, eyes sharp and suspicious, like she was waiting for someone to breathe wrong.

We'd just returned from a fake signal investigation.So, naturally, the Academy decided to throw us into something even worse.

"Another simulation?" I muttered, shaking my thermos."Is this my punishment for waking up today?"

At the front stood Lieutenant Varres—a stone-faced veteran from Valdheim who made concrete look expressive.

"This isn't a standard sim," he began, voice like gravel."It's based on a real incident.A containment breach.Hybrid Metavore.Your mission: detain and neutralize."

Ryn sat up straighter.

"Hybrid Metavore? Modified?"

Varres nodded.

"Old model. Contains unknown augmentation.Data suggests it carries tech signatures... linked to Eidolon prototypes."

I choked on my tea.

"You're joking. Hybrid plus bootleg tech?That's the worst kind of insult."

Nala's eyes flicked toward me. But before she could speak—

"Do we get real weapons?" Kael interrupted excitedly."Please tell me yes. I have a mini grenade in my locker!"

Everyone turned.

"What? I bring it for vibes."

[Location: Nova Simulation Dome – Urban Zone | 17:23 PM]

The sim field was a half-destroyed urban landscape—collapsed buildings, cracked roads, light mist for atmosphere.Perfect chaos fuel.

Drones floated overhead. Watching. Always watching.

"Target entered the zone three minutes ago," Ryn reported."Movement pattern: erratic zig-zag."

"Is that... tactical?" Kael asked.

"No," I said flatly."It's either drunk on Core... or suffering from system corruption."

I stared into the fog.

"If they really used an old Eidolon bypass module... it's probably overheating already—"

BOOM.

Distant explosion.Mechanical screaming.

"—Yep. Definitely overheating."

[Combat Sequence – Hybrid Encounter]

It emerged from the smoke.

Half-wolf, half-machine.Pipes spewing Core mist from its back.One eye glowing red.And on its chest... a blurred, early-version Eidolon logo.

Kael gasped.

"Dude, is that—?"

"Yeah," I growled."That's my logo.And I hate it on ugly knock-offs."

The thing charged.

Nala intercepted the first strike.Ryn barked quick commands.Kael scrambled behind rubble.I ducked into a side alley and opened my field kit.

"Are you about to activate another illegal weapon?" Kael called out.

"No. I'm filing a formal compensation claim."

"What?!"

"Someone's using my design.That's unauthorized distribution.Royalty fee time."

"We're being attacked!"

"Exactly. That's a damage clause."

[Climax – The Override Pulse]

The fight was brutal—until I activated a hacked drone override system.Pulled from a junked scout bot and repurposed into a Core interference emitter.

I fired it once.

A pulse spread across the battlefield.

The hybrid staggered.

Systems collapsed.Screams went silent.Smoke rose.

It was over.

[Cutaway – Nova Academy Control Room]

Tessan stared at the playback.

"That wasn't defense.That was personal."

Nayra stood beside him, arms behind her back.

"He knows more than he lets on.But the more we pressure him…the more he answers with sarcasm."

"Or invoices."

Nayra allowed herself a tiny smile.

"Keep observing.But don't push too hard.People like him don't like being billed before they send the invoice."

[Location: Dorm Corridor – Post-Mission]

Kael dragged me back toward our dorm.Still buzzing.

"You have to realize what just happened.You saved everyone! You're like... a legendary protagonist now!"

I stopped.

Turned to him.Expression blank.

"Kael.If you say one more word like that…I'm billing you for every unauthorized weapon you broke this week."

Kael raised both hands.

"I'll admire you… quietly."

"Correct response."