Training (1)

I stared at the screen in front of me.

It flickered, a pale blue glow illuminating my face in the dim room.

[Status Window Detected.]

A second later, a familiar display appeared.

Name: Desmond Slick

Rank: F

-Strength: F-

Dexterity: E

Intelligence: D

Charisma: SS

Endurance: F-

Chip Traits: Phantom Charm, Eclipse Chip System Synchronization: 12%

I exhaled slowly, taking it all in.

My stats were abysmal. Aside from Charisma, I was barely above a commoner.

Dexterity being at E was decent. At least I wasn't completely useless in a fight.

But Strength? Endurance? Pathetic.

The system synchronization caught my attention.

12%.

What did that mean?

The moment I focused on it, new text appeared.

[Synchronization represents the user's compatibility with the system. As it increases, new features will unlock.]

[Next Unlock: Training Grounds at 15%]

Training Grounds.

My heart quickened.

That sounded exactly like what I needed.

If I wanted to survive in this academy, I had to fight.

No, I had to win.

I needed to push my synchronization further.

But how?

I scrolled through the system interface, searching for answers.

[Methods of Synchronization Increase:]

Engaging in combat.

Mastering chip abilities.

Completing system challenges.

Advancing in rank.

Fighting. That was the fastest way.

I took a deep breath.

I needed to trigger that Training Grounds unlock as soon as possible.

"System," I said aloud. "Is there a way to simulate combat right now?"

[Yes.][Temporary Combat Simulation Available.][Launching…]

A sharp pull yanked at my mind.

The world twisted.

Then I was standing in a vast, dark space.

A silver mist swirled around me, the air heavy with tension.

Before me, a figure emerged from the mist.

A humanoid shape, faceless, its body shimmering like liquid metal.

[Opponent Generated: Basic Combat AI.][Difficulty: Beginner.]

I clenched my fists, a nervous energy building in my gut.

I had never been in a real fight before.

At least, not in this body.

The AI moved first.

Fast.

It dashed toward me, a blur of silver streaking through the mist.

Instinct screamed at me to move.

I threw myself to the side.

Too slow.

A solid impact slammed into my ribs.

I hit the ground hard, gasping for air.

Pain flared through my side.

The AI didn't hesitate.

It lunged again, fist arcing toward my face.

I rolled, barely avoiding the strike.

My mind raced.

I needed to focus.

Think.

I wasn't stronger. I wasn't faster.

But I was smarter.

I forced myself to stand.

The AI charged.

This time, I didn't dodge outright.

I waited until the last second.

Then I twisted, letting its own momentum work against it.

It stumbled past me, off balance.

My fist snapped forward, catching it in the side.

A dull impact.

Barely any damage.

But it was something.

I needed a better strategy.

The Phantom Charm chip.

Could I use it?

I focused, trying to will the chip into action.

A faint, tingling sensation ran through my body.

Then I felt it.

A shift.

The AI hesitated.

Only for a second.

But that second was enough.

I moved in, landing another hit.

This time, it staggered.

The chip was working.

Phantom Charm wasn't about raw strength.

It was subtle.

Illusions, distractions, mind games.

I needed to capitalize on that.

I took a step back, breathing hard.

The AI straightened; its movements more cautious now.

It was adapting.

I had to finish this.

I let my body loosen, my stance almost lazy.

An opening.

The AI took the bait, lunging forward.

At the last moment, I sidestepped.

My hand shot out, gripping its arm.

Then I pulled.

Using its own force against it, I sent it sprawling to the ground.

I didn't hesitate.

I slammed my foot down onto its chest.

The AI flickered.

Then it dissolved into mist.

[Simulation Complete.][+2% Synchronization.][Total Synchronization: 14%.]

I doubled over, hands on my knees.

My entire body ached.

But I had done it.

I had fought.

And I had won.

One more fight, and I'd hit 15%.

The Training Grounds would unlock.

I straightened, rolling my shoulders.

Pain still throbbed in my ribs, but it was manageable.

I could do this.

"System," I said, my voice steady. "Run another simulation."

[Confirmed.]

The mist swirled again.

A new opponent stepped forward.

This time, it was different.

Taller. Faster.

Stronger.

[Opponent Generated: Combat AI - Intermediate.][Difficulty: Increased.]

I exhaled slowly.

This wasn't going to be easy.

But I didn't need easy.

I needed to win.

I shifted my stance, muscles coiled.

The AI lunged.

And I moved to meet it.

The fight was brutal.

This AI wasn't like the first. It was faster, more aggressive.

It moved in a blur, each strike calculated to overwhelm me.

I dodged and weaved, using every ounce of energy to stay one step ahead.

I was barely able to keep up.

A blow caught me on the shoulder, sending me staggering backward.

The pain was sharp.

It hurt.

But I couldn't stop.

I had to fight.

I kept moving, kept breathing, focusing on the smallest movements.

I could do this.

I couldn't let this machine break me.

The AI lunged again, but this time, I didn't sidestep.

I ducked low, avoiding its strike, and then—there it was.

A weakness.

I reached for it.

With every ounce of my will, I activated the Phantom Charm.

The air around me shimmered.

The AI hesitated, just for a moment, as if something had shifted.

That moment was enough.

I struck.

My fist connected with the AI's core, and it faltered.

The illusion worked.

It wasn't a direct attack—it was a distraction.

An opening.

I drove my knee into its midsection, forcing it to the ground.

The AI dissolved into mist once again.

[Simulation Complete.][+3% Synchronization.][Total Synchronization: 17%.]

The screen flashed.

[Training Grounds Unlocked.]

[New Ability Unlocked: Phantom Mirage.]

Skill Type: Illusion/ Deception

Skill Rank: F- (Upgradeable)

Activation: Passive

/ Active Effect:

The Mirage is a subtle yet powerful ability that manipulates the perception of your enemies, clouding their senses and creating illusions to confuse and mislead them. At its base, The Mirage enables you to create flickering images of yourself or objects, making it difficult for your opponents to discern what is real and what is an illusion.

Phantom Mirage.

I stared at the new ability description, my breath still ragged.

The Phantom Charm chip had just given me something new.

Phantom Mirage.

It was an illusion-based ability, designed to confuse and disorient opponents.

It would create a perfect replica of me—a decoy that could move and fight, though it couldn't cause real damage.

The perfect tool for my strategy.

I grinned.

Things were starting to look up.

Now, I had a way to fight, a way to win.

And I was just getting started.