Training (2)
3rd Person Pov
The moment Phantom Mirage activated, something inside Desmond shifted.
A surge of energy coursed through his body, and the world around him slowed.
The AI's movements, once a blur, became sluggish, almost dreamlike.
He could see every detail—the way its body twisted, the micro-adjustments in its stance, the flicker of data running across its metallic skin.
Time itself bent to his perception.
He moved.
No—he danced.
Every step he took felt precise, calculated.
His illusion moved alongside him, a perfect replica, mirroring his every motion.
The AI hesitated, unable to distinguish between the real him and the mirage.
That hesitation was all he needed.
He struck, his fist colliding with its core, and the illusion did the same.
The AI faltered, confused.
Then, with a final blow, it shattered into mist.
[Simulation Complete.]
[+5% Synchronization.]
[Total Synchronization: 22%.]
Desmond exhaled sharply, his heart hammering in his chest.
This ability—it wasn't just an illusion.
It was control.
It was deception at its peak.
And he was just getting started.
Days blurred together.
Fight after fight.
Strike after strike.
Every simulation, every opponent—he adapted, he learned, he evolved.
His body and mind had to evolve together if he was to survive in this world.
He focused on the sensation of his muscles flexing, adjusting, learning new combat techniques.
It felt like training, but everything was sharper, faster.
Every fight pushed him further than the last.
The synchronization climbed steadily.
30%, 50%, 70%.
Each increase refined his abilities, making the system feel less foreign, more like an extension of himself.
With every simulation, he started feeling more at home in his own body, less like an outsider and more like someone with a purpose.
By the time he hit 90%, he had lost count of the fights he had endured.
Each battle had taught him something new, forced him to uncover new aspects of his chips' potential.
Phantom Mirage had evolved in subtle, yet powerful ways.
He no longer just created illusions to confuse and mislead.
Now, he could create multiple illusions, each one shifting unpredictably to disorient his opponent.
It was no longer about hiding himself; it was about overwhelming his enemies with confusion and deception.
But that wasn't the only thing.
The Eclipse Chip had begun to stir.
He could feel it—a growing presence beneath the surface, like the faintest tremor in the ground before an earthquake.
Something deeper was awakening.
Something that had the potential to change everything.
As the days passed and the synchronization continued to climb, Desmond became more aware of his surroundings.
He no longer felt like a pawn in a game.
He was learning how to manipulate the system, how to make it bend to his will.
Then, it happened.
The moment he crossed 100% synchronization, the world froze.
Not just slowed—froze.
Even his own breathing felt suspended in time, as if he was trapped in a moment that could never end.
His mind raced, searching for an explanation, but the answer was right in front of him.
A notification appeared before him, the letters shimmering like liquid gold.
[System Fully Integrated.]
[Desmond Slick—Synchronization: 100%.]
[All System Restrictions Lifted.]
His pulse quickened as the words sank in.
This wasn't just another update.
This was a breakthrough.
A moment of true connection between him and the system.
No longer was the system just a tool—now it was a part of him.
And with that connection came new power.
A sudden pulse ran through his body, deeper than anything he had ever felt before.
His body hummed with raw energy, his senses heightened.
He could feel every cell, every muscle, every thought.
It was as if the world itself was inside him, bending to his will.
He wasn't sure what to expect, but the intensity of the moment made him take a sharp breath.
And then, the stillness shattered.
A wave of force rippled outward from him, distorting the space around him.
The ground beneath his feet cracked and reformed in an instant, as if reality itself had been rewritten.
His vision flickered—no, expanded.
It was like seeing the world for the first time, but with the understanding of a master.
Every fiber of his being resonated with energy, no longer bound by the constraints that once limited him.
The world felt malleable, his own power a raw, untapped force.
[New Ability Unlocked: Phantom Dominion.]
Skill Type: Illusion/Control
Skill Rank: F- (Upgradeable to SS)
Activation: Active
Effect: Creates multiple autonomous illusions that mimic your actions.
Illusions act independently but cannot cause damage.
Desmond inhaled sharply, feeling the weight of those words settle over him.
Phantom Dominion—the evolution of Phantom Mirage.
It was more than he had imagined.
No longer just an illusion, this ability allowed him to control the battlefield entirely.
His illusions were no longer just decoys—they were extensions of himself, capable of mimicking his movements, his strikes, his presence with a near-perfect degree of autonomy.
The implications were staggering.
He clenched his fists, testing the new sensation.
His mind reached outward, and instantly, three identical copies of himself flickered into existence.
They didn't just mirror his stance—they moved independently, adjusting their postures as if they possessed their own thoughts.
They were no longer puppets.
They were extensions of him, with minds that operated in parallel with his own.
This was different.
This was power.
Yet, Desmond wasn't blinded by it.
He knew how power could corrupt, how those who grew too quickly often fell just as fast.
No, he wouldn't be reckless.
He would be deliberate.
Methodical.
The academy was still waiting.
And this was just the beginning.
Desmond exhaled, a slow, measured breath.
His mind swirled with the possibilities.
Then, he stepped forward—and his illusions stepped with him, their movements a mirror of his own.
They weren't just following his lead.
They were him.
And together, they were ready to carve a new path through the world, one calculated move at a time.
This was his moment.
And he was just getting started.