BEEP.
BEEP.
BEEP.
Kael groaned, pulling his blanket over his head. His entire body ached — not from any one injury, but from the accumulation of everything: the cliff, the beast, the hike, the nerves.
He cracked one eye open.
His wristband read 04:00.
"...Nope," he muttered, flopping back into the bunk.
"Wake up."
The voice wasn't loud — but it was sharp, like a whisper made of stone.
"Training. Training. Training."
Kael sighed. "Do I have to? You can't make me."
Silence.
Then, with no warning, a bolt of white-hot something jolted through his chest. Not enough to kill — but enough to make him sit up gasping.
"No. I can't make you."
"But I can punish you."
Kael clutched his chest, eyes wide. "What the hell was that?!"
"A Code pulse. Internal override. I don't recommend testing me again."
Kael muttered curses under his breath as he swung his legs off the bed.
"Protocol: Physical Reinforcement. Complete the following…"
• 10 push-ups
• 10 sit-ups
• Run 2 miles
Estimated Matter Yield: +1 | Neural Recovery Boost: +2%
"You're giving me gym class at four in the morning," Kael grumbled as he dropped to the floor.
"You're lucky I didn't start with burpees."
It was painful. Every push-up strained his arms. Every sit-up pulled on bruised ribs. The run through the academy track was worse — cold air burned his lungs, and his legs ached from the previous days.
But he did it.
Ten push-ups. Ten sit-ups. Two miles.
He returned to his dorm soaked in sweat, his breath ragged.
He collapsed back onto the floor.
[Training Routine Complete]
Physical Sync: +1%
Matter Reserve: 35/100
Neural Link Stability: 85%
Kael stared at the text hovering in his vision.
"…This is actually happening."
"Good. You're learning."
"Now. Let's explain how this works."
The interface shifted again, showing a simple diagram — a glowing silhouette of Kael's body, with faint outlines of muscles and nodes, and a small glowing orb in his chest labeled: Matter Core.
"The Nether Code uses your body as a vessel. Every physical gain you make sharpens the system. The stronger you get, the more Matter you can generate."
"Sync works the same. The closer you are to another Gifted's power — especially during moments of stress — the more likely you are to 'resonate' with them. At first, you borrow. Over time, you copy."
"But copying isn't enough. You must shape it."
Kael sat up, still panting.
"So... I don't just steal powers?"
"You don't steal. You evolve. Anyone can mimic. But you, Kael…"
"You overwrite."
The words lingered in the air for a long moment before fading.
Kael rubbed the back of his neck, still catching his breath.
"…Do I get breakfast now?"
"Only if you don't collapse on the way there."
Kael chuckled weakly.
Somehow, he was already starting to feel stronger.