Kaelen's eyes snapped open in the darkness.
For a moment, he didn't know where he was. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, too white and sterile. Then the faint hum of medical equipment registered, and memory caught up.
Medical bay. The duel. Recovery.
He turned his head slowly, checking the clock on the wall: 12:47 AM. Sunday morning. His body ached, but differently than before. Then he remembered.
The Daily Quest.
His heart sank. He pulled up his System interface with a thought, and the notification was already waiting.
[Daily Quest: Physical Conditioning - MISSED]
Kaelen's jaw tightened. He'd been so focused on the duel, and was currently on recovery, that he'd completely forgotten. The quest had a timer. And he'd let it expire.
But then the next notification appeared.
[Penalty Deferred]
[Adjusted Requirement: Sunday Quest DOUBLED]
[ Requirements:]
100 Push-ups | 100 Pull-ups | 10 Mile Run
Rewards: +30 XP | +1 Stat Point
Penalty for Failure: -10 to all stats for 48 hours (includes deferred Saturday penalty)]
[Time Remaining: 23:13:08]
Kaelen stared at the screen. The System had... adjusted? It hadn't punished him immediately for missing yesterday. Instead, it had acknowledged his situation and deferred the penalty.
That was new.
The System had always felt impersonal. Mechanical. A set of rules and rewards with no room for context. But this felt different. Not conversational, not friendly, but... aware. As if something had considered his circumstances and made a decision.
He closed the interface slowly, unsettled in a way he couldn't quite name. But the message was clear: Sunday's quest would be brutal. Double the requirements. And if he failed, he'd take both penalties at once.
Kaelen lay back down, staring at the dark ceiling. Even though his HP is back at full health, his body was still recovering. One hundred push-ups, one hundred pull-ups, and a ten-mile run would push him hard.
He set an alarm on his wristband for dawn and closed his eyes. Sleep came slowly.
...
Sunday Morning - 5:30 AM
The alarm vibrated against his wrist, pulling him from shallow sleep. Kaelen sat up, testing his body.
The medical staff had cleared him yesterday evening. His HP was full, his passive regeneration had done its work. But there was a difference between healed and recovered.
He dressed in training clothes and slipped out of the medical bay quietly. The academy was still dark, the corridors empty except for the faint glow of night-mode lighting. He made his way to one of the outer training yards, a small isolated space near the perimeter wall. No one would be there this early.
The air was cold, biting against his skin as he stepped onto the gravel surface. The sky above was still dark, stars fading as dawn approached. Kaelen dropped to the ground and started.
Push-ups first.
One. Two. Three.
His arms protested immediately. His muscles were still tender from the fight. But he pushed through, counting steadily.
Twenty. Thirty. Forty.
His breathing grew heavier. Sweat began to bead on his forehead despite the cold.
Fifty.
Halfway. His arms trembled.
Sixty. Seventy.
He gritted his teeth, forcing his body to cooperate. Eighty. Ninety.
The last ten were agony. But he finished.
One hundred.
He collapsed forward, gasping.
[Progress: Push-ups Complete (100/100)]
Kaelen allowed himself thirty seconds of rest, then moved to the pull-up bar embedded in the training structure nearby. He gripped the cold metal and pulled.
One. Two. Three.
Pull-ups were worse. His shoulders screamed, the strain radiating down his back. Every rep felt like it might be the last.
Twenty. Thirty.
His grip started to slip. He paused, hanging, breathing hard, then continued.
Forty. Fifty.
Halfway. His vision blurred at the edges.
"Are you insane?"
Kaelen nearly lost his grip. He dropped from the bar, landing in a crouch, and turned.
Sera stood at the edge of the training yard, arms crossed, her expression caught between disbelief and exasperation.
"You were in the medical bay yesterday," she said flatly. "And now you're out here killing yourself at dawn."
Kaelen wiped sweat from his face. "You won't believe this... but i have a system that grants me quest to grow stronger. It works like a game. "
Sera's eyes narrowed. "You've gone insane because of the fight, haven't you?"
"I knew you won't believe, it's even something i should be sharing. "
She walked closer, studying him. "I will play along for now. How many left?"
"Fifty pull-ups. Ten-mile run."
Sera exhaled slowly, then moved to stand beside the bar. "Then stop wasting time talking. Finish."
Kaelen blinked. "You're staying?"
"Someone needs to scrape you off the ground when you collapse." She gestured toward the bar. "Move."
He grabbed the bar again and pulled.
Sera didn't offer encouragement. She just watched, counting quietly under her breath. But her presence made it easier somehow. Accountability, maybe. Or just stubbornness.
Seventy. Eighty. Ninety.
The last ten took everything he had left. His arms were dead weight, trembling with every pull. But he finished.
One hundred.
He dropped from the bar and fell to his knees, gasping.
[Progress: Pull-ups Complete (100/100)]
Sera handed him a water bottle from seemingly nowhere. "Drink. You've got ten miles left."
Kaelen took it gratefully, drinking in long gulps. His hands shook.
"Ready?" she asked after a minute.
"No."
"Good. Let's go."
They ran together. Sera matched his pace easily, her breathing steady while his grew ragged. The ten-mile route wound through the academy's outer perimeter, a path reserved for endurance training.
By mile three, Kaelen's legs felt like lead.
By mile five, he was running on pure will.
By mile seven, Sera finally spoke. "You don't have to do this, you know. You could rest another day."
"Can't," Kaelen gasped. "Weekly quest requires seven consecutive daily completions. Miss one, and I lose stat points. Maybe a System Level."
Sera was quiet for a moment. "I will just assume, your insanity is what's keeping you strong. "
"That's... fair."
They ran in silence after that. Mile eight. Mile nine. Kaelen's vision tunneled. Every step was mechanical, disconnected from thought. Left foot. Right foot. Breathe.
Repeat.
Mile ten.
The finish point appeared ahead, marked by a glowing perimeter stone. Kaelen crossed it and immediately collapsed onto the grass, his chest heaving.
[Daily Quest Complete: Physical Conditioning]
[Rewards: +30 XP | +1 Stat Point]
[Deferred Penalty Cleared]
[50 Stat Points Available]
He lay there, staring at the sky as dawn broke fully, painting the horizon in shades of orange and gold.
Sera sat beside him, not even winded. "You're insane."
"Suprise me," he managed.
"But also stubborn." She glanced at him. "That's not a bad thing. Just exhausting to watch."
Kaelen laughed weakly. "Thanks. I think."
They sat in silence as the academy began to wake around them. Students appeared in the distance, heading to breakfast, starting their own training routines.
Eventually, Sera stood. "Get some food. Rest. You've got Student Services tomorrow morning."
"Badge pickup," Kaelen said.
"More than that." She looked down at him.
"It's not automatic. They'll test you."
Kaelen frowned. "Test?"
"Reaching the RP threshold makes you eligible. But you still have to earn the rank." She turned to leave, then paused. "Don't worry. After what you did against Jax, a Novice trial will be easy."
She walked away, leaving Kaelen lying in the grass, processing her words.
A trial.
Of course it wouldn't be simple. He closed his eyes and let exhaustion pull him under for a few minutes. Just a few. The rest of Sunday passed in a blur of soreness and sleep.
...
Monday Morning - 9:00 AM - Student Services Building
The Student Services building was located in the academy's administrative wing, a sleek structure of glass and polished stone. Kaelen entered through the main doors, his wristband chiming softly as it registered his appointment.
The interior was sterile. Holographic directories floated near the entrance, directing students to various departments. Kaelen followed the signs toward Rank Advancement Services, taking a lift to the third floor.
The hallway was quiet, lined with closed doors marked with designation codes. He found the right room and stepped inside.
The space was larger than he expected. Not an office, but a preparation chamber. Reinforced walls, observation windows along one side, a sealed door at the far end leading to what he assumed was the trial space itself. And standing in the center of the room, reviewing a holographic display, was Serene.
She looked up as he entered, her expression neutral. "Kaelen Burn. On time."
"Miss Serene," he said, surprised. "You're administering the trial?"
"Fourth-year disciplinary officers are assigned to rank advancement evaluations." She dismissed the display with a gesture. "It's one of our responsibilities."
Kaelen nodded slowly. Of all the people to proctor his trial, Serene felt both reassuring and intimidating. She studied him for a moment, her gray eyes sharp. "You understand what this is?"
"A test," Kaelen said. "To prove I've earned Novice rank."
"Correct." Serene walked closer, hands clasped behind her back. "Many students reach the RP threshold and assume advancement is automatic. It's not. Rank Points measure combat performance and mission success. They demonstrate potential. But the trial proves competence."
She stopped a few feet away.
"Approximately forty percent of students who reach Novice eligibility fail their first trial attempt. They're allowed to retake it, but each failure delays advancement by two weeks minimum."
Kaelen swallowed. "What happens if I refuse the trial?"
"You remain Unranked. You keep your RP, but you don't gain rank privileges until you pass." Serene tilted her head slightly. "But you won't refuse. You didn't fight a Guardian just to stop here."
He met her gaze. "No. I won't."
Something flickered in her expression. Almost approval. "Good." She stepped back, activating the holographic interface again. "The Novice trial is a tactical scenario. You'll enter a simulation designed to test combat ability, aether control, and decision-making under pressure. There are multiple solutions, but only competent execution passes."
"How long do I have?"
"Thirty minutes maximum. Most complete it in fifteen to twenty." She looked at him directly. "You'll be monitored. Use of prohibited techniques results in automatic failure. Fatal mistakes result in ejection and failed status."
Kaelen nodded. "Understood."
Serene was quiet for a moment, then said, "I doubted you'd survive that fight against Jax."
Kaelen blinked, caught off guard by the shift in tone.
"When you refused to yield," she continued, her voice softer but still firm, "when you told me not to stop it... I thought you were being reckless. Suicidal, even." She paused. "But you made a choice knowing the cost. That's rare. Most students panic under pressure. You calculated."
She walked toward the sealed door, pressing her hand to the access panel. It hissed open, revealing a dark corridor beyond. "This trial is nothing compared to what you've already faced," Serene said, glancing back at him. "Show them you belong here."
Kaelen felt something settle in his chest. Confidence, maybe. Or just clarity.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Serene's expression remained neutral, but she inclined her head slightly. "Enter when ready. I'll be observing from the control room." She left through a side door, leaving Kaelen alone.
He took a breath, rolled his shoulders, and stepped into the corridor. The door sealed behind him with a heavy thunk.
Darkness.
Then light.
The simulation materialized around him in layers. First the floor, solid and textured. Then walls, structures, obstacles. Finally, ambient sound: wind, distant machinery, the hum of aether-powered systems.
Kaelen stood in what appeared to be a warehouse district. Crates stacked high, narrow alleys between buildings, elevated walkways overhead. The sky above was artificial, a gray simulation meant to mimic overcast conditions.
A notification chimed from a speaker.
>[TRIAL SCENARIO: RETRIEVAL]
[Objective: Infiltrate the central facility, retrieve the designated package, and extract to the marked exit point.]
[Opposition: Automated defense constructs active. Aether suppression fields in key areas.]
[Time Limit: 30:00]
A glowing waypoint appeared in the distance, marking the central facility. Another waypoint blinked at the opposite end of the zone, the extraction point. Kaelen assessed quickly.
Straight infiltration would be obvious and likely heavily defended. But he didn't need to fight everything. This was a tactical scenario, not pure combat. He activated Chrono-Perception. The world slowed fractionally. He scanned his surroundings with heightened clarity. Guard constructs patrolled in predictable patterns along the main paths. Sensor nodes glowed faintly on corners, marking detection zones.
But the rooftops were less monitored.
Kaelen moved. He used Flash Step to close distance to the nearest building, then scaled the exterior using aether-coated hands for grip. The climb was quick, efficient. At the top, he paused, assessing again.
The central facility was three buildings away. Guard constructs moved below, their patrol routes crossing at intervals. But the gaps were there if he timed it right.
He jumped.
Flash Step carried him across the gap to the next rooftop. He landed silently, rolling to absorb impact, then moved immediately to the far edge.
Another jump. Another rooftop.
Below, a construct paused, its sensors sweeping upward. Kaelen bent downward, laying flat to avoid detection.
The construct moved on. Kaelen exhaled and continued.
He reached the central facility's roof and found an access hatch. Locked, but not heavily reinforced. He coated his hand with aether and carefully manipulated the locking mechanism, using precision rather than force.
The hatch clicked open.
He dropped inside. The interior was dimmer, lit by strips of blue emergency lighting. Kaelen moved through corridors carefully, Spatial Awareness passively tracking movement around him. He sensed two constructs ahead, stationed near what felt like a central chamber.
He couldn't fight both without drawing more attention. Instead, he activated Spatial Warp, distorting the space around himself just enough to create a subtle displacement. He moved past the constructs while their sensors tracked a false position three meters to his left.
They turned, scanning the empty space. Kaelen slipped past and entered the central chamber.
The package sat on a raised platform in the center: a small, sealed container glowing faintly with aether light.
Too easy.
Kaelen scanned the room with Analytical Scan Lv.2
[Pressure Sensors: Active]
[Alarm Threshold: 15kg weight removed from platform]
Of course.
He looked around quickly. The room had crates stacked along the walls, some marked with weight specifications. He found one close to the package's estimated weight and used Aether Manipulation to levitate it carefully.
Control. Precision. Not force.
He floated the crate toward the platform while simultaneously lifting the package with his other hand. The swap had to be perfect. Too fast and the sensors would detect the transition. Too slow and the weight imbalance would trigger the alarm.
He synced the movements, breathing steadily.
The package lifted. The crate descended.
For a heartbeat, both hovered in place.
Then the crate settled onto the platform. The sensors remained green. Kaelen secured the package and turned toward the exit.
Two constructs entered the room. He didn't hesitate. Flash Step carried him past them before they could react. He sprinted down the corridor, took a left, then activated Spatial Warp again to obscure his position as more constructs converged.
Alarms began to sound.
Kaelen burst through a side exit and onto the street. The extraction point glowed in the distance, two hundred meters away. Constructs poured from the buildings around him.
He ran.
Flash Step. Flash Step. Flash Step.
He burned through A.E. rapidly, but speed was survival now. A construct lunged from the side. Kaelen raised a quick aether shield, deflected the strike, and kept moving.
Another construct blocked his path. He used Aether Burst at low output, just enough to stagger it, then vaulted over its collapsing frame.
The extraction point was close. Fifty meters. Thirty. A construct appeared directly in front of him, weapon raised.
Kaelen activated Temporal Drag, slowing its movements just enough. He slid beneath its strike, rolled, and crossed the extraction threshold.
[OBJECTIVE COMPLETE]
[TIME: 14:37]
The simulation froze. The constructs stopped mid-motion. The environment faded into white light. Kaelen stood in the empty chamber, breathing hard, the package still clutched in his hand.
A door opened. Serene stepped through, tablet in hand. She looked at him for a long moment, then at her tablet, then back at him.
"Efficient," she said simply. "No wasted movements. Minimal engagement. You prioritized objective over combat."
Kaelen straightened, still catching his breath. "Is that... good?"
"It's exactly what Novice rank demands."
She made a notation on her tablet. "You demonstrated tactical thinking, resource management, and adaptability. Your aether control was stable throughout."
She walked closer. "You passed."
Relief washed over him, but he kept his expression neutral. "Thank you."
Serene reached into her jacket and pulled out a small case. She opened it, revealing a bronze badge etched with the academy's insignia. She held it out. "Kaelen Burn. By completion of the advancement trial and accumulation of required Rank Points, you are hereby recognized as Novice rank within Veyra Academy's combat system."
Kaelen took the badge carefully. It was heavier than he expected, solid metal with a subtle weight to it.
"Your privileges are now active," Serene continued. "Library access, quest board access, supervised ground leave, and shop discounts. All tied to your wristband and badge verification."
She closed the case. "Don't waste this, Burn."
Kaelen fastened the badge to his uniform, where it clicked into place magnetically. "I won't."
Serene's expression remained neutral, but she nodded once. "Dismissed."
He turned toward the exit, then paused. "Miss Serene?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For everything."
She didn't respond immediately. Then, quietly, "You earned it."
Kaelen left the chamber, the bronze badge gleaming on his chest.
...
Monday Evening - 8:30 PM - Dorm Room
Kaelen collapsed onto his bed, exhausted but satisfied.
The day had been long. After the trial, he'd attended his scheduled classes, endured stares and whispers from other students who noticed the new badge, and fielded questions from Daniel and Lira about how it went.
Now, finally, he was alone.
He pulled up his System interface and navigated to the Shop.
[SHOP - LEVEL 1]
[Currency: 0 SP]
He selected the Abilities category, curiosity pulling him forward despite knowing he couldn't afford anything yet. The list expanded.
[ABILITIES - F RANK]
[Mage Type:]
[Ember Spark] - Cost: 4,000 SP
Generate small flames from fingertips. Basic fire manipulation for combat or utility.
Stock: 1/1
[Frost Touch] - Cost: 4,200 SP
Lower temperature of objects on contact. Can freeze liquids or slow biological processes temporarily.
Stock: 1/1
[Static Charge] - Cost: 3,800 SP
Generate weak electrical discharge from hands. Effective for stunning or disrupting electronics.
Stock: 1/1
[Wind Whisper] - Cost: 3,900 SP
Create minor air currents and small gusts. Useful for misdirection or environmental interaction.
Stock: 1/1
[Enhancer Type:]
[Iron Skin] - Cost: 4,500 SP
Harden skin temporarily, providing minor physical resistance to impacts and cuts.
Stock: 1/1
[Swift Stride] - Cost: 4,300 SP
Increase movement speed by 20% for short bursts (10 seconds). Low stamina cost.
Stock: 1/1
[Keen Edge] - Cost: 4,400 SP
Enhance sharpness of held weapons temporarily. Improved cutting power and penetration.
Stock: 1/1
[Stone Grip] - Cost: 4,100 SP
Massively increase grip strength. Can crush stone or bend metal bars with sustained pressure.
Stock: 1/1
[Mutation Type:]
[Scale Coating] - Cost: 5,000 SP
Grow protective scales on designated skin areas. Provides armor-like defense without full transformation.
Stock: 1/1
[Claw Extension] - Cost: 4,800 SP
Extend fingernails into sharp, retractable claws. Natural weapons for close combat.
Stock: 1/1
[Thermal Vision] - Cost: 5,200 SP
See heat signatures for limited duration (5 minutes). Useful for tracking or detecting hidden enemies.
Stock: 1/1
[Elastic Limbs] - Cost: 4,900 SP
Stretch limbs up to 2 meters temporarily. Increased reach and flexibility in combat.
Stock: 1/1
[Unique Type:]
[LOCKED - Requires Shop Level 3+]
Kaelen scrolled down.
[ABILITIES - E RANK]
[Mage Type:]
[Flame Bolt] - Cost: 8,000 SP
Project concentrated fire projectile. Medium range, high impact. Burns on contact.
Stock: 1/1
[Ice Shield] - Cost: 8,500 SP
Create protective barrier of solid ice. Absorbs physical and some energy attacks before shattering.
Stock: 1/1
[Lightning Jolt] - Cost: 9,000 SP
Release electrical attack with minor paralysis effect. Short range but high stunning potential.
Stock: 1/1
[Gale Force] - Cost: 8,200 SP
Generate strong directional wind blast. Can knock back opponents or deflect projectiles.
Stock: 1/1
[Earth Spike] - Cost: 8,300 SP
Raise stone spike from ground beneath target. Piercing damage and area denial.
Stock: 1/1
[Enhancer Type:]
[Steel Body] - Cost: 9,500 SP
Full body hardening for 30 seconds. Significant defense boost, reduced mobility.
Stock: 1/1
[Burst Speed] - Cost: 9,000 SP
Extreme speed increase for 3 seconds. Allows rapid repositioning or evasion.
Stock: 1/1
[Power Strike] - Cost: 8,800 SP
Channel energy into single attack with doubled strength. High stamina cost.
Stock: 1/1
[Regeneration Pulse] - Cost: 10,000 SP
Accelerated healing for 30 seconds. Closes minor wounds, stabilizes severe injuries.
Stock: 1/1
[Mutation Type:]
[Bone Blade] - Cost: 10,500 SP
Extend sharpened bone from forearm as retractable weapon. Durable natural blade.
Stock: 1/1
[Carapace Shell] - Cost: 11,000 SP
Grow armored exoskeleton sections on torso and limbs. Heavy defense, reduced speed.
Stock: 1/1
[Predator Eyes] - Cost: 10,200 SP
Enhanced vision with night vision and motion tracking. Predatory focus in low light.
Stock: 1/1
[Venom Bite] - Cost: 10,800 SP
Develop venomous fangs with paralytic toxin. Effective for incapacitation in close combat.
Stock: 1/1
[Wing Membrane] - Cost: 12,000 SP
Grow functional wings for gliding. Cannot achieve true flight but allows controlled descent and short glides.
Stock: 1/1
[Unique Type:]
[LOCKED - Requires Shop Level 3+]
[Stock Refresh: 6 days, 2 hours]
Kaelen stared at the prices.
The cheapest F-rank ability was 3,800 SP. He earned 50 SP per weekly quest.
3,800 ÷ 50 = 76 weeks. Over a year. Just for the cheapest ability. E-rank was worse. The cheapest was 8,000 SP.
8,000 ÷ 50 = 160 weeks.
Three years.
And Unique abilities were locked until Shop Level 3, which required System Level 15. He was currently System Level 6.
Kaelen closed the shop and lay back on his bed. The numbers were overwhelming. But they also clarified something: the System wasn't designed for quick progression. It rewarded consistency, patience, long-term commitment. He could grind daily quests for XP and stat points. He could complete weekly quests for SP. He could accept academy missions for RP and credits.
Three separate progression systems, all running parallel.
It was exhausting just thinking about it.
But also... motivating. He looked at the bronze badge sitting on his desk, catching the faint glow of his desk lamp.
Four months ago, he'd been a Null.
Now he was Novice rank. Initiate cultivation.
System Level 6 with a shop full of possibilities. He still had 50 unallocated stat points sitting there, waiting for him to decide how to use them. He still had skills to upgrade, techniques to master, fights ahead of him.
But tonight, he was just tired.
Kaelen set an alarm for tomorrow morning's classes and closed his eyes. Outside, the academy lights dimmed into night mode, casting blue patterns across his window.
Sleep came quickly this time.