In a more secluded area of the Meland Training Center, Freeta’s shadow stretched far beyond her body as a bevy of crimson stakes emerged from it, piercing the air as they found their moving targets three hundred feet away from her.

Breathless, her shadow shrunk back to its original size as she wiped the sweat littering her brow, the blasted targets evanescing with clangor behind the slabs of a dark-gray rock wall.

She couldn’t help but smack her lips a little as the grassy soil with a faint odor of dung turned into a sanitized immaculate marble floor.

The marvels of augmented reality never failed to astound her, preyed, like everyone else, to their fabricated chimeras.

Nevertheless, she still missed the bull eye in one target of twenty-four, and she’d yet to activate this program’s shifting sands module!

She sighed.

Maybe she’d expected a bit too much of herself since she’s been out of her second therapy session a few hours ago…

But she couldn’t help but be slightly disappointed in herself.

She wants to give in the upcoming tournaments the maximum best of every inch, nook and cranny of her very self.

After all, she was her Trainer’s only Alt so far, so she was his only hope to succeed in such a competitive area where the other Trainers may have more Trainees to throw in the arena.

And deep down … she wanted to thank him for everything he did for her.

The love, care, and affection he showered her brightened her days, so how could she slack in any way, shape or form when everything -in the future—ride on her?

Now she truly realized why her physician told her to exert her body shortly after the injections, since it would reduce the adaptation time the body would require beyond every subsequent session!

Fortunately for her, her extreme hard-working sessions definitely lightened that issue, allowing her to quickly make the most of her heightened abilities!

She could console herself with the data she got from this session.

She estimated that reaching level seven in all her basic abilities allowed her to hit the bull eye in many targets 30 percent faster than before, owing to her increase not only in strength, but stamina as well.

Her reaction time also increased as well, allowing her to pinpoint more accurately where the targets would go next.

In many ways, these targets moved like the trees she fought outside the city, so she naturally tended to act the way they would, and in many cases, she was right, allowing a swift rise in the scope of her training.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Was that why she felt some eyes peering at her back from time to time?

Was her training regimen raising some eyebrows or concerns?

But since no one came to bother her, why would she pay any more attention to them as well?

Taking a twenty minutes short break, she strode towards a green Roland-shaped water fountain, then sat on a nearby sofa to catch her breath, working away the kinks on her legs and neck with a jug of sparkling water at arm’s length.

She guzzled a chuck of water when a cute female Roland stopped before her.

Her emerald hair circled by a navy tiara tumbled evenly across her shoulders above her statuesque frame.

Dangling garnet hoop earrings hid behind her verdant curtain, while a black collar chain contoured her neck, matching the frock covering her body.

Aureate straw sandals graced her dainty feet, above which navy leggings peeked out of her blouse.

With a small smile on her small lips, she asked with a hint of an acute voice, “Miss, may I have a moment of your time?”

Freeta’s gaze met hers, then shrugged. “Please, speak away,” she calmly replied.

The Roland took a deep breath. “I’m talking to you because I was told that an Alturix actually trained for at least more than ten hours daily, and her level was definitely not too shabby given the programs and modules she clears, which I presumed put her overall abilities at level 6. Clearly, this Alturix is working hard for the upcoming singles tournament six cycles from now.’

‘This got me thinking. What if this Alturix and her Trainer aimed not for the Singles Tournament, but the Double one? Despite the increased danger, the prize money would be much bigger, as well as the perks obtained with being the winner of such competition…” she said, her lips curving in a deeper smile.

“I wonder if this talented and hard-working Alturix and her caring Trainer would be interested in teaming up with my Alturixes and I in the upcoming Doubles Tournament two cycles from now?” she asked with a meaningful glint in her eyes.

Her request raised the young Alt crimson eyebrows.

Her first reaction was of surprise.

Pleasant surprise.

Surprised because one of her Alts witnessed her gruesome training—and not all of it since instead of ten, she trained for fifteen hours, breaks included—and fervently praised her for it, looking at this Trainer now standing before her to tell the tale.

Surprised because she nearly deduced her level-which was the case two days ago—with unnerving accuracy, therefore this woman had quite a big brain below her combed hair.

And lastly, surprised that she had the guts -or rather—the humility, since it wasn’t her Alt who came to her but his or her Trainer to request a potential collaboration between her love and her.

Truth be told, she was interested in the challenge itself, since as she said, it would bring more danger but more rewards in the end, however… “I thank this Enlightened Lady for her sincere praise, but I’m sure you’ll understand that this request must be first discussed with my caring Trainer, for I cannot give you any suitable answer at this very moment,” she respectfully replied.

The mysterious Roland nodded. “That is but of course, and what I hoped to hear. Could we then meet here at the same time tomorrow so that I can hear his or her answer by then?”

Freeta smiled and acquiesced. “You will,” she said, then after she sipped another mouthful of water, she added, “I shall see you tomorrow, then.”

“On the morrow, then. Have a good eve-no training!” The Roland said with a small laugh, then left in great strides away from the area under Freeta’s eyes.

The crimson Alt smiled.

Apparently, she was interesting enough to catch a random Trainer’s eye!

Now, she was curious about her Alt.

How do they look like?

How strong were they? At least not far from her, if not she wouldn’t be interesting in partnering up with them.

However, she never revealed that she was her Trainer’s only Alt, while her attitude implied that she had more than one!

But that wouldn’t prevent her from asking her beloved what he thinks about that very appealing proposal!