Kai swung the car hard to the right, narrowly missing oncoming traffic as Eliana swayed with the violent motion, her grip on the pistol firm.

Behind them, two drones closed in, their under-belly machine guns spitting relentless streams of bullets. The road echoed with the sound of gunfire, metal ricochets, and the roar of the engine.

Kai gritted his teeth, focusing entirely on the road ahead. He had no choice but to trust Eliana to handle the drones. On one side of the road was a sheer mountainside, offering no possibility of escape. On the other, a deadly drop into the raging sea below. The only path forward was a narrow, winding two-lane road that hugged the mountain.

The drones fired again, forcing Kai to jerk the car back into the opposite lane. He downshifted, stepping hard on the gas pedal and threading through the traffic at breakneck speed. The tires screeched in protest, barely clinging to the asphalt as the car weaved dangerously.

Eliana steadied herself, planting her feet against the floor for balance. She took a deep breath, exhaled half of it to steady her aim, and fired two quick shots. The first bullet missed the nearest drone by inches, but the second struck its propeller. The drone spun wildly, sparks flying, before it tumbled out of the sky and exploded in a fiery crash on the road behind them.

The remaining drone, as if enraged by its fallen companion, surged forward, speeding ahead of their car. Kai’s eyes widened in horror as it positioned itself directly in front of them. The road ahead curved sharply to the left, and to make matters worse, a massive truck barreled toward them in the opposite lane, blocking the ideal driving lane of the turn.

Kai swung the steering wheel hard, trying to maneuver the turn, but the tires had lost too much traction. The car skidded violently, the sharp curve and slick asphalt conspiring against them.

There was nowhere to go. No time to think. The crash seemed inevitable.

Kai knew there was no saving the car. The liquid coursing through his body was burning like fire. It had kept them alive this long, but even it couldn’t prevent the inevitable.

Acting on instinct, Kai leaned over and grabbed Eliana. Her upper body was halfway out of the open-top vehicle as she steadied her aim, but he managed to pull her back inside by the waist. The car lurched violently as it went over the edge, kicking up dirt and grass in its wake.

Kai felt the weightlessness of freefall as the car left solid ground, plunging toward the roaring waves below. His legs went numb, and time seemed to slow.

For a fleeting moment, he locked eyes with Eliana. Her gaze was steady, her expression calm despite the chaos around them. Kai’s face betrayed his guilt, an apologetic look etched deeply into his features. But Eliana didn’t blame him. Instead, she smiled—a soft, reassuring smile that told him everything would be okay, no matter what.

And then Kai shouted, “Stop!”

The car froze mid-air, hovering above the crashing waves. The scenery around them flickered and faded, dissolving into the familiar gray walls of the Black Swan’s training room.

Eliana exhaled deeply, taking off her VR headset as Kai removed his own. They stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath.

Eliana turned to him, her cheeks flushed from the intensity of the simulation. She smiled and leaned in, and they shared a brief, tender kiss. Kai couldn’t help but admire her—she looked stunning no matter what she was doing, and moments like these made him realize how much he cherished her presence.

Kai handed her a bottle of water, taking a long gulp from his own. A thin line of water ran down his chin and over his Adam’s apple. Eliana blushed slightly as she watched him, opening her bottle for a few sips of her own.

“Wanna try again?” Eliana asked, her voice playful but determined.

“Of course,” Kai replied, grinning.

Since Kai’s return to the ship, he and Eliana had been running VR simulations daily. Kai didn’t want to risk fainting again from overexertion. The liquid inside him, while a gift, drained his energy quickly, and he needed to learn its limits. If he couldn’t improve his endurance, he would have to find ways to use it sparingly.

Through their sessions, he discovered that the liquid only activated during intense situations, as if it sensed danger. But whenever it did, the aftermath was the same—he’d feel utterly drained and ravenously hungry. Over the last few days, however, he’d noticed progress. His endurance was gradually improving, and the exhaustion came on more slowly than before.

Eliana had been by his side through every session, not just because she loved him and wanted to spend time together, but also to ensure his safety. When Kai pushed himself too far, he often passed out. These periods of unconsciousness only lasted a few seconds or minutes, but it was always comforting for Kai to wake up to Eliana’s warm, smiling face.

Kai adjusted his VR headset and the simulation loaded in almost instantly. The environment shifted around him, bringing him into the middle of a bustling hallway. Eliana stood on the opposite side, dressed in a crisp white shirt and a fitted black suit dress—a perfect disguise for a bank teller. She looked stunning, her hair tied neatly back, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Kai glanced down at his own attire—a matching black suit, though his ensemble included a large bag slung over his shoulder, filled to the brim with cash. The building was already on high alert, the sound of blaring alarms echoing through the hall.

The simulation they were running was called Bank Heist, a fun yet challenging scenario designed by the system. The goal wasn’t just to escape the bank, but also to evade a high-stakes car chase with the local security forces.

Originally, the default setting for this scenario was a grim, industrial planet that Kai found too dull and suffocating. This time, he’d customized it. Inspired by the Earth he’d seen in Mama Mo’s simulation, he crafted a vibrant landscape: clear blue skies and an equally blue ocean, lush grasslands, and winding mountain roads that curved naturally with the terrain. He’d even added old-style manual cars from the asset library—vehicles humans once used. The result was both challenging and beautiful, a perfect backdrop for the time he spent with Eliana.

The two had been playing this all day, this was their fifth attempt. So far, they’d only made it to the car chase before failing, but Kai was determined this time. He glanced at Eliana, who smiled at him with a playful glint in her eye. She was his love—and, for now, his “partner in crime.”

Kai nodded, and Eliana nodded back, her expression serious but full of excitement.

Pushing the door open, the alarms blared louder, filling the air with shrill urgency. Red lights flashed overhead as the building went into lockdown, metal shutters sliding down over windows and exits.

Kai’s body tensed, the familiar warmth of the liquid within him activating. His senses sharpened, and time seemed to slow. He made a quick gesture, signaling Eliana to move forward.

The two advanced with swift steps, their pistols raised. Adrenaline pumped through Kai’s veins, matching the steady rhythm of his heart.

The system controlled the enemy AI with remarkable intelligence, replicating the skill levels of the True Kin elites Kai had faced in Chinatown. These weren’t the average mercenaries; they were just shy of being professional soldiers. The simulated AI gave each enemy a distinct personality and thought process, resulting in unpredictable and dynamic encounters every time they ran the scenario.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

At the far end of the hallway, the door burst open, and two armed guards stormed in, rifles in hands. They were faster this time—already actively pushing Kai and Eliana instead of waiting for them.

Kai and Eliana reacted instantly. Each fired a single, precise shot, and both guards crumpled to the floor before they could even raise their weapons.

“They’re getting faster,” Kai muttered, glancing at Eliana as he passed the fallen guards.

He raised his pistol, aiming toward an upward staircase at the end of the hallway. Meanwhile, Eliana knelt beside one of the guards, quickly searching his pockets and gear. She repeated the process with the second guard, then shook her head at Kai.

“They’re not carrying key cards,” she said, her tone frustrated.

“They had them last time,” Kai said, his brows furrowing.

“Not anymore,” Eliana replied, standing and brushing her hands off.

The system had changed the parameters again, forcing them to adapt. Kai tightened his grip on his pistol, his body on high alert. Every time they thought they had the simulation figured out, it threw another curveball.

“Stay close,” Kai said, his voice steady. Eliana nodded, falling into step beside him as they moved toward the staircase.

They ascended the stairs cautiously, one set at a time. The bank vault was buried several levels below ground for security reasons, and if this attempt was anything like the last, there would be guards along the way.

Kai paused, tilting his head slightly. He could hear the sound of boots above him—one set, two, three. Three guards were heading their way, moving quickly. He raised his hand, placing a finger over his lips to signal Eliana to stay silent. Slowly, he readied his pistol, aiming it upward at an angle. Eliana mirrored his movements, her expression tense but focused.

The first guard appeared at the top of the stairs, his face shifting from surprise to horror the moment he spotted Kai. He moved to raise his rifle, but Kai already had his shot lined up.

Bang.

The shot echoed sharply in the confined space, and the guard staggered backward. Eliana didn’t wait to see if the first guard was fully down. She pushed past Kai, rushing up the stairs to find a better angle. Before the first guard hit the ground, she fired twice in rapid succession.

Bang. Bang.

The second guard dropped, his weapon clattering down the steps.

Two down. One more to go.

Eliana instinctively moved to pursue the remaining guard, but Kai grabbed her arm and pulled her back just in time. Bullets riddled the wall where she’d been standing only moments ago.

“They’re getting better,” Kai muttered. “What worked last time won’t work again.”

Eliana nodded, gripping her pistol tightly, as Kai took a deep breath and steadied himself. The guards weren’t the only ones learning and adapting. Over the last few attempts, Kai had discovered something—something that might give them an edge.

He closed his eyes briefly, letting his focus deepen. When he opened them again, the world around him seemed to dim, and the silhouette of the remaining guard glowed faintly behind the wall.

The guard was there, rifle raised, aiming precisely at the spot where Eliana had last been.

Kai smirked. Without exposing his body, he extended his pistol around the corner, angling it toward the faint outline. The guard noticed the movement and began adjusting his aim, but Kai was faster.

Bang.

The shot struck the guard’s hand, forcing him to drop his rifle. Kai stepped out fully, his pistol trained, and fired again.

Bang.

The guard crumpled to the ground, motionless.

Eliana stared at him in awe, lowering her weapon slightly. “How did you know where to shoot? You didn’t even see him.”

Kai smiled, moving past her to check the fallen guard. “You know the vision I told you about? The one that outlines enemies for me? I think it works through cover now—if I focus.”

He crouched down, searching the guard’s body, and finally there was the keycard. He smiled as he waved the keycard at Eliana.

---

Emily Carter sat in her office, her slender frame poised yet relaxed in the leather chair. Her auburn hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders, catching the light from the nearby window. Her striking green eyes were sharp yet kind, framed by long lashes that gave her an air of both elegance and determination. A soft dusting of freckles adorned her fair skin,her young age contrasted with the weight of the responsibilities she bore.

As the youngest member of the true kin council representing the last remnants of humanity from Earth. Emily carried the heavy burden of her ideals. In her homeland, democracy and freedom were sacred, principles to be upheld at all costs. So it stung deeply when the majority of the council voted against her, choosing to keep the True Kin’s existence hidden from the universe once again.

She sighed, her delicate fingers reaching for the picture frame on her desk. It was an old photo, its once-vivid colors faded over centuries. It depicted her ancestors back on Earth, standing proudly on their farm. She could imagine the crops stretched endlessly, golden under the sun, and in the background stood a red barn, vibrant against a picture-perfect blue sky.

Emily’s gaze lingered on the faces of her forebears, their smiles wide, their spirits unburdened. Her heart ached for what her people had become—scattered among the stars, hiding on remote planets, isolated and forgotten.

One day, she vowed silently, they would no longer live like this. One day, she would help them reclaim the life they deserved.

Her eyes shifted to the flag on the wall of her office. Fifty stars, fifty states—united once to form one of Earth’s most powerful nations. It was a symbol of unity and strength, a reminder of what her people had once achieved.

Her voice was soft but resolute as she whispered, “One day, we will be free again.”

---

Kai’s grip tightened on the wheel as the curve loomed ahead—the same one that had sent them off the cliff last time. He could hear the steady rhythm of Eliana’s gunfire beside him as she targeted the pursuing drones. This time, he was determined to get it right.

Downshifting, he eased off the gas slightly and yanked the handbrake. The car lost grip, its tires squealing as it slid across the pavement. Eliana, startled by the sudden maneuver, quickly sat back in her seat, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Kai, what are you—”

He grinned, a playful, almost childlike amusement lighting up his face. For a brief moment, he let go of the wheel, his foot firmly planted on the gas. The rear tires spun wildly, leaving dark streaks of rubber on the road. Then, with practiced ease, he grabbed the wheel again in the opposite direction of the curve.

The car entered the corner in a flawless drift, its rear bumper skimming the railing they had broken through on their last attempt. The movement was smooth, almost graceful, as the car arced perfectly through the turn. Kai let off the gas just enough to allow the car to stabilize before turning the wheel back to straighten their trajectory.

The drone overshot them, now directly in Eliana’s line of fire. She didn’t hesitate. Raising her pistol, she fired a clean shot. The drone erupted into a brilliant explosion, debris scattering in the sky above them.

Kai and Eliana exchanged exhilarated glances, their hearts pounding from the rush of adrenaline. They’d done it. They had conquered the most difficult part of the simulation, shaken off the security forces, and were now free to go wherever they wanted.

Kai pulled the car off the road, parking it in the shadow of a bridge. The sound of rhythmic waves crashing against the shore filled the air, a soothing contrast to the intensity of the chase. The two sat in silence for a moment, catching their breath, their excitement gradually giving way to something quieter, deeper.

Their eyes locked, the weight of the moment settling between them. Neither seemed in a hurry to leave the simulation just yet.

Kai leaned in first, his movements tentative, as if testing the waters. Eliana smiled softly, closing the distance. Their lips met, and the world around them seemed to fade away. The kiss was warm and tender, filled with the unspoken connection they’d been building for so long. Eliana’s hand rested gently on Kai’s cheek, and he tilted his head, deepening the kiss slightly. Time felt irrelevant, the simulation’s details melting into the background as they shared the moment.

“Eliana…” Kai murmured as they pulled apart briefly, only for Eliana to lean in again, her fingers brushing through his hair.

Their kiss was interrupted by the sudden crackle of a voice. “All crew members, please report to the bridge,” Commander Grayson’s voice echoed through the simulation.

Kai reluctantly pulled away, his face flushed as he met Eliana’s gaze. Neither of them seemed ready to let go.

“This is nice, Eliana,” Kai said softly, his voice a little breathless, his cheeks still tinged with pink.

Eliana smiled, her own face glowing. “Yeah, it is.”

They shared one last lingering glance before getting out of the simulation, their hearts still racing—not from the simulation, but from each other.