Kai stood his ground, his hands in half fists, his stance steady. Across the room, Eliana mirrored his focus, her eyes closed as if gathering her thoughts. Both of them were dressed in training clothes—simple and comfortable, offering freedom of movement without hindrance.

The simulation room, aside from its VR capabilities, boasted a holographic projection system that Kai had already experienced once during his visit to Mama Mo. While the Black Swan’s projector was smaller in scale compared to Mama Mo's in Chinatown, its clarity and detail more than made up for it. The projections were so vivid that Kai found it hard to believe everything around him wasn’t real.

The faint sound of running stream filled the air, and the horizon displayed a breathtaking sunrise. Its golden light bathed the room in warm hues, reflecting off Kai’s and Eliana’s faces.

The first rays of sunlight broke through, casting a soft glow that felt warm against their skin. Eliana opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Kai’s. They both bowed respectfully, signaling the start of their sparring session.

Kai shifted his right foot slightly back and propelled himself forward, closing the distance between him and Eliana like a bullet. His sheer raw power made the movement almost instantaneous.

Since their last sparring session, Kai had learned a thing or two. If he focused intently on his opponent, he could begin to see a faint "aura" surrounding them—a skill he suspected was connected to the strange liquid in his body. He still didn’t understand how it worked, but its effectiveness was undeniable.

In his vision, Eliana’s aura shifted to the right, anticipating his attack. As if to confirm his instincts, Eliana moved exactly as he foresaw, sidestepping his charge with fluid precision. Not wasting a second, Kai pivoted on his foot, using his momentum to spin and unleash a powerful elbow strike. It was a move he’d discovered accidentally, one that had helped him win their last sparring match.

But Eliana was no amateur. Her years of martial arts training gave her a clear edge. Expecting the strike, she stepped back gracefully, just out of reach. Then, with a sharp push to Kai’s back, she redirected his momentum, sending him stumbling forward.

Kai lost his balance for a split second but quickly recovered. He planted his feet firmly, stopping himself just before crossing the boundary of the simulation area. Regaining his stance, he looked up to see Eliana smiling at him—a playful, confident grin. She taunted him with a curling motion of her fingers, daring him to come at her again.

Kai didn’t hesitate. He launched forward once more, but this time he stopped just short of her reach. The two began exchanging a flurry of punches and blocks, each testing the other’s speed and precision. Each strike was met with a counter, and their movements were synchronized as if it was a practiced routine.

The "aura" surrounding Eliana shifted, revealing her next move before she executed it.

Straight punch? Blocked.

Left hook? Blocked.

Grapple? Redirected.

Kai’s body adapted to the rhythm, moving in harmony with what the aura foretold. Another grapple attempt appeared imminent, and Kai braced himself to counter. But then, Eliana’s faint smile told him everything—he had misread her. It wasn’t another grapple. It was a straight punch, perfectly timed, slipping through his defenses and hitting its mark with full force.

“Got you,” Eliana murmured, her voice triumphant.

In the fraction of a second before the punch connected, the simulation’s protection system activated, creating a soft cushion that absorbed the force. Kai still felt the blow and stumbled back, his body recoiling from the impact, though the pain was greatly reduced.

The ship’s physical simulation system was impressive, it enabled high-intensity training without injury. Invisible materials generated by the simulator absorbed blows, making the sparring feel real but safe. This "rough play mode" allowed Kai and Eliana to fight as if they were in a real melee. It was the same system Kai had experienced during the heist simulation when his car had collided with oncoming traffic. He’d thought he was going to die, only to feel as if he had crashed into a soft pillow that gently stopped him.

What puzzled Kai now, however, was why his ability had failed. He had clearly seen Eliana’s aura signaling a grapple, yet she had struck with a punch.

"How were you able to hit me?" Kai asked, recovering from the blow.

"I'm not entirely sure," Eliana admitted. "But ever since you told me about the 'aura,' I’ve been thinking about how it might work."

Kai listened carefully, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to understand the nature of his newfound ability.

"Go on," Kai urged.

"I think the liquid inside you—running through your blood—might not be one singular organism. Instead, I think it’s composed of countless nano-machines," Eliana speculated.

"What makes you think it’s nano-machines?" Kai asked.

"Well, first, I don’t think it’s reading my thoughts—that’s just impossible from a scientific perspective," Eliana explained. "Instead, I think it’s picking up subtle clues in my body language though your eyes — tiny movements that indicate what I’m about to do next. When I shifted into the form for a grapple but threw a straight punch instead, it misinterpreted my intention."

"Whoa," Kai said, surprised. "That’s... a lot to think about. You’ve figured out my ability’s weakness. If someone knows how it works, they could manipulate me into making a mistake."

Eliana clapped her hands together, her expression bright. "Exactly! And that’s why I think you need to train with me more. You’ve got an amazing 'tool,' but you lack the foundational instincts and techniques to use it effectively. If you train your natural instincts alongside your ability, I’m sure you’ll be able to defeat any opponent in a hand to hand combat."

Kai smiled, feeling incredibly lucky to have met Eliana. Not only was she an amazing girlfriend who cared deeply for him, but she was also always eager to help him grow and improve.

They shared a quick kiss just as the simulation powered down, the room fading back to its original state. The faint hum of the holographic projectors disappeared, leaving only the soft sound of their breathing. Suddenly, Kai felt a shift beneath his feet.

The shift in gravity caught both Kai and Eliana off guard, and Kai instinctively reached out, steadying Eliana with his hands. The two stood still for a moment, regaining their balance.

Eliana looked into Kai's eyes, her expression a mix of surprise and unease. "What was that?" she asked.

But Kai wasn’t concerned. In fact, his face lit up with excitement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "This must be it," he said. "We’ve finally arrived."

Before Eliana could ask more, Kai grabbed her hand, pulling her along as they ran toward the bridge.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Slow down, Kai! What’s going on?" Eliana demanded, struggling to keep up.

"Come quickly!" Kai called back, not slowing his pace. "You don’t want to miss the view."

The two burst through the doorway of the bridge, and Kai froze in awe. For a moment, words escaped him as he took in the sight before him.

Beyond the viewport, the cosmos churned in a mesmerizing display. The Maelstrom lived up to its name—a swirling anomaly of distorted starlight, warping and twisting in every direction. The stars appeared to dance, their light bending and stretching as gravitational forces and magnetic fields twisted reality itself. Bolts of luminous energy arced across the Maelstrom like lightning, illuminating the vortex in brilliant hues of violet, gold, and crimson. Despite the chaos, there was an undeniable beauty to the storm, like a cosmic ballet on a colossal scale.

At the center of the swirling chaos was a calm, circular expanse. The light there was steady, serene, as if untouched by the surrounding turmoil. It was a stark contrast to the violent energy around it, and it radiated an almost ethereal sense of peace.

Eliana’s breath hitched as she stepped closer to the viewport. "What...what is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kai gestured to the calm center. "That’s the eye of the storm," he explained. "And that’s where the Maelstrom Forge is located."

Eliana turned to Kai, her confusion evident. "Why here? Why go into something like this for an upgrade?"

Commander Grayson stepped forward, his arms crossed as he looked out at the Maelstrom. "It’s because of the magnetic forces and gravitational distortion," he said. "The vortex acts like a massive net, pulling in rare materials from the surrounding space. The Forge uses those materials, along with the near-infinite energy supplied by the Maelstrom itself, to create ships with unmatched build quality and limitless customization possibilities."

Kai added, his voice tinged with admiration, "The Maelstrom Forge is responsible for some of the most advanced ships in the universe. If the Black Swan is being upgraded here, Kevin must’ve spared no expense."

Commander Grayson nodded but offered a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about the cost. Kevin knows exactly what he’s doing. For a mission like this, nothing but the best will do."

The bridge quieted for a moment as everyone stared at the Maelstrom, the enormity of the place sinking in.

Ivan turned from his console, his voice steady. "Commander Grayson, we’re ready to advance into the storm."

Commander Grayson nodded sharply. "Let's move. All hands to stations."

The Black Swan pressed forward into the storm, they will need to go though a small tunnel that wasn't effected by the maelstrom and get to the other side. Needless to say, the tension were high in the bridge.

Kai returned to his seat, glancing at the radar as he strapped in. The chaotic swirl of the Maelstrom’s magnetic field filled his screen, but it wasn’t just the storm that had his attention. Dots began to appear on the radar—first a few, then a steady stream.

Kai frowned. "This can’t be good," he muttered to himself.

Ivan’s voice broke the silence. "We’ve got incoming. Multiple contacts."

Commander Grayson stepped forward, his tone calm yet commanding. "Pirates. All crew, prepare to defend the ship. Teresa, scramble their locks. Robert, Kai, get on the turrets."

Kai didn’t need to be told twice. He unbuckled and rushed to the turret station, his mind already racing. He had trained for this, and while it wasn’t entirely unexpected—he’d read in Ship Head Magazine about pirate activity around the Maelstrom Forge—he hadn’t expected so many attackers at once.

As he slid into the rear turret’s seat, Robert’s voice crackled through the comms. "Kai, rear turret’s all yours. Let’s swat some flies."

"Roger that," Kai replied, gripping the controls. He adjusted his seat and took a steadying breath, scanning the tactical display. His screen showed the source of the growing radar signals: a heavily modified cargo ship.

Kai’s eyes narrowed as he watched the ship’s side panels open, releasing a swarm of drones. They spilled out like insects on a hot summer night, their sleek frames glinting against the distorted light of the Maelstrom.

"Engage the enemies." Commander Grayson said.

Kai’s hands moved instinctively over the turret’s controls, lining up his first shot. The rear-mounted cannon hummed as it charged, the targeting reticle locking onto one of the drones.

The first drone was swift, darting through the Maelstrom’s chaotic backdrop with unnerving precision. But Kai was faster. A burst of rounds streaked from the turret, catching the drone mid-flight. It exploded in a flash, scattering debris into the void.

"One down," Kai said through the comms, his voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Keep it up," Robert chimed in. "We’ve got plenty more where that came from."

Kai’s display lit up as more drones swarmed toward the Black Swan. They zigzagged unpredictably, their patterns designed to confuse turret operators. But Kai focused, his training kicking in. He aimed for clusters, timing his shots to maximize damage.

"Robert, cover my six!" Kai called out as three drones broke away from the main group, circling around to flank.

"Already on it," Robert replied. The ship's top turret fired, shredding two of the drones before they could get into position.

The remaining drone twisted sharply, weaving through the Black Swan’s defensive fire. The drone fired, a continuous beam of mining laser started to cut at the ships hull. Kai adjusted his aim and fired a well-placed burst, obliterating it before it could do any damages.

In the distance, the pirate carrier loomed, its drones continuing to pour out like an endless swarm. Kai glanced at his radar; the dots were multiplying.

"This isn’t good," Kai muttered. "There’s no end to these things."

"Focus on keeping the drones off us," Commander Grayson’s voice cut through the comms. "Ivan, maneuver us closer to the storm’s eye. Teresa, I need you to plot Ivan a safe route."

"Working on it," Teresa replied, her fingers flying across her console. "The interference from the Maelstrom is helping, but it’s like threading a needle in a hurricane."

Kai turned his attention back to the swarm. The Black Swan’s hull growled as a group of drones landed glancing blows, their energy beams rocking the ship. He gritted his teeth and unleashed another volley in desperation.

"How much longer until we’re in the clear?" Kai asked.

Ivan’s voice crackled over the comms. "Almost there, just keep them off the ship."

Kai nodded, his focus unwavering. The drones came faster now, their attacks more coordinated.

The Black Swan was deep in the storm now, surrounded by chaotic swirls of distorted light and bursts of raw energy. The storm’s magnetic field warped reality itself, making it feel like the ship was threading through a living, hostile entity. To Kai’s surprise, the pirate ship had followed them into the anomaly, its audacity both foolish and relentless.

Kai made a split-second decision. He shifted his focus entirely to the pirate ship, deciding to attack the source of their trouble. He aimed his turret at one of its side thrusters and fired controlled bursts. The cargo ship attempted to dodge, but the storm's tight confines left little room for maneuvering.

"Robert, keep the drones off us," Kai said sharply over the comms, trusting his teammate to handle the swarm. He zeroed in on his target, his concentration unwavering.

The two ships raced through the storm’s narrow tunnels, dodging arcs of high-energy bursts that erupted like violent lightning. One bolt struck the Black Swan’s hull, causing the entire ship to lurch violently.

"Hull is taking damage!" Ivan reported urgently from the helm.

Kai gritted his teeth, his heart pounding as the strange liquid in his veins churned, sharpening his focus. His finger squeezed the trigger, unleashing another burst of rounds. The shots found their mark, hitting the pirate ship’s side thruster. The thruster sputtered and went dark.

The pirate ship faltered, its damaged thruster causing it to drift slightly. In the chaotic confines of the Maelstrom, that brief moment of instability was catastrophic. The ship veered off course, dragged by the gravitational pull of the storm.

Kai watched as the pirate ship was consumed by the anomaly. The vessel's hull twisted and distorted, its structure stretching unnaturally as if it were being unraveled thread by thread. Bright flashes of light flickered across its surface, and then, in a final, brilliant burst, the ship disintegrated, vanishing into the storm’s abyss.

The Black Swan emerged from the other end of the Maelstrom, the distortion and chaos giving way to calm, open space. Kai let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his fingers releasing the turret controls. He removed his VR goggles, his body still buzzing with adrenaline.

"That was too close for comfort," Commander Grayson admitted, his voice breaking the silence on the bridge. He straightened his posture, his expression hard but relieved. "But we pulled through, and that’s all that matters.”