The silver walls shimmered and dissolved into a new scene. Before Kain can respond, the chamber shifts. The floor beneath his feet begins to morph, reconfiguring itself into a battlefield. A broken cityscape rises around him, complete with crumbling buildings, shattered streets, and faint echoes of distant sirens. The air thickens with simulated smoke and ash, the setting unnervingly realistic.
Doc? Any idea what’s coming? Kain thinks, clenching his fists as he surveys the space.
Doc’s voice hums in his head, steady but tense. Kid, this isn’t just about hitting harder or moving faster. They’re testing your heart as much as your fists. Stay sharp.
The first wave hits fast. Humanoid constructs—armored and armed with bladed weapons and rifles—emerge from the shadows. Kain’s enhanced senses kick in, the world slowing as he calculates trajectories, movements, and weak points. His muscles coil and release like springs as he moves, darting between enemies with brutal efficiency. His strikes are precise, devastating; every punch shatters armor, every kick sends constructs flying.
He’s in the zone, his infamous speed and strength amplified by the strange, humming power still coursing through him. His body moves like a weapon honed to perfection, each motion deliberate and deadly.
But then the test changes.
Kain found himself standing in the middle of a sprawling, ruined cityscape. Towering skyscrapers jutted into the cloudy sky, their windows shattered. The air was thick with dust, punctuated by the sound of distant cries and the low, ominous hum of something massive approaching. Fires burned in the distance, casting flickering light across the cracked pavement.
The mechanical voice echoed: “Objective: Neutralize the Chimera-class threat. Protect the surviving civilians. Prioritize efficiency and collateral damage control.”
Kain’s eyes narrowed as a deafening roar shook the ground beneath him. From the rubble emerged a colossal creature—half dragon, half mechanical construct, with glowing red eyes and a body plated in obsidian-like armor. Its wings spread wide, sending a gust of hot wind through the streets as it fixed its gaze on Kain.
“Well, that’s new,” Kain muttered, his smirk returning. “Let’s dance.”
The chimera lunged, its massive claws tearing through a nearby building, sending chunks of concrete and glass crashing to the ground. Civilians scattered in every direction, their screams slicing through the chaos. Kain sprinted forward, his movements a blur, weaving through falling debris with a precision that bordered on superhuman.
As he moved, his sharp eyes caught a group of simulated civilians huddled in the ruins of a crumbling structure. A woman crouched protectively over a small child, who clutched her hand tightly, his tear-streaked face etched with terror. From the corner of his vision, Kain noticed the thudding approach of a second threat—a massive war-machine, its hulking frame armed with glowing red eyes and an arsenal of deadly weaponry. The construct’s heavy steps crushed the asphalt beneath it, each step echoing like a countdown to destruction.
Kain froze as chaos erupted around him—the chimera’s claws tore through buildings, debris rained from the sky, and civilians scrambled for safety. In the distance, the massive war-machine advanced steadily, its glowing red eyes locking onto the panicked crowd. The air crackled with tension, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
“Two choices,” Belmont’s voice growled in his mind, cutting through the noise like a blade. “Protect the civilians or take down the threats. But you can’t do both. You know that.”
Kain’s jaw tightened, his eyes darting between the civilians huddled in the rubble and the looming enemies. He clenched his fists, his body coiled like a spring. “I can’t just leave them. You know that.”
“Then what?” Belmont snapped. “You waste time and energy saving them while the war-machine rips through half the city? You can’t fight at your best with half your focus on babysitting.”
“Babysitting?” Doc chimed in, his tone sharp yet playful. “Come on, Belmont. The kid’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s got a hero streak a mile wide. You really think he’s gonna leave them to get turned into ash? That’s not his style.”
Belmont let out a low, disapproving rumble. “This isn’t about style, Doc. It’s about survival. If he screws this up, it’s not just a few civilians—it’s everything.”
Kain’s teeth ground together as the two voices argued in his head.
The simulated civilians’ terror felt palpable, their wide eyes and shaking hands a visceral reminder of what was at stake. A little girl clung to her mother, her tear-streaked face turning toward Kain as if silently pleading for help.
“They’re not real,” Belmont pressed. “This is a test. Focus on the big picture, kid.”
“But he cares, Belmont,” Doc countered, softer now. “That’s what makes him different. That’s what makes him good. You don’t win a fight like this by losing yourself.”
Kain growled under his breath, his heart pounding. “Enough.”
The voices stilled, and for a moment, there was only silence in his mind.
“I’m not leaving them,” he said firmly, his tone low but unshakable. “If that costs me, so be it.”
Without another second of hesitation, Kain bolted toward the civilians. His body blurred with speed as he dodged falling debris and energy blasts from the war-machine. The chimera roared, turning its attention to him, but he was already moving, slipping past its claws with fluid precision.
As Kain reached the group, he slammed his fist into a section of unstable rubble, clearing a path to safety. “Move!” he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. The civilians scrambled to their feet, the mother clutching the child as they stumbled toward shelter.
The war-machine adjusted, its cannons swiveling to target the fleeing group. Kain’s sharp instincts kicked in. He leapt into the line of fire, his body twisting mid-air to deflect an energy blast with a shattered piece of metal he’d grabbed from the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, but he held steady.
“You’re pushing it, kid,” Belmont warned, his voice tinged with reluctant respect.
“Pushing it?” Doc laughed. “He’s just getting warmed up. Watch this.”
Kain’s focus narrowed as the war-machine advanced, its steps shaking the ground beneath him. He turned to the civilians, his voice firm but calm. “Keep going. Don’t stop until you’re out of sight.”
The child hesitated, looking up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. “Are you gonna stop the monster?”
Kain smirked, the adrenaline surging through him sharpening his grin. “That’s the plan, kid.”
The mother pulled her child close, nodding her thanks before disappearing into the ruins. Kain turned back to the chimera and war-machine, both closing in on him. His body coiled like a spring, his muscles burning as he prepared for the fight of his life.
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“Alright, boys,” he muttered, his voice low and steady. “Let’s dance.”
He turned to face the war-machine as it towered over the wreckage, its weapons glowing brighter. The chimera circled behind it, its eyes burning with savage intent, its claws flexing as it prepared to strike. Kain felt the weight of the situation, the odds stacked high against him. But the civilians were behind him now, and failure wasn’t an option.
The war-machine struck first, its cannons firing a barrage of energy blasts. Kain closed the distance in a blink, his body moving faster than its targeting systems could track. He leapt onto its arm, gripping the cannon’s barrel and yanking hard. With a screech of tearing metal, the weapon came free, sparking wildly.
The chimera lunged next, its claws swiping toward Kain’s back. He twisted mid-air, dodging by inches as its strike cleaved through a support beam, sending rubble crashing down. Kain grabbed the severed cannon and swung it like a massive club, smashing it into the chimera’s head. The beast roared, stumbling but undeterred.
The war-machine adapted quickly, its remaining arm shifting into a rotating blade. It swung wide, catching Kain’s side and sending him crashing through another wall. Pain flared, but Kain gritted his teeth and forced himself up.
Doc’s voice rang out. “You’re running on fumes, kid. You’ve gotta dig deeper, or this thing’s gonna bury you.”
“Not happening,” Kain muttered, shaking off the impact.
Something shifted inside Kain, a primal surge of energy rising from deep within his core. It started as a faint hum, vibrating through his bones, but quickly grew into a roaring power that demanded release. His body began to glow faintly, veins of deep, earthen brown light spreading across his skin like living circuitry. The air around him thickened with an almost tangible weight, as though the very atmosphere recognized the transformation taking place.
The power surged, and Kain felt his muscles harden, his frame growing heavier and stronger. The light on his skin solidified, forming sleek, angular plates that covered his body like a second skin. The surface of the armor was textured, almost organic, resembling the thick, ridged pattern of a turtle’s shell. It pulsed with energy, the intricate glowing runes along its surface shifting subtly, as if alive.
Massive, reinforced shoulder plates extended outward, each resembling the overlapping segments of a turtle’s carapace. The chest armor curved into a hardened plastron, its surface lined with flowing, bio-mechanical ridges that glowed faintly with golden energy. His legs and arms were encased in thick, scaled armor, giving him a massive, almost immovable presence.
A helmet materialized, its shape angular yet primal, with a fierce, almost reptilian design. The visor burned with an intense golden light, casting his surroundings in an otherworldly glow. Along his back, thick ridges of armor extended outward like a shell’s spine, shielding him further while exuding raw power.
Doc’s voice broke through the silence, reverent and awestruck. “Full armor mode… but better. Biomass adaptation at its finest. You’re evolving, kid. You’ve become the tank you were meant to be.”
Kain flexed his hands, the thick, clawed gauntlets moving with fluid precision. Despite the armor’s immense weight, he felt faster, stronger, and more indestructible than ever. His body moved with a grace that belied the bulk, every step sending faint tremors through the ground.
The war-machine fired its cannons, a barrage of glowing projectiles streaking toward Kain. this time he didn’t flinch. Instead, he raised his arms, the golden glow of his reinforced armor intensifying. The blasts struck him head-on, but the projectiles dissolved against his carapace-like plating, leaving nothing but faint scorch marks.
The chimera roared, lunging with its claws outstretched. Kain shifted his stance, planting his feet firmly on the ground. As the beast’s claws raked against his armor, they screeched and skidded off harmlessly, unable to penetrate his newfound shell. He retaliated with a brutal backhand, the sheer force sending the chimera sprawling into the rubble.
“You’re unstoppable,” Doc marveled. “This is insane. Belmont, you seeing this?”
Belmont’s tone was approving, but sharp. “Yeah, I see it. But focus, kid. You’re a tank now. Use it.”
The war-machine charged, its bladed arms spinning as it closed the distance. Kain crouched slightly, his glowing shell radiating energy. When the machine lunged, he met it head-on, lowering his shoulder and slamming into it with the force of a battering ram. The impact cracked the street beneath him and sent the massive construct skidding backward.
Kain didn’t give it a chance to recover. He drove forward, his clawed gauntlets ripping through its plating like paper. With a sharp twist, he tore free one of its arms, hurling it aside as the war-machine staggered.
The chimera recovered, leaping toward him with a savage roar. Kain spun sharply, the ridges of his armor glinting as he slammed his armored shoulder into the beast’s chest. The chimera howled, its ribs cracking audibly as it crumpled to the ground.
The war-machine stumbled back, sparks flying from its exposed core. Kain planted his feet, feeling the power surge through his armor as the glowing runes along his shell intensified. He leapt high into the air, the sheer weight of his form creating a shockwave as he descended toward the machine.
With an earth-shaking crash, Kain’s clawed fists drove into the war-machine’s core, shattering it in a brilliant explosion of light and energy. The machine collapsed, its frame lifeless and sparking.
Kain turned to the chimera, which was struggling to stand. He crouched low, then charged with unstoppable force, driving his entire armored frame into the beast. The impact drove it through a nearby wall, and with one final, devastating punch, Kain silenced it for good.
The battlefield fell quiet, the dust settling as Kain stood amidst the wreckage. His armor glowed faintly, the runes along its surface slowly dimming as the energy within him stabilized. He turned toward the civilians, his glowing visor retracting to reveal his calm, steady gaze.
“You’re safe now,” he said, his voice low but firm.
The child who had clung to her mother earlier ran forward, hugging his armored leg tightly.
The little girl clung to Kain’s leg, her wide eyes shimmering with gratitude and awe as she whispered, “You’re like a real-life knight…”
Kain glanced down at her, his turtle-like biomass armor glinting faintly in the dim light, and then turned away awkwardly, unsure how to respond. That’s when Doc’s voice echoed in his head, dry and laced with a hint of warmth.
“A knight, huh? Well, she’s not wrong… You are a knight, kid—a Knight in Grim Armor. Just don’t go thinking you’re some shiny beacon of hope. The armor suits you, though. Matches the mess you’re carrying inside.”
Kain exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he helped the girl to safety. “Thanks, Doc. Always know how to ruin a moment.”
“Ruin? Nah. Just keeping you grounded, Sir Grim. Someone’s gotta make sure your head doesn’t get too big under all that shell.”
Belmont’s tone followed, sharp but steady, like a blade honed by years of hard choices. “Not bad, kid. You kept your head, used your power right, and saved a life. That’s what matters. Don’t let the shine of what you can do blind you to what you should do.”
Kain stood, rolling his shoulders as the helmet began to retract, dissolving into faint wisps of energy that disappeared into his skin. He took a deep breath, his body still thrumming with residual power. “Let’s hope the next wave has more of a challenge.”
Belmont let out a short, dry laugh, shaking his head. “Careful what you wish for. This life doesn’t hand out challenges—it throws disasters. You’re strong, no doubt, but strength without control? That’s just another storm waiting to happen. Stay sharp. You don’t get a second chance to save someone when you slip.”
He paused, giving Kain a measured look, his gaze heavy with unspoken understanding. “You’ve got power now—enough to shake the ground if you’re not careful. But power’s only as good as the one wielding it. And you, Kain… you’re still figuring out where you stand. Keep your focus. The world’s already got enough wreckage.”
The chamber began to shimmer, the battlefield fading back into silver. “Simulation complete. Part One passed.”
Freya’s voice cuts in again, her tone unreadable. “Impressive. But it’s not over.”
Kain smirked, rolling his shoulders as the chamber shifted again and his helmet reforms. “Bring it on.”
The final wave descends—more machines, faster, stronger, more numerous. Kain rises, the glow of his armor intensifying as he faces them. He fights like a force of nature, every motion fluid and devastating. The battle is long, grueling, but in the end, he stands victorious, his armor flickering as the simulation ends.
Kain stares down at the ruined remains of the first part of his trial—the combat zone lies in smoldering pieces around him. His breath comes in ragged gasps as the glow of his newly discovered armor flickers and fades, leaving him drenched in sweat and buzzing with residual energy. The silence that follows is heavy, almost disorienting.
Just as he begins to steady himself, the room around him shifts again. The chamber’s walls ripple, the ruins dissolving into streams of light that reform into something new—a grand, high-ceilinged hall. Rows of floating candles illuminate the space, their flames flickering softly. A heavy desk materializes in the center, and a book—ancient, leather-bound, and covered in shifting runes—rests atop it.