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The revelation came during Combat Tactics, delivered by Proctor Varrus with his usual flinty pragmatism. "Rank isn't just a number," he stated, pacing before the assembled students in the training hall. "It dictates resource allocation – training sim time, private tutors, advanced technique access. It determines your worth to the Ascendancy. Stagnation is failure."
He stopped, his gaze sweeping the ranks. "Therefore, the Crucible Proving Fields incorporate the Challenge Protocol. Effective immediately, any cadet may formally challenge another cadet ranked *above* them. The challenged has 24 hours to accept or forfeit their rank. Combat occurs in a designated dueling arena under Proctor supervision. Rules: Non-lethal force. Victory means the challenger assumes the loser's rank. Defeat means... well, you keep your place at the bottom."
A ripple of excitement and tension went through the room. Ambitious eyes gleamed. Anxious whispers spread. Klea remained impassible, but Kael felt the Crucible snap into hyper-alertness. **ANALYSIS: PRIMARY EXP ACQUISITION METHOD IDENTIFIED. HIGH RISK / HIGH REWARD PROTOCOL.**
Varrus continued, "Challenges must be issued publicly via the Academy network. Abuse – spamming challenges, targeting injured opponents – results in demerits and potential disqualification. Choose your battles wisely. Strength without strategy is just noise."
As soon as the class ended, Kael pulled up his status screen privately. The slow trickle of EXP from controlled training and minor exercises was agonizing:
**LEVEL:** 10
**EXP:** 70/1100
**GRADE 2 PROGRESS:** 73% (Stalled)
He needed fights. Real fights. But using Space or Time was impossible. He needed opponents he could beat with *only* Lightning and his enhanced physique, opponents whose defeat would yield significant EXP without revealing his true capabilities. He needed targets ranked higher than 302, but not so high they were untouchable without his hidden powers.
The Academy network buzzed. Challenges flickered onto the public board:
* Rank 198 challenged Rank 175 (Water vs. Earth)
* Rank 150 challenged Rank 132 (Kinetic Armor vs. Sonic)
* Rank 280 challenged Rank 255 (Fire vs. Plant Manipulation)
Kael scanned the rankings above him. Names like "Dirk Flint" (Rank 250, Fire - Aggressive, relies on brute force), "Selene Moss" (Rank 240, Plant Manipulation - Defensive specialist, slow), "Rourke Steel" (Rank 230, Metal Shaping - Solid control, Grade 1 Peak). Beating them with only Lightning would be tough, but possible. The EXP reward... potentially massive compared to drills.
**CALCULATION:** Defeating a Rank 250 opponent estimated to yield **80-100 EXP** based on threat level differential. Significantly faster progression.
Jacob leaned over, scowling at his own rank (215). "Thinking of jumping the queue, Sparky? Careful. Dirk Flint likes to burn first, ask questions never. Seen him melt practice dummies."
Maya fluttered over. "Ooh! Kael's going to climb! Pick someone juicy! But maybe not *too* juicy yet?" Her eyes darted towards the front, where Klea stood observing the challenge board with detached interest.
Kael felt Klea's gaze shift towards him. Not analytical this time. Expectant. Almost... challenging. As if waiting to see if the middling Rank 302 had the nerve to step onto the ladder. The confusing warmth stirred again, mixed with a fierce determination. He wouldn't stay at the bottom. Not for Ember's amusement, not for Klea's enigmatic observations, and not for the slow death of stalled progress.
He focused on the network interface projected from his wristband. He bypassed Dirk Flint (too reckless, potential for uncontrolled escalation) and Selene Moss (too defensive, a long, drawn-out fight). He selected **Rourke Steel (Rank 230 - Metal Shaping)**. Solid, controlled, Grade 1 Peak. A true test of Kael's declared abilities. A win would be believable. The EXP would be substantial.
He tapped "Issue Challenge." A chime echoed in the hall. The challenge appeared on the public board:
**CHALLENGER:** Kael James (Rank 302 - Lightning)
**CHALLENGED:** Rourke Steel (Rank 230 - Metal Shaping)
**STATUS:** Pending (24h to Accept)
A murmur went through the crowd. Rank 302 challenging Rank 230? That was a big jump. Ember barked a laugh. "Look at the gutter rat! Got a death wish, Sparky?" Spark giggled. Brick just cracked his knuckles.
Rourke Steel, a stocky young man with close-cropped brown hair and calm grey eyes, looked up from where he was discussing tactics with another metal-shaper. He saw the challenge, then looked across the hall, his gaze finding Kael. He didn't look angry. He looked... assessing. Calculating. After a moment, he gave a single, firm nod and tapped his own wristband.
**STATUS UPDATE:** **ACCEPTED. Duel: Arena 3. Time: 1400 Hours Tomorrow.**
The die was cast. Kael met Rourke's gaze, then deliberately looked past him to where Klea stood. Her icy blue eyes held his. There was no smile, no frown. Just intense, focused observation. And perhaps, deep within those glacial depths, the faintest spark of... interest? Approval? It was impossible to tell. But it sent another jolt of that confusing warmth through him, quickly channeled into resolve.
"Told you he had guts," Maya whispered loudly to Jacob, who just grunted.
Kael turned away, the Crucible already whirring. **OBJECTIVE UPDATE: PREPARE FOR COMBAT (Rourke Steel - Metal Shaping, Grade 1 Peak). UTILIZE LIGHTNING (GRADE 1) & ENHANCED PHYSICALITY ONLY. TARGET: VICTORY + RANK 230 + EST. 90 EXP.**
He walked towards the training simulators, ignoring Ember's mocking calls. He had 24 hours to refine his control, to push his Lightning to its declared limit, and to strategize how to beat a metal-shaper without revealing the War God's true arsenal. The climb had begun. Rank 302 was about to become history.
**<<< STATUS SNAPSHOT >>>**
**HOST:** Kael James
**LEVEL:** 10
**EXP:** 70/1100
**ENG:** 120/120
**GRADE 2 PROGRESS:** 73% (Stalled)
**RANK:** 302
**ACTIVE CHALLENGE:** **VS. Rourke Steel (Rank 230) - Accepted**
**POTENTIAL REWARD:** Rank 230 + **~90 EXP**
**RISK:** **HIGH** (Revealing Hidden Power / Injury)
**OBSERVERS:**
* **Klea Storm:** **Heightened Scrutiny (Motivation Analyzed?)**
* **Ember's Crew:** **Mocking / Anticipating Failure**
* **Proctor Varrus:** **Monitoring Anomaly Under Stress**
**NEXT:** Intensive Lightning & Evasion Training. Simulate Metal Shaping Threats. Conserve Energy.