The cafeteria was packed.
Soren grabbed something that might've been protein and carbs. Didn't taste it. Just ate mechanically while his body screamed about the last six hours.
His AR display showed 18:30. Thirty minutes until advanced training.
Jake sat across from him looking equally destroyed. "I hate everything."
"Same."
"My legs don't work. Pretty sure they're gone." Jake poked at his food. "How's yours?"
"On fire."
"Great. We're both dead." He managed half a smile. "Advanced training tonight?"
"Yeah. Top ten thing."
"That's gotta be brutal if regular training was this bad."
"Probably worse."
[You're going to die.]
*Thanks for the support.*
[You're welcome. I care deeply about your survival.]
*Liar.*
[Okay fine. I'm mostly curious if you'll embarrass yourself in front of the first-ranked student.]
At 18:55, Soren dragged himself to Training Facility A.
Different building. Bigger. Equipment that looked expensive. Holographic combat projectors hummed along the walls, casting blue light across polished floors.
Nine other students were already there.
Lyra leaned against the wall, looking completely relaxed despite probably training just as hard today. Her black hair was still perfect. Amber predator eyes tracked everyone who walked in.
Zara stood with military posture. Silver eyes cold. Analytical. She was reviewing data on her AR display.
Marcus Webb, third rank, wolf DNA. He looked comfortable. Combat family confidence written all over him.
Six others Soren recognized from assessment but hadn't interacted with much. All ranked between fourth and ninth.
And him. Tenth place. The insect DNA kid everyone was still figuring out.
[Top ten advanced training. Try not to die immediately.]
*That's the plan.*
At exactly 19:00, Instructor Vale walked in.
Wolf DNA. Golden eyes that saw everything. She moved like violence waiting to happen.
"Sit."
Everyone found spots. Soren ended up near the back.
"Advanced training. Twice weekly. Tuesday and Friday nights." Vale pulled up holographic displays showing combat formations. "You're top ten. That means you're either talented, lucky, or both. Neither matters if you die on your first field mission."
She let that sink in.
"This facility teaches coordination. Tactics. Advanced enhancement usage. Things that keep you alive when raw ability isn't enough." Vale walked between them. "Most students wash out of academy because they can't work as a team. You're going to learn or you're going to fail."
The display shifted. Showed team formations with DNA users and reactor heart users mixed together.
"Combat requires balance. DNA users excel at close quarters. Reactor heart users provide ranged support and energy shields. Both are useless without coordination." Vale stopped walking. "Tonight we're running basic two-person drills. I'm pairing you randomly."
She pulled up assignments on the main display.
**Shadowmane / Cross**
Soren's stomach dropped.
[Oh this is going to be entertaining.]
*Shut up.*
[First-ranked student paired with tenth. This isn't random. Vale's testing you.]
*I know.*
Lyra pushed off the wall. Walked over. "Hey beetle boy."
"Hi."
"Ready to learn some stuff?"
"Not really."
She grinned. "Honest answer. I like that."
They moved to the combat zone. Padded floor, obstacles scattered around, holographic projectors in the ceiling.
"Okay here's how this works," Lyra said. She wasn't condescending about it. Just matter-of-fact. "We're gonna fight simulated enemies. You watch my positioning. I'll watch yours. We call out threats. Work as a unit instead of two idiots running around separately."
"Got it."
"Don't try to match my speed. You can't. Use your burst mobility when I create openings." She cracked her neck. "And don't die. That'd be embarrassing for both of us."
"I'll try."
Vale activated the simulation.
Holographic enemies appeared. Wolf-sized. Too many teeth. Eyes glowing red. Three of them materialized at once.
Lyra moved immediately.
No hesitation. Pure instinct. Her panther DNA wasn't just speed—it was precision. She flowed between the first two enemies like water, every strike landing exactly where it needed to.
Soren triggered his enhanced perception.
The world slowed. Green glow edged his vision. He tracked all three enemies, Lyra's position, his own spacing. Information flooded in.
The third enemy broke away from Lyra. Came at him.
He waited. Let it commit to the attack path.
Then burst forward.
Tiger beetle speed. Short sprint. Covered three meters in a heartbeat. He struck from the side while the enemy was mid-lunge.
The hologram flickered. Damage registered.
"Nice timing!" Lyra's voice cut through. She'd already eliminated the first enemy. "But you used full activation. Gonna burn out fast."
She was right. His stamina was already dropping.
Two more enemies spawned.
Then three more.
The simulation ramped up. Testing them.
Lyra kept perfect positioning. She created openings, called out threats, never wasted movement. Combat family training advantage was obvious. This wasn't talent—this was ten years of drilling until it became instinct.
Soren tried to keep up.
His enhanced perception helped track everything but his body couldn't execute as fast as his brain processed. Gap between seeing and doing.
Five minutes in, he was breathing hard.
Lyra looked fine.
"You're burning energy too fast," she said while casually destroying another enemy. "Split your enhancement. Perception only until you need speed."
"Learned that today."
"Good. Use it."
He tried. Triggered just perception, kept his legs relaxed.
It helped. Stamina drain slowed.
The simulation ended at twelve minutes. Vale called time.
"Shadowmane and Cross. Functional coordination." Vale reviewed their performance data. "Shadowmane carried majority of combat load but Cross adapted positioning reasonably well. Stamina management needs significant work."
That was instructor-speak for "you sucked but not completely."
[Twelve minutes. Better than expected.]
*I almost died three times.*
[But you didn't. That's progress.]
Other pairs ran their drills. Zara with Marcus—both moved like machines. Perfect sync. Daniel Park with his sister Emily—sibling coordination made them almost telepathic.
Everyone else was competent. Trained. Skilled.
And Soren was... learning.
By 21:00, when Vale dismissed them, Soren could barely walk.
Lyra caught up to him outside. "Not bad for your first advanced session."
"I got destroyed."
"Yeah, but you kept up for twelve minutes. Most people without foundation don't make it past five." She adjusted her jacket. "That stamina thing's gonna kill you though. Fix it or you won't survive field missions."
"Working on it."
"Good." She started walking. Stopped. Looked back. "You made top ten with zero training. That's actually impressive. But talent only gets you so far. Past this point, it's all work."
Then she left.
[Was that a compliment?]
*Maybe?*
[From the first-ranked student. You're moving up socially.]
*Or she was being nice before crushing me next session.*
[Also possible. She's strategically unpredictable.]
Soren limped back to his dorm.
Jake was already asleep. Smart decision.
His AR pinged. Message.
**Lyra: Good work today beetle boy**
**Lyra: Next session's Friday. Don't skip leg day**
**Soren: Wasn't planning to**
**Lyra: Good**
**Lyra: Also that burst speed timing in the third encounter was clean**
**Lyra: Most people panic and waste it**
**Soren: Thanks**
**Lyra: Don't let it go to your head**
**Lyra: You still got destroyed**
**Soren: I noticed**
She sent a laughing emoji. Conversation ended.
[She's testing you. Seeing if you'll improve or give up.]
*What do you think I'll do?*
[You're too stubborn to quit. It's your best quality and your biggest flaw.]
*Can't tell if that's a compliment.*
[It's observation. You decide how to take it.]
Soren collapsed on his bed. Didn't even take off his training gear. Too tired.
Tomorrow would bring more foundation training. More stance corrections. More getting beaten up while learning basics.
But he'd survived today. Learned more in twelve hours than the previous two weeks.
And he'd worked with Lyra without completely embarrassing himself.
That was progress.
[First day of real training complete. How do you feel?]
*Like I got hit by a truck.*
[That's normal. Enhanced healing will fix most of it by morning.]
*Most?*
[The emotional damage might take longer.]
*You're hilarious.*
[I know. It's part of my charm.]
Sleep took him fast. No dreams. Just darkness and recovery.
Day one was done.
Many more ahead.