Chapter 12: The Training Secret
The woods were a labyrinth of sound, the rustle of leaves a soft whisper, the snap of a twig a sharp warning, the low chirps of insects a restless hum. Elias knelt in the dirt, his fingers sifting through damp earth, the cool grit clinging to his skin, his breath shallow, tasting of pine and the faint metallic tang of his own sweat. His temples throbbed, the ZACS system's strain a fire behind his eyes, his fingers fidgeting with a small stone, a nervous tic that pulsed with his heartbeat. I'm playing with fire, he thought, his cynical mind calculating survival odds, a memory flashing—his brother, teaching him to track in the woods, the air thick with laughter and trust now lost. Daryl stood nearby, his lean frame taut, his crossbow propped against a tree, his breath smelling of gun oil and sweat, his eyes glinting with gruff patience.
Elias was training Z-002, "Steve," to improve its Perception, a high-risk endeavor hidden under the guise of a hunt. The HUD glowed blue, a new blueprint pulsing, a costly program to make Steve a better scout, a tool for the intel he desperately needed. I need eyes out there, he thought, his heart racing, his fingers relentless on the stone, the tic a drumbeat. He sent a mental command, urging Steve to focus on a deer's scent, the connection a fragile thread, the strain a searing ache in his skull.
[SYSTEM: Train Z-002: Perception. Cost: 200 SP. Balance: 0. Scout ready in 48 hours. Don't get caught, genius.]
The HUD's serious tone was a stark warning, the blue flicker a blade in his thoughts. Elias kept his face neutral, his eyes on the dirt, his fingers sifting, masking his focus on Steve, a hundred feet away, its decayed form a shadow in the pines. Daryl grunted, his voice a low rumble. "Findin' anything, Elias?"
"Yeah," Elias said, his voice breathless, his heart pounding. He stood, brushing dirt from his knees, the motion deliberate. "Proto-herd. Heard… uh, something north." The lie was partial, born of a system warning he'd dismissed to focus on training, a choice driven by long-term survival over immediate threats.
[SYSTEM: Suggestion: Scout herd? 100 SP. Ignoring again? Bold move, saint.]
The HUD's sarcasm was a cold jab, a reminder of the ripple he'd ignored, a herd that could crash over them later. I need Steve ready, he thought, his fingers relentless, a memory of a failed project flashing, the air thick with panic. His emotional override was a fierce need to protect the group, even if it meant risking a larger threat, a choice that burned in his chest.
"Damn," Daryl muttered, his hand tightening on his crossbow, his eyes narrowing. "You got a good ear, Kane."
"It's a talent," Elias said, a nervous laugh escaping, the lie bitter, his heart racing. He trusts my skills, but it's all a lie, he thought, a memory of his brother's proud nod flashing, the air warm with trust he was betraying.
They moved through the woods, the silence between them a steady hum, Daryl's presence a gruff comfort. "My brother," Daryl said suddenly, his voice low, rough, his knuckles white on the crossbow. "Merle. He'd… uh, tell you to shut up. Probably try to fight you."
Elias's heart ached, the vulnerability a rare crack in Daryl's armor, a memory flashing—his own brother, sharing a beer, the air thick with stories. "He's still out there," Daryl said, his voice barely audible, his eyes distant. "Somewhere."
Elias nodded, silent, his hand brushing the stone, a quiet moment of shared loss grounding them. He's like me, he thought, his heart heavy, the tic relentless. They returned to camp, Daryl's hand clapping Elias's shoulder, a firm, wordless gesture of respect, a bond forged in the woods, a hunter's alliance built on lies Elias couldn't confess.
[SYSTEM: Team Synergy: Daryl +10% trust. Hunters align. Keep it up, but don't get cocky.]
The HUD's witty tone was a faint spark, but Elias's heart was heavy, the herd a looming threat, his secrets a growing shadow. I'm readying Steve, but at what cost? he thought, his fingers relentless, the stone warm in his hand, the woods a mirror to his fragile control, the camp's hope a fire he'd stoked but couldn't fully protect.
To supporting Me in Pateron .
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