The silver filaments wrapped around Blade pulsed like circuits coming to life. Each strand hummed against his skin, not painfully, but with a tangible weight, as if the Core Heart was testing his endurance before it even judged his skill. Floating gears, holographic conduits, and fragments of blueprints spiraled around him, twisting in shapes that made the air vibrate with raw energy. The light reflected off the polished stone floor of the Core Frontier, scattering into fractals that danced across the walls.
> [Job Candidate Detected: Metatron]
[Attributes: Precision, Crafting, Tactical Analysis, Adaptive Reflexes]
[Recommendation: Pending Job Change – Hidden Class]
Jack blinked, voice tight with awe. "Uh… did it just pick you"
Blade didn't answer. He felt the Core measuring him, probing into the depth of his reflexes, his understanding of machinery, and the precision with which he could manipulate objects not yet fully defined by the game system.
The Core Heart pulsed again, sending a network of silver filaments toward him. They wrapped around his arms, chest, and visor, integrating seamlessly with his gear. Streams of data flooded his neural visor: schematics for devices beyond anything he had ever seen in the game, calculations for energy transfer, moving parts, and multi-threaded autonomous systems. It wasn't just a test of skill; it was a test of ingenuity.
> [Core Heart Interface Activated: Personal Trial – Machine Systems]
A translucent panel projected itself in front of Blade. Gears rotated independently, blueprints unfolded and reassembled on their own, and holographic conduits zipped from one end to the other. The Core Heart challenged him to assemble systems he had never imagined, test them in real time, and adapt instantly to sudden changes.
> [Objective: Demonstrate Mastery of Construct Synthesis]
[Time Limit: Undefined]
Cyberius's eyes narrowed as he watched from the side, his stance casual, but his attention sharp. "You've got the spotlight, Metatron. Don't screw it up"
Jack squinted at the floating schematics, muttering under his breath. "It's… alive. But not alive. How is he even thinking this"
'This is more than crafting, it's a test of instinct and creativity. If I fail, I won't just lose—this Core could eject me completely' Blade thought
The Core reacted to him immediately. Tiny fragments of energy twisted into new shapes, forming obstacles that required precise timing, understanding of motion, and flawless assembly. One misaligned gear could have caused a cascading failure, resetting the trial entirely.
> [Pending Class Update: Hidden Class – Machine Monarch]
Blade's visor blinked as he absorbed the Core's endless stream of information. The term "Machine Monarch" glowed faintly in his interface—a class not listed anywhere in public databases. It was hidden, secret, and meant only for him.
Other players trying to identify him would see only:
> [Metatron – Adaptive Engineering Trial Active]
Blade's fingers twitched over the floating components. "Let's see what you want me to build"
The Core pulsed again, sending a wave of silver energy that wrapped around him and integrated with the floating components. The hidden class quest had officially begun.