The silver energy hummed like a heartbeat around Blade, each pulse synchronized with the Core Heart itself. Floating components spun, merged, and split apart as if alive, reacting instantly to his slightest motion. Holographic conduits stretched across the chamber, twisting into impossible shapes, while tiny fragments of blueprints coalesced into devices that challenged even his imagination.
> "Focus on flow, not just function," Blade said and
His fingers danced over the air, touching holograms that solidified into mechanical forms for mere moments before dissolving back into streams of light. Each construct had to be assembled in perfect timing, aligned with invisible currents of energy, and integrated with circuits that existed only in the Core's matrix.
Jack stepped closer, eyes wide.
> "I… don't think anyone outside of this trial could even comprehend what you're seeing," he said and
Cyberius leaned back against a monolith, watching quietly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
> "He's not just building… he's rewriting the rules of the Core," he said and
Blade felt the challenge intensify. Holographic panels flashed faster, gears spun in multidimensional rotations, and conduits split into multiple strands, each demanding simultaneous attention. A single misstep could reset the trial—or worse, eject him entirely from the Core Heart's simulation.
> [Intermediate Objective: Assemble Autonomous Module – Step 1 Complete]
'The Core wants more than construction. It wants instinct, prediction, and adaptability. If I hesitate, it will punish me,' Blade thought
A surge of silver filaments twisted around him, projecting a translucent sphere filled with hundreds of floating micro-constructs. Each one operated independently, moving in precise patterns, testing Blade's ability to anticipate chain reactions and adjust instantly.
> "Alright… let's see what you're hiding," Blade said and
He reached out with both hands, weaving the energy streams into a lattice that connected all the micro-constructs. Sparks flew, holographic panels shimmered, and for a moment the Core seemed to pause, observing his work.
> [System Analysis: Creativity – Exceptional]
[Efficiency – Adaptive]
[Construct Stability – 96%]
Blade's visor displayed a faint notification:
> [Hidden Class Quest – Machine Monarch: Progress 37%]
The Core Heart pulsed, almost approvingly. Each step now became a dance of anticipation and reaction. Modules rotated, energy fields shifted, and Blade had to move in sync—not with his hands alone, but with his mind and instincts.
Jack finally whispered.
> "I can't believe it… he's building an entire machine in mid-air that… that's alive, almost," he said and
Cyberius only nodded once.
> "Metatron doesn't just follow the Core. He teaches it," he said and
Blade allowed himself a fleeting grin, though his focus never wavered. The hidden class trial wasn't just about skill—it was about becoming something the game had never seen before. Every construct, every reaction, every perfect alignment pushed him closer to the Machine Monarch's awakening.
> [Warning: Advanced Synthesis Challenge Incoming]
[Prepare Adaptive Constructs for Integration]
The Core Heart shimmered, and the next wave of impossible mechanisms began to manifest. Blade exhaled, fingers poised, mind sharp.
> "Let's build a kingdom," he said and
And with that, the real test of the Machine Monarch had begun.