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The day was calm. A rare thing at the unit dorm
Master Liu had told the unit the day before:
"Your soul armors have been awakened. Today, you rest. Your soul needs to breathe."
And so, the training dome was empty, the weapons room locked, and the loud voices of instructors were nowhere to be heard.
It was a day off.
Kira found peace under a tree in the courtyard, her fingers flipping through the pages of an old war novel. Every now and then, she'd chuckle or smirk, fully lost in the story.
Elsewhere, in a small patch of ground they had cleared, Kayden and Devin had drawn white lines with chalk, stacked crates as a net, and declared it their makeshift tennis court.
"You call that a serve?" Devin smirked, flicking his wrist and sending the ball flying past Kayden's head.
Kayden groaned, chasing the ball. "This game was invented by weaklings."
"Says the guy losing 15–0," Devin laughed.
Henry sat nearby, munching on dried fruit. "Hey Kayden," he called. "If you miss another shot, I'll write a poem about your defeat."
Kayden rolled his eyes, then pointed the racket at Henry. "You better not rhyme 'court' with 'short.'"
While the laughter echoed across the court, Elliot sat on the dorm steps, quiet and thoughtful. Zane appeared beside him, sipping from a can of chillwater.
"This place is… different," Zane muttered. "But kinda boring on days like this."
Elliot gave a small nod. "I know what you mean."
Zane stood and stretched. "Let's walk. Clear our heads."
Henry jumped up. "You know I'm tagging along, right?"
The three strolled down the academy's east wing, where fewer students wandered. Their boots made soft crunches on the gravel path. They talked about life so far at the academy—who'd been the strictest instructor, the strangest food from the cafeteria, and who snored the loudest in their dorm (everyone agreed it was Henry).
As they rounded a corner, they noticed a large, tech-heavy building with glowing panels. People were walking in and out—some laughing, some looking dazed, others walking with robotic calm. Over the entrance was a sign:
"Vanguard Nexus: Virtual Combat Hall."
Elliot blinked. "What's this place?"
Zane grinned. "Oh, this? This is where the real fun begins."
He waved his hand toward the building. "It's a VR arena. A virtual reality space developed by the military to connect soldiers from around the world. You go in, link your soul energy, and battle simulations, other players, or training programs."
Henry looked impressed. "So… like a game?"
"A serious one," Zane said. "The best part? No real injuries. But inside, you can use soul skills you can't even perform yet—as long as you can imagine them."
Elliot's eyes widened slightly. "You mean I could try my shadow skills... even though I haven't fully released them?"
Zane nodded. "Exactly. The game matches your simulation strength based on your soul level. The higher your soul, the more creative and powerful you can be."
Henry rubbed his hands together. "Say no more. I'm in."
Elliot looked toward the building one more time, something stirring inside him. "Let's do it."
Inside the Vanguard Nexus, the air buzzed with quiet energy. Screens flickered. Pods lined up in rows, each one like a gateway to another world. A man in uniform sat behind a counter.
"Entry's 10 Credits each," he said without looking up
Credit is the universal currency. Developed by the World Allied Group. One credit, one value, no matter where you're from."
After the payment, the man pointed toward the nearest pod. "Good luck in there."
As Elliot stepped into his pod, the door sealed behind him with a soft hiss.
"Welcome to the nexus, soldier," a smooth voice echoed.
"Please log in to continue."
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