chapter 27: Class Trial — The Glitch That Saved Everything
POV: Zai
The final bell rang like a gunshot.
School let out and the halls filled, but my focus was laser-sharp. My heart wasn't pounding with fear—nope, this was excitement. The System had been quiet all day, a faint humming at the back of my mind.
Now?
It was alive.
[CLASS MANIFESTATION TRIAL – READY]
User Zai must showcase proficiency in:
– Mii Brawler Style
– Mii Swordfighter Style
– Mii Gunner Style
Master all three to finish class imprint.
Marcus stood waiting for me at the school's back door. Hoodie up. Eyes sharp.
"You ready, Master?"
I nodded. "Let's go."
We took the back way again—down through the Metro tunnel near Minnesota Ave. Past the tracks. Out toward the isolated, vacant expanse of Rock Creek Park where we trained like ghosts.
There, the system took over.
[ACTIVATING CLASS TRIAL STAGE]
Building Arena: Final Destination [Urban Variant]
Enemy: Simulation Target – Multi-Class Adaptive AI
Style One: Brawler – BEGIN.
Round One: Brawler Style
I flexed my fingers and sprinted in. The system auto-loaded the Mii Brawler move set into my muscle memory.
Exploding Side Kick
Soaring Axe Kick
Onslaught Combo
Feint Step Dodge
It was all brute force. Up close and personal, no holds barred.
I slipped in, ducked under a jab, landed a three-hit Onslaught into an Exploding Side Kick that carried the target dummy halfway across the stage.
System AI tried to counter, but I read its move and used Feint Step to slip around back, closing with a good Axe Kick.
[Brawler Test Complete – Proficient]
Round Two: Swordfighter Style
My arms tingled—now a thin digital sword was in my hands, glowing violet and slender. Movement was different. I was faster now, but also smoother.
Gale Slash
Airborne Assault
Blade Counter
Chakram Toss
I fought like a ninja—slashing and weaving, using Gale Slash for space control and Airborne Assault as a falling finisher. I deflected a dummy attack with Blade Counter, and it disappeared in a single burst.
[Swordfighter Test Complete – Proficient]
Round Three: Gunner Style
My arm ignited and became a plasma cannon.
Laser Blaze
Homing Missile
Bomb Drop
Gunner Dash
All movement and zoning here.
I laid down fire from afar, zipped around with Gunner Dash, and baited the AI into straight walking into a Bomb Drop before finishing with a fully charged Laser Blaze to the chest.
[Gunner Test Complete – Proficient]
I exhaled, sweat forming on my brow.
That had been neat.
Marcus stepped with me, voice low.
"You passed all three, Master."
"Yeah," I said, blinking as a new window burst open.
[CALCULATING FINAL CLASS…]
[ANALYZING STYLE EFFICIENCY RATIOS…]
[ERROR – STYLE OVERLAP DETECTED]
[GLITCH DETECTED…]
[OVERRIDE MODE INITIATED.]
"Wait—what?"
My system panel started to spark. Code flashed across my vision in corrupted code.
"Yo, Marcus, what's happening?!"
He stepped back, eyes narrowing. "System's evolving."
Then it did.
A massive wave of digital energy surrounded me. Data twisted. My body hovered an inch above the ground as the interface burst open.
[CLASS UPDATE: COMBINATION CLASS OBTAINED]
You have leveled up Brawler, Swordfighter, and Gunner evenly.
Result: UNLOCKING NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN CLASS…
CLASS TYPE: Mii Vanguard – [Omni Style: BLADE | BRAWL | BLAST]
[Mii Vanguard Description:]
An all-range fighter who can transform mid-battle. Switches weapon modes seamlessly. Can combine and mix traits in combo strings. Unique finisher at Level 12.
This class does not exist. You are the template.
The system stabilized.
The arena faded.
I dropped to a knee, panting—but smiling.
Marcus kneeled down beside me. "You have passed the trial, Master."
I looked at him, smiling in spite of the exhaustion. "You're darn right I did."