Steam hissed in the locker room as the exo pods opened.
Each cadet stepped out, now fully suited in a standard Warden Core Suit, light grey armour that fit tight over the body. It covered everything: legs, torso, arms, and head. Not bulky, just strong where it counted.
Torran twisted his wrist, testing movement. The suit responded smoothly. A faint hum came from the neck unit as it synced with his vitals.
A technician called his name in the sync testing room.
Torran Kaine
He sat in the chair, staying still while cold pads pressed against his chest and arms.
The machine scanned. It beeped once. Numbers flashed.
Then silence.
The technician leaned in.
37 percent?
The assistant beside him blinked. That can't be right
I ran it twice. It's stable
A few cadets nearby turned their heads.
Wait, thirty-seven? From the start?
No one's ever gone beyond twenty.
Inform Commander Rael.
The cadets entered the training dome next. The lights were bright, and the weapon racks gleamed.
Rifles, snipers, daggers, hammers, blades.
Torran walked past all of them.
He stopped at a black katana,
slim, slightly curved, with a core embedded near the hilt.
He picked it up.
It felt sharp in the air. Lighter than it looked.
He tested one shallow swing. The edge hummed softly.
No hesitation. He kept it.
The gate rumbled open.
Three F-Class Colossi stepped out, towering about ten feet each. Their skin looked like cracked stone, and pulsing red cores glowed faintly from their chests.
Initiate combat, the instructor shouted
Most cadets backed away. Some fired immediately, missing wide. Others froze entirely.
Torran moved forward, steady, not rushing.
The first Colossus raised its arms and roared.
Torran shifted into a defensive stance, grip tight. When it swung, he reacted a second too late, and the blow grazed his shoulder. The suit absorbed most of it, but it still jarred him.
His heart jumped. First real hit.
But he held steady.
As the Colossus raised its arms again, Torran stepped in fast and slashed low, cutting through thick leg muscle.
The beast stumbled.
He dashed forward and followed with a precise thrust into the core. The katana hit deep and the Colossus dropped.
The second came in faster.
Torran tried to adjust, but his stance was a little off. He blocked the first strike with his arm guard, stumbled slightly, then recovered.
He gritted his teeth.
This time, he waited for the beast to overcommit, then sidestepped and slashed diagonally across the torso, cutting deep into the core housing.
One more stab, and it went down.
The third was slower, heavier.
Torran moved more carefully this time. He circled behind it, waited for it to turn, and slashed across its back, just below the ribs.
The creature shrieked. Turned wildly.
He dashed in and thrust clean into the core.
Three down.
Then the gate opened again.
An E-Class Colossus stomped into the arena. Fifteen feet tall. Bulkier, plated chest. Its movements were sharper, less sluggish.
Cadets backed away immediately.
Torran hesitated.
Not fear. Just… sizing it up.
The E-Class moved first. It charged, roaring.
Torran braced himself and got clipped in the ribs. The suit absorbed it, but it rattled him.
He exhaled slowly. Sloppy again.
The Colossus raised both fists.
This time, Torran ducked and slashed at its side, sparks flying off the bone plating.
No damage.
He adjusted. Waited.
When the armour shifted for a breath, he slashed once across the weak spot, then drove his blade forward, right into the glowing core.
The light faded. The Colossus collapsed.
The arena fell quiet.
The instructor glanced down at the console. Torran Kaine. Four F-Class kills. One E-Class down. Minor suit damage. Passed.
Cadets watched him walk back to the edge of the arena.
Torran sat near the edge of the arena, helmet off, cooling down. The katana rested beside him, its surface slightly dulled from repeated strikes, but still intact. Like every other cadet and Warden below fifty percent sync, he'd been issued one of the standard core weapons.
Kira walked over and dropped a water pouch beside him. He took it without looking, drinking slowly.
You did alright, she said.
I got clipped twice, Torran said.
She shrugged.
Still finished the job, Most didn't
He nodded, but didn't respond.
Seeing no response from him, Kira continued.
Only wardens who achieve a fifty percent sync get a custom weapon, but you are an exception.
Hearing this, the expression on Torran's face changed for the first time since the tragedy of his parent.
You're surprised, don't be. Your sync rate is too high, and Commander Rael also agreed to it.
The engineers will reach out. You'll be asked to submit a design. One weapon. One form
He stared at the katana for a moment, then he replied.
Same base, a Katana. But it should be able to shift into a rifle or blaster. No second weapon. Just a transformation
Kira raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.
That'll cost them.
He gave a short nod.
Better than carrying two things that only do half the job
She gave the faintest smile before walking off.
Torran leaned back, resting both hands on the bench behind him, waiting for Kira to finish up.