The Training Grounds were a sprawling arena of packed dirt and stone, surrounded by high bleachers. In the center stood Commander Valerius, his armor gleaming like a polished mirror.
"The first trial is simple," Valerius's voice boomed, carrying a magical weight that made the weaker students tremble.
"Survival. You will be paired against a Training Automaton. Stay within the circle for three minutes. If you fall, or if you step out, you fail."
I leaned against a wooden pillar, watching the first few students. They were terrified. The Automatons were hulking suits of iron powered by low-grade mana cores. They didn't feel pain, and they didn't tire.
[Notice: Commander Valerius is observing you.]
[Current Perception: He views you as 'Amusing Trash'.]
"Next! Kaelen Voss vs. Automaton Unit-07!"
A ripple of laughter went through the crowd. Chadric, his arm still wrapped in a bandage from our earlier 'encounter,' shouted from the stands, "Hey Voss! Try not to die in the first ten seconds! It'll ruin the floor!"
I stepped into the chalk circle. Across from me, Unit-07 whirred to life, its red eye-sensor locking onto my chest.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The iron beast charged. In my past life, I would have tried to block it head-on and been crushed. Now, I saw every gear turning, every flaw in its ancient programming.
I activated [Shadow-Step], but only partially. I didn't teleport; I just blurred my movement by a few inches.
The Automaton swung a massive iron fist. To the crowd, it looked like I tripped on a loose stone. I fell forward, my face nearly hitting the dirt—but the fist whistled exactly two inches above my head.
"Whoa!" someone shouted. "Did he just slip?"
The machine spun, kicking out with a heavy metal leg. I "stumbled" backward, flailing my arms like a panicked amateur. The kick missed my ribs by a hair's breadth, striking the air with a loud whoosh.
[Notice: Fate Altered. You were destined to be hospitalized today.]
[+50 Karma Points awarded!]
I wasn't just dodging. As I "flailed," my hand brushed against the Automaton's back—right where the copper seal of its mana core was located. I didn't break it. I just loosened a single screw with a flick of my finger.
Two minutes passed. To everyone watching, it looked like the most pathetic fight in history. I was rolling, tripping, and barely escaping certain death by sheer "luck."
On the balcony, Prince Marcus leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. He didn't see a hero; he saw a puzzle.
"Time's almost up!" the instructor yelled.
The Automaton raised both fists for a final, crushing blow. I didn't move. I waited until the last millisecond.
Snap.
The loosened screw finally popped out. The mana core flickered. The Automaton's arms froze mid-air, its red eye fading to gray. It tipped forward, falling flat on its face with a thunderous crash.
I stood there, panting heavily, pretending to be exhausted. I wiped "sweat" from my forehead.
"I... I win?" I asked, looking around with a fake expression of shock.
The arena was silent. Then, a few people started chuckling.
"The luck on this kid," someone muttered. "The machine broke right before it hit him!"
[Notice: Mission Complete!]
[Reward: 200 Karma Points.]
[Bonus: You have successfully deceived a 'Tier-1 Villain' (Valerius).]
[Total Balance: 1,060 KP]
Commander Valerius walked over, staring at the fallen machine and then at me. He looked suspicious, but the [False Aura Mask] did its job. He saw nothing but a weak boy who got lucky.
"Voss... passes," Valerius said, his voice laced with annoyance. "Get out of my sight."
As I walked back to the stands, I caught a glimpse of Lady Seraphina. She wasn't laughing like the others. She was staring at the screw on the ground, then at me.
She knew.