As night fell, the lights of Olympus City twinkled in the distance. Allie followed Ryan out of the banquet hall, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Her long dress swayed gently in the breeze, the moonlight casting a soft glow around her, making her look as beautiful as a fairy under the moon.
Ryan's black car was parked discreetly by the roadside, its body reflecting a faint glow in the darkness. The passenger window was open, and through it, Allie could see Ryan sitting in the driver's seat, his brow slightly furrowed as if deep in thought. He only came back to himself when Allie approached, reaching over to open the passenger door.
"Get in," Ryan's voice was low and calm.
Allie carefully lifted her skirt and gracefully sat in the passenger seat. A faint scent of leather permeated the car, providing a sense of comfort. However, Ryan's expression was serious, completely different from his relaxed demeanor at the banquet. This made Allie feel a bit uneasy.
The car slowly drove into the campus, the sound of tires crunching on the gravel road particularly clear in the quiet night. Allie finally broke the silence, asking softly, "Ryan, where are we going?"
Ryan's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, "You'll know soon enough. It's somewhere on campus."
The car stopped in front of what appeared to be an ordinary teaching building. After getting out, Ryan walked around to Allie's side to open her door. Allie carefully stepped out in her high heels, the heels making a slight sound as they touched the ground. Ryan walked in front, his back straight and his steps determined. They came to the side of the building, where Ryan skillfully opened a hidden door.
Allie followed Ryan inside, her anticipation and nervousness growing stronger. However, when she saw the scene before her, all romantic fantasies instantly vanished.
It was a room as large as a stadium, with a high-tech skating track a hundred meters long stretching out before them. The area was filled with various complex instruments and monitoring equipment. Bright LED lights illuminated the entire space, and several staff members in white uniforms were moving around the venue, adjusting various instruments.
Allie's eyes widened as she curiously looked around, "What is all this?"
Ryan didn't answer directly, instead gesturing for Allie to follow him to a spherical instrument. The sphere's surface was smooth, reflecting a cold metallic sheen, looking like some kind of high-tech equipment.
"Allie, I need to check your physical condition now," Ryan said, "Put your hand on it."
As Ryan activated the device, the sphere suddenly began to spin at high speed, then vanished into thin air, leaving only a mysterious hole in its place. Allie watched this in amazement, involuntarily taking half a step back.
"Into this hole?" Allie asked hesitantly.
Ryan nodded, "Yes, it's an energy field detector. Don't worry, you won't feel anything."
Allie took a deep breath and carefully extended her hand into the hole. For a moment, she felt a warm energy flow through her entire body, but it quickly disappeared. The screen beside them immediately displayed a series of complex data. Although Allie couldn't understand it, she could sense that this data seemed very important.
Next, Ryan turned on a holographic projection device. As he gently pressed a button, a spectacular mountain scene immediately appeared before them. Allie looked at the scene in amazement, with towering peaks and swirling mists, as if they were there.
"This is the Kunlun Mountains," Ryan's voice was low and serious, "You should know about the legends of the Kunlun Mountains, right?"
Allie nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Ryan continued, "A long time ago, a group of mysterious cultivators lived in the Kunlun Mountains. They mastered a unique energy, which we call the 'Kunlun Force'. This power could control nature and even alter reality."
He turned to Allie, his gaze becoming profound, "For some reason, this power has awakened within you. We're not sure of the exact reason, but what's certain is that you now possess an extremely powerful and dangerous ability."
Allie looked down at her hands, finding it hard to believe that such power existed within her. She felt dizzy as if the whole world was spinning.
"But, Allie," Ryan's tone became even more serious, "If this power can't be controlled, it will become a curse. It could harm you, and it could harm those around you. That's why I built this training facility."
Allie looked up at Ryan, her eyes full of questions and fear, "Then... what should I do?"
Ryan's expression softened slightly, "Learn to control it, master it. The path will be difficult, but I believe you can do it. The Kunlun Force chose you, which means you have a special talent."
"Can I master it?" Allie's voice trembled slightly.
"At least let's try together, okay?" Ryan looked at Allie, waiting for her answer.
Allie took a deep breath, looking at the instruments and equipment around her, "Alright, I'll try. I hope this won't be too bad."
Ryan nodded and led Allie to the long skating track. "Allie, you need to complete this training at extreme speed," he explained calmly, "There are multiple stimulation points on the track that will simulate various extreme environments. Your task is to maintain high speed while controlling the energy within you so it doesn't go out of control."
Allie swallowed and nodded in understanding. She changed into training gear and roller skates, standing at the starting point and taking a deep breath. Her heart was racing, her palms slightly sweaty, but her eyes were filled with determination.
"Remember Allie, endure to your utmost limit," Ryan's voice came through the earpiece, as if whispering beside her ear, "If you really can't bear it anymore, tell me, and we can pause at any time."
"Okay, I understand," Allie replied, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"Begin."
At Ryan's command, Allie shot forward at an astonishing speed. Her silver hair streamed behind her, her body maintaining perfect balance. However, barely ten seconds into her run, she felt a bone-chilling cold sweep over her. This segment of the track suddenly dropped to tens of degrees below zero, the cold stinging her exposed skin.
"Maintain your speed, control your energy!" Ryan's voice sounded again.
Allie gritted her teeth, trying to concentrate. She could feel the energy within her surging as if about to break through some barrier. Just then, the environment changed abruptly, from extreme cold to scorching heat.
Sweat instantly soaked through her clothes, her vision blurring from the high temperature. Allie found it difficult to breathe, as if her lungs were on fire. But she dared not slow down, knowing that Ryan was closely observing her every reaction.
"Good, keep it up!" Ryan's voice remained calm.
Suddenly, Allie felt dizzy. She realized this segment of the track was simulating a high-altitude environment, the air becoming thin. The lack of oxygen left her mind blank, her legs starting to lose control.
"Focus, Allie!" Ryan's voice became stern, "You haven't reached your limit yet!"
Allie felt a wave of hurt and anger. She had thought Ryan would care for her, look after her, but reality was so cruel. Tears blurred her vision, but she stubbornly refused to stop.
At that moment, the energy within her suddenly erupted. An invisible force burst from her body, overturning the surrounding equipment. Allie lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground, her entire body shaking.
"Allie, hang on!"
"Allie, maintain your speed!"
Ryan repeatedly urged Allie to persist, but the trials Allie endured became increasingly cruel. Her senses became more and more blurred, followed by suffocation and dizziness. She could no longer distinguish between scorching heat and cold. Allie felt a wave of hurt; she had thought Ryan would care for her, would stop the training, but he didn't. His voice showed no concern at all, as if she were just a machine. Allie numbly and stubbornly refused to let herself stop.
At that moment, the energy within her suddenly erupted. An invisible force burst from her body, overturning the surrounding equipment. Allie lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground, her entire body shaking.
Ryan quickly walked over, his expression serious, "Allie, today's training has just begun. Your energy is still in its initial stage. Can you continue?"
He helped Allie up. Allie looked up at Ryan, her eyes full of pain, seemingly not understanding why she had to endure all this.
Ryan's gaze wavered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "You must learn to control this power, Allie. It's not just about your safety, but everyone's safety."
Allie felt heartbroken. She had once fantasized that Ryan might have special feelings for her, but now it seemed that she might be a dangerous weapon that needed to be controlled in Ryan's eyes. So this was the real reason he became a director of the school.
"I understand," Allie struggled to stand up, her voice full of fatigue and disappointment, "Let's continue."
Ryan nodded and turned towards the control panel. Allie watched his back, feeling an unprecedented sense of loneliness.
The training continued late into the night. When Allie was finally allowed to leave, she was exhausted and aching all over. Ryan's last words echoed in her ears:
"Same time tomorrow, we'll continue."
Allie dragged her tired body back to the dormitory, her heart filled with complex emotions.
Thinking of Fiona's words at the banquet earlier, "Anyway, you won't lose out..."
Allie let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh.