Kai nodded, his eyes locked on the boulder a few feet away. The room was vast, filled with floating rocks of varying sizes, simulating the gravity-defying environments he'd face in the upcoming trials. He took a deep breath, the damp air clinging to his skin as he sprang forward. His muscles screamed with the effort, but he ignored them, his concentration solely on the stone beneath his feet. For a brief moment, he hovered in the air, the world around him a blur of shadows and lights. Then, with a grunt, he landed, his body absorbing the impact as if it were nothing more than a gentle tap.
And again, Kai leaped. His legs burned with fatigue, but he didn't let it show. Each jump grew more precisely, each landing softer. The rhythm of his breathing synced with the beat of his heart, a steady tempo that kept him going. Yet, as he reached the halfway point, a disturbing crackle filled the air. A boulder wobbled precariously, threatening to collapse under the weight of his ambition. He froze mid-air, his mind racing through the potential consequences of failure. One wrong move, and he'd be sent tumbling into the pit of rocky spikes below.
He gritted his teeth, pushing aside his fear and focusing on the power within him. His astral node flared, the energy coursing through his veins like liquid fire. His eyes narrowed as he adjusted his trajectory, aiming for the smallest, most stable spot on the boulder. Time seemed to slow as he approached, and with a silent roar, he landed.
Sweat beads trickled down from Kai's body. He was training very hard, pushing himself against his limits, and was surely almost ready to break when he brought himself to a stop. He took a seat to regain his strength. For the past hour, he had been training his balance, jumping from one boulder to another. The room he trained in suited his requirements since he had no prior training in the aspect of using the skills his astral node offered. If he was to come out triumphant in the upcoming challenges he had to start his preparations now.
"Any new mission?" He asked for his system as the monitor popped before him.
-|NEW MISSION AVAILABLE|-
-|EAT 10KG OF MEAT|-
-|REWARD: 10XP|-
Kai was no doubt hungry, but eating 10kg of meat was surely going to be a challenge for him. He needed the reward to level.
As Kai approached the canteen, the smell of roasting meat filled the air, making his stomach growl like a caged beast. The line of recruits ahead of him was equally ravenous, their eyes glazed over with hunger. He took his place, among the queue that lined up before the vendor that served their meals.
"Can I have 10kg of meat, please," Kai said to the vendor as he stood before her. Her eyes widened, 'What was someone using 10kg of meat to do?' She thought. She was in no position to question the recruits on what they wanted to do with their meals. Kai noticed the vendor's surprise as she weighed his portion. The woman, hardened by years of serving soldiers, paused for a brief moment before she shrugged and piled the meat onto his plate. The sight of such a feast made the other recruits murmur among themselves, their curiosity piqued by his voracious appetite.
Kai began to salivate almost immediately as if his body took control of him, he began to devour the meat before taking a seat. His teeth gritted into the flesh as he tore it apart.
With the mountain of meat before him, Kai took a seat at an empty table. His hands trembled slightly as he picked up his knife and fork, the steel glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights. Each bite was a symphony of flavors, the tender flesh giving way to his teeth with a satisfying tear. The juices coated his tongue, a stark contrast to the dryness of his mouth. He ate with an almost primal fervor, the sounds of his feast echoing through the canteen.
The other recruits couldn't help but watch in amazement, their meals seemingly forgotten. Some whispered about his past, others about his weakness, while a few simply envied his ability to consume such a feast.
The canteen grew quieter as the recruits around them finished their meals. Some left, heading to their dorms for the night, while others lingered, their eyes glued to the screens broadcasting the latest city news. Kai took a sip of water, feeling the coolness wash down his throat, soothing the ache from his ravenous meal.
-|MISSION COMPLETE |-
-|10XP ADDED TO EXP|-
-|EXP: 60/100|-
The morning air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the stuffy, enclosed spaces of the barracks. Kai took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the freshness of dawn. He had been up before the sun rose, a habit ingrained from his days as a street urchin. Now, as a recruit in the STARLITE Academy, the quiet was a rare luxury, and he cherished it. The world felt as if it were holding its breath, unsure of the day's events, much like he was about his own.
He watched the elite recruits from a safe distance, their movements fluid and precise, each movement a silent declaration of power. They were like dancers in a deadly ballet, each step calculated to deliver maximum impact. Kai's eyes narrowed as he studied their techniques, his mind racing to understand the intricacies of their skills. He had to be better than them, not just for survival, but to prove himself worthy of the Academy's esteemed rank.
The next few days at the academy were a blur of exhaustion and pain. Training began before dawn and ended long after the academy had settled into slumber. The instructors pushed them to their limits, seeking to mold them into the finely honed weapons the world needed. Kai threw himself into every drill, and every lesson, driven by the hope of a future where he could be beyond his past.
Days turned into weeks, and the training grew more intense. Kai and his teammates became shadows of their former selves, their muscles strained and their skin etched with the marks of countless battles. Yet, they never lost sight of their goal. They waited for the moment when they would be summoned to the challenge.