Dave stood inside the AI POD, his eyes widening in awe as the digital landscape morphed and shifted around him. The interior of the POD, once filled with ambient lights, had transformed into a vast, open field surrounded by steep, jagged mountains. The air was thick with tension, and even though it was a simulated environment, Dave could feel the weight of the atmosphere bearing down on him.
"Welcome to your training ground, Dave!" Bella chirped, her voice laced with excitement and a hint of mischief. "This is where you'll be pushed to your absolute limits. The AI POD is set to replicate reality to the most excruciating detail. You'll feel pain, exhaustion, and—"
"Wait, pain?" Dave interrupted, his brow furrowing. "You mean, if I get hurt here, I'll actually feel it?"
Bella giggled softly. "Of course, Dave. How else will you learn? Oh, and one more thing—dying here is perfectly fine! It's just training after all."
"Hold on," Dave stammered, taking a step back. "Dying? You mean I can die here and just… come back?"
"Yup! As many times as it takes," Bella said with a cheerful tone. "Though the pain will be very real, so, you know, try not to die too much."
Dave's mouth hung open in disbelief. "Bella… you do realize that's pretty twisted, right? I don't want to keep dying over and over!"
Bella shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Well, it's the quickest way to toughen you up! No pain, no gain, right?" She then snickered softly. "Come on, Dave, it'll be fun! I promise you'll grow stronger—if you survive."
Dave gulped, a cold sweat forming on his forehead. What have I gotten myself into?
"Now, for your first exercise, I'm creating a perfect clone of you," Bella announced. "It'll be identical in every way—strength, speed, reflexes, abilities. The only difference is that it'll have perfect control over all your current powers and skills."
Dave blinked in confusion. "A clone? Why would I need to fight a clone?"
"Because," Bella said with a wicked smile in her voice, "fighting a stronger version of yourself is the best way to improve. Now, let's get started!"
In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before Dave. It was like looking into a mirror—a flawless copy of himself, standing with a calm yet powerful aura radiating around it. The clone's eyes locked onto Dave's with a cold, calculating gaze, devoid of any emotion.
"This… this is going to suck, isn't it?" Dave muttered under his breath, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"Yup!" Bella replied cheerfully. "Try not to get your head chopped off too early, okay?"
Before Dave could react, his clone lunged forward with blinding speed, delivering a vicious punch to his gut. The impact sent him flying backward, skidding across the ground as pain erupted through his entire body.
"Aargh!" Dave gasped, clutching his stomach as he struggled to get back on his feet. "Bella! What the hell was that?!"
"Oh, just a little taste of what's to come," Bella teased. "You're Rank F right now, Dave. Pretty weak, if I'm being honest. So, every time you get knocked down, you'll gain experience and strength. Your rank will increase gradually as you endure more and more brutal training."
Dave groaned, his vision blurring slightly. "You… you could have at least warned me."
"And ruin the surprise?" Bella chuckled. "Where's the fun in that?"
With a grunt, Dave pushed himself upright, glaring at his clone, who stood motionless, waiting for him to make the next move. He knew he had no choice but to face it head-on, despite the pain.
"Alright, let's do this," Dave growled, determination flaring in his eyes.
He charged at the clone, throwing a series of punches and kicks, but his attacks were effortlessly blocked and countered. Each time he tried to strike, the clone would retaliate with brutal efficiency, landing blow after blow until Dave's vision went dark and he felt his consciousness slipping away.
And then—nothing. The pain vanished, and the world around him faded to black.
When Dave opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in the same spot as before, completely unscathed. He blinked in confusion, looking around frantically. "W-What just happened?"
"You died, Dave," Bella said casually, as if discussing the weather. "Your clone kicked your butt, and your brain couldn't handle the trauma. So, you fainted and… well, died. But it's all good! You're back now."
Dave clenched his fists, his body trembling with a mix of fear and frustration. "That… was horrible."
"But did you notice?" Bella asked, her tone shifting to something more serious. "You're stronger now. Look at your experience bar."
Dave glanced at the small display in the corner of his vision. His experience bar had filled slightly—just a sliver, but it was progress.
"That's from dying?" he asked incredulously.
"Yup! Keep at it, and you'll rank up in no time."
Gritting his teeth, Dave steeled himself for the next round. He knew it was going to be hell, but he also knew that this was the only way to grow. He needed to push past his limits if he ever wanted to stand a chance against the superhuman threats lurking in the world.
"Alright, again!" he shouted, charging at his clone with renewed vigor.
Hours turned into days within the AI POD. Each time he fought, Dave felt himself growing stronger, more agile, and more in tune with his abilities. His initial failures and deaths became less frequent, and he began to adapt to his clone's fighting style. It wasn't long before he managed to land his first solid hit, a punch that sent the clone stumbling backward.
"Good, Dave!" Bella cheered. "You're getting the hang of it. Your experience is skyrocketing!"
But the clone wasn't going to make it easy. It unleashed a barrage of attacks that left Dave gasping for breath, his body bruised and battered. Every time he thought he was close to victory, the clone would overpower him, sending him back to square one.
Still, Dave refused to give up. He poured everything he had into each battle, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. And then, after what felt like an eternity, a notification appeared in his vision.
[Rank Up: F ➔ E]
Dave collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He had done it—he had ranked up for the first time. The surge of power that coursed through his body was exhilarating, and he could feel the difference immediately.
"Congratulations, Dave," Bella said softly, her voice tinged with pride. "You've reached Rank E. You're getting stronger, faster… but this is just the beginning."
"Yeah…" Dave panted, a weary smile spreading across his face. "I'm just getting started."
"But don't get too comfortable," Bella warned playfully. "You've got a long way to go before you can beat that clone of yours. Ready for round two?"
Dave's smile widened, a fierce determination burning in his eyes. "Bring it on."