Kaiden woke with a start, the faint hum of the training room still filling the air. He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he glanced around. "Guess I really did crash here," he muttered, chuckling to himself.
After stretching and freshening up, Kaiden was already gearing up for the day. His mismatched eyes gleamed with determination as he stared at the console in the training room. Today wasn't going to be like yesterday—today, he was taking on the Level 10 Bot.
His fingers hovered over the activation button, his mind already racing. He knew what this meant: this bot was going to be his toughest opponent yet. The training room's manual had explicitly stated that Level 10 was designed to simulate an elite-tier combatant. That meant near-perfect combat instincts, adaptability, and Flow capabilities.
"I've fought worse," Kaiden muttered, though he didn't quite believe his own words. His body tensed as he pressed the button, the faint hum of machinery growing louder as the bot materialized in front of him.
The Bot Emerges
Standing before him was a hulking figure, its metallic body gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Unlike the lower-level bots, this one wasn't wielding a sword. In its hands was a massive battle axe, the blade crackling faintly with Flow energy. Its stance was low and predatory, like a beast waiting to pounce.
Kaiden took a deep breath, gripping his shortsword tightly. He activated Transparent World, his eyes scanning the bot's structure. It was fast, strong, and clearly designed to be as adaptive as possible.
"Alright," Kaiden muttered, his lips curling into a smirk. "Let's see what you've got."
The First Exchange
The bot wasted no time. It lunged forward with blinding speed, its axe swinging in a wide arc aimed directly at Kaiden's midsection. Kaiden sidestepped, barely avoiding the blade as it whistled past him. The sheer force of the swing created a gust of wind that rattled his hair.
"Fast," Kaiden muttered, his eyes narrowing.
The bot didn't relent. It pivoted on its heel, bringing the axe down in a vertical strike. Kaiden raised his shortsword, using First Form: Ironclad Defense to block the blow. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, and his knees buckled slightly under the pressure.
"Damn," Kaiden hissed, his arms trembling. This thing's strong. Not golden ape strong, but close enough.
The bot pressed forward, its movements relentless. Kaiden was forced to use Second Form: Gale Step, darting around the training room in a series of quick, fluid movements to avoid the bot's strikes.
The Bot Adapts
Kaiden tried to counter with a quick slash, aiming for the bot's exposed side. But to his surprise, the bot twisted mid-attack, its free arm deflecting the blade with a metallic clang.
"What the—?" Kaiden barely had time to react as the bot's axe came swinging around again. He dropped to the ground, rolling out of the way just in time to avoid being cleaved in two.
The bot was learning. Kaiden could see it now—it was analyzing his attack patterns, adjusting its movements to counter him.
"This is going to suck," Kaiden muttered, his breath ragged.
Vanguard's Grip in Action
Kaiden decided to switch tactics. He couldn't rely on speed alone—he needed to use the forms of Vanguard's Grip to keep the bot on its toes.
He lunged forward, activating Third Form: Blade of the Phoenix. His blade glowed faintly as he unleashed a series of rapid, fiery strikes. The bot parried most of them, but Kaiden managed to land a solid hit on its shoulder, leaving a deep gash in the metal.
The bot staggered but quickly recovered, its axe swinging in a brutal upward arc. Kaiden leapt back, channeling his Flow into his legs to create distance.
It's adapting too quickly, Kaiden thought, his mind racing. I've got to switch it up again.
As the bot charged, Kaiden activated Ninth Form: Aegis Rising, using the form's defensive techniques to deflect the bot's powerful strikes. Each parry was precise, redirecting the bot's momentum and leaving small openings for counterattacks. Kaiden took advantage of these moments, landing quick slashes to the bot's joints.
The Turning Point
Despite his efforts, Kaiden could feel his stamina waning. The bot's relentless attacks were taking their toll, and he hadn't even used Flow extensively yet. He knew that if he activated Flow in more than one place, he'd burn through his reserves too quickly.
"Not yet," Kaiden muttered, gritting his teeth. He had to rely on his own skill, not the Flow, to win this fight.
The bot lunged again, its axe carving through the air with deadly precision. Kaiden ducked under the swing, rolling to the side and countering with Seventh Form: Berserker's Fury. His strikes were wild and unpredictable, overwhelming the bot with sheer aggression.
For a moment, it seemed to work. The bot was forced onto the defensive, its movements slightly slower as it recalculated its approach.
The Final Clash
Kaiden's breath came in short gasps as he circled the bot, his mismatched eyes scanning for an opening. He could feel the strain in his muscles, the weight of every movement pressing down on him. But he wasn't done yet.
The bot charged again, its axe glowing with Flow energy. Kaiden activated Transparent World once more, his vision sharpening as he analyzed the bot's movements. He could see it now—the slight delay in its swing, the hesitation in its footwork.
Gotcha, Kaiden thought, a smirk forming on his lips.
As the bot brought its axe down in a massive overhead strike, Kaiden sidestepped and lunged forward, his blade aimed directly at the bot's exposed core. He channeled everything into Tenth Form: Sovereign's Wrath, his sword glowing with raw energy as it struck.
The impact was explosive, sending a shockwave through the training room. The bot staggered, its chestplate shattered, sparks flying from its damaged core.
Kaiden didn't give it a chance to recover. He activated Second Form: Gale Step, darting behind the bot and delivering a final, decisive slash to its back. The bot collapsed to the ground, its body sparking and twitching before finally going still.
Aftermath
Kaiden stood over the defeated bot, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His body was drenched in sweat, his arms trembling from the effort.
"That…" Kaiden muttered, wiping his brow. "That was tough."
He glanced at the remains of the bot, shaking his head. "And here I thought this would be easy. Should've known better."
Despite his exhaustion, Kaiden couldn't help but smile. He'd done it—he'd taken on Level 10 and won. But as he deactivated Transparent World, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much more to learn.
If I can fix the weaknesses in my body, maybe I can do the same for my Flow control, Kaiden thought. But as he tried to channel Flow into his hands while maintaining Transparent World, the technique faltered.
His vision blurred, and Transparent World shut down completely.
"Figures," Kaiden muttered, slumping to the ground. "Still can't handle two at once. Guess that's something else to work on."
Despite the setback, Kaiden's determination burned brighter than ever. He freshened up and returned to the training room, too tired to bother walking to his room.
"This is fine," he muttered, lying down on a bench and closing his eyes. Within moments, he was asleep, the faint hum of the training room lulling him into a deep slumber.
End of Chapter 56
Kaiden's battle against the Level 10 Bot pushes him to his limits, forcing him to rely on skill, strategy, and the forms of Vanguard's Grip. Though victorious, Kaiden knows there's still much to improve as he prepares for the challenges ahead.
To be continued...