Ren stood at the entrance to the complex, his heart pounding. The cool evening wind blew through the streets of Paris, but the air felt stifling. It was a strange feeling, as if the entire universe had closed in around him, suffocating him with the immensity of what awaited him.
This complex, located in a wealthy, ultra-modern part of the city, was reserved for elite competitions and training for the best Dashers. The Nexus Shards team was headquartered there, and now he was about to enter.
Secretary: " Hello, welcome! Can I help you? "
Ren: " Hello, I'm here for the tryouts. I was told to come to this address. "
Secretary: " Alright, you've come to the right place. Can I have your name, please? "
Ren: " Of course, it's [Ren Dupont]."
Secretary: " Great, I've found you on the list. The tryouts are in the room at the end of the hallway. Take this hallway on your left. The room is marked with a sign that says "Tryout Room."
Ren: " Okay, thank you very much. "
Secretary: " I'd be happy to help. If you need anything, I'm right here at the front desk. Good luck! "
Ren walked through the automatic doors and down a long hallway. With every step, he felt the pressure build. His gaze turned to the large room through the transparent windows: he saw Dashers training at full speed, launching themselves into the air, bouncing off walls, and fighting over floating crystals. State-of-the-art machines were everywhere, interactive screens and dynamic holograms tracking the athletes' every move.
At the end of the hallway, a door opened to an even larger space: a private training arena. There were no spectators here, only athletes, machines, and trainers. And at the center, in the middle of the stage, was Lyra, the former champion, staring at the screen that displayed a data field. She looked up and watched as Ren entered.
Lyra : "You're finally here,"
she said, her voice calm but forceful. She was larger than Ren had expected. Her gaze, sharp and penetrating, seemed to scrutinize every detail.
Lyra : "So, are you ready to prove that you have what it takes to join the Shards of Nexus?"
Ren nodded. "I'm ready."
Lyra stared at him for a moment, before giving a slight nod.
Lyra : " Good. I saw your performance last night. It was… interesting. But a test is not enough. You will need more than technology to succeed. You will have to prove your mastery of the terrain, of your exoskeleton, and above all, of yourself. Today, we will see what you are worth."
---
The Training Arena Lyra raised an arm, and a series of floating platforms rose a few meters from the ground. They moved, forming an improvised circuit. The floor of the arena was a mixture of smooth and rough surfaces, moving walls and suspension bridges. Ren had the impression that the arena itself wanted to test him.
Lyra : " The rules are simple "
Lyra explained as she moved away to position herself outside the field.
Lyra : " You must retrieve a nexus crystal that will appear in a few seconds, and bring it back to your zone before the time runs out. But there is one small detail: I will prevent you from scoring. And I will not be alone. "
A shiver ran through Ren. He was not used to this kind of competition. Sure, he had seen videos, but being on the field… it was different. Very different. Ren put on his exoskeleton and sighed
Ren: " Let's go, buddy "
A signal sounded, and a floating sphere appeared in the arena, suspended a few meters above the ground. The nexus crystal, bright and vibrating with energy, sparkled. Ren instantly rushed forward, throwing his exoskeleton forward. He felt the energy of the propulsion flow through his body as he leapt, reaching dizzying speeds.
But he had barely taken a few steps when opponents emerged from the shadows. There were two of them. One of them, a tall man with hard features and a determined look, wore an imposing military exoskeleton, while the other, a young, agile woman, seemed as light as a feather, ready to pounce at any moment.
Lyra: " I told you we wouldn't be alone "
Lyra said with a smirk.
Lyra : " They're here to stop you. "
The tall man charged towards Ren, his movements heavy but powerful. He held out a hand towards him, an intimidating gesture, ready to prevent him from reaching the crystal. Ren dodged quickly, propelling himself backwards, jumping higher than he would have thought possible. He had never pushed his exoskeleton this far.
But there was no time to rest on his laurels. The young woman, as fast as lightning, appeared before him. She attacked, her exoskeleton reacting to his every move. She tried to grab his arm, preventing him from grabbing the crystal.
Ren used all his strength to free himself, but he could feel the pressure building. If these two were regular opponents, he had no chance of going far. I have to outwit them, he thought. He concentrated, listening to the vibrations of his exoskeleton. Then, he waited for the right moment.
As the young woman leapt to grab him, Ren propelled himself in the opposite direction, dodging her attack by doing a sideways spin and then leaping to an insane height, crossing the airspace and landing directly under the nexus crystal. In one fluid motion, he grabbed it, and his exoskeleton's engines roared as he leapt back. But he wasn't saved yet.
The big man charged forward again, and this time he grabbed his arm, trying to force him to drop the crystal. Ren felt the pressure. He was losing. But he didn't give up. In a final burst, he used a feature he had added to his exoskeleton, creating a full-force propulsion. The ground beneath his feet buckled, propelling him at breakneck speed.
He freed himself from his opponent's grip and, in one motion, crossed the finish line, bringing the crystal back to his team's zone.
----
The room froze for a moment. Ren panted, his legs shaking with the effort. Lyra stepped forward slowly, her eyes searching his face. She said nothing. Nothing, until a smirk played on her lips.
Lyra: "Well done, you have potential. But you still lack coordination. It's not enough to be fast or powerful. Hyper Dash requires total control of yourself, your body and your environment. I'm going to train you, Ren. You're going to have to push your limits and learn to work with your team. You're not alone anymore"
Ren smiled, exhausted but determined. This time, he wouldn't stop. He was going to give it his all to achieve his dream.
---