Chapter 2: System Awakens
Ethan sat in the corner of the camp, his back pressed against a tree as his mind raced. The jungle had quieted around him, the earlier chaos of the ambush simulation fading into the eerie hum of nocturnal insects. He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers. Nothing seemed different, yet everything had changed.
The Super Soldier System. The name echoed in his mind, and with it came the strange, mechanical voice he'd heard earlier.
"Ethan!" Sergeant Mathers barked, breaking him from his thoughts. "What are you doing, sitting on your ass? Get up and help secure the perimeter!"
"Yes, sir!" Ethan scrambled to his feet, grabbing his rifle. The weight of it felt more manageable than before. It was subtle, but he felt stronger, faster—more capable.
As he took his position near the edge of the camp, he decided to experiment. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the screen that had appeared earlier, the one listing his stats and abilities.
At first, nothing happened, and he started to think he'd imagined the whole thing. But then, a faint flicker of light appeared in his mind, growing clearer until a familiar interface materialized.
---
Name: Ethan Cross
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 3
Speed: 4
Endurance: 2
Intelligence: 5
Abilities:
Basic Combat Reflexes (Passive)
Quests:
Protect your squad during the ambush simulation (Reward: Enhanced Vision Upgrade)
---
Ethan stared at the screen, blinking rapidly. The stats made sense; he'd always been below average in physical abilities, but his intelligence was higher than he'd expected. His eyes lingered on the new quest.
Protect your squad.
The weight of it settled on his shoulders. Even with this system—whatever it was—he wasn't sure he could do it. The cadets in his squad didn't trust him, and some outright hated him.
"Keep your eyes sharp, Cross," came Logan Steele's voice, dripping with condescension. He was patrolling nearby, his confident swagger infuriatingly evident even in the low light. "Try not to screw this up for the rest of us."
Ethan bit back a retort, focusing instead on the screen in his mind. If this system was real, it was his best chance to prove himself.
---
An hour passed, the camp settling into a tense silence. Ethan's muscles ached from holding his position, but his senses felt heightened. Every rustle of leaves, every chirp of insects—it was all sharper, clearer.
And then he felt it.
A subtle shift in the air. The distant crunch of boots against dirt.
He turned, squinting into the darkness. At first, he saw nothing, but then his vision seemed to adjust, as though a lens had snapped into place. Shapes emerged from the shadows—five figures moving silently toward the camp.
Ambush imminent, the system announced in his mind. Engage or alert squad.
Ethan's breath caught. He could feel the adrenaline building, his body tensing as his instincts screamed at him to act.
"Logan," he whispered harshly, motioning to the other cadet. "We've got company."
Logan frowned, stepping closer. "What are you talking about?"
"There." Ethan pointed, keeping his voice low. "Five, maybe six. Coming from the south."
Logan squinted, his expression skeptical. "How do you—"
The crack of a rifle cut him off. The camp erupted into chaos as the enemy soldiers opened fire.
"Ambush!" Logan shouted, diving for cover.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He rolled behind a tree, his rifle clutched tightly in his hands. The system's screen flashed again.
Quest updated: Neutralize enemy forces. Time remaining: 15 minutes.
A part of him wanted to laugh. Neutralize? He could barely pass his combat drills. But as the first enemy soldier broke through the treeline, something clicked.
Ethan's body moved on its own, his rifle snapping up to his shoulder. His vision locked onto the target, his breathing steadying as though he'd done this a hundred times before.
Basic Combat Reflexes activated.
The shot was clean, the soldier dropping before he even realized Ethan was there.
"What the—" Logan's voice rang out from behind a rock. "Did Cross just—"
Another soldier appeared, and Ethan shifted his aim, firing before they could react. The system buzzed in his mind, filling him with a strange sense of clarity. He felt unstoppable, each movement precise and efficient.
"Push them back!" Sergeant Mathers barked, rallying the squad.
Ethan didn't wait for orders. He sprinted to a better position, weaving through the chaos with a speed and confidence that felt completely foreign. The system's voice guided him, subtle but clear.
Enemy at two o'clock. Adjust aim. Fire.
He followed the instructions without question, each shot finding its mark. The remaining cadets watched in stunned silence, too busy holding their own positions to process what they were seeing.
By the time the last enemy soldier fell, the camp was littered with the evidence of their brief but intense battle. Smoke rose from spent cartridges, the metallic scent of gunfire lingering in the air.
Ethan lowered his rifle, his chest heaving. The system's screen reappeared in his mind.
---
Quest complete. Reward unlocked: Enhanced Vision Upgrade.
---
A warm sensation flooded his eyes, and for a moment, the world seemed to shift. Colors became more vibrant, details sharper. He blinked rapidly, adjusting to the newfound clarity.
"Cross," Logan said, approaching cautiously. His usual arrogance was replaced with something unfamiliar—unease. "What the hell was that?"
Ethan hesitated, searching for an answer. "I… I just got lucky."
"Lucky?" Logan snorted, though his tone lacked its usual bite. "Whatever. Just don't think this makes you special."
Ethan nodded, swallowing his response. The truth was, he didn't fully understand what had just happened either. But one thing was certain—this system had changed everything.
---
Later that night, as the camp settled back into an uneasy calm, Ethan found a quiet spot away from the others. He closed his eyes, summoning the system's interface once more.
Name: Ethan Cross
Level: 2
Attributes:
Strength: 4
Speed: 5
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 5
Abilities:
Basic Combat Reflexes (Passive)
Enhanced Vision (Passive)
Quests:
None active
---
A small smile tugged at his lips. For the first time since arriving at Ironclad, he felt like he had a chance.
The academy still felt like an impossible mountain to climb, but with the Super Soldier System, he might just reach the top.