Chapter 4: Enemies Emerge
The atmosphere in the Ironclad Military Academy buzzed with subdued tension. Whispers trailed Ethan wherever he went now, cadets sneaking glances at him during drills and mealtimes. What happened during the ambush and the cache retrieval mission had spread like wildfire. The weakling of the squad had become its unexpected savior, and the transformation wasn't sitting well with everyone.
Especially not with Logan Steele.
Logan leaned against the wall of the barracks, his jaw clenched as he watched Ethan walk across the training field. Ethan's strides were more confident than before, his gaze steady. It wasn't the same boy who had struggled through obstacle courses and nearly flunked combat drills.
Logan's fists tightened.
"Something's not right with him," Logan muttered.
"What are you talking about?" his closest ally, Jared, asked, lounging nearby.
"Ethan Cross doesn't just wake up one day and turn into some kind of super-soldier. He was barely passing assessments last week. Now he's faster and stronger than anyone in the squad?" Logan scoffed, shaking his head. "No. There's something going on with him, and I'm going to find out what it is."
Jared smirked. "You sure you're not just mad he's outshining you now?"
Logan shot him a glare. "Watch your mouth, Jared. I didn't work my ass off for years to have Cross steal the spotlight. If he's hiding something, I'll expose him. Just wait."
---
Ethan, unaware of Logan's brewing resentment, sat on his bunk later that night, staring at the glowing interface of the Super Soldier System.
---
New Quest Unlocked: Investigate Project Ironclad
Objective: Discover the link between the academy's experiments and the Super Soldier System.
Reward: Advanced Combat Analysis Module
---
The words made Ethan's stomach tighten. Project Ironclad? He'd heard whispers of it before, late-night murmurs among cadets about secret experiments. Most dismissed it as rumors, but now it felt uncomfortably real.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ethan muttered, his voice low.
The system didn't respond, of course. It rarely did unless he was in immediate danger or completing a quest. But the implications were clear—there was a connection between the system and the academy's shadowy operations.
He glanced around the barracks. The other cadets were asleep, their soft snores filling the air. Ethan knew he couldn't risk asking questions openly. If there was something bigger happening here, it wouldn't just be Logan watching him.
---
The next day, drills were grueling. Mathers pushed them harder than usual, barking commands as the cadets ran obstacle courses and engaged in hand-to-hand combat training. Ethan noticed Logan's eyes on him the entire time, scrutinizing his every move.
When it was time for sparring, Logan made his move.
"Cross," he called, stepping forward. His voice carried a mocking edge. "Why don't you and I have a round? Let's see if last week's golden boy can keep up."
The other cadets murmured, their interest piqued. Everyone knew Logan was the top cadet—strong, skilled, and ruthless. A match between him and Ethan was bound to draw attention.
Ethan hesitated. He didn't want to escalate the growing tension between them, but backing down would only make things worse.
"Fine," he said, stepping onto the mat.
Logan smirked, his confidence radiating. "Try not to embarrass yourself, Cross."
The fight started fast. Logan came at Ethan with a flurry of strikes, his movements precise and powerful. Ethan dodged the first few blows, his reflexes sharper than ever. The system's interface flickered in his mind, offering subtle guidance.
Opponent Analysis: Predictable patterns detected. Counter recommended.
Ethan ducked under a high kick and used Force Dash to slip behind Logan, delivering a clean strike to his side. Logan stumbled, surprised by Ethan's speed, but recovered quickly.
"You've gotten better," Logan admitted, his voice low. "But you're still not good enough."
He came at Ethan again, this time feinting left before landing a solid hit to Ethan's chest. The impact sent Ethan stumbling back, but he steadied himself, his breathing calm.
The system chimed again.
Enhanced Reflexes recommended. Engage now.
Ethan felt his body respond almost instinctively, moving faster than his mind could process. He sidestepped Logan's next attack, grabbed his arm, and flipped him onto the mat. The room went silent as Logan hit the ground, groaning in frustration.
"Match over," Sergeant Mathers called, his voice neutral. "Cross wins."
Ethan stepped back, extending a hand to Logan, but the other boy ignored it, pushing himself to his feet.
"This isn't over," Logan muttered, glaring at Ethan before storming off.
---
That night, Ethan couldn't sleep. Logan's words echoed in his mind, but they weren't what bothered him most. It was the system's new quest.
Determined to find answers, Ethan decided to investigate. He slipped out of the barracks, moving carefully to avoid the night patrols. The academy's main administrative building loomed in the distance, its darkened windows hiding whatever secrets lay within.
The system's interface reappeared.
---
Quest Progress: Access restricted files on Project Ironclad. Location: Administrative Building, Sublevel 2.
---
Ethan's heart pounded as he approached the building. It wasn't heavily guarded—most cadets wouldn't dare break academy rules so blatantly—but security cameras scanned the perimeter.
"Force Dash should work," Ethan whispered to himself.
He timed his movements carefully, dashing between blind spots with inhuman speed. When he reached the side entrance, he found it locked, but the system offered a solution.
---
New Ability Unlocked: Precision Lockpick (Passive)
---
Ethan crouched by the door, his fingers moving almost unconsciously as he worked the lock. Within seconds, the door clicked open, and he slipped inside.
The building was eerily quiet, the hum of fluorescent lights the only sound. Following the system's guidance, Ethan made his way to a hidden elevator at the back of the building. It required a keycard, but the system overrode it, granting him access.
The elevator descended to Sublevel 2, and when the doors opened, Ethan froze.
The corridor was lined with glass walls, revealing sterile laboratories filled with advanced equipment. Strange pods stood in rows, each containing a cadet suspended in some kind of liquid. Monitors displayed their vitals, along with unfamiliar data streams.
Ethan's stomach churned as he realized what he was looking at. These were experiments—human experiments.
Before he could process the implications, the system spoke again.
Warning: Hostile presence detected. Evacuate immediately.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Ethan turned to see two guards approaching, their faces shadowed under helmets. He ducked into an alcove, holding his breath as they passed.
"Another day of running these freak tests," one guard muttered. "You think they'll ever shut this down?"
"Not a chance," the other replied. "The higher-ups are obsessed with results. They'll keep this going until they get what they want."
Ethan waited until the guards disappeared before retreating to the elevator. His mind raced as he ascended back to the surface.
The academy wasn't just training soldiers. It was creating them. And somehow, the system was tied to all of it.
As Ethan slipped back into the barracks, one thought burned in his mind.
If he wanted to survive—if he wanted answers—he'd have to uncover the truth about Project Ironclad. And he'd have to do it before Logan, or anyone else, caught on to what he was hiding.