“Attention! Unauthorized movement near the perimeter!” The alarm rang through every corridor, and the red lights started flashing. Recruits scrambled in confusion, their training gear half fastened.“It’s another drill,” one of them said, laughing nervously.But Kai’s eyes locked onto the System display in his vision.System Alert: Hostile Signatures Detected: Real Combat Engagement. Estimated force count: 27. Weapon calibration: live.Kai’s tone cut through the noise. “Those aren’t simulations. The System confirms real signatures.”A hush spread for a brief second before chaos resumed.Riven muttered from across the hall, “You’re bluffing again, academy boy.”Kai turned to him with a calm expression. “You can check the radar log yourself.”Before Riven could reply, Commander Draegon entered the hall with three officers behind him. “All recruits, formation! This is not a drill.”Lyle swallowed hard. “Wait, seriously? Real mercs? Here?”“Quiet!” Draegon barked. “Perimeter Squad Alpha w

Explosions shook the ground as smoke covered the entire western corridor. The gunfire was loud and constant. The air smelled of burning metal. Kai ran forward through the haze and grabbed Riven by the vest, pulling him away from the open field before the next burst of bullets struck the wall where he had been standing.“Get down!” Kai shouted.Riven struggled against his grip. “Let me go! I had them!”Kai pushed him behind a crate and pointed at the field. “You were about to die. You exposed the entire squad!”Riven glared back, his face red with anger. “You don’t command me.”Kai ignored him and turned his focus to the battle outside. The System’s holographic overlay appeared in his vision, marking moving red outlines through the smoke.System Scan: Hostile units – 21. Drone activity – active. Probability of secondary ambush: 62%.He spoke quickly over the comms. “Halen, keep your squad low. Vera, get med support ready. Lyle, reload and cover the east wall. Enemy drones are moving in

Commander Draegon started explaining the operation details of the massive mock war between Vanguard and their rival base, Blackthorn. Every recruit felt the pressure. This was not just a simulation. Kai stood near his squad, double-checking his gear. His wrist pad blinked with pale blue light as the System came online.“System Notification: New Mission, War Game Directive: Secure and hold Hill 47 for full duration. Reward: Tactical Authority Boost. Failure: -10 Reputation and Squad Penalty.”Kai opened the mission map. Hill 47 was located at the far eastern border of the simulation zone. It was an open area with poor visibility and little natural cover. It was clear the commanders were testing him under disadvantageous conditions.Marek Sloan studied the map and frowned. “That position’s suicide, sir. We’ll be flanked from three sides.”Torrin folded his arms. “Figures they’d throw the ‘system boy’ to the wolves.”Lyle Craven smirked. “Let’s see if you can use your data tricks when t

The emergency meeting was called less than an hour after the battlefield was secured. Kai was not invited, but he stood outside the command hall when the senior officers entered. Their faces were tight. Inside, Commander Draegon stood at the head of the table. Several senior officers from Vanguard sat on one side. Across from them were liaison officers connected to central command. The atmosphere was tense.“This incident cannot be ignored,” one Vanguard officer said. “Blackthorn fired live ammunition.”“And no Vanguard cadets died,” a liaison replied. “That matters.”“They almost did,” another officer snapped. “A hill collapsed with soldiers on it.”“The official statement from Blackthorn is automation failure,” the liaison said. “Central command is inclined to accept it.”Commander Draegon folded his arms. “Accepting it does not make it true.”“It makes it manageable,” the liaison answered. “Escalation is not an option. Blackthorn has allies watching this closely.”“So we pretend t