[Warning!!!!!!]
[Unknown poison detected….]
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[Your mana pathways are being damaged at a very fast rate…]
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[Looking for solutions…..]
[###s!!!?#?#???####¿¿¿]
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[Your body is being destroyed at an alarming rate….]
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[Foreign power source is entering the body….]
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[Mana pathways are healing….]
[You have been put into hibernation…]
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[You will hibernate until your body is fully healed.]
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[Congratulations…..]
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[Quest: Survive the duel against Sasha has been completed.... ]
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[You have obtained rewards]
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[Strength has increased by 3]
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[Endurance has increased by 2]
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[You have obtained the Light affinity]
*****
Agh!!!
"Where am I?"
Lucas growled as he opened his eyes. He felt pain all over his body, but it wasn't unmanageable.
Lucas slowly sat on the bed. As he did, he looked around the room he was in.
Many beds, medical equipment, white curtains separating different sections.
"Looks like I'm in the infirmary."
Sigh!!
"I survived."
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"Look who finally decided to wake up."
When Lucas heard the voice, he looked up and saw a figure. He was wearing a black shirt with a white overcoat.
Looking at his black messy hair and the dark circles under his brown eyes, Lucas didn't need to think too long to recognize the person.
He was Cassidy Banks, a doctor in Nexus Academy and a supporting character in The Last Horizon.
"Why are you looking at me like you saw a ghost?"
Hearing Dr. Cassidy's voice, Lucas snapped back to reality.
"Oh, nothing."
"Just had something on my mind."
Lucas replied to Cassidy as his voice stuttered….
"....."
"You really annoyed me, you know."
"You were out for a week over a small injury."
"...."
"...."
WHAT!!!!!
Hearing Cassidy's words, Lucas screamed. He had been unconscious for a week due to the aftermath of the duel.
"Hey, hey, hey."
"Don't scream. This is the infirmary."
"There are other patients besides you."
Cassidy calmed Lucas down as he lowered his voice and said calmly,
"Listen, I was surprised too"
"But now that you're awake, I don't need to worry."
"Just wait a few more minutes."
"I need to do a last-minute check-up. After that, you can leave."
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Shortly after, Cassidy left, and Lucas sat in silence.
He had been unconscious for a week, which was absurd, and he had missed classes. He was definitely falling behind in the academy curriculum.
That was something he didn't want to happen.
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"Looks like all the tests are okay."
"You can go back to the field tomorrow."
It didn't take long for Cassidy to check up on Lucas. After that, he discharged him from the infirmary.
Lucas walked through the massive academy grounds, deep in thought.
In his very first duel, he had been close to death and he knew it wouldn't be the last time.
Lucas needed solutions. Something that would save him.
'I need to grow stronger, fast…'
Lucas knew the only way to survive was to grow stronger while staying unnoticed.
He had no interest in gaining more attention than he already had and if he did something out of line. It would completely derail the story.
"Oh, right."
"I remember seeing that the quest was completed."
Lucas was sure he had seen notifications from the system.
Let's check the rewards.
'Status Window.'
As Lucas spoke in a low voice, a familiar holo screen popped up in front of him.
=====•[Status Window]•=====
ㅇ Name: Lucas Lockhart
ㅇ Rank: Initiate
ㅇ Affinity: Lightning, Light
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
ㄴ Strength → 92
ㄴ Dexterity → 90
ㄴ Endurance → 102
ㄴ Intelligence → 120
ㄴ Mana → 500/500
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
⟨Skills⟩
• Thunder Steps {D}
• Volt Spear {C}
• The Third Eye {S}
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
⟨Quests⟩
=====•[Status Window]•=====
"....."
'Damn!!!!'
Lucas couldn't help but smile at his stats. His Strength had increased by three and his Endurance had increased by two.
"If I get such rewards from this quest, I wonder what I'll get from more difficult ones"
"Plus, a new affinity."
"Light."
Lucas had hit the jackpot with his quest reward.
Not only had his stats increased but he had also gained a special affinity. Something totally unheard of.
"With the help of the system, I can grow faster"
While others needed to go through insane training to increase their strength and endurance, Lucas had gotten it easily from the system.
As long as he completed quests, he would grow stronger.
'Maybe I can reach Apex rank… or maybe even surpass it.'
Lucas now had a proper plan. As he walked to his dormitory, another thought crossed his mind.
'If I was unconscious for a week then the Full Drive Combat Simulation will happen soon.'
'Depending on our performance, the academy will give rewards.'
'I need to get good results.'
'No matter what.'
*****
The Full Drive Combat Simulation, as the name suggests. It was a simulation where students were placed in highly realistic scenarios.
Professors observed their decision making skills, combat abilities and moral dilemmas.
Students felt pain. They got tired.
Even though it was virtual reality, it pushed them both physically and mentally.
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The academy's training hall was unique. A colossal dome,made of reinforced mana infused steel and its ceiling illuminated by electric lights.
Sixty students stood in organized rows, tension thick in the air. Today, they would undergo their first combat simulation training.
At the center, Professor Aria scanned the students with a piercing gaze.
"Welcome to the Full Drive Combat Simulation," she announced.
"This is not a test of your individual power. This is a test of your survival instincts."
With a single gesture, a holographic projection materialized behind her. A sprawling, ruined metropolis engulfed in flames, its skyline shattered. Smoke curled from the wreckage of fallen buildings and monstrous figures lurked in the shadows.
"Your objective is to rescue as many civilians as possible before the city is completely annihilated in six hours."
Murmurs spread among the students. Some were excited while others were uneasy.
Lucas stood in the second to last row. He wouldn't lie, he was nervous. He swallowed. He needed to perform well in the simulation.
Nearby, Arthur crossed his arms, his sharp gaze studying the mission details. Lia whispered a quick spell, mentally preparing. Sasha cracked her knuckles, while Dean simply smirked, unfazed.
Ryker was standing near the back. He remained silent.
He already knew this scenario. He had read and edited this small arc before when 'Chains of Eternity' was just a novel.
But now, trapped inside its world, he had to play his role carefully.
This simulation wasn't just about training. It was a battlefield where Lucas's growth would begin.
And this was the perfect time to go after him.
Ryker knew, if someone wanted to corrupt Lucas, they wouldn't miss this chance.
He had to play his role both in the simulation and within the main cast while he had to help Lucas and to look for possible clues that can help him identify the culprit if there was one. He had do all of this staying completely hidden.
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Professor Aria's final words cut through the silence.
"The simulation will engage all five senses. The pain will be real. The injuries will be real. Your failures will be real."
She let the words sink in before finishing.
"Once you die inside, you're out. No second chances."
The room fell into silence. The weight of the mission became clear.
"Now, choose a pod and step inside."
Students moved toward the pods, each entering one.
As Ryker sat down, the lights dimmed, and a mechanical voice echoed overhead.
[FULL DRIVE SIMULATION ACTIVATING]
[NEURAL LINK ESTABLISHED]
[ACTIVATING SIMULATION]
[...3]
[2]
[1…]
[PREPARE FOR IMMERSION]
The world around Ryker flickered as vertigo took hold.
His body was pulled into the simulation.
******
[A/N: Sorry for not updating. I was in a small vacation. From today, I will start updating daily. Also previously I gave Lucas two affinity where he was supposed to have one. I fixed it now. That's why he got light affinity as a reward]