Morning came.
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I was already awake.
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The air felt calm—
Too calm.
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Today was the trial.
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I stepped out of bed and stretched slowly, muscles loosening with controlled movements.
Light exercises.
Nothing excessive.
Just enough to awaken the body.
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"…Strange."
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No one called me for dinner last night.
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Not that it mattered.
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My body responded perfectly.
Sharp.
Alive.
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I straightened.
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> Good morning, Master.
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"Morning…"
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DING—
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> Do you wish to begin the trial?
[ YES / NO ]
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"Yes."
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> [ Trial Initialization in Progress… ]
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A pillar of light swallowed me whole.
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When my eyes opened—
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I stood in an open field.
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Endless grass.
No trees.
No cover.
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And surrounding me—
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An army.
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Orcs.
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Hundreds of them.
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Forming a perfect circle more than a hundred meters wide.
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Weapons drawn.
Axes.
Swords.
Shields.
Gauntlets.
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The air was thick—
With bloodlust.
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ROAR—!!!
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Four green orcs charged from different directions.
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Fast.
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But sloppy.
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"…Stronger than before."
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"…But still weak."
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I tilted my head slightly—
Dodging a punch.
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CLANG—!!
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An axe came down.
I caught it.
With two fingers.
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Another came from behind—
A greatsword.
And two daggers from the sides.
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SWISH—
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I vanished.
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Then reappeared—
Back in my original position.
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The four froze.
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For a moment—
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Then—
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BOOM—!!!
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They vaporized.
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Gone.
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> [ +100 Points ]
[ +100 Points ]
[ +100 Points ]
[ +100 Points ]
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"…Too easy."
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The rest of the army stared.
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No fear.
Only hunger.
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Good.
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SWISH—!!!
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I moved.
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A burst of speed—
An explosion left behind.
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BAM! BAM! BAM!
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Bodies disappeared one after another.
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I flowed through them—
Like wind.
Like water.
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A punch—
Dodged.
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A tail swipe—
Lightning-infused—
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SPLIT—!!
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Another gone.
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Notifications flooded my vision.
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Ignored.
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BOOM—!!!
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An explosion erupted from my position—
Erasing dozens at once.
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Minutes passed.
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More than half the army—
Gone.
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The rest didn't retreat.
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They adjusted.
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"…Oh?"
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Different colors.
Different types.
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Light green—
Fast.
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Dark green—
Brutal.
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Orange—
Tactical.
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Red—
Heavy.
Stable.
Dangerous.
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"…Finally."
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I moved again—
Splitting into four.
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Clones.
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We attacked simultaneously.
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Then—
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BOOM—!!!
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Red orcs stepped forward—
Launching coordinated blasts.
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Flames.
Energy.
Timing—
Perfect.
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SWISH—
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We vanished—
Reappeared behind them—
Fists ready—
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Then—
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GRAB—!!
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Orange orcs.
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They intercepted.
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Four hands—
Locked my strikes.
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"…They adapted?"
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The red orcs moved instantly.
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Counterattack.
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I vanished again—
Barely avoiding impact.
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Reappeared.
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DANGER—!!
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Daggers flashed—
Precise.
Targeting vitals.
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"…Formation."
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"…They're learning."
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A grin formed.
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"Good."
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I formed lightning blades—
One in each hand.
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Then—
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SWISH—!!!
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I struck.
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CLANG—!!
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Blocked.
---
Red orcs again.
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Perfect defense.
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I laughed.
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"…Now it's interesting."
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Then—
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Everything stopped.
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For a second.
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Then—
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BOOOOM—!!!!
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A massive explosion erupted from me.
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Everything—
Gone.
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Clones dissolved.
Energy returned.
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Silence.
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Smoke drifted.
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Cracked ground beneath me.
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"…Come out."
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No response.
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"…Dragging this out is pointless."
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I raised my hand—
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BOOM—!!
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A pulse of mental energy exploded outward.
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Scanning.
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Everything.
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Then—
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A ripple.
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Small.
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Distorted space.
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"Found you."
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BOOM—!!!
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Space tore open in front of me—
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A red fist—
Already inches from my face.
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DANGER—!!
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I tilted—
Barely.
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The fist grazed me—
Cutting my cheek.
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Then—
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BAM—!!!
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Another hit.
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Direct.
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My face snapped sideways.
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My body flew back—
Like a broken projectile.
---
I twisted mid-air—
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BAM—!!
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Feet dug into the ground—
Sliding—
Stopping.
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Silence.
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Blood dripped from my lips.
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A thin line across my cheek.
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Healing.
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Slowly.
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"…Strong."
---
My senses spread again.
---
Nothing.
---
No presence.
---
Only—
Ripples.
---
"…So you hide."
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I closed my eyes.
---
Adjusted my stance.
---
No instincts.
---
No shortcuts.
---
Just—
Perception.
---
Breath slowed.
---
Heartbeat steady.
---
Then—
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My eyes opened.
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Bright blue.
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Focused.
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"…Let's see how long you can stay hidden."
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The air shifted.
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The space bent—
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And for the first time—
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I began to see.
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Not the body—
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But the distortion behind it.
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"…Got you."
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Lightning crackled faintly around me.
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Controlled.
---
Silent.
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Waiting.
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The real fight—
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Was about to begin.