Chapter 4
The Proving Ground Arena 1 lights flared, searing harsh shadows across the scarred metal floor. Kael barely registered the crowd's roar, a distant hum against the frantic alarms screaming in Ghost's cockpit. His salvaged mech, a relic of a forgotten war, shuddered. Its energy bar, already critically low from the duel with Thorne, wasn't just low—it was gushing power, a crimson tide draining from the green at an alarming rate. He had won, yes, but the cost was immediate and severe. The prototype module, which had granted him that impossible burst of speed and power, now pulsed erratically, a volatile heart threatening to tear itself apart. He could feel the heat radiating through the floor pedals, a warning that Ghost was on the verge of critical failure.
Valerius, the Academy Enforcer, strode onto the arena floor, his polished boots clicking against the metal. His gaze, sharp and dismissive, swept over Kael and the damaged mech. "A lucky strike, Cadet Kael," he announced, his voice amplified, cutting through the lingering cheers. "Hardly a display of sustained performance. Your 'unauthorized' gains are noted, but the Academy demands more than a single, desperate gamble." The crowd's murmur shifted, a wave of disappointment and agreement. Valerius paused, letting the silence build. "Effective immediately, you will undertake the Endurance Gauntlet. A Rank 5 trial. Five consecutive combat scenarios. No repairs. No resupply. Prove your worth, or face expulsion." He gestured to the arena clock, which now displayed a countdown: 00:00:00:00. The timer for the Gauntlet had already begun.
Kael's jaw tightened. Five scenarios. No repairs. Ghost was already bleeding energy, its systems screaming. This wasn't a trial; it was a death sentence for his mech, and his career. He glanced at the energy bar, the crimson tide now a torrent. The new Rank 5 trial wasn't just about combat; it was about resource management, and Kael's damaged frame was already bleeding energy.
From the VIP stands, a figure leaned forward, a smirk playing on his lips. Elias Thorne, Jarek's younger brother, and heir to the Thorne Salvage Conglomerate, met Kael's gaze. "That prototype?" Elias mouthed, his voice unheard but his intent clear. "It's mine. And I'll collect it after you fail."