Novel

Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Kaelen survives the public trial by triggering an ancient, forbidden power signature, which immediately draws the attention of Academy Overseers. Returning to his workshop, he discovers the 'debt' is a pretext for the Academy to seize his frame's engine. Faced with an imminent foreclosure raid, Kaelen uses a localized EMP to stall the Enforcers and accepts a high-lethality promotion to the Apex Ladder, securing his survival at the cost of entering a lethal, mandatory trial.