Chapter 2
The Visible Gain
Still reeling from the previous trial's damage, the Protagonist faces a ticking clock to stabilize their salvaged mech. With academy resources denied, they resort to desperate, illicit scavenging and a risky, unconventional repair, discovering a deeper flaw in their damaged advantage. Deep into the risky repair, the Protagonist accesses Ghost's damaged frame log, revealing critical hidden data about the prototype module's true function and potential. This insight allows a visible, but unstable, integration of the module, granting a surge of power but also a new, specific dread. The Protagonist's sudden performance spike from the integrated prototype module draws the attention of a suspicious Academy Enforcer. Unable to prove wrongdoing, the Enforcer publicly challenges the Protagonist, forcing them into a high-stakes, mandatory duel designed to expose their 'unauthorized' gains. With the public duel against a Rank 7 veteran looming, the Protagonist faces a desperate night of preparation. They push the newly integrated prototype module to its absolute limits, making final, risky calibrations based on the hidden data, accepting the high cost of potential failure for a chance at public proof.