DEVIL'S advocate

As dawn broke,chief Orion, captain Ryder, and all the cadets gathered at the center.the research center was alive with tension. Engineers tightened bindings, reinforced the energy regulators, and etched final protective runes into the suit's skeletal structure. Sparks flew as Master Hegan adjusted the bone-forged blade, making sure it would respond properly to its wielder.

Dr. Veylan stood in front of the suit, rubbing his temples. "Ryder, once you put this on, the suit will fuse to your body. The energy veins will sync with your heart rate. If the synchronization fails… your body won't survive the backlash."Ryder grinned as he removed his shirt, exposing his battle-scarred torso. "So I just need to stay alive. Got it."

Hegan handed him the skeletal helmet. "You're more stubborn than most," the swordsmith muttered. "Let's hope that's enough."Ryder stepped into the KhaosGear. The moment the demon-hide wrapped around his body, a wave of searing heat surged through him. The armor was alive. The woven hide tightened, fusing to his flesh. Reinforced bones cracked, then reformed. Glowing veins pulsed violently, spreading like molten lava across his skin.

The moment the KhaosGear latched onto Ryder's body, his breath hitched—then turned into a ragged gasp. The armor wasn't just fitting him—it was consuming him.The woven demon-hide constricted around his torso, tightening like a living beast sinking its claws into his flesh. His muscles spasmed violently as the energy veins burrowed beneath his skin, fusing with his own circulatory system.Then came the bones.

The reinforced plates didn't just sit atop his skeleton

they merged with it. His ribs cracked and reshaped. His spine contorted as new, hardened structures formed over it. He staggered forward, his hands clawing at the floor as pain lanced through him.

His fingers curled as the retractable claws burst from his knuckles not as extensions of the suit, but as extensions of his own body. The sensation was raw, visceral. It felt like his hands were being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Each pulse sent waves of unstable, burning energy surging through his veins. His vision blurred, flickering between reality and a blood-soaked abyss.

The whispers came next.

Faint at first, then louder. Guttural voices echoing inside his skull, urging him to give in, to let the power consume him. The energy of the devils that had been compressed into the armor still remembered what they were.

Ryder clenched his jaw, his body shaking violently. No.

He refused to be controlled.Dr. Veylan watched in horror as Ryder's body convulsed, his skin darkening in patches as the armor struggled to fully sync with him. The scientist rushed forward, pressing his palm to the runic etchings on Ryder's chest plate, trying to stabilize the energy flow.

"Ryder! Stay with us!" Veylan shouted.

Ryder's mouth opened in a silent snarl. His teeth had sharpened. His vision flickered red, his breathing ragged. The KhaosGear was trying to override his will.

Then, through the blinding pain, Ryder did the only thing he knew.He fought back.

With a furious roar, he slammed his fist into the stone floor. Cracks spiderwebbed beneath him as a shockwave of raw energy blasted outward, sending tools and engineers flying back. The unstable energy pulsed one last time—before suddenly snapping into place.

The pain didn't vanish—but Ryder had control.

The voices faded into the back of his mind, and the KhaosGear settled. Its glowing veins dimmed to a controlled pulse, matching the rhythm of his own heart. His vision cleared, though his body still throbbed with unnatural power.Dr. Veylan exhaled, stepping back cautiously. Master Hegan whistled lowly, shaking his head.Ryder slowly stood, his new claws retracting. His movements were heavier, more animalistic. The weight of the armor was suffocating—but he could bear it.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the energy coursing beneath his skin.

Then, a sinister grin spread across his face.

Ryder took a slow breath, the air feeling heavier in his lungs. The KhaosGear pulsed with every heartbeat, the demonic energy writhing just beneath his skin.

Chief Orion, standing at the edge of the circle, studied him with a wary expression. The veteran warrior had seen many men wield power—but none had ever fused with something this unnatural.

"…How do you feel?" Orion finally asked.

Ryder exhaled, rolling his shoulders. The armor flexed as if it were part of him. He could feel its weight, its strength, the way it wanted to move with him—or against him, if he let his focus slip."Like I could tear through a mountain," Ryder said, flexing his claws. "Or maybe that mountain could tear through me."

Dr. Veylan, still tense, adjusted his glasses. "Your synchronization is holding… barely. But we need to run tests. Your body went through extreme stress, and the energy is still unstable. If you push too hard—"

A warning bell rang through the village.

Everyone froze.

Cadets turned their heads toward the gates. Master Hegan's grip tightened on his hammer. Orion's eyes narrowed.

"…That's not a drill," he muttered.

A scout sprinted into the research center, panting. "Chief! A devil is approaching the eastern perimeter! It's not alone—we saw signs of a pack nearby."

Murmurs erupted through the gathered cadets. They weren't ready for a full-scale fight, not yet. The KhaosGear was supposed to be their weapon against devils, but no one knew if it was truly battle-ready.

Orion's gaze flicked to Ryder.

Ryder cracked his knuckles, feeling the hungry pulse of the KhaosGear beneath his skin. The suit wanted a fight. So did he.

"I guess it's time for my first field test," Ryder said.

Dr. Veylan's eyes widened. "You can't be serious! The synchronization—",Ryder grinned.

"Only one way to find out if this thing works."

As Ryder stepped toward the eastern gate, the village warriors followed cautiously behind him. Orion walked beside him, hand resting on his blade.

"You lose control, and I'll put you down myself," the chief warned.

Ryder just chuckled. "Then I better make sure I win."

Chief Orion's gaze swept across the gathered cadets. Their faces were tense, but their hands gripped their weapons with steady resolve. This was the moment they had trained for.He turned to his most trusted warriors.TheNightwalkers(EthanGhost), victor's team, Mike,Aria and I each of us skilled in our own right,

"Cadets!" Orion's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "This is no longer training. This is battle. You will serve as support for Sergeant Ryder. Stay sharp, stay together, and do not—do not—engage recklessly."

The cadets responded with a unified, "Yes, sir!"

I rolled my shoulders, a confident smirk on my face. " we might finally have a chance against the devil's".

"Finally, a step in fulfilling my oath" I said to myself.

Chief Orion turned to Ryder. The beast in human skin.Ryder's grin was sharp, his glowing veins pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. He flexed his claws, feeling the unholy power coursing through him. The KhaosGear was eager for battle.

"Let's go," Orion commanded.

With that, the gates creaked open, and we stepped into the darkened forest.