Rise of the Collosi Hunter

Back in the dorm, the lights shifted to evening mode. Torran sat on his bunk with his suit open at the chest, the katana laid flat across his knees. He cleaned the blade carefully.

The others in the squad were winding down too, talking in low voices, polishing weapons, reviewing logs.

Riva leaned back and glanced over.

You move clean

Thanks

That's a compliment

I know

She smirked and left it at that.

Later, as they were about to sleep, the alarm of the base flared, notifying everyone of a collosus attack.

They all ran outside the door while gearing up.

Where do you think you are going, a voice cut them from behind.

Looking back, they saw Venn walking calmly towards them.

We were responding to the emergency, Jace replied with a salute.

Hearing this, Venn burst into laughter. Do you think you cadets are strong enough to face a colossal horde? Don't be fooled by your high sync rates.

On the battlefield, even if you have a high sync with core weapons, your skills might let you down.

Go back to your dorms and train. When we need you, we will let you know, Venn said, stepping into the elevator.

Yes, sir, they all responded with a salute.

So, I guess we should wait calmly till we are needed, Lian said to the rest as they all headed for the room.

But unlike them, Torran stood still.

He was right, I must have overestimated myself because of my high sync rate. I also need to train my skills if I want to survive, and uproot the colossus from its roots.

He walked calmly across the hallway, but not to the dorm; rather, he headed for the training room.

The training room was quiet, its polished floor dimly lit by ceiling panels running in slow pulses of white. No drills scheduled. No instructors. Just open space.

Torran stepped inside. The door hissed shut behind him.

He set the katana down on a bench, undid the rest of his suit, and stood in a fitted underlayer. The thin weave still responded to core pulses, but offered no protection.

He breathed slowly.

He activated the simulation manually, choosing a basic combat dummy. F-Class patterns, unarmed.

The bot came to life and stepped forward.

He waited. Let it close the gap.

Then moved.

One step to the left, blade up, and slashed across its chest. Too shallow.

He reset.

This time, the bot lunged. Torran dropped his shoulder, twisted, and struck at the side, a better hit but still not clean enough.

Again.

Again.

The bot changed speed. He got clipped on the arm.

He didn't stop. Just circled, kept the grip firm but not stiff, adjusted angles, practised every form from memory.

His arms began to ache.

The sweat under his suit dampened the grip, making it harder to control.

He tightened his stance, locked into a low pivot, and slashed upward through the bot's chest as it charged.

The hit landed.

Bot down.

He reset again.

Another routine.

Two bots now. Moving together.

He ducked under one and slashed the leg, pivoted and stabbed the core of the second.

His breath grew heavier.

But his strikes became cleaner, shorter, and tighter.

He didn't think of his sync rate, didn't think of what Venn said, or the others asleep in the dorm.

He thought of the Colossus that killed his parents. Thought of what it felt like to stand in front of something massive and cruel, and feel powerless.

That would never happen again.

The last bot dropped.

He stood still, breathing hard, shoulders rising and falling.

Then he stepped off the mat.

And reset the program.

While all this was going on, he failed to notice Kira looking at him from the glass.

I knew I made the right call to let Venn state that they were weak.

I don't need a cadet who feels comfortable just by having a high sync; he needs the push and pressure, and that is what we would give him here.

I guess i can give them their first mission tomorrow, Kira thought as she walked away.

She stopped to look back at him again, then she walked out with a slight smile.