The Commoner Noble

As soon as Wein's form materialized into his trial simulation environment, he tumbled but knew he had to move quickly. Wasting no time, he searched around to get an idea of his environment and identify any potential dangers.

Wein was inside a jungle, a foreign place he had never been to in his entire life, around were countless trees covering his sense of direction. First, he caught his breath as he examined himself.

While crouching Wein noted that he had nothing on but a military training uniform and a blade on his side. He sighed in relief that he had something to work with. He scoured the forest and saw nothing but trees and flowers no clear path, he had to do something.

Recalling what was said the previous day if a trooper found themselves in a similar situation, Wein resolved himself to follow as stated. He picked himself up and made sure no one or nothing was around, and he sought a tall tree. For him to survive, he needed to get an idea of the environment he was in.

The sky was covered by the many trees making surveillance difficult, so Wein knew he either had to run through the forest hoping to find a pathway or find a tree strong and tall enough to hold him. Wasting no time Wein opted to inspect the trees around, they weren't too far from him, but most were thin.

Surprisingly, there were no carnivorous or strange alien trees or plants among them, which caused Wein to relieve some tension.

As he sat there in the middle, observing the visible trees, crouching with his right hand tightly gripping the blade he had, his heart beating rhythmically slow, he saw a candidate: a big tree that appeared secure, sturdy, and taller than the rest.

When he decided to head to and climb that tree, his heart rate increased. He rose and walked over steadily. But wait…

Wein realized something.

Ever since he arrived in this forest, it had been oddly quiet, of course at the time he needed to establish and compose himself and was looking for any signs of danger he forgot one thing: to listen.

The forest was quiet, too quiet, not a sound of a bird chirping, no frogs croaking, nothing. A big forest quiet only meant one thing, there was a predator within, one so dangerous it sent even small animals, not its prey running,

With that realization, wasting no time at all Wein made a run for it. With his fists clenched and resolve firm he ran to the tree with all the stamina he had.

Immediately as if Wein had anticipated a figure appeared lunging from his initial position, a hungry growl could be heard. Wein did not even spare the courtesy to look back as he ran with all his might to the tree with one goal, climb and climb fast.

The figure growled again pouncing from the position aiming for its prey. Its pace increased as it closed the distance with Wein who was a few feet from reaching the tree.

Wein could hear, the growls of the hungry creature behind him, his heart beating erratically at the idea of being devoured. He was scared, sweating, and coupled with the mental fatigue he had gained after the day's work, Wein was slowly losing consciousness.

Staring at the tree in front of him, Wein could see, it was wide with almost nothing for him to grab onto. Shifting upwards, he saw branches to grab onto but attaining them would be hard given they were higher than jumping distance, but Wein did stop. He figured he would try to climb, and if he failed, he would hold his ground and face the monster as he did in his dream prior.

Reaching closer to the tree, Wein's speed increased and without thinking he found himself running up the tree.

Pushed by his initial speed, he went up a significant height such that when he felt like he was slowing down he used all his strength to jump up as if even the little distance could keep him from being prey.

As planned, he succeeded, and using the blade on his right hand, he held firmly, Wein thrust it into the tree like a hook and was able to remain dangling there.

Wein looked down and saw the creature that had slowed down, it was a tiger-like monster with black fur and sharp large claws. It was thrice his size and had shark-like teeth while it had a face similar to that of an alligator.

The creature strolled at the base of the tree, with no indication of it desiring to go up but Wein was not about to rely on that chance. With his hand holding tightly on the blade, he stretched out his other hand to find something to grip onto. As soon he was certain, his grip was secure, he pulled out the blade from the tree and struck the tree higher up and pulled himself higher. He did this until he got to a big branch that was sturdy enough to hold him and he was able to rest.

He leaned against the tree and tried to catch a breath, even though this was a simulation, failure meant death and death meant being forced into more scenarios like this. Wein needed to survive, at least he needed to find the objective of that trial.

Wein peeked from the side and saw the creature that was going in circles before was now stationary staring back at him.

"Damn it" he cursed.

Wein knew it was only a matter of time till the creature scaled the tree and went after him. He had to get to higher grounds, he was no match for the huge creature even with the blade in his hand. Thinking about it, he was pissed that just when he was finally going to rest for a bit, he now had to move again.

Not wasting any more time, Wein resolved himself once more to climb the tree, and using the blade and his hand he ascended higher and higher but so did the creature.

Wein knew the creature was just behind him, he did not need to look back to know he was in danger and he did not dare too, one because if he did he would be terrified after all behind him was a huge feline alien monster growling at the prey before it and second if he turned back, he would waste the limited time he already had.

Stab and pull.

He went on like that, increasing his speed as best he could until he could see the tree bark itself had shrunk in width. A thought occurred to Wein, the creature was intelligent, so it would know that as they both ascended the tree eventually, they would reach the top and the heavier being would be at a disadvantage, if they fell from that height, death was certain if not severe injury.

Soon Wein could climb the tree with only his bare hands, so he clutched the blade with his teeth and gritted as he pushed himself up, increasing his speed and efficiency.

He was reaching the top, he could tell as a result of the tree beginning to wobble. Wein hugged the tree firmly and then observed the situation below, true to his assessment the creature was intelligent, it had given up. Wein sighed in relief, he had survived.

With no looming danger, he decided to pause his ascent, steadying his breathing and calming his mind.

When he was finally able to relax, he searched around and wondered where in the vast forest he was and what he was supposed to do.

Almost after, Wein saw from a distance a cliff positioned outside of the forest, though it was far away, he could tell that he might be able to find other people or sentient intelligent life judging by the remains left there. If he was to survive the trial, he had to go there.

Just after he made that observation, a green light flashed in the sky and a notification could be heard all around the forest.

-------------

Trial passed!

Recruit: Wein Serin

Trial [1]

Actions

- Assessed the environment- Grade A

- Searched for a weapon- Grade A

- Searched for vantage Point- Grade A

- Assessed dangers- Grade D

- Survived- Grade B

Overall Evaluation B+

Passed Trials [1/5]

-First trial, over. Spawning at a random situation in 10 seconds, get ready!

[9]

[8]

…

[2]

[1]

Initiating the next Simulation.

-------------

Without giving Wein to revel in his first success, he felt the world fade away like pixels folding into themselves changing the environment he was used to into something entirely different.

The first thing Wein felt was cold, an overwhelming cold that washed over him causing his body to tremble. After opening his eyes, the first thing he observed was pure white to as far as the eye could see: it was snow.

Wein did not need a map to know that he was not only in a different environment but also on a different planet. He noted that a snowstorm was approaching, within it consisting of strong winds and hardened hail.

It was difficult to see anything passed the fog caused by the snowstorm, but Wein knew the storm would kill him, he had to do something.

He turned back, in hopes he could outrun the storm, it was then he realized he had a handgun in his hand. He was confused about how he got it, last he checked he was holding a blade. He figured it came with the simulated trial, he was glad it was better having a gun than a blade.

Wein once again ran for his life but then almost in an instant, he felt the world had gone dark, a glimmer of red light flashed in the creamy sky through his eye lids and his vision went dark.

He knew what had happened, he had died.

Wein was impaled by a large spear through his chest that held his body up in place while he dangled there like a flag. His gun fell to the ground, and his hand was beginning to fade away as pixels.

-------------

Trial Failed!

Recruit: Wein Serin

Trial [2]

Actions

- Assessed the environment- Grade B

- Searched for a weapon- Grade A

- Searched for vantage Point- Grade E

- Assessed dangers- Grade E

- Survived- Grade F

Overall Evaluation F

Passed Trials [1/5]

-Second trial, over. Spawning at random a situation in 10 seconds, get ready!

[9]

[8]

…

[2]

[1]

Initiating the next Simulation.

-------------