The academy talent orientation loomed just days away, and I wasn't about to let GAIA have the satisfaction of watching me fail. My HUD pinged with yet another notification as I scanned through the prep materials for the event, my desk littered with scraps of notes and a half-finished protein bar.
[Physical Requirement Test Mandatory for Entry]
[Failure to pass will result in rejection of academy placement.]
I stared at the glowing words, my chest tightening. Rejection. It wasn't just a word; it was a sentence. My rank was provisional—a flimsy title that would snap under the slightest pressure if I didn't prove myself. And looking at my Strength attribute? Yeah, I had my work cut out for me.
Strength: 55.
Pathetic. Barely enough to push a shopping cart, let alone hold my own against the kind of people I'd be training alongside. If I wanted to fight, to rise above GAIA's surveillance and someday defeat it, I needed more than just wits. I needed muscle.
I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair as frustration bubbled under my skin. My fingers hovered over the skull icon in my HUD. Codebreaker had given me tools, but it couldn't do the heavy lifting for me. That was on me.
A message pinged, interrupting my thoughts.
[Daily Task Recommendation: Strength Training at Public Fitness Center]
[Mission Reward: +1 STR, 1 Gacha Spin, 300 GED]
The timing couldn't have been better—or worse. I sighed and pushed away from the desk, standing up as I grabbed my bag.
First things first, though: a plan. And for that, I needed Graham.
********
"So, let me get this straight," Graham said, his grin widening as he leaned back against the school lockers. "You, Mr. Data Extraordinaire, are planning to hit the gym? Voluntarily?"
"Don't make it sound like I'm running for president," I muttered, shoving my tablet into my bag. "It's just a necessity. Physical test, remember? Fail it, and I'm done."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, I never thought I'd see the day. But hey, I'm in. I'll come with you—spot you, keep you from dropping weights on your head."
"How generous of you," I said dryly, but the corner of my mouth twitched into a smirk. "Alright. Tomorrow morning. Don't flake on me."
"Flake? Please," Graham said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "You're talking to the king of gains."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, king of sarcasm more like it."
********
That evening, back home, I found Damian hunched over the kitchen table, his tablet glowing faintly as he flipped through what looked like mission reports. He glanced up as I walked in, his brow furrowing slightly.
"You're home late," he said, setting the tablet aside. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, just... prepping for the academy," I replied, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. "They're throwing a physical test at us before entry. If I don't pass, I'm out."
Damian nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "And your stats?"
"Subpar, to say the least," I admitted, sitting across from him. "Which is why I'm hitting the gym tomorrow. Graham's coming with me."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "The gym? Didn't think I'd ever hear those words from you."
"Desperate times," I said with a shrug. "Besides, if I want to be strong enough to take the physical test, I can't just rely on brains. I need strength. Real strength."
Damian's gaze softened, and he leaned back in his chair. "Good. Just don't push yourself too hard. Progress takes time."
"Time's the one thing I don't have," I said, the words heavier than I intended. "But I'll make it work. I have to."
He didn't argue, just nodded. "You've got this."
********
The next morning, the fitness center buzzed with energy. Machines clanked, the air thick with the scent of sweat and determination. Graham was already at the front desk when I arrived, waving me over with his usual enthusiasm.
"Ready to transform into a beast?" he asked, tossing me a towel.
"Let's just start with not dying," I muttered, but the tension in my chest eased a little at his humor.
We made our way to the weights section, and I pulled up the workout plan Codebreaker had generated. The list was brutal—bench presses, squats, pull-ups, and more. Just looking at it made my muscles ache in protest.
"Alright," Graham said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get to it. Start small, build up. You'll be crushing it in no time."
I snorted. "Sure. Or I'll just crush myself under the bar."
The first set was a disaster. My arms shook under the weight, my grip slipping as I struggled to push the barbell up. Graham was quick to catch it, his laughter muffled as he racked the weights.
"Not bad for a first-timer," he said, patting me on the shoulder. "You'll get there."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I grumbled, wiping sweat from my brow. But as the sets went on, something shifted. The weight didn't feel any lighter, but the movements became more familiar, my body slowly adjusting to the strain.
By the time we finished, my muscles were on fire, every inch of me screaming for mercy. But I'd done it. One workout down, a thousand more to go.
A notification pinged in my HUD as we left the gym, and I opened it with shaky hands.
[Daily Task Completed.]
[STR +1. Gacha Spin Reward Earned.]
********
The locker room was a maze of silence, the faint hum of overhead lights the only company as I lingered by my locker. The stale, metallic scent of sweat clung to the air, but it barely registered. My gaze darted toward the empty aisles, scanning for movement—a stray shadow, the sound of footsteps, anything.
Nothing.
Satisfied, I exhaled and leaned back against the cold metal. My heart thrummed in my chest, anticipation buzzing in my veins. My fingers hovered over the HUD interface, summoning the display with a flicker of thought. The familiar overlay blinked to life, bathing the dim room in soft, sterile blue light.
I navigated to the Gacha option, my pulse quickening. It was there, waiting—mocking me with its promise of potential and mystery. My lips twitched into a smirk. This was it. The chance to see what rewards were locked behind GAIA's carefully controlled system.
"Alright," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's see what you've got for me."
My excitement faded quickly as the menu displayed a familiar message:
[Locked: Unlock after passing the academy physical test.]
"GAIA, always making things difficult," I muttered, rubbing my temples. But the corner of my lips curled into a sly grin. "Well, there's always Codebreaker."
I activated Codebreaker, the interface shifting to its signature black-and-green-laced format. Fingers poised, I whispered, "Alright, let's unlock this thing."
Lines of code scrolled across my vision as I bypassed the security layer. Each keystroke felt like second nature, the rush of control filling my chest.
[System Access Initiated…]
[Bypassing Security…]
My grin widened as the confirmation message flashed:
[Gacha Spin Unlocked.]
But before I could revel in my triumph, a low hum filled the room. The sound sent a chill down my spine, and GAIA's voice echoed in my mind:
[Warning: Unauthorized Access Detected.]
My heart skipped a beat. "Shit," I cursed, my hands flying across the keyboard to input a countermeasure. Codebreaker responded swiftly, shutting down before GAIA's protocols could activate fully. The hum ceased, and the warning faded into silence.
"Too close," I whispered, exhaling shakily as the adrenaline coursed through me. My hands trembled, the weight of the risk sinking in. I had to be more careful next time—encrypt my data better, maybe mask my signal entirely.
For now, though, I'd play it safe. The physical test was coming, and I couldn't afford to fail. Not when everything was riding on it.