Chapter: A Weekend in the Military City
The academy grounds were vast, but nothing compared to the sheer size of the military city beyond its walls. The moment the weekend hit, the cadets were finally allowed some free time to explore—no drills, no tests, no instructors breathing down their necks. Just a break from the rigid structure of academy life.
Kyle hadn't realized how much he needed it until he found himself standing at the city gates, staring at the sprawling district ahead.
"You know," Darius said, stretching his arms behind his head. "I think this is the first time I've actually looked forward to a weekend."
Lena Voss smirked. "That's because you've been getting your ass kicked in training all week."
Darius scoffed. "Please. I've been thriving."
"Yeah, yeah," Jace Torren chuckled. "Thriving while getting knocked on your face."
The group of cadets—Kyle, Darius, Jace, Vivian, Lena, Soren, Markus, Theo, Erik, and Rael—stepped through the gates into the heart of the military city. The streets were alive with movement, filled with off-duty soldiers, merchants selling gear, and civilians enjoying their day. It was a stark contrast to the academy's structured environment, and Kyle found himself easing into it.
They wandered past different districts—marketplaces filled with weapon vendors, cafés packed with soldiers off duty, and VR training centers where elite fighters honed their skills. The scent of grilled meat wafted from food stalls, mixing with the metallic tang of forge shops where blacksmiths displayed custom weapons.
"This place is huge," Theo murmured, adjusting his glasses. "I knew it was big, but this…"
"It's a city built for war," Lena said. "Every shop, every facility—it's all here to keep the military running."
Vivian was quieter than usual, observing the streets with a thoughtful expression. Kyle caught it but didn't say anything.
Then Darius clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough sightseeing. Let's do something fun. I saw a VR combat center back there."
"You just want to punch people without getting reprimanded," Erik said dryly.
"Damn right," Darius grinned. "And you're going to be my first opponent."
—
The VR Combat Center
The combat facility was sleek and modern, with large digital boards listing different battle modes.
1v1 Duels.
Squad Battles.
Familiars Enabled Mode.
No Familiar Mode.
The last one caught Kyle's eye.
"Oh?" Lena raised a brow. "No Familiar Mode? That's rare."
"It's designed to test raw combat ability," Soren noted. "Most fighters rely too much on their familiars. Without them, their weaknesses get exposed."
Darius smirked. "You would say that, tank-boy."
Soren shrugged. "Just stating facts."
Kyle stepped forward. "Let's do both modes—one where we fight with familiars, one where we fight without them."
Jace nodded. "Sounds good. Let's split into teams."
They registered for the Squad Battle Mode, and soon, their surroundings changed—the VR system booting up and dropping them into a large urban battlefield simulation.
Kyle's interface flickered, displaying his level progression and the categories he was gaining EXP in.
> System Update:
– Familiar System EXP Gained (Boneclaw currently inactive)
– Mana Control Slightly Increased
– Combat Proficiency Gained
His stats were changing, little by little. The others couldn't see it, but he could feel it.
Then the countdown started.
3… 2… 1…
Squad Battle – Familiars Enabled
The battle was pure chaos in the best way possible.
Lena's Glassthorn Viper slithered through the battlefield, striking like a whip. Darius's Stormfang Panther blurred with afterimages, using its speed to confuse opponents. Jace's Silvercrest Raven scouted from above, feeding him enemy positions.
Kyle, even without Boneclaw actively responding to him yet, found himself adapting on instinct. He dodged, countered, and landed precise hits, his body already moving faster than before.
Theo, despite his struggles with agility, held his ground, using his Verdant Warden's high endurance to tank blows. Vivian's Silverwing Moth darted around, disorienting enemies with flashes of silver light.
By the end of the match, Kyle's team barely scraped a win, with Darius collapsing onto the ground, panting.
"That," he gasped, "was way too close."
Lena smirked, standing tall. "I didn't break a sweat."
"Lies," Markus wheezed. "You totally broke a sweat."
Although it was just VR, where there was no actual physical harm, it still took a toll on their mental state. The combat was so immersive that the stress, the exhaustion, and the tension of each fight felt just as real as an actual battlefield.
The sensation of dodging a near-fatal strike, the weight of making split-second decisions, the pressure of staying aware—it all left their minds feeling drained.
For some, it was exhilarating.
For others, it was just another reminder of what they were training for.
—
Squad Battle – No Familiar Mode
The next match was a different beast entirely.
Without their familiars, everyone's weaknesses were exposed.
Darius still had speed, but his attacks lacked impact without his Stormfang's charge. Soren was powerful but slow without his Ironback's reinforcement. Markus, who relied on his Chimera Cub's versatility, struggled to maintain a consistent strategy.
Kyle, on the other hand, felt something strange.
Even without Boneclaw's presence, his instincts were sharper, his reactions eerily precise. He moved through the battlefield with a cold, calculated efficiency—dodging, countering, striking at openings.
At some point, the others started noticing.
Vivian, who had been watching him carefully, narrowed her eyes.
Lena, after barely dodging one of his counters, let out a breath. "Damn, Kyle. You're fast."
Kyle blinked. "Huh?"
Darius, rubbing his jaw where Kyle had landed a hit earlier, scowled. "Yeah. Suspiciously fast."
Kyle scratched the back of his head, trying to downplay it. "Guess I'm just getting better."
They didn't push the topic, but Kyle could tell—the way he fought was changing.
And he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
—
After the Matches – Dinner & Bonding
After several exhausting matches, the group left the VR center and headed to a small restaurant tucked away in the city's side streets. It was a cozy spot—wooden tables, warm lighting, and the smell of grilled meat filling the air.
They ordered a ridiculous amount of food, too tired to care about anything else.
Lena leaned back in her chair. "That was the best weekend we've had in a while."
Jace nodded. "Yeah. Felt... normal for once."
Vivian, who had been quiet most of the night, finally spoke. "It was nice."
Kyle glanced at her, catching something off in her expression. She looked… conflicted. Like she was here but somewhere else at the same time.
But before he could say anything, Darius slammed his cup down. "Alright, next weekend, I'm winning."
Theo sighed. "You say that every time."
Kyle chuckled.
The group stayed out late, talking, eating, and bonding over shared exhaustion.
For a moment, they weren't cadets.
For a moment, they weren't future soldiers.
They were just friends.
—