Jihu had always known the academy was more than what it claimed to be. But seeing the classified files in front of him confirmed what he had suspected—this wasn't just an institution for training elite cadets. It was a battlefield of its own, where unseen forces played a dangerous game.
And now, he was in the center of it.
---
### **Returning to the Academy**
The journey back was tense. Selene remained quiet, staring at the encrypted files Aeris had copied. Garron, for once, had nothing to say, his fingers tapping absently against his knee. Aeris, ever composed, kept working through the data, though Jihu noticed the slight furrow in her brow—a sign of genuine concern.
Jihu, meanwhile, was already planning his next move.
This information was dangerous. Knowing it meant he was now a target, whether he liked it or not. But instead of fear, a sense of opportunity settled in his mind.
**If they want to play a game of shadows, I'll make sure they never see the pieces moving.**
As they landed, the academy's instructors were waiting. The head instructor, Commander Varen, studied them with an unreadable expression.
"Your performance exceeded expectations. However, your ship sustained significant damage. Explain."
Selene, ever composed, replied first. "We were ambushed. Hostile forces were already occupying the outpost."
Taren's gaze sharpened. "That wasn't part of the exercise."
A calculated silence followed. Jihu knew that admitting too much would put them under deeper scrutiny. Instead, he let Selene take the lead while he subtly observed Varen's body language. The way the man's fingers twitched, the brief glance toward the data pad in his hands—he already knew about the outpost's compromise.
**They sent us knowing it was a war zone.**
That single realization confirmed what Jihu had suspected. The academy wasn't just training soldiers. They were testing them in real combat scenarios without telling them.
And the question was—**who were they really fighting?**
---
### **The Three-Month Break**
A week later, an announcement was made.
**"Due to the extensive physical and mental strain caused by recent training and assignments, all cadets are granted a three-month leave before midterm examinations."**
The news was met with celebration among the students, but Jihu remained silent. He knew better. This wasn't a simple break. It was a calculated move by the academy to observe how students used their time.
Still, he welcomed the quiet.
For the first few days, he did nothing. No training, no plotting, no studying. Just resting. He spent hours lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, allowing his body to recover from the past months of endless pressure.
But deep down, he knew this peace wouldn't last.
And then, on the fourth morning, something changed.
---
### **The Awakening**
Jihu woke to a sharp, piercing sensation running through his body. A sudden pressure, like thousands of tiny needles, spread through his veins. His breath hitched as his vision blurred—then suddenly, in the darkness, a bright blue screen appeared before his eyes.
> **Nanobot System Upgrade Available – Version 2.0**\
> **Update includes:**
>
> - **Full-Body Reconstruction** (Enhanced muscle fibers, improved neuron pathways, increased durability)
> - **System Optimization** (Real-time combat analysis, tactical prediction, enhanced cognitive processing)
> - **Martial Arts Database Integration** (Assimilating centuries of Earth's most advanced combat techniques)
> - **Ultra Instinct Mode Unlocked** (A state of heightened reflexes, perfect movement efficiency)
Jihu's mind went blank. His body froze in shock, but before he could react, the screen flickered again.
> **Initiating System Enhancement. Estimated Time: 12 Hours.**
Then, pain.
A searing heat exploded from within, every nerve igniting in a blaze of agony. His vision darkened, his body convulsing as if something was breaking him apart from the inside. He gasped, clutching at his sheets, but the sensation was unbearable—like being torn and rebuilt at the same time.
His muscles burned, shifting, expanding, contracting at an unnatural speed. His bones felt as if they were being shattered and reforged. Every cell in his body screamed.
**What… is this…?!**
---
### **A Voice in the Darkness**
Then, amidst the chaos, a voice spoke.
> **"Jihu Kang. Do not resist. The process is necessary for your survival."**
His mind barely processed it. The voice was smooth, artificial, yet strangely calming.
"Who—?" he rasped, his body still shaking.
> **"I am your Nanobot System AI. I will be assisting you in all future endeavors."**
The words barely registered before another wave of pain hit. But the voice continued, steady and unwavering.
> **"Your neural pathways are being restructured. Your physical endurance is being enhanced. You will experience significant improvement in combat efficiency."**
Jihu gritted his teeth. "This… hurts like hell."
> **"Pain is temporary. Power is permanent."**
Something about that statement struck him. He forced himself to endure, focusing on each breath, each moment. He had survived worse. He could survive this.
---
### **Rebirth in the Dark**
When Jihu opened his eyes, everything felt… different.
His movements were smoother, refined. His body felt weightless yet powerful, like an engine fine-tuned to perfection. His senses had sharpened. He could hear the faint sound of footsteps outside his door, smell the metallic tang of the academy's reinforced walls, feel the shift in air pressure from the cooling vents.
**This… is incredible.**
And then, a whisper in the back of his mind.
> **"Ultra Instinct Mode available upon activation."**
He exhaled. This was only the beginning.
---
### **The Game of Shadows Continues**
One evening, as he sat in the academy's deserted training hall, a familiar presence arrived.
Lucian.
"You've been quiet," Lucian said, stepping into the dim light. "That's not like you."
Jihu looked at him, calm and unreadable. "I've been thinking."
Lucian smirked. "Dangerous habit."
Jihu didn't respond immediately. Instead, he watched Lucian, noting the slight tension in his shoulders, the careful way he stood.
Lucian wasn't here just for casual conversation. He had noticed the change.
Jihu leaned back. "The academy isn't what it seems. You know that."
Lucian studied him. "And what do you plan to do about it?"
A slow smile formed on Jihu's lips.
"I plan to win."