The warehouse was silent, save for the quiet hum of Ryan’s laptop as the encrypted transmission data scrolled across the screen. His heart pounded as he stared at it. The drone—**that enemy drone**—had just received an incoming command from the satellite.
*"Kaia, can you intercept it?"* Ryan asked, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
*"I’m attempting to, but the encryption is highly advanced. If I break through too quickly, they may detect us."*
Ryan exhaled sharply. *"So what do we do?"*
*"We observe. Let's see what the drone was commanded to do."*
On-screen, the decrypted data formed a pattern. A **location ping.** The drone had received a new directive—a scouting mission.
*"They're searching for something... or someone,"* Kaia murmured.
Ryan's stomach twisted. *Are they looking for me?*
Before he could dwell on it, Kaia spoke again. *"Ryan, if you intend to stand against this kind of opponent, your training must intensify. You are improving, but not fast enough."*
Ryan clenched his jaw. *"Then let’s push harder."*
---
## The Next Phase of Training
The next morning, Ryan returned to the warehouse, his body sore but determined. Kaia’s training plan had already been updated.
**Day 1:**
- **Advanced Movement** – Learning evasive techniques, fast maneuvering.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
- **Target Shooting** – Improving aim and weapon handling.
- **Strength Conditioning** – Bodyweight exercises and endurance drills.
Ryan started with agility drills, weaving through makeshift obstacles Kaia had marked with his HUD glasses. The glasses highlighted optimal movement paths, showing him the most efficient ways to dodge, duck, and roll.
At first, his reactions lagged. He tripped, stumbled, **missed crucial seconds.**
*"Again,"* Kaia urged.
He adjusted. Focused. He moved faster.
As the hours passed, something odd happened. Time felt… different.
When he sprinted through the course, dodging swinging metal bars, it felt as if the world around him had slightly **slowed down**—just enough for him to react.
He didn’t question it. He used it.
By the evening, his movements had become **sharper, cleaner.** He wasn’t just running a course anymore. He was **adapting.**
---
## First Combat Test
*"Time for your shooting practice,"* Kaia announced.
Ryan wiped sweat from his brow and grabbed his modified stun gun. Kaia had placed moving targets around the warehouse—small metal plates shifting unpredictably.
He raised the gun, aimed—**missed.**
*"Too slow. The target was already moving by the time you pulled the trigger."*
Ryan gritted his teeth and fired again. This time, the HUD calculated the **trajectory shift**, highlighting where he should aim **before** the target moved.
He fired. **Direct hit.**
Ryan smirked. *"That’s more like it."*
He kept going, firing shot after shot, missing less each time. By the time he finished, his hands were steady, his mind sharp.
*"Not bad,"* Kaia noted. *"You’re improving faster than expected."*
Ryan exhaled, his muscles aching. **He wasn’t just improving. He was changing.**
---
## Unwanted Attention
That night, Ryan checked the drone logs again. The encrypted signal had **changed frequencies**.
*"They’re adapting,"* Kaia observed.
Ryan frowned. "Which means they know someone tampered with the drone."
A cold realization settled over him. Whoever controlled these machines wasn’t just sending them on random patrols. They were **watching.**
And now, they were watching **him.**
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He needed to get ahead of them. He needed **more information.**
*"Kaia, how soon can we trace the satellite’s origin?"*
*"With the right tools… soon,"* Kaia said. *"But be careful, Ryan. You are stepping into a larger game than you realize."*
Ryan cracked his knuckles. *"Then it's time to play smart."*
---
**[Author’s Note]**
Loving the story so far? Your feedback keeps me going! Drop a review and share your thoughts!
