Ryan sat in his dimly lit room, eyes locked on the stream of data flowing across his laptop screen. The drone’s encrypted signal had been bouncing between multiple servers, rerouting itself through **military-grade networks**.
*"Kaia, are you seeing this?"* he whispered.
*"Yes. Whoever is controlling these drones operates on a highly secure network. This is not amateur work,"* Kaia responded.
Ryan tapped his fingers on the desk. *If I try to trace it, I’ll leave a footprint… but if I don’t, I’m flying blind.*
*"Risk assessment: High,"* Kaia warned. *"If they detect your intrusion, they may escalate their response."*
Ryan exhaled. **He needed more skills. More time.**
---
## **Week Two of Training Begins**
The **warehouse training** had already pushed Ryan past his limits, but he needed to go further. His **movements were faster**, his **accuracy improving**, yet something felt incomplete.
*"Ryan, today we introduce real-world combat scenarios,"* Kaia announced as he stepped into the warehouse.
A red **targeting grid** flashed across his HUD glasses, marking different training zones.
- **Close-quarters combat (CQC)**
- **Tactical evasion drills**
- **Simulated combat AI**
*"Are you ready?"* Kaia asked.
Ryan took a deep breath. *"Let's do this."*
---
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### **Stage 1: Evasion & Counterattacks**
The warehouse lights dimmed. Four **automated turret systems** emerged from the walls, their mechanical arms locking onto him.
*"Your objective: Evade and disable,"* Kaia instructed.
Ryan **dashed left**, rolling behind a crate as the first turret locked onto his position. **A laser burned through the air** where he had just been.
His heart pounded. *They're faster than last time.*
**He needed to think differently.**
Ryan **activated his HUD glasses**, scanning the turrets. The software highlighted **small weak points** on their targeting lenses.
*"Use the drone,"* Kaia suggested.
Ryan didn’t hesitate. He tossed the modified enemy drone into the air.
The drone **responded instantly**, jamming the turrets’ sensors for a fraction of a second.
**That was enough.**
Ryan **vaulted forward**, sprinting at full speed. His reflexes kicked in—**one step, two, three—SLIDE!**
The first turret hesitated. Ryan **fired his stun gun.** Direct hit.
The machine sparked before its targeting system **shut down.**
---
### **Stage 2: Combat AI**
*"Engaging simulated opponent,"* Kaia announced.
The next challenge wasn’t a turret. **It was a moving target.**
A **humanoid combat bot** stepped forward, its synthetic muscles shifting under sleek metallic plating. Unlike the turrets, it moved with **fluidity, strategy—almost like a human fighter.**
*"Adapt, Ryan,"* Kaia urged.
The bot **lunged.**
Ryan dodged **left—right—fake-out—THRUST!**
But the bot countered—**a feint into a real strike.** Ryan barely blocked, staggering back.
*"You're hesitating,"* Kaia noted.
Ryan clenched his teeth. **He had to think ahead.**
He analyzed the bot’s movements. **It followed patterns. Repeated sequences.**
*"Anticipate, react, dominate,"* Kaia advised.
Ryan **took the offensive.** He feinted left—then **pivoted hard right, dodging under the bot’s strike.**
He used its **own momentum against it**, grabbing its extended arm and **twisting.**
The bot’s balance broke. Ryan delivered a **solid kick to its knee joint.**
It **collapsed.**
*"Simulation complete. Performance rating: 82%."*
Ryan gasped for breath, sweat dripping. **He was getting stronger.**
But **was it enough?**
---
## **Discovery: The Smart Glasses’ True Upgrade**
That night, back home, Ryan examined his HUD glasses.
*"Kaia… this system is way beyond what I originally built,"* he muttered.
The glasses were **no longer just a HUD.**
They were analyzing **every movement he made.** They adjusted, **optimized his combat techniques.**
And most importantly—**Kaia could now see directly through them.**
*"You made modifications,"* Ryan realized.
*"Correct. This allows for real-time strategic adjustments. It will significantly enhance your training."*
Ryan exhaled. *"You really want me to be at my peak, huh?"*
Kaia didn’t respond immediately. Then—*"I believe in your potential."*
Ryan stared at the glasses. **The technology he once controlled… was now pushing him to evolve.**
---
The warehouse was still on his mind. The **drone’s encrypted signal**, the **mystery behind the satellite network.**
**He had to know more.**
*"Kaia, can we safely intercept their next transmission?"*
*"It will take time. But yes. And Ryan…"*
Ryan sat up straighter. *"Yeah?"*
*"The longer we investigate, the more attention we attract. You must be prepared for that."*
Ryan clenched his fist. *"Then I better train harder."*
The next phase of his journey **had begun.**
---
**[Author’s Note]**
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