VIVIAN
The entire hall erupted the moment the footage of Vivian’s strength test finished playing.
Vincent slammed his palm against the table.
"Impossible!"
The holographic image of the shattered strength stone flickered above them.
"A Zero-Class female cannot possess that kind of strength!"
One of the lecturers frowned.
"She shattered a Grade-S strength stone with one punch."
"Exactly!" Vincent snapped. "She must have taken illegal enhancement drugs!"
Another lecturer shook his head.
"Before the test her body scan showed no foreign substances"
Vincent said. "Then she must have used an illegal injection that shows no detection."
Kael asked, in a low tone."Do you have evidence?"
Vincent’s face darkened. "Anyone can hide an injection!"
Across the table, a tall man slowly rose from his seat.
He was dressed in a dark military uniform, his silver insignia marking him as one of the academy’s senior SS Rank commanders.
His name was Darius Valen.
He had been one of Isaac Lilian’s closest friends since their academy days.
Darius stared coldly at Vincent. "Where is your evidence?"
Vincent opened his mouth.
Nothing came out, his face looked so green.
Darius continued. "You’re accusing a student of cheating because you don’t like her result."
"I am protecting the academy!" Vincent argued.
"Then investigate her."
Darius stepped closer.
"Don’t throw accusations around because the result embarrassed you."
Several lecturers exchanged glances. Vincent’s jaw tightened.
Darius smiled faintly.
"Or should I call Isaac?"
Vincent’s expression instantly changed.
"You don’t need to.."
"I think you do."
Darius picked up his communicator. "I’ll ask him personally whether his daughter has access to illegal enhancement drugs."
Vincent’s hands immediately dropped to his sides.
Everyone knew Isaac Lilian.
He had entered the Haxia Military Academy as a D-Class soldier.
He had climbed his way to A-Class through blood, war, and countless missions.
Now he was a Regional Commander.
More importantly... He was terrifying when someone touched his daughter.
Vincent swallowed.
"I wasn’t accusing her without reason."
"Good."
Darius sat down.
Kael snapped. "Then explain your reason."
Vincent remained silent for several seconds.
Then his eyes narrowed. "I have another solution."
Everyone looked at him.
"I vote that Vivian Lilian becomes an individual soldier under my command."
The room went silent.
An individual soldier?
Several lecturers stared at Vincent as if he had lost his mind.
Darius frowned. "She’s a woman."
"I know."
"You don’t have a single woman in your unit."
"Then she’ll be the first."
Darius’s expression hardened. "Your unit specializes in frontline combat."
"I know."
Kael said. "Women are not assigned there."
Vincent leaned back. "Then she can prove herself."
He glanced at the holographic image of Vivian.
"If she really possesses that strength, she won’t need special treatment."
"And if she fails?"
Vincent smiled. "She leaves the military academy."
Another lecturer frowned.
"Why are you so determined to get rid of her?"
Vincent’s smile disappeared. "Because this is the military academy."
"Not a playground for spoiled princesses."
Darius’s eyes narrowed. "She already abandoned her princess status."
Vincent scoffed.
"Then she should go to Saint and Saintess Academy like other women."
Before anyone could answer..
BOOOOOOM! The entire building shook.
The table jumped.
Several holographic screens flickered violently.
WARNING!
WARNING!
BORDER BREACH DETECTED!
A red emergency symbol appeared across every wall.
The lights immediately changed.
"What’s happening?"
Another violent explosion rocked the academy.
BOOOOM!
The floor trembled beneath their feet.
Darius immediately grabbed his military coat. Kael and Vincent did the same.
"They’re here again."
Every commander stood.
"How many?"
"Unknown!"
"All border units deploy!"
The lecturers rushed toward the exit.
Vincent’s expression became serious. "Get all the students out!! This isn’t a drill."
VIVIAN
Viviansat down like the examiner had ordered. Everyone looked at her like she was a mutant animal.
The examiner said they will get back to her after verifying her results. She was anxious and scared if something would go wrong.
WEEEEEE-OOO!
Suddenly the red alarm screamed through the academy.
Vivian froze in the middle of the corridor and she stood up.
Students were running everywhere.
Men rushed past her in military uniforms.
Some activated their combat armor.
Others pulled weapons from their storage devices.
Vivian stared around in confusion.
"What the hell is happening?"
Nobody answered.
A massive explosion shook the building.
"AH!"
Vivian stumbled backward. Someone crashed into her shoulder.
She fell onto the floor.
"Are you blind?" The male student didn’t even stop.
Vivian stared after him.
"What the...hell?"
Another explosion shook the corridor. She scrambled to her feet. "Where am I supposed to run?"
She had never read anything about this.
The original Vivian had never entered the military academy.
This entire situation was completely outside the plot she remembered.
Students disappeared through emergency doors.
Vivian stood alone. Her heart hammered against her chest.
Then...Someone grabbed her hand.
"Come!"
Vivian gasped.
A young girl pulled her forward.
"Wait!"
"Run!"
They sprinted through the corridor.
The girl’s speed was incredible.
Vivian struggled to keep up. They turned sharply and slipped into a narrow space between two reinforced walls.
The girl pushed Vivian inside.
"Stay here."
Vivian stared at her.
The girl was breathtaking. Long silver-blue hair flowed behind her shoulders.
Her eyes were a strange shade of blue.
Almost identical to Nerion’s.
Vivian blinked. "Mermaid?"
The girl smiled. "Stay here until the alarm stops."
Vivian immediately grabbed her hand.
"Wait!"
The girl looked back. Vivian didn’t know why she was suddenly afraid to let go.
The girl gently tapped her head.
"You’ll be safe."
Then she turned and disappeared.
Vivian remained pressed against the wall.
Her heart was still racing. "What is happening in this school?"
Another explosion thundered outside.
Vivian slowly leaned toward the opening.
She peeked out.
Her eyes widened.
"What..."
Hundreds of students had gathered in the massive training grounds.
But they weren’t fighting with ordinary weapons.
The ground opened.
CLANK!
CLANK!
Massive machines rose from underground hangars.
Metal giants. Their bodies were covered in armor.
Their eyes glowed brightly.
Students climbed into cockpits embedded inside their chests.
A MECHA? she screamed "Why is it here? Isn’t this an experiment in the scientist base that I grew up in? Why is it here?
Vivian was a science experiment and she had no childhood knowledge. She only heard her parents donated her to the government for a science experiment. And these machines were being created there. Why is it in Haxia too?
Vivian’s mouth slowly opened.
Across the battlefield, enormous enemy machines crashed through the academy’s defensive barrier.
The military students charged forward.
Missiles shot through the sky.
Energy cannons exploded against metal armor.
Three students gathered one enemy Mecha machine.
The enemy mecha leaped several meters into the air before smashing its enormous fist into the students machine.
BOOOOM!
Vivian’s fear suddenly disappeared.
Her eyes began to shine.
She pressed both hands against the wall.
"...I want one."
A gigantic mecha landed in front of her.
Its metal feet shook the ground.
Vivian stared at it.
Then slowly smiled.
"Forget becoming a normal soldier."
She pointed at the machine.
"I know exactly what I want to do."
Her smile widened.
"I’m going to drive one of those."