2024-12-31 05:06:35The Training Grounds at White Oak were truly impressive, leaving a lasting impression on those who set foot in them. The vast expanse of the grounds was predominantly open-air, adorned with grand rings enclosed by towering metal walls that evoked the image of ancient arenas where heroes honed their skills.
Among the students, Vardy found himself among the Frame students, a distinct group that stood apart from the others. As he observed the crowd, he estimated that there were approximately two hundred 'normal' students bustling about, each with their own aspirations and dreams of becoming heroes.
In contrast to the grandeur of other renowned hero schools, White Oak appeared modest in size. Vardy couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps the school lacked the financial resources of its counterparts, yet there was an underlying sense of mystery that lingered in the air. It was as if there was more to White Oak than met the eye, a hidden depth waiting to be uncovered.
Compared to other hero schools, White Oak was small. Vardy thought maybe they didn't have much money, but something felt off.
The arenas were high-tech, with some able to change the terrain. They had obstacles and drones ready for battle.
"Listen closely!" bellowed Officer Fletcher, his voice echoing across the grounds. "Because I won't say this again! We already know your powers and your Altana Cell count."
Vardy knew this meant they could access student profiles to see who was strong or not.
"But cell count and a bullet point summary of your powers doesn't mean sht out there where you'll be fighting for your lives against Vagrants or other Altanas. Combat is where we really determine your worth. Where you really use those powers you were born with."
The students murmured nervously. Some were excited, but the Frame students were scared. They hadn't even seen their Frames yet.
Officer Fletcher went on about classes and rewards. Class A meant good treatment, but the lower classes had to work harder.
"Excuse me, sir!" Luthor's voice cut through the tension.
Vardy knew Luthor would probably get hurt again.
"What about us?" Luthor asked, motioning to the Frame students. "We have no cell count or power profile. How do we fit into this?"
Fletcher didn't like the question. He hurt Luthor's shoulder with a hot touch, warning them to stay quiet.
"Their Frames are inside the arenas," Fletcher said sternly. "You can pilot them when the fighting begins."
Luthor asked how, but Fletcher didn't care. He told them to find their names on a board and go to their assigned arenas.
"The arenas will scan you to see if you can fight. If you get knocked out, drones will take you out."
"Fighting for ninety minutes will decide your class position," Fletcher explained. "Then get moving, maggots!"
As luck would have it, Vardy and the other Frame students found themselves in arena number 1, bumping the student count from 50 to 54.
"How do I even move in this thing?" Luthor grumbled, his face barely visible under the helmet of his Frame powersuit. He was stuck in a fixed T-pose, looking like an unfinished video game character, while others laughed at his predicament.
Vardy examined his own Frame, a towering humanoid suit made of segmented black plates with coils of dark grey cable underneath. As he touched the Frame's chest, it recognized his handprint.
"Subjects, huh?" Vardy mused. "That's all we are to this world."
"I couldn't get mine to open properly. And who made you subject number 1?" Luthor complained. "Help me figure this thing out!"
Vardy knew Luthor hadn't properly accessed his Frame. Without a biosignature scan, the suit didn't recognize him as its owner, leaving him stuck.
It was clear White Oak didn't care about the Frame students; they were just there for funding. Vardy knew the academy expected them to fail or quit.
"Aww, look, the Duds can't even use their crutches!" a student taunted Luthor, sparking laughter.
"They thought they belonged here with us, with real powers," another jeered.
"Don't mind them. Altanas are the next stage of human evolution," a girl sneered.
"It makes me sick being around them," a serious-looking student added.
"They won't be so cocky once I punch their faces in," Luthor retorted.
"And how will you do that? By T-posing?" Vardy teased.
Officer Fletcher's voice interrupted, announcing the start of the evaluation.
The arena shook as Hardlight Environments rendered, creating a simulated combat terrain.
"Let's see you try and move now!" someone mocked as several Frames struggled to walk.
"This is insanity," Frank fretted, adjusting his glasses nervously.
"Yeah, how are we supposed to fight in these things?" Jesse worried.
"Doesn't mean we can't try," Tracy encouraged, activating her Frame.
Vardy knew how to use the Frame, thanks to a secret training program his parents had left him. But he kept it to himself, letting the others underestimate him.
As the countdown ended, the evaluation began, and students targeted the helpless Frames.
"You're mine!" a student charged at Vardy.
"Boosters 4,5 engage," Vardy commanded silently, using thrusters in his heels to dodge the attack.
Vardy swiftly disabled one opponent, surprising everyone, including Tracy.
"What? How?" she exclaimed.
But Vardy had no time to explain as more students attacked.
"Boosters 4,5 maximum output. Engage left flare," Vardy ordered, using his suit's capabilities to incapacitate another opponent.
With no weapons, Vardy faced a crowd of adversaries, knowing he couldn't defeat them all.
But then, the leader of the bullies appeared, exuding a menacing aura that Vardy knew he couldn't match.
"Holy crap, it's Dean!" exclaimed some Altana students, marveling at Dean like he was a superhero.
Vardy watched closely as half of the students were mesmerized by Dean, while the others fled, uninterested in dealing with Vardy.
This indicated one thing: Dean was a serious threat, not just to Altana students like Vardy, but to everyone.
Vardy considered his options against Dean and realized he had none.
The Solar family was renowned for their powerful abilities, passed down through generations. Hayate Solar, the patriarch, ranked 15th in the World Rankings 100, possessed immense power called True Sun Force, granting him incredible strength, speed, and more.
If Dean inherited even a fraction of his father's power, Vardy stood no chance against him.
There were rumors of a Solar weakness, but they were effectively erased from the public eye by the family's PR team.
Dean mocked the defeated students, berating them for losing to someone like Vardy.
Then, Dean attacked with incredible speed and power, incapacitating the Altana students effortlessly.
He then turned his attention to Vardy, taunting him and delivering a devastating blow that left Vardy battered and broken.
Despite the pain, Vardy refused to give up.
Meanwhile, Tracy, another Altana student, tried to defend Vardy but was swiftly defeated by an invisible assailant named Sly.
Sly's ability to phase through matter made him a formidable opponent, leaving Vardy and Tracy helpless against him.
Sly, enjoying his dominance, inflicted more damage on Vardy before leaving them both incapacitated.
As Sly departed, Vardy gritted his teeth, refusing to show any sign of weakness in front of his tormentors.
The combat evaluation ended as expected, with Vardy and the other Frame students placed in the F-class alone.
Looking back, it was clear the 'F-class' was designed to isolate Frame students further.
Vardy and Luthor recuperated in the infirmary after the assessment, escorted by drones as Altana students laughed at their misfortune.
"The infirmary, a large building with white walls and a glowing green cross sign, was well-equipped but off-limits to them," Vardy observed carefully.
Instead, they were confined to a makeshift basement with basic medical supplies, reminiscent of a Vagrant outpost.
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 3: Echoes of Survival
Vardy and Luthor rested on hard beds under flickering lights, accompanied by Tracy, who felt safer there than in her dorm.The nurse, with tired eyes behind a white mask, silently tended to them."Where are the others, miss?" Luthor inquired as he sat up, his injuries comparatively light. "Damn, why do they get to be up there while we're stuck down here, huh?""The other two are in intensive care," the nurse replied curtly. "You are lucky to be down here. Means you at least have the energy to talk like that.""Oh," Luthor responded, deflating slightly.Vardy stared at the cracks in the ceiling wordlessly. He had heard what happened to Frank and Jesse, the Frame students who had fled."They had been chased down and mercilessly hunted down by Altanas that smelled their fear," Vardy explained, "and they were savagely beaten again and again as the Altana students tried to fight for who got the knockout points."Meanwhile, because Dean and his crew had personally dealt with Vardy, Luthor,
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 4: Fragments of Purpose
"This game's too hard!" Luthor complained, sitting in front of Vardy's gaming setup, a VR helmet snug on his head as he navigated Rune Quest.Playing as a warrior barbarian, Luthor struggled with the character's skill set, leading to his demise against a group of level 20 trolls. "Keep at it, you'll get there," Vardy encouraged from his bed."Yeah, but your character just obliterates everything," Luthor grumbled."That's because I'm a Dark Warlock. My death magic makes short work of them," Vardy explained."Seems overpowered. Should've picked your class," Luthor remarked."You struggle with a few skills, how would you handle managing fifty units?" Vardy retorted.Luthor paused the game and turned on his swivel chair to address the others in the room. Tracy sat at the foot of the bed, absorbed in her Eye-Phone. Although she didn't play Rune Quest due to sharing the copy, she excelled in other games.Reflecting on their year, Luthor expressed disbelief at how quickly time had passed. "A
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 5: The Dark Awakening
The Dark Awakening Lines of glowing bright, Slyly green energy transferred from the book and into Vardy's body, moving up the veins of his arm and lighting them in the dark."Spells: Freeze Bolt, Flame Torch, Raise Rank 1, and Dark Heal Rank 1 learned," Vardy noted.Dark Heal is a passive skill that heals a Warlock. "It's a good thing I have a firm knowledge on how to use my new powers, I can recite the spells mentally. "Freeze... ." He muttered softly as the air around him became cold. "Bolt!" Feeling the energy surge through him, Vardy prepared to face the Essentrias charging from the forest. to his former friend's skull. "But you'll be patched up soon with my "Nega Force". Plus, like you said, it's not like you're missing out with that face of yours."Vardy did not know why he talked to his friends as if they were still alive. He felt a twinge of hurt when he saw them as zombies. He thought he was immune to loss, and though he definitely was cold to it, there was still a pa
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 6: The rise of the Undead
Vardy charged at the Essentria this time, rushing toward it before it could do the same. He figured out that the Essentria's only way out was to charge at him and make him dodge, so he acted first to prevent that. It was risky, but he wanted the EXP and undead from defeating Essentria.When Vardy got close, the Essentria bit his shoulder, causing him a lot of pain. He managed to hold it off while Luthor and Tracy attacked it. They wrestled the Essentria to the ground, and Vardy told them to finish it off.Vardy swiftly delivered a forceful kick to the Essentria's neck, causing it to snap and crumple in defeat. He then turned his attention to Luthor, who had suffered an injury from the attack. With remorse evident on his face, Vardy apologized for the harm inflicted upon him and offered reassurance that he would soon be healed.Afterwards, Vardy took a moment to carefully allocate his stat points, meticulously reviewing each attribute's functionality before making any decisions.- Stre
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 7: The Hunter's Trap
"Stop me here," said Sly from the comfortably cushioned backseat of a commercial hover car. He was the only passenger in a car that had enough seating space to fit six people, and he abused the space by putting his feet on the seat and sprawling out like he was in his own bed. He had ordered a black tier express ride from Carrier, the best and most reliable taxi and rideshare service on the market, and he was damn well going to make the most of his purchase, especially now that he was getting jitters from coming off the high of X."Are you sure, sir? This is still quite a ways from the compound, and there may be Vagrants out and about," said the driver from the front seat. An opaque black plexiglass sheet separated passengers from the driver, but Sly could still see the silhouette of the driver's head cocked in confusion."Did you not hear me?" said Sly, annoyed. "I want out here.""As you wish, sir," said the driver. He halted the sleek black, expensive hover car to a smooth stop. S
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 8: Vengeance Made Flesh
Vardy experienced a peculiar sensation as he gazed down at Sly in this manner. The act of looking down was entirely novel to him, yet it felt undeniably fitting. In fact, it felt just. Yes, it resonated with justice. Justice backed by tangible actions, not mere idealism. This was the justice Vardy intended to enact, a justice sorely lacking in this world.As his eyes met Sly's, a screen materialized before him, presenting a new quest: "VENGEANCE obtained". The interface differed slightly, with the quest details displayed in bold, bloody red font, giving it a sinister appearance."VENGEANCE "ACTIVE"Difficulty: 5Details:Hunt down Dean and his crew. Enact vengeance. Enact judgement.Rewards:-Death of Sly: 200 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Evan Harker: 50 EXP, 50 Coin-Death of Simon Wells: 100 EXP, 100 Coin-Death of Zayn Soldata: 250 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Dean: 1000 EXP, 800 Coin-Bonus EXP gained from absorbing Negative Energy from each individual\"Vardy adjusted his neck, uncertain
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 9: The Immortal Knights Return
Ferah finally released Vardy after what felt like an eternity. Removing her black great helm, she knelt before him on the grass, revealing her deathly pale face, similar to Vardy's, indicating her Undead nature.She was a hybrid of Dullahan and Vampire, evident in her sharp, ferocious eyes with black sclera and glowing crimson red pupils. Her dark black hair was styled in a messy bob cut, partly obscuring her left eye with bangs."You look as good as ever," Vardy remarked, noting Ferah's stunning beauty, even more impressive in real life than in the game's graphics.Vardy's Undead nature prevented him from being distracted by her appearance, focusing solely on his purpose. Risen Undead like them were driven by a single purpose, unlike natural Undead like Vampires or Dullahan, who experienced a wide range of emotions."I-I am grateful, my master," Ferah responded, closing her eyes briefly before meeting Vardy's gaze. "You too look splendid, my master. But I must ask - why have you chan
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 10: Forge of the Future
Vardy stepped onto the Sign, and the teleporting light him and everyone else. In a moment, they arrived in the dim interior of the Apex Realm temple, with its gray stone and tall gothic pillars."The Apex Realm. I never thought I'd be back here with you, master," said Ferah. She seemed happy at first, but then she squinted. "Something feels off about this place.""What do you mean?" asked Vardy."The Apex Realm is supposed to be a safe space created by the twin gods Amara and Sindri. It should have a warmth to it from their powers. But I don't sense it. It feels...dead," said Ferah. "It's like this place is just a copy, lacking the real 'life' but still having its powers.""I noticed that too," said Vardy. "My theory is that this isn't the real Apex Realm. It's just a replica, still holding its powers but lacking the true essence.""Is that so?" Ferah looked around warily. "As long as you trust it, I will too.""So far, it hasn't let me down," said Vardy. He leaped over the Wellspring
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Chapter 87: The Hidden Passage
The artifact, the key to everything wasn't what he thought it was. It wasn't a weapon to wield, it was a curse to be avoided. But could they afford to walk away from it now? Dean was too powerful, and without the artifact, how could they ever hope to defeat him?Selene broke the silence, her voice low. "What now?"Vardy didn't have an answer. He had always believed that the artifact was their only hope, but now, everything had changed. They were no longer just fighting for victory, they were fighting for their survival, against an ancient force that could tear them apart."We keep moving," Vardy said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "We keep moving, and we figure out what to do with the artifact. But we need to be careful. That spirit wasn't lying. We have to find a way to use it without letting it destroy us."The group nodded, each gazing at each other.They moved and as they got to the base of Dean's fortress, Selene went ahead but stopped abruptly."This is it," Sel
Chapter 86: The Encounter with the Spirit
Vardy’s instincts kicked in, and he spun around just in time to see a group of Dean’s elite soldiers emerging from the trees, their weapons drawn and aimed at the group.It happened in an instant."Take cover!" Vardy shouted, ducking behind a snowdrift as the soldiers opened fire.They started shooting.Selene was the first to respond, sprinting towards cover as Vardy motioned for the others to follow.Ferah, gritting her teeth, took a few stumbling steps before collapsing against a nearby rock, her side pulsing with pain. Tracy was quick to her side, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her further into cover. "Stay down," Tracy urged, her voice low.I'm fine," Ferah growled, though the strain in her voice was evident. She fought to push through the pain, even as the battle raged around them.Vardy, spotting an opening, stood from behind the snowdrift, his rifle in hand. His aim was precise, and he fired a few rounds, hitting one of the soldiers in the chest. The man fell, but the o
Chapter 85: To the Mountains
The visions began to fade, the whispers weakening as Vardy found his center again. Slowly, he exhaled deeply.His pulse steadied, and the world around him came back to normal. His chest heaved, and for a moment, he just stood there, trying to regain his composure."Vardy!" A voice called urgently, sharp and concerned, gazing at him.He blinked, his vision clearing, he turned to find Selene rushing toward him, her face filled with worry. Her footsteps were quick, and before he could gather his thoughts, she was at his side, her hand hovering around to check if he was okay.What’s wrong? What happened?" Her voice was insistent, but Vardy couldn’t bring himself to tell her. Not now. Not yet.He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, steadying himself. "Nothing." His voice came out a little strained, but he forced a calmness into it. "I’m fine."Selene’s brow furrowed as she studied him, clearly not convinced. She didn’t buy it, and he could see the doubt in her eyes. She knew him to
Chapter 84: Into The Words
Marcus stood by the door, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He was used to Dean’s outburst.The energy in the room was suffocating."We can still destroy the Dud," Marcus muttered, his voice low. His eyes were burning.Dean froze. Slowly, he turned, locking his gaze onto Marcus.For a moment, the only sound was the heavy breathing from Dean’s chest. Then, without a word, he stepped past Marcus, his expression unreadable.Marcus exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched.Something had shifted in Dean tonight.And that could only mean one thing, war was coming.***The next day, the sun rose over Haven in a haze.Dean stood before a large map of the city, his fingers tracing the lines of the streets as he spoke in a cold, calculating tone."Set my plan B in motion," he commanded Marcus, his voice sharp and unwavering.Marcus nodded without hesitation, his eyes narrowing in understanding. "It’ll be done."Dean watched as Marcus departed. With a final glance at the city map, Dean let his m
Chapter 83: The Horror
Luthor swung at one, but his weapon passed through. “Damn it! They’re not even solid!”Selene fired a glowing arrow. This time, it worked, the creature dissolved in a flash of light.“Magic works,” she called out.But the shadows were endless, slithering through the battlefield, wrapping around the resistance fighters.One latched onto Tracy’s arm. She gasped as her body grew cold. “Vardy….!”He turned, slicing through them with a pulse of dark magic, catching her as she stumbled. “Are you alright?”Tracy nodded, shivering. “We need to end this.”Vardy clenched his fists. “We take the tower now.”Luthor grinned. “Now you’re talking.”Tracy, still catching her breath, gave a firm nod. “I’m coming with you.”Vardy hesitated, but he saw the fire in her eyes. “Then let’s finish this together.”Just then the Altanas called for retreat.“Retreat! Retreat!” Their leader's voice rang through the air.Vardy and his group seized the opportunity to catch their breath even.Tracy breathed, at le
Chapter 82: Haven Falls into Chaos
The undead army he had summoned stood behind him, a silent, grim of soldiers with lifeless eyes and broken bodies, waiting for the command to strike.“Get into formation!” Vardy shouted over the chaos, his voice hoarse from the smoke and noise. “We’ll hold them here, keep the streets clear.”His allies, Selene, Luthor, and the rest of the ragtag group, rushed to take their places. But as they moved, the ground shook again, and Vardy’s senses prickled. Something wasn’t right. The ground beneath his boots seemed to ripple, as though the earth itself was reacting to the immense forces clashing above it. He turned just in time to see a group of Altana charging through the smoke.They moved with military precision, expertly encircling the group."Fall back!" Luthor ordered, his voice tight with panic. "They're too many."Vardy’s undead army began to clash with the mercenaries, the sound of bones snapping and metal clanging echoing in every direction. “Hold your ground!” Vardy barked agai
Chapter 81: The Battle Cry
It was the challenge Vardy had been waiting for, but it also meant everything was about to change.The group had gathered at their hideout, hearing the broadcast loud and clear. Vardy’s mind raced. He knew this was the moment, the one that would determine everything. The fight was inevitable now.Tracy stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern. “Vardy… you’re going to face him, aren’t you uh?”Vardy nodded, his expression hardening. “I don’t have a choice. He’s threatening everything we’ve worked for. The people we’ve rallied… they’ll be crushed if I don’t stop him now.”Tracy reached out, grabbing his arm before he could move. “Be careful. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m coming with you.”Vardy turned toward her, his face softening for a moment. “No. This is something I have to do. You stay here. Keep the people safe.”“No! I’m coming with you, Vardy,” Tracy snapped, her voice filled with defiance. Her eyes, usually soft and calm, were now sharp.The tension in the air betw
Chapter 80: I’m Unstoppable
“I have to,” Vardy said quietly. “I don’t have a choice.”With that, he turned, already moving toward the edge of the ship. The distant lights of Haven City beckoned to him, and he knew, deep down, that there was no other path for him. Dean had started something, and if Vardy didn’t stop him now, there would be no stopping.“We're all going with you, Vardy.” Selene voiced out all of a sudden.Vardy turned, his gaze fixed on them all, “no… no. I need you to take Ferah to safety.”“Who said I wasn't going too?” Ferah said, though in a low tone but, shocking Vardy.“No way! Ferah please..” Vardy objected, but it seemed like they all planned it and they weren't ready to yield.Vardy heaved darting round, not knowing what to say again.Meanwhile, in Haven City, the destruction continued. The city had descended into chaos. People were trapped in their homes, unable to escape the nightmare that Dean had brought.Dean stood at the heart of the destruction, his arms raised to the sky, comman
Chapter 79: I Will Take Over the World
“Stay with her,” Tracy said to Selene, her voice low but firm. “I’ll try to get Vardy to focus. We can’t let him slip away too.”Selene didn’t respond, but Tracy saw the faint nod of her head as she continued her work on Ferah. Tracy turned her attention to Vardy again. He was still standing at the bow of the ship, staring out at the water. She walked up to him, careful not to startle him, but when he turned to face her, she could see it. The change was in his eyes. The darkness was beginning to take over, without warning.“Vardy,” she said, her voice a little more insistent now. “You need to talk to me. This... this power is messing with your head, I can see it.”Vardy's jaw tightened, his hands shaking slightly as he gripped the artifact even tighter. He looked at Tracy, his eyes narrowing. “I’m fine. You’re overreacting.”Tracy stepped closer to him, her heart pounding in her chest. “No, Vardy. I’m not overreacting. I know you. And this isn’t you.” She reached out, placing a hand
