Cryptomining Supervillain Chapter 40: 040 DEATH BY SIMULATION

040 DEATH BY SIMULATION

"Yes." Greene's tone was firm, like a man stating a truth carved in stone.

"ta abilities develop slowly, and only if you have talent. Strength, on the other hand, can be built through persistence—and with enough SynGen Genomics in your system, you can push those limits even higher, even beyond your current ta Rank."

Dan thought about the weekly injections the school provided. SynGen Genomics had always been explained as a way to "balance" students' growth, but now he understood.

It wasn't just dicine—it was fuel for ta Strength growth.

Dan's Strength was already near the ceiling of Rank F. But if he combined that strong base with these simulators, with real training… he had another tool he could use.

"Can I train here?" Dan asked suddenly.

Greene raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Why would a ta High student want Strength training? Most of your kind prefer to polish their flashy skills instead of breaking their backs on weights."

"Because I want to be stronger," Dan said simply. His eyes didn't waver. "ta or Strength—it doesn't matter. Only the result matters."

Greene studied him for a long mont, then gave a small nod. "Very well. I'll grant you a one-week pass. The trainers will analyze your progress. If you et their standards, you'll be allowed to continue."

Dan bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, sir."

The captain smirked. "Don't thank yet. Training here isn't free. After a week, you'll join the expeditions alongside the Military High students. That's the cost. There's no free lunch in Fortress Myrone."

"Yes, sir." Dan hesitated, then asked, "And about the dagger?"

Greene's eyes softened with amusent. "You'll be issued standard ta weapons for expeditions. Your little blade won't cut it out there."

Dan tightened his grip on the hilt of his dagger anyway, as if unwilling to let go. "Aye, sir."

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While the other students trudged off toward the battlefield to haul Shadow Hound corpses, Dan was led instead to the training center—an exception granted personally by Captain Greene.

Lieutenant Kalr, a lean man with scars running down his jaw, sized him up. "Have you done any Combat training before, boy?"

"Not ta Strength-based combat training," Dan admitted, "but I've mastered most combat and self-defense techniques."

Kalr gave a small grunt. "Ah…a self-learned…but ordinary techniques won't cut it here. However, they make a good foundation." He tilted his head. "Tell , what do you want strengthened?"

Dan thought carefully. "I fight with a dagger. I want my thrusts to be sharper and deadlier. To strike vital points."

A flicker of approval touched Kalr's eyes. "Good. Precision. Then the skill for you is Assassinate."

"Assassinate?" Dan asked.

"A Combat Strength skill developed for operatives and covert soldiers," Kalr explained. "Fast, efficient, lethal and at higher expertise, it could even project its ta powers. If you can already handle a dagger, it's the perfect path."

"Project ta… like a ta skill?" Dan asked excitedly.

"It could be, but it depends on your talent. ta power projection is much harder with Strength based skills than ta based skills", Kalr explained.

Before Dan could respond, Kalr brought him into a chamber lined with chro and glass. He handed over a small black vial containing miniaturized ta chips.

"This is a ta-chip. Once injected, it will integrate with your nervous system. Like your ta skills but designed for ta-Strength aptitude."

The needle stung imdiately before Dan even had the chance to voice opposition. In the military training center, things move really fast… there was no ti for hesitation.

Then Dan was subrged into a liquid chamber, his body shuddering as the chip dissolved into his blood stream. The sensation wasn't unlike the first ti he had absorbed a ta ability—where raw energy began rewriting his muscle mory.

When he stepped out, gasping, he asked, "So Strength skills… can be transmuted just like tas?"

Kalr nodded. "Exactly. And don't underestimate them. In the military, Strength skills can rival or even surpass pure ta techniques. That's our secret."

Dan was seated on a seat where a monitor flickered to life, playing a short sequence of movents before him with hypnotic effects—there were dagger strikes, evasions, and precise thrusts into an enemy's weak points.

Dan watched the Assassinate techniques over and over until the patterns seared into his mind.

Then he graduated from the seat before he was quickly ushered into a training room. There was no ti for delay in the military training center… there was always another soldier waiting on the line.

"What do I do?" Dan asked while he was in the chamber.

Then the simulator chamber humd to life.

"Don't panic," Kalr said. "This is only virtual. But fight like your life depends on it."

A Shadow Hound materialized before him in virtual reality, its soulfire eyes burning.

Dan lunged with the new techniques, his dagger flashing toward the hound's neck. But the beast was too fast. Its movents blurred; his thrusts missed by inches.

Fail.

Again and again he tried—every failed strike followed by the hound's simulated killing blow.

Dozens of attempts. Then hundreds. Each ending the sa.

By the ti the session ended, Dan collapsed to his knees, sweat soaking his training uniform. He pulled off the simulator helt, his face pale and exhausted.

"I failed," he muttered.

Kalr crouched beside him, his voice calm. "Nobody masters a Combat Strength skill in a single session. Co back tomorrow. You'll improve."

Dan nodded weakly, but the sting of failure stayed with him.

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Back at the bunker, he couldn't shake the mory of the hound's snapping jaws. He replayed every failed strike in his mind, searching for a flaw.

A hand clapped his shoulder. Dan turned to see Zairgid grinning.

"Buddy, tell the truth. Why'd you get excused from corpse collection duty? Did you hook up with one of the lieutenant admins?"

Dan smirked. "Guess what? I was training with the military instructors."

Zairgid blinked, then burst out laughing. "You what? Captain Greene actually let you train? Why would you even want to do that? Combat training's brutal."

"You never know when real danger hits," Dan said seriously. "What if your Camouflage fails, and your shield breaks? What then? If you have nothing left but fear?" He held up his dagger. "A Strength skill could be the difference between life and death."

Zairgid's grin faltered. He thought about it.

"…You've got a point. Strength aptitude is easy enough to build, especially with GenSyn Genomics. I could max mine out in no ti if I wanted….all it takes is money," His tone shifted, almost excited.

"If you're training in Combat skills, then I'm in too."

"You sure?" Dan asked. "It's hard work. Not everyone can take it."

Zairgid laughed again. "Hard work in a simulator beats carrying trash bags filled with Shadow Hound guts."

He stepped aside to make a quick call on the walls of the comms.

Dan was curious how did they managed to communicate between two worlds, but the call ca through.

Zairgid's father's voice was low but approving on the other end. He was glad that his spoilt son was finally taking so initiative.

When he hung up, Zairgid slapped Dan on the back. "I'll be joining you tomorrow in Combat training. We'll suffer together."

Then he added, "Are there any female instructors?"

Dan couldn't help but smile.

For once, the weight of the day felt lighter.

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