ALL NOVEL Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Chapter 7: System Secrets
The dormitory was silent except for the steady hum of the ventilation system. Ethan sat cross-legged on his bunk, his eyes closed, his breathing steady. The events of the past few days replayed in his mind—the tournament, Lila's discoveries, and the mysterious Catalyst Event looming on the horizon.
Yet tonight, his focus was elsewhere. The Super Soldier System had been unusually active all day, flashing vague notifications and cryptic alerts in the back of his mind. Ethan had learned to ignore its minor prompts, but this was different. It felt deliberate, as if the system was trying to tell him something important.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan let his thoughts drift into the interface. The world around him faded, replaced by a digital expanse of glowing blue lines and symbols.
---
Welcome, Cadet Ethan Cross.
System Update Initiated. Reviewing User Progress...
---
The words hovered in front of him, pulsating with a soft light. Then, a new notification appeared, sharper and more insistent than the rest.
---
System Directive: Reveal Core Protocols.
User has met criteria for access. Proceeding with disclosure.
---
Ethan's stomach tightened. This wasn't the first time the system had hinted at its deeper layers, but it had always kept its true purpose shrouded in mystery. Until now.
"Core protocols?" he muttered. "What does that mean?"
The interface shifted, and a calm, mechanical voice filled his mind.
"The Super Soldier System was designed to transform its user into the pinnacle of human potential. Its purpose: to create the ultimate soldier—one capable of unparalleled strength, speed, and resilience."
Ethan's breath caught. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down his spine.
"Why me?" he asked. "Why did you choose me?"
"You were selected due to your compatibility with the system's neural integration protocols. Your genetic markers and cognitive patterns align with the parameters required for activation."
Ethan frowned. "What does that mean? Did the academy do something to me?"
The system paused, as if considering how to respond.
"The academy's experiments may have contributed to your selection, but your activation was not orchestrated by them. Your discovery of the interface was a coincidence—a deviation from standard deployment protocols."
Ethan's mind raced. If the system wasn't part of the academy's plan, what was it? And why had it been buried in the ruins where he found it?
"Who created you?" he asked.
"Creator data is classified. Purpose supersedes origin. Focus on objectives."
Ethan's frustration mounted. The system was helpful, but it always seemed to dance around the bigger questions.
"Fine," he said. "What's the catch? What aren't you telling me?"
For the first time, the system hesitated.
"Reliance on the system's enhancements comes at a cost. The integration process accelerates physical and neurological adaptation, but overuse may lead to destabilization."
Ethan's chest tightened. "Destabilization? What does that mean?"
"Prolonged dependence on system functions may result in loss of autonomy. The user risks becoming a vessel for the system's directives, prioritizing efficiency over individuality."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. The system wasn't just a tool; it was something far more invasive, something that could consume him if he wasn't careful.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" he demanded.
"User access to core protocols was restricted until sufficient progress was achieved. You are now equipped to understand and mitigate the risks."
Ethan rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. The system's enhancements had already changed his life, but now they felt like a double-edged sword.
---
The interface dimmed, and Ethan opened his eyes. He was back in his room, the faint glow of the system's notifications still lingering in his mind.
As he stood, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on the wall. For the first time, he noticed how different he looked. His muscles, once wiry and underdeveloped, had grown denser and more defined. His posture was straighter, his movements more deliberate. Even his skin seemed healthier, with fewer scars and blemishes than he remembered.
Testing a theory, Ethan grabbed a small metal dumbbell from his desk. It had always been a struggle to lift with one hand, but now it felt light—almost too light.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at the strength coursing through him. Yet with the strength came unease. If these were just the early changes, what would happen as the system integrated further?
---
The next morning, Ethan joined his squad for morning drills. The crisp air bit at his skin as they ran laps around the academy's training grounds. Normally, he would've been at the back of the pack, struggling to keep up. But today, he found himself at the front, his feet moving effortlessly across the gravel.
"Cross, what's gotten into you?" one of his squadmates asked, panting as they struggled to keep up.
Ethan shrugged. "Just been training harder, I guess."
The lie came easily, but it didn't sit well with him. He could feel the weight of their stares as they pushed through the rest of the drills.
During sparring practice, Ethan's heightened senses became even more apparent. His Combat Instinct allowed him to predict his opponent's movements with uncanny precision, and his newfound strength made every strike hit harder than it should have. By the end of the session, he had left his sparring partner flat on their back, staring up at him in disbelief.
"Where did that come from?" the instructor asked, eyeing Ethan with suspicion.
"Just lucky, I guess," Ethan said, forcing a sheepish grin.
But luck had nothing to do with it.
---
Later that day, Ethan met Lila in their usual spot at the back of the library. She had a stack of files spread out in front of her, her fingers flying across her laptop's keyboard.
"You look... different," she said, glancing up at him. "Did you grow an inch overnight or something?"
"Something like that," Ethan muttered, sitting across from her.
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what's going on? Spill."
Ethan hesitated. He had been careful not to tell her too much about the system, but after last night's revelations, he needed someone to talk to.
"The system," he said quietly. "It told me why it exists. It's designed to create the ultimate soldier—whatever that means."
Lila frowned. "That's... intense. What else did it say?"
"That there's a cost," Ethan admitted. "If I rely on it too much, I could lose control. It might take over completely."
Lila's fingers paused on the keyboard. "Well, that's horrifying. How do we stop it?"
"I don't know," Ethan said. "But I can't just stop using it. Not with everything going on."
Lila leaned back, her expression thoughtful. "Then we need to figure out how to control it. If the system has rules, there's got to be a way to bend them without breaking yourself."
Ethan nodded, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest.
"You're right," he said. "If this thing is going to turn me into the ultimate soldier, then I'll use it on my terms—not the other way around."
For now, though, he couldn't shake the lingering question: If the system was designed to create the ultimate soldier, who—or what—was it preparing him to fight?