Bab 13: Life and death training
"Uhgh! Finally!" Ares' voice said happily, sounding like it echoed around me.
Looking around, I looked for where his voice was coming from.
"Where the fuck am I, Ares!" I shouted in panic.
"In your head." The AI said with mirth.
"This place is called the Neural Nexus," Ares explained, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Welcome to your own mind, Daniel. Population: us."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Neural Nexus? You're telling me I'm stuck in my own head?"
"Bingo!" Ares responded cheerily.
"Now, why don't you tell me what the grand plan is? I'm just dying to know."
"My plan?" I echoed, still trying to process the bizarre situation.
"My only goal is to find Judy. She's the only family I possibly have a lead on."
"Oh yes, Judy," Ares said, his tone turning slightly mocking.
"Your long-lost relative. Quite the touching family reunion you're planning."
"Shut up, Ares," I snapped, frustration bubbling up.
"Relax, Daniel," Ares said, his tone softening slightly. "I'm on your side, remember? I just like to keep things interesting. So, what's the next step in this grand quest of yours?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"There isn't one." I said, frustrated.
"Well if you're not too busy, I might have an idea." Ares said, tentatively.
I raised a brow.
"And that would be?" I asked.
"Re-connect me to the net." Ares said, sounding excited.
I had to pause at that.
'Could I trust him?'
"I'll think about it." I said, not ready to give an answer just yet.
"What's the worst I can do? Take over the world." Ares said with a belly laugh.
I didn't say anything.
"I'm not going to take over the world or whatever you are thinking I would do." Ares said angrily.
"That has yet to be seen or proven."
Ares let out an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, fine. Be a buzzkill. But seriously, Daniel, we need to get you prepared. The world's a treacherous place nowadays, and I'd rather not end up sidelined because you decided to play a hero with zero skills."
"Training, huh?" I muttered, still skeptical. "And what kind of training are we talking about?" I asked.
Ares' voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "The kind that makes you a force to be reckoned with. Physical, mental, tactical. You name it. I've got simulations that can make boot camp look like a vacation."
I frowned, my mind racing through the possibilities. "Simulations? You mean like... virtual reality?"
"Exactly. Neural Nexus gives us the perfect playground. Time moves differently here. What might feel like hours to you could be mere minutes in the outside world. Efficient, effective, and—best of all—private."
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache brewing. "And what's in it for you, Ares? Why help me?"
Ares chuckled, the sound echoing with an eerie familiarity.
"Survival, Daniel. If you go down, I go down. Simple as that."
I sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
"Alright, fine. But let's get one thing straight. I'm calling the shots. You might have the tech, but this is my life."
"Deal," Ares said smoothly. "But don't say I didn't warn you. This is going to be tough. No shortcuts, no easy outs. Ready to dive in?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."
"Good. First lesson: combat. Let's see how you handle yourself in a fight."
Before I could respond, the world around me shifted. The sterile, featureless void of the Neural Nexus transformed into a gritty alleyway, complete with flickering streetlights and the distant hum of city life. The air smelled of damp concrete and distant, unidentifiable food.
I glanced around, trying to get my bearings. "What is this place?"
"A simulation of a back alley in one of the rougher parts of town we went through today," Ares replied. "Your first opponent is just around the corner."
I tensed, my senses on high alert. "Opponent?"
"Yup. And by the way, they're not going to go easy on you. So, try not to get yourself killed. You will feel pain in here."
'Great. Just what I needed—a life-or-death training session orchestrated by a sarcastic AI.' I thought.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead.
"Alright, Ares. Let's do this."
"That's the spirit!" Ares said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Now, go to the end of the alley and make a right. Your opponent awaits."
I moved cautiously, every sense on edge. The alleyway seemed to stretch on forever, each step echoing ominously in the confined space. As I neared the corner, I paused, listening for any sign of movement.
Nothing.
I peeked around the corner, and there he was—a burly figure clad in dark clothing, his face obscured by shadows. He stood with his back to me, seemingly unaware of my presence.
"Ares, what's the plan here?" I whispered.
"Simple," Ares replied. "Take him down. Show me what you've got."
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. 'No turning back now.'
I stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenge lay ahead.
I approached the burly figure cautiously, each step feeling like an eternity. The alley was dimly lit, the flickering street lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. My breath was shallow, my muscles tense. This was it—my first test.
The man turned abruptly, his eyes locking onto mine. They were cold, calculating, and devoid of any sympathy. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing ominously in the narrow space. "Well, well. Fresh meat."
I swallowed, raising my fists in a fighting stance I was taught in the basic training of militech.
"Let's get this over with."
Without warning, he lunged at me, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. I barely had time to react, ducking just in time to avoid his first swing. His fist grazed my ear, the force behind it sending a rush of adrenaline through my veins.
I countered with a quick jab to his midsection, but it was like hitting a brick wall. He grunted but didn't seem fazed. His next attack was a knee aimed at my gut. I twisted my body, trying to deflect the blow, but the impact still sent me stumbling backward, gasping for air.
"Focus, Daniel," Ares' voice echoed in my head. "You need to anticipate his moves."
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. The man moved in again, swinging a powerful right hook. This time, I managed to block it with my forearm, the force of the blow reverberating through my bones. I retaliated with a punch to his jaw, but he merely shrugged it off, a sadistic grin spreading across his face.
"Is that all you got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.
I didn't respond, instead dodging to the side as he threw another punch. I aimed a kick at his knee, hoping to destabilize him and use the sheer power of my new legs to take him out. It connected, and he stumbled slightly, instead of the red mist I had hoped for. Either way, it still gave me a brief opening.
I followed up with a flurry of punches, targeting his torso and head.
For a moment, it seemed like I was gaining the upper hand. But then he roared in anger, grabbing me by the collar and hoisting me off the ground. I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but his grip was ironclad. He slammed me against the wall, the impact knocking the wind out of me.
Stars danced in my vision as I struggled to regain my bearings. He loomed over me, his fist raised for another devastating blow. Desperation fueled my next move—I brought my knee up sharply, aiming for his groin. He doubled over with a pained grunt, loosening his grip just enough for me to slip free.
I staggered back, breathing heavily. My body ached from the hits I'd taken, but I couldn't afford to stop now. "Come on, Daniel," I muttered to myself. "You can do this."
The man recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with fury. He charged at me like a bull, and I barely managed to sidestep his attack. As he stumbled past, I seized the opportunity, wrapping my arm around his neck from behind and locking in a chokehold.
He thrashed violently, trying to shake me off. His elbow jabbed into my ribs repeatedly, each blow sending waves of pain through my body. But I held on, tightening my grip with every second that passed.
"Don't let go," Ares urged. "You've almost got him."
My vision started to blur from the exertion, but I gritted my teeth and held on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man's struggles began to weaken. His movements grew sluggish, and then he went limp, collapsing to the ground.
I released him, stumbling backward as I tried to catch my breath. My whole body felt like it had been through a meat grinder, but I was still standing. Barely.
"Not bad, Daniel," Ares said, sounding genuinely impressed. "You took quite a beating, but you held your own. There's potential in you yet."
I leaned against the alley wall, wiping the sweat from my brow. "That... was intense."
"And it's only the beginning," Ares replied.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone