The morning light spilled through the tall glass walls of the Interstellar Military Academy, painting faint gold streaks across the marble floors. The once-bustling corridors had fallen strangely silent. A small crowd of cadets stood still, their gazes fixed on the same scene with disbelief written across their faces.
Adrian Vale—top of his class, known for his cold precision and untouchable demeanor—was carrying Adeline Hart on his back.
To outsiders, it was a simple gesture. But to anyone familiar with the academy's gossip web, this was nothing short of an earthquake. Adeline was the star of the Command Department, the darling of the upper circles, and Adrian… well, he was the academy's untouchable "War God." Seeing the two together was like watching the North and South Poles collide.
Whispers flared immediately.
> "Adrian Vale? Carrying a girl?"
> "That's Adeline Hart, right? What happened to her?"
> "Unbelievable… she actually got close to him."
The female cadets, many of whom secretly admired Adrian, exchanged jealous glances.
> "He's really letting that vixen cling to him!" one hissed under her breath.
> The male cadets, who had long placed Adeline on a pedestal, were equally shaken.
> "Our goddess just fell…" someone muttered gloomily.
But the pair at the center of the attention didn't care. Adrian moved calmly, his steps steady despite the weight on his back. Adeline's cheeks were flushed crimson; her fingers clutched at his uniform nervously. Her mind was a chaotic storm of emotions, but Adrian's calm, even breathing somehow steadied her.
He broke the silence first. "Adeline, I'm graduating tomorrow. Dean Reid has already confirmed my final assessment."
She blinked, startled. "Tomorrow?" she whispered.
Her thoughts tangled instantly—graduating… leaving… gone. The words echoed painfully in her chest. A heaviness settled there, one she didn't quite understand.
Adrian's lips curved in a faint smile, the kind that almost never appeared on his face. He could feel her trembling slightly. *So, even the proud Adeline Hart can't hide everything,* he thought.
He said lightly, "After graduation, I'll likely be stationed at Mars Base. When you finish next year, come find me there."
She hesitated, her voice small but sincere. "Okay."
The single word was soft, nearly inaudible, but it carried a strange weight. Adrian heard it clearly, and for a brief moment, the corner of his mouth twitched upward again.
They reached the infirmary shortly after. Adrian set her down carefully, his movements practiced but gentle. The medical officer approached immediately, and without another word, Adrian turned to leave. Adeline didn't stop him. She only watched his back retreat down the corridor until he vanished from sight.
She bit her lip. *He didn't even look back.* But deep down, she knew—he wouldn't. He had always been like that: focused, unshakable, already living one step ahead of everyone else.
---
In his dorm room, Adrian sat on the edge of his bed, eyes fixed on the holographic interface hovering before him. Rows of data and digital maps shimmered faintly in the dark.
"System," he commanded. "Initiate skirmish training, level five."
A mechanical voice replied, smooth and calm.
> "Virtual battlefield activated. Level 5 opponent established. Simulation mode: Skirmish. Entry in ten seconds. Host, please prepare."
Adrian leaned back, closing his eyes as the light enveloped him. The moment his consciousness slipped away, he found himself standing on the bridge of a starship, surrounded by the low hum of power conduits and the soft flicker of tactical screens.
He straightened immediately. "Fleet status," he ordered.
> "All systems nominal. Enemy fleet detected, distance—fifty million kilometers."
His eyes narrowed. "Engage formation delta. Keep the flanking cruisers hidden until my signal."
For hours—or rather, what felt like hours—he fought. The skirmishes blurred together into an endless cycle of commands, counterattacks, and explosions that lit up the void. Every time, his fleet fell short. Every time, he learned a little more.
By the time the simulation ended, Adrian had lost track of how many defeats he'd endured. The time ratio between virtual space and reality was 10:1—fifteen hours of training had given him one hundred and fifty hours of experience.
"Still too slow," he muttered as his vision faded back to reality.
Morning light filtered into the dorm again. He opened his eyes, exhaustion dulling the sharpness in his gaze. "Level five opponents are still beyond me… but I'm closing in."
Then came the familiar chime.
> "Ding! Congratulations, Host. Formation Command upgraded to A-rank. Reward: 2% increase in brain development."
A sudden clarity rushed through his mind, every thought sharpening as if his brain had been fine-tuned. He smiled faintly. "Open attribute panel."
**Host:** Adrian Vale
**IQ:** 380
**Brain Development:** 20% (up from 18%)
**Command Abilities:**
* Artillery Command — B
* Evasion Command — C
* Formation Command — A
* Mech Command — C
**Active Missions:**
1. *Become a true fleet commander* — Command at least ten warships.
**Reward:** Warp Drive Technology
2. *Increase military rank to Colonel* —
**Reward:** Gene Enhancement Potion + Unlock Body Function Panel
"Not bad," he murmured. "At least my formation command has reached master level."
He checked the time on his tactical wristband—it was already past seven. With practiced efficiency, he pulled a can of nutrient solution from his system inventory and downed it in one go. The metallic taste lingered briefly, replaced by renewed energy.
He dressed quickly in his crisp uniform and stepped outside. The academy grounds were quiet, bathed in morning light. As he walked toward the simulation combat building, he caught sight of a familiar silhouette waiting near the entrance.
"Adeline?"
She stood with arms folded, her long hair catching the light. "As your *competitor,* I thought it appropriate to observe your graduation assessment."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Competitor? I don't remember agreeing to that."
"Then consider it my own declaration," she replied, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
He sighed softly. "The examiner for my assessment has… special clearance. Observation might not be possible."
"Oh, I already got permission from Dean Reid," she said, tilting her head proudly. "He agreed."
Adrian blinked. "You spoke to Dean Reid?"
She gave a small, confident nod. "And Admiral Marcus Sterling himself will be there, won't he? I couldn't possibly miss that."
Of course she would know. As the granddaughter of the Federation Fleet's Deputy Commander, Harrison Hart, she had access most cadets could only dream of.
Inside the building, the air was thick with quiet anticipation. Dean Reid and Admiral Sterling stood near the observation deck, their expressions calm but curious. Adeline and Adrian approached, their footsteps echoing sharply.
Adrian halted a few meters away and snapped into a perfect salute. "Reporting, Federation Interstellar Military Academy, Fifty-Fifth Command Department Cadet Adrian Vale—reporting for graduation assessment, sir!"
His voice rang through the hall, crisp and strong.
Adeline found herself staring. The confident, composed figure before her hardly seemed like the same man who had quietly carried her yesterday.
*Was he always this dazzling?* she thought, her heart skipping a beat.