Chapter 15: First Real Test
The National Defense Academy campus sprawled across 500 acres in the northern district, a fortress of learning disguised as a university. Lin Feng stood at the main gate alongside roughly 200 other candidates, all of them young pilots who'd received interview invitations. The atmosphere crackled with nervous energy and competitive tension.
"Welcome to National Defense Academy," a stern-looking woman in a military uniform announced from an elevated platform. Her voice carried through speakers positioned around the assembly area. "I'm Instructor Chen, head of combat assessment. You 200 represent the top applicants from over 6,000 submissions. Congratulations on making it this far."
Lin Feng studied the other candidates. Most appeared confident, some cocky. A few looked nervous. He recognized several faces from the awakening ceremony—including Zhao Wei, who stood near the front of the crowd, surrounded by admirers who clearly knew of his Tier 2 status and wealthy background.
"Today's assessment has three components," Instructor Chen continued. "First, a combat trial where you'll face a holographic beast matched to your capabilities. Second, a personal interview with our faculty panel. Third, a team coordination exercise. Your performance in all three areas determines admission."
She gestured toward the massive building behind her—a combat arena that could easily hold several hundred people. "Combat trials begin immediately. You'll be called in groups of ten. Results are not shared publicly, but trust me, we'll know exactly what you're capable of by the end."
The crowd murmured with anticipation. Lin Feng felt his pulse quicken. This was it—the real test of his Analysis Protocol in a formal evaluation setting.
"Group One, follow me," Instructor Chen commanded, reading names from a tablet. "Lin Feng, Zhao Wei, Tang Yue, Chen Hao, Li Xin, Wang Min, Liu Gang, Hua Mei, Wu Shan, and Kenzo Tanaka."
Interesting that they're putting multiple candidates I know in the same group, Lin Feng thought, following the instructor. Maybe they review preliminary data about where applicants are from, matching up people from the same regions.
The group filed into the combat arena, and Lin Feng's breath caught despite himself. The facility was enormous—a circular space at least 200 meters in diameter with stadium seating rising in tiers around the perimeter. The floor was smooth gray stone, and energy barriers shimmered at intervals, creating smaller combat zones within the larger space.
A dozen academy staff members sat at evaluation stations around the arena's edge, tablets and monitoring equipment arrayed before them. Several older individuals in decorated military uniforms occupied a special observation box—senior faculty, Lin Feng assumed, possibly including some of the academy's most accomplished instructors.
"Each of you will enter a separate combat zone," Instructor Chen explained, leading them to their designated areas. "The holographic beast you face will be scaled to your awakening results. Some of you will fight Tier 1 opponents. Others—" she glanced at Zhao Wei, "—will face Tier 2 challenges."
Lin Feng was assigned to combat zone five. He stepped into the circular area marked by shimmering blue barriers and turned to face the center. Across the arena, he could see other candidates taking their positions in similar zones.
An evaluator approached his barrier—a middle-aged man with graying hair and the weathered look of someone who'd spent decades fighting. "Lin Feng, correct? Tier 1 mecha, Logic Frame, exceptional energy capacity and synchronization rate." He consulted his tablet. "Your opponent will be a Tier 2 Wolf Beast. The difficulty is one tier above your current level. Can you handle that?"
"Yes, sir," Lin Feng said with more confidence than he felt. A Tier 2 opponent was a significant challenge for a newly awakened pilot.
The evaluator smiled slightly. "Good. You'll have five minutes maximum. Victory condition is beast elimination. You may begin synchronization when ready."
Lin Feng closed his eyes and reached for his soul space. The pathway opened smoothly—he'd done this dozens of times now, and the process felt as natural as breathing. Logic Frame responded immediately, and the synchronization began.
Synchronization initiating, current rate 46%, stabilizing at 47%, all systems active, Analysis Protocol v0.1 ready, combat assessment mode engaged, energy capacity 500 units full.
Blue-silver light erupted around Lin Feng as Logic Frame materialized. The 15-meter mecha took form, its modular design gleaming under the arena's bright lights. Through the mecha's eyes, Lin Feng could see the evaluators watching intently, tablets ready to record every detail.
Across the arena, other mechas were manifesting—he caught a glimpse of Zhao Wei's impressive machine, at least 18 meters tall with heavy armor plating, and what looked like Tang Yue's smaller, more elegant support-type mecha in another zone.
"Begin!" Instructor Chen's voice echoed through the arena.
A holographic projection appeared in the center of Lin Feng's combat zone—a massive wolf-like beast with silver-gray fur, glowing red eyes, and fangs that looked capable of tearing through metal. The creature stood nearly four meters tall at the shoulder, muscles rippling under its digital pelt.
The Analysis Protocol activated automatically, scanning the beast. Enemy designated: Tier 2 Wolf Beast, estimated energy capacity 850 units, threat level: high, movement type: quadruped predator, attack patterns: unknown, defensive capabilities: unknown, recommendation: maintain distance and observe initial behavior.
The Wolf Beast growled, a sound that resonated through the arena despite being purely holographic. Then it charged.
Lin Feng had less than two seconds to react. The beast moved with frightening speed, crossing twenty meters in an instant. The Analysis Protocol tracked everything: enemy velocity: 68 kilometers per hour, estimated impact force: severe, time to contact: 1.8 seconds, recommended action: evasive maneuver right, prepare counterattack.
Lin Feng threw Logic Frame to the right, rolling away from the charge. The Wolf Beast's jaws snapped closed where he'd been standing a moment before. Lin Feng came up in a crouch, and the Analysis Protocol was already updating its data: enemy attack type: frontal charge with bite attempt, energy expenditure: estimated 15 units, recovery time: 0.6 seconds, pattern logged: 1 of unknown total.
The beast didn't give him time to breathe. It pivoted with predatory grace and lunged again, this time with claws extended. Lin Feng blocked with Logic Frame's forearm, feeling the impact shudder through his synchronized consciousness. Enemy attack type: claw swipe, damage sustained: minor, enemy energy expenditure: 12 units, pattern logged: 2 of unknown total, defensive capability: claws can damage armor.
"Observation phase complete," Lin Feng muttered, backing away to create space. "Time for analysis."
The Wolf Beast circled him, looking for an opening. Lin Feng used the moment to let his Analysis Protocol process the limited data it had gathered. After only two attacks, the system couldn't establish confident patterns yet, but it could make preliminary assessments: enemy favors direct attacks, relies on speed and aggression, defensive gaps likely appear after committed strikes, recommended strategy: bait attack and counter during recovery.
Lin Feng shifted his stance, deliberately exposing his left side slightly. The Wolf Beast's eyes locked onto the opening, and it charged again—exactly as predicted.
Enemy action: charge toward exposed left side, probability: 89%, recommended response: last-second evasion, strike from behind.
Lin Feng waited until the beast was committed to its attack path, then sidestepped with precision timing. The Wolf Beast's momentum carried it past him, and Lin Feng struck hard at its exposed flank. The impact sent the beast tumbling.
Successful counter: damage inflicted moderate, enemy energy reduced to approximately 720 units, tactical advantage established.
But the Wolf Beast recovered quickly, scrambling to its feet with a snarl. It circled again, more cautious now. Lin Feng noticed the change in behavior, and so did his Analysis Protocol: enemy adapting: approach more cautious, circling behavior initiated, attack timing delayed, pattern suggests: learning from failed direct assault.
It's not just a simple AI. The holographic beast has adaptive programming.
The Wolf Beast feinted left, then attacked from the right. The Analysis Protocol caught the deception: feint detected: false movement left, actual attack vector right, confidence 76%, recommended response: ignore feint, defend right.
Lin Feng followed the recommendation, blocking the real attack and landing another solid counter to the beast's head. The Wolf Beast staggered, its holographic form flickering slightly where the damage was severe.
Critical hit achieved: enemy energy reduced to approximately 580 units, significant damage to head region, pattern recognition updating: enemy uses feints when direct attacks fail, confidence 67%.
The fight continued for another minute, with the Wolf Beast trying various tactics—feints, flanking maneuvers, even attempting to leap over Lin Feng for a back attack. Each attempt was tracked by the Analysis Protocol, analyzed for patterns, and added to the growing combat database.
By the two-minute mark, Lin Feng's system had identified the beast's core behavior patterns: Primary attack sequence: charge, bite or claw swipe, retreat, repeat. Secondary tactics: feints before strikes, flanking when frontal assault fails, aerial attacks when grounded approaches blocked. Weakness identified: 0.8 second recovery time after any committed attack, defensive vulnerability during aerial maneuvers.
Armed with this knowledge, Lin Feng shifted from defensive observation to systematic offense. He baited the Wolf Beast into attempting its aerial attack—the maneuver with the longest commitment time. As the beast leaped, Lin Feng was already moving, guided by the Analysis Protocol's precise timing calculations.
Enemy executing aerial attack, trajectory calculated, landing point: 3 meters forward, 2 meters left, optimal counter position: directly beneath landing zone, recommended action: uppercut strike at 0.3 seconds before landing.
Lin Feng positioned himself perfectly and struck upward just as the Analysis Protocol recommended. His fist connected with the Wolf Beast's chest at the exact moment it was most vulnerable—mid-air with no ability to evade or defend.
The impact was devastating. The Wolf Beast's holographic form exploded into pixels, dissolving into light as its energy reached zero.
Combat complete: victory achieved, total time: 2 minutes 34 seconds, energy remaining: 412 units, damage sustained: minimal, efficiency rating: 93%, pattern recognition accuracy: 87%, tactical recommendations followed: 14 of 15.
Lin Feng desynchronized, and Logic Frame dissolved back into blue-silver light. He stood in the combat zone, breathing slightly heavily but otherwise unharmed. The entire fight had taken less than three minutes.
The evaluator at his zone was typing rapidly on his tablet, expression unreadable. Around the arena, some candidates had already finished their fights—Zhao Wei stood calmly in his zone, having apparently defeated his opponent quickly. Others were still engaged in combat, struggling against their holographic beasts.
Lin Feng noticed Tang Yue in the adjacent zone. Her support-type mecha wasn't designed for solo combat, and she was having difficulty against a Tier 1 Rabbit Beast. The creature was fast, and her defensive tactics could only delay, not defeat it.
"Time!" Instructor Chen called out. "All combats suspended."
The remaining holographic beasts dissolved. Some candidates looked relieved, others frustrated at not achieving victory. Lin Feng counted quickly—out of ten candidates, only four had defeated their opponents: himself, Zhao Wei, and two others he didn't recognize.
"Group One, exit the arena and proceed to waiting room B," Instructor Chen commanded. "Group Two, prepare for combat trials."
As they filed out, Lin Feng caught Zhao Wei's eye. The other young man nodded with what might have been respect, though his expression remained coolly confident.
In the waiting room, candidates clustered in small groups, discussing their fights. Lin Feng sat apart, mentally reviewing his combat data. The Analysis Protocol had performed excellently—pattern recognition had been fast and accurate, tactical suggestions had been spot-on, and the system had adapted smoothly to the beast's changing tactics.
Version 0.1 is solid for basic combat. But I need to keep improving it. That Wolf Beast was just a simulation. Real opponents in the Land of Origin will be more unpredictable.
"That was impressive." A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Feng looked up to find Tang Yue standing nearby. She was petite, barely 160 centimeters tall, with gentle features and kind eyes. Her awakening ceremony results had classified her mecha as support-type with healing and energy transfer capabilities.
"Your fight, I mean," she continued, sitting down beside him. "You made that Tier 2 beast look easy. I couldn't even defeat a Tier 1 opponent in the time limit."
"Support types aren't meant for solo combat," Lin Feng said. "Your mecha's designed for team scenarios. I'm sure the evaluators know that."
Tang Yue smiled gratefully. "I hope so. I felt useless out there."
"You're not useless," Lin Feng said firmly, surprised by his own certainty. "Support pilots are crucial for any team. Your ability to transfer energy and provide healing—that's what keeps everyone else alive during extended battles."
"You sound like you've thought about team dynamics a lot," Tang Yue observed.
Because I have. My Analysis Protocol includes team coordination modules specifically for working with support types.
"I believe tactical thinking is more important than raw power," Lin Feng said instead. "Understanding how different mecha types work together, optimizing resource allocation, coordinating attacks—that's what wins difficult battles."
Tang Yue's expression brightened. "That's exactly why I want to attend National Defense Academy. They emphasize teamwork and coordination, not just individual strength."
Before Lin Feng could respond, Instructor Chen entered the waiting room. "Personal interviews begin in ten minutes. You'll be called individually. While waiting, you may review educational materials about academy curriculum and facilities." She gestured to tablets mounted on the walls. "Use the time wisely."
Lin Feng spent the next twenty minutes reviewing course catalogs and facility descriptions. National Defense Academy offered an impressive array of specialized training: advanced combat theory, Land of Origin survival skills, inter-species diplomacy, resource management, tactical command, and dozens of other subjects.
The equipment and facilities were equally impressive—dedicated training zones for each mecha type, VR simulation centers far more advanced than the public facility he'd been using, direct portal access to a secured Land of Origin sector, research laboratories for equipment testing, and even a manufacturing facility where students could attempt to craft their own components.
This is what I need. Access to resources and knowledge that will help me refine my systems. Every course I take, every facility I use, every battle I fight—it all becomes data for the Analysis Protocol.
"Lin Feng, report to interview room three," an announcement echoed through the waiting area.
Lin Feng stood, took a deep breath, and headed down the hallway. Interview room three was a small, professional space with a table, several chairs, and three faculty members waiting behind the table. The middle one was Director Zhang Wei, whose name had been on the acceptance letter. The others introduced themselves as Professor Liu (combat theory) and Colonel Xing (military tactics).
"Please, sit," Director Zhang said, gesturing to the chair across from them. "We've reviewed your application materials, watched your demonstration video, and observed your combat trial. Impressive performance across all areas."
"Thank you, sir," Lin Feng said, sitting straight but not rigid.
Professor Liu consulted a tablet. "Your personal statement emphasized analytical thinking and systematic approach to combat. That's unusual for an eighteen-year-old. Most applicants at your age focus on passion and determination."
"I believe effective combat comes from understanding principles and applying them consistently," Lin Feng said, choosing his words carefully. "Passion is important, but it needs to be guided by knowledge and discipline."
"During your combat trial, we noticed something interesting," Colonel Xing said, leaning forward. "You spent the first minute primarily defending and observing the Wolf Beast. Most candidates attack immediately, trying to overwhelm opponents with aggression. Why did you wait?"
Because my Analysis Protocol needed observation time to gather data and identify patterns.
"I was collecting information," Lin Feng explained. "Understanding the opponent's attack patterns, identifying weaknesses, calculating optimal counter-strategies. Those first sixty seconds weren't wasted—they made the next ninety seconds far more efficient."
Director Zhang nodded slowly. "And after that observation phase, your performance changed dramatically. Every attack you made was precise, well-timed, and targeted at vulnerable moments. That's the mark of a tactician, not just a fighter."
The interview continued for twenty minutes, with questions about his training philosophy, his goals for academy education, his thoughts on teamwork, and his understanding of the Land of Origin's strategic importance. Lin Feng answered honestly, emphasizing his analytical approach while carefully avoiding any mention of programming or soul space coding.
Finally, Director Zhang closed his tablet. "Last question, Lin Feng. What makes you different from the other 199 candidates we're evaluating today?"
Lin Feng considered the question carefully. The truth is my programming abilities and the Analysis Protocol. But I can't reveal that. What can I say instead?
"I don't rely on natural talent or instinct," he said slowly. "I build systems. I create frameworks for understanding combat, for optimizing performance, for continuous improvement. While other pilots might practice until they develop good instincts, I analyze why those instincts work and how to replicate them systematically. That approach means I can teach what I learn, share what I discover, and help others improve alongside me."
The three faculty members exchanged glances. Professor Liu smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Lin Feng," Director Zhang said. "You'll receive our decision within one week. You may proceed to the team coordination exercise now. Waiting room C."
Lin Feng stood, bowed respectfully, and left the interview room. His heart was pounding, but he felt confident. The interview had gone well. They'd understood his analytical approach and seemed to value it.
One more test. The team coordination exercise. Then the waiting begins.
But as he walked toward waiting room C, Lin Feng couldn't help but smile. His Analysis Protocol had proven itself in combat. His interview had showcased his systematic thinking. Everything was falling into place.
National Defense Academy would see exactly what he was capable of. And if they accepted him, he'd have four years to refine his systems into something truly revolutionary.
The path forward had never been clearer.