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."
-----
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
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