Chapter 2: A Mysterious Mentor

The next morning, a pale gray mist hugged the ground as Kenny rode his electric scooter through the winding streets of his small town. The air smelled fresh, cleansed by last night's rain, but Kenny barely noticed. His mind replayed the match against Specter over and over, dissecting every humiliating moment. The crushing defeat had shaken him to his core, but it had also lit a fire he couldn’t extinguish.

The hologram center was closed, and Kenny found himself wandering aimlessly until he heard a soft hum. A drone whirred overhead, sleek and painted a matte black. It hovered near him, scanning him with a piercing red light. Before he could react, the drone projected a message into the air—a vivid holographic letter, words flickering with a bluish glow.

Kenny Valera,
I have seen your potential, but potential alone is meaningless without mastery. If you wish to become more than an amateur, meet me at the coordinates provided. You have one hour.
– Your Mysterious Benefactor

Coordinates appeared below the message, glowing ominously. Kenny’s heart raced. His first thought was that this could be a trap. Yet, something about the letter intrigued him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this was his chance to get better. A chance to get closer to the Evren League, he thought.

He checked the coordinates on his smartwatch, and his eyes widened. The location was deep in the Whispering Woods, a forest that stretched for miles on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t a place people visited lightly. The dense foliage and wild, twisting paths had a way of disorienting anyone foolish enough to enter unprepared. But Kenny was desperate, and desperation often made people reckless.

The Whispering Woods lived up to its name. The forest murmured with the rustling of leaves and the creaks of ancient trees. Kenny pushed deeper into the woods, guided by the faint glow of his smartwatch. Mist swirled around his legs as the path narrowed, and he felt the unease of being watched. Twigs snapped underfoot, and somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed.

“Brilliant idea, Kenny,” he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Follow a sketchy message into the woods. What could possibly go wrong?”

He rounded a corner, and suddenly, there it was—a clearing unlike any he had ever seen. A polished metal platform jutted out from the earth, humming quietly with energy. Holographic grids flickered around it, forming a semi-transparent dome that shimmered in the morning light. In the middle of the platform stood a figure draped in a long, gray cloak. The person’s face was shadowed by a wide hood, and their posture was one of calm, unbreakable confidence.

“Welcome, Kenny,” the figure said, their voice low but resonant, carrying the weight of experience. “You’re late.”

Kenny’s mouth went dry. The stranger radiated an aura of command, the kind he had only ever seen in professional hologram warriors on league broadcasts. He straightened, trying not to look intimidated.

“Who are you?” Kenny demanded, though his voice wavered slightly. “And why did you send for me?”

The cloaked figure took a step forward, and Kenny noticed the way the ground seemed to bend subtly around them, as if reality itself acknowledged their presence. The figure pushed back the hood, revealing a man in his late thirties with a weathered face and intense, dark eyes. His hair was silver at the temples, and a thin scar ran from his right cheekbone to his jaw.

“Call me Thalos,” the man said. “I was once like you. Young, full of ambition, and desperate to prove myself. I competed in the Evren League years ago. Now, I train those who dare to dream of victory—but only those worth my time.”

Kenny bristled, a mixture of indignation and awe coursing through him. “What makes you think I’m worth your time?” he shot back, trying to mask his intimidation with bravado.

Thalos’s mouth curled into a slight smile. “You faced Specter and lived to tell the tale. Few can say the same, even in a virtual arena.” He gestured to the platform. “Step up, if you wish to be tested. Or leave now and remain unremarkable.”

Kenny’s hands clenched into fists. Unremarkable. The word cut deep, feeding the fire of his frustration. Without another word, he marched onto the platform. As soon as he set foot on the polished surface, the dome flickered to life, and the surrounding forest melted away, replaced by a landscape of shifting rock formations under a dark, stormy sky.

“Welcome to your first real trial,” Thalos announced, his voice echoing through the simulation. “Survive for ten minutes against holographic predators designed to exploit your every weakness. Use your abilities wisely, or be overwhelmed.”

Before Kenny could respond, the ground rumbled. Rocks burst apart as sleek, metallic beasts emerged, their eyes glowing a predatory red. The creatures looked like a nightmarish blend of wolves and machines, with serrated steel jaws and claws that sparked with energy. Kenny barely had time to react before the first one lunged at him.

“Plasma shield!” he shouted, summoning a shimmering barrier of light just in time. The beast slammed into the shield, sending a shockwave up Kenny’s arm. He staggered back, his heart pounding.

“Focus,” Thalos’s voice commanded, cold and unyielding. “A shield will only delay your enemy. Attack, or be devoured.”

Kenny gritted his teeth, dismissing the shield and conjuring a holographic spear. He dodged the next predator’s swipe, spun around, and drove the spear into its side. Sparks erupted, and the creature disintegrated into a cascade of glowing particles. But there was no time to celebrate—two more beasts closed in, their jaws snapping with lethal intent.

Kenny’s muscles burned as he dodged, parried, and attacked. The simulation was relentless, and fatigue quickly set in. Sweat dripped into his eyes, and his movements grew sloppy. One beast’s claws grazed his side, and pain shot through his avatar. His health bar plummeted.

I can’t keep up, he thought, panic gnawing at the edges of his resolve. His vision blurred, and doubt crept into his mind. Was he really cut out for this?

“Your mind is faltering,” Thalos chided, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Adapt, or you will fail.”

Kenny forced himself to calm down. He remembered a technique his mentor at the community center had once mentioned: visualization. Closing his eyes for a split second, he imagined the battlefield as a chessboard, each enemy a piece with a predictable path. He needed to be several moves ahead.

His eyes snapped open. “Holo-flare, now!” he commanded, summoning a burst of dazzling light that disoriented the predators. Seizing the moment, he conjured twin energy blades and charged, slicing through the remaining beasts with newfound precision.

The ten minutes ended with a triumphant chime. The simulation faded, and Kenny dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. The platform reappeared beneath him, and Thalos stood over him, arms crossed.

“Impressive,” Thalos admitted, though his tone was begrudging. “You have potential, but you are unfocused. You rely too heavily on brute force and instinct. That will not serve you in the Evren League.”

Kenny looked up, sweat-soaked and exhausted, but something in Thalos’s words ignited hope. “So… will you train me?” he asked, his voice raw with determination.

Thalos’s eyes narrowed, but there was a glint of approval in his gaze. “If you’re willing to suffer,” he said. “If you’re willing to break before you rebuild. The path will be grueling, and I will not coddle you. But if you endure, you may just stand a chance.”

Kenny’s lips twisted into a tired, but defiant, smile. “I’m ready.”