Chapter 47 Breaking the Limits

"Yes, Sir! I’m on it." 

 The Combelt powered on, its servos whining as it moved into position, arms at the ready to block her path or swat her down.

In a split second, Aria darted forward, her form a blur as she sped across the terrain. She circled the Combelt, drawing its attention as its massive arms swung toward her. She dipped low, letting the arm sweep overhead as she used the momentum to spring off one foot and launch herself onto the mech’s frame.

With a swift movement, she yanked the particle rifle from its mounting. Clinging to the mech’s side, she used its movements to kick off, spinning mid-air as she dropped to the ground. A quick motion had the rifle reloaded, the energy humming to life as she aimed, her stance steady. She fired three precise bursts of paint rounds, splattering the mech in bright marks that signaled a clean, undeniable hit. The mech froze, its combat simulation system acknowledging Aria’s swift takedown.

West crossed his arms, nodding with approval as he addressed the rest of the class.

 "See that?! Quick, focused, efficient! Exactly what’s expected! That’s how you survive and complete a mission! Now stop drooling! Close those gaping mouths! And start training! She did nothing amazing! No need to be so surprised! This is the norm!"

He turned to Harry and shouted, "And you! Run the laps around the academy until the training is over! Or until you change your mind and decide to follow the order and do as told! GO GO GO!

 As the day’s training went on, a newfound respect for Aria spread through the ranks. The students, who had once assumed her a mere show-off, now saw her as an undeniable powerhouse. Her performance left them curious, and, for some, even eager to learn.

First, a few of the muscular students, previously too focused on brute strength alone, cautiously approached her for some advice. The muscleheads absorbed her tips, and a few of them gave her thanks before heading back. The steady stream continued all day as students, inspired by her success, came to her for guidance. She was good at breaking down techniques and explaining each step. One by one, they improved, and by the day’s end, nearly everyone managed to retrieve the particle rifle and complete the mission.

Just when she thought the line was over, the last student approached her - the quiet girl with the ponytail from the academic group. She had been watching intently, quietly taking notes in her way but still struggling to complete the objective.

“Umm, Hale?” she asked timidly.

 “Could you help me out? I keep... just missing the timing for the rifle grab.”

“Of course. Your problem is simple, you’re just rushing. Focus less on the rifle itself and more on how the mech moves. Don’t just go for the grab right away. Look closely at the movement.”

The girl nodded, adjusting her stance and giving it another shot with Aria at her side. Her movements grew more precise, and after a few tries, she finally grabbed the rifle as she aimed and fired. But just as she squeezed the trigger, the mech unexpectedly jittered, its massive arm jerking forward at her with sudden force.

Before she could react, Aria instinctively stepped in front of her, her arm raised. With a resounding, metallic clank that echoed through the room, she caught the mech’s punch with one hand, her body unmoving as she absorbed the impact.

A gasp of amazement spread among the students as they watched Aria’s effortless display of strength. The mech’s arm suddenly powered down and slammed to the ground. 

 “Hey, you alright,” Aria said, helping the girl back to her feet. 

“I bet that surprised you, these Combelts sometimes go 'runaway', probably old hydraulic pump belt snapped.”

The girl stammered a "thank-you," eyes wide, while the rest of the class looked on in silence, fully shocked by Aria’s unnatural strength.

Realizing she may have given too much away, Aria quickly downplayed the feat. She put on an easy grin and laughed, waving her hand dismissively.

“Oh, come on, don’t make it a big deal! The mech must’ve powered down mid-punch; it barely even grazed me! Besides, these suits are tougher than they look.” She lightly knocked her fist against the chest of her suit, keeping her smile confident and carefree.

The students relaxed as her words eased them. The punch, though surprising, must’ve been lighter than it looked, they thought, and they continued practicing, talking about the suit’s supposed strength.

But Jacob stayed put, his gaze fixed on the tank mech’s damaged hand. He stepped a little closer, studying the broken finger joint. It had been bent backward with surprising force, and there, embedded faintly in the surface of the mech’s metal, was a deep imprint in the exact shape of Aria’s gloved hand. It was no fluke. She had stopped that punch with sheer, raw power, and the evidence was right in front of him.

Jacob’s eyes narrowed in amazement, but he kept his discovery to himself, glancing up at Aria, who was still laughing and brushing off her “little” display of strength. In his mind, though, he knew there was much more to her than she let on.

The entire week leading up to the exam was a whirlwind of non-stop training. Every day, the students pushed themselves harder, aided by Aria's support and the impressive skills she had begun to share with them. She taught them how to read the battlefield, how to maximize their suit's functions, and most importantly, how to think strategically.

Finally, the day of the exam arrived. West stood in front of the class, he slammed his fist on the desk with such force that it made everyone jump.

“Alright, listen up!” West shouted, his voice booming across the room. 

“You better pass the 400,000 score in VR today, or you can kiss your dreams of going to the surface and practicing on real tank mechs goodbye! This is it! Your last shot! Now, get moving to the VR room!”

 One by one, they plugged into the VR systems, each pilot pair setting their sights on that goal. This group was different now. The teamwork, the knowledge, the confidence... it was all there.

The simulation began, and the students dove into combat. The VR world came alive with the roar of battle, and for a few intense hours, it was all about survival. Each student performed at their peak, executing tactics they had never dreamed of a week ago. They were no longer the same class that had struggled just days before.

Finally, the exam ended. The results flashed on the screen. West’s jaw dropped. The numbers were staggering. The class had achieved a collective score of 750,000. They had blown past the original target.

West, who was typically stoic and stern, let out a choked laugh. He wiped a single tear from his eye and stood up from his desk. 

"I can't believe my eyes! You did it... you actually did it! I am so proud of you all, except for one, you did it, since you scored over 400,000, you all pass." He let out a booming laugh, looking out over his students with pride. 

"Now listen up! I am happy! No, proud! To tell you all that you’ve earned your right. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be heading to the surface for live training with real tank mechs! That’s right. Not a simulation, not a VR battle - you’re going to see what it’s really like out there!"

"We meet tomorrow morning at 0800 sharp, at the main elevator. Be there on time. Hell, be there early! You’ll be briefed on the mission objectives once we’re topside. And trust me, you don’t want to keep me waiting.”