The probationary training floor was loud with impact and metal.

  Megan Hayes was running drills with her best friend—shot-put tosses, back and forth, building raw power and control. She was the senior who’d first brought Ethan Parker into Unit 749, and she’d just gotten back from a regional patrol rotation.

  Her friend’s eyes were bright with gossip. “Megs, you have no idea—we’ve got a monster rookie right now. Perfect 100 on the rookie assessment. Freak-level.”

  Megan smirked, proud without trying to show it. “Let me guess. Ethan Parker?”

  Her friend nearly dropped the shot-put. “No way! You know him?!”

  “We went to the same university,” Megan said, grinning. “Technically, I’m his senior.”

  “Holy shit.” Her friend stared. “Do you know how ridiculous he is? The Deputy Director’s daughter—Tessa—used to run wild. Ethan’s got her behaving.”

  “Yeah,” Megan said, shrugging. “I’ve been back five minutes and I’ve already read half the forum.”

  “So you can ride his coattails now,” her friend teased.

  Megan rolled her eyes. “We met once. That’s it. He’s a real genius—I’d be surprised if he even remembers my name. Stop fantasizing. Now throw.”

  Right then, three girls walked onto the training floor.

  The one in front—blonde, perfect makeup, nasty smile—called out like they were old friends.

  “Megan~ you’re back? And you didn’t even come say hi. Cold.”

  Megan’s expression dropped instantly.

  It was Janelle Song—her former roommate.

  Back when they’d lived together, Janelle used to order Megan around like a personal delivery service: Bring me food from the cafeteria. And then—more often than not—she wouldn’t even pay her back.

  When Megan finally confronted her, Janelle just sneered: We’re roommates. You’re really gonna nickel-and-dime me? Petty.

  That was the day Megan applied for a room transfer.

  Megan’s voice went flat. “What do you want?”

  Janelle spread her hands. “Nothing big. Me and the girls want to train here. How about we practice together? We’re all sisters, right? You’re not gonna say no.”

  It was obvious what she was doing.

  She was trying to take the space.

  Megan’s jaw tightened. “Don’t push it.”

  Janelle giggled. “Push? I’m not stealing anything. I just want to train with youuu~”

  She bent down, grabbed the shot-put one-handed like it weighed nothing, and threw.

  Her Sequence was strength-enhancement.

  The heavy metal ball screamed through the air like a cannon shot—

  —and slammed into Megan’s chest.

  Megan caught it, but stumbled backward two steps. Something hot surged up her throat.

  “Nice throw~” one of the girls purred.

  “So accurate, Janelle!” the other clapped, smiling.

  Janelle flicked her hair and smirked. “If you want, you can ask Aimee to arbitrate. This is normal sparring. You’re just too weak to catch cleanly.”

  She leaned in, voice sweet and poisonous. “And don’t take it personally, babe, but with your mediocre talent… don’t you think you’re wasting training resources standing here?”

  Megan clenched her teeth. She didn’t have an answer.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Her talent was average. Even Janelle was stronger than her.

  Her friend grabbed her arm. “Come on, Megs. Let’s go train somewhere else. Don’t sink to her level.”

  They were about to leave when a guy walked onto the floor and headed straight toward the three girls.

  Megan’s eyes widened. “Wait… is that—Ethan?”

  Janelle didn’t recognize him. She’d never seen him in person.

  She tilted her head, amused. “Aww. What’s this? Your little boyfriend coming to play hero?”

  Ethan didn’t waste breath.

  He flicked a finger.

  Blood shot out and shaped into a floating crimson hand in midair.

  His finger moved slightly—

  —and from several meters away, the blood-hand swung down like a full-force slap.

  This was a new trick Ethan could do now that Blood Sovereign’s range had increased.

  SMACK!

  A sharp, clean sound.

  A bright red handprint instantly bloomed on Janelle’s cheek.

  She clutched her face, eyes wide, voice shrill. “You—YOU HIT ME?! My dad’s never hit me! You hit me?!”

  Ethan’s smile was lazy. “It’s fine. I’ll be your dad today.”

  “Fuck you—who do you think you are?!” Janelle snapped.

  She summoned the shot-put into her hand, muscles bulging.

  Full power.

  She launched it like artillery.

  Ethan’s automatic defense triggered.

  Blood rose into a barrier and stopped the shot-put dead in midair like it hit an invisible wall.

  Janelle froze.

  “…What?”

  That throw could’ve punched through a concrete wall. He stopped it like it was nothing.

  One of the girls beside her went pale and whispered, “Janelle… I think that’s Ethan Parker.”

  The name hit like a bucket of ice.

  Janelle’s pupils shrank.

  She hadn’t met him—but she’d heard the stories.

  Perfect 100. Simulation drill champion. The new freak.

  And Megan—Megan—had a connection to him?

  How the hell did that happen? She didn’t deserve it.

  Janelle’s face flipped instantly into a sweet smile.

  “Oh—Ethan… I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize you.” She tilted her head, acting cute. “My bad, okay?”

  She was a professional at reading the room. Smile, soften, flirt, survive. It’s how girls like her stayed on top.

  Ethan nodded like he agreed. “No worries. I just wanted to practice with you.”

  Janelle’s smile stiffened. “Practice…?”

  She forced her voice even gentler. “Ethan, this is just a little girl thing. It’s not really your business, right? A strong man like you shouldn’t get involved.”

  Nice line.

  Compliment him, frame it as beneath him, try to walk him out the door.

  She leaned closer, smiling. “So… why don’t you step outside? I’ll buy you dinner sometime. And next time you want to hit me…” she winked, shameless, “you can pick where~~”

  SMACK!

  The blood-hand slapped her other cheek.

  Now both sides matched.

  Ethan nodded thoughtfully to himself. Caleb Shaw would approve. Symmetry matters.

  Janelle stared at him, stunned. “Now… now you’re involved?”

  Ethan smiled. “Are we connected now?”

  Her face twisted. “You absolute asshole—are you really trying to bully me?!”

  “Yes,” Ethan said calmly.

  “You—!”

  “And since we’re talking,” Ethan added, voice still mild, “you’re garbage. In my eyes, anyway. So why are you wasting training resources standing here?”

  For Ethan, everyone in front of him was a “nobody.” No difference.

  All of Janelle’s earlier insults came flying back like a boomerang. Her cheeks burned, her pride burned, everything burned.

  Normally, she’d disarm guys like this with one sweet smile.

  Not Ethan.

  This psycho really did slap the smiling face.

  “Aimee! Aimee!” Janelle snapped, furious. “He assaulted a colleague in public. I demand an immediate disciplinary ruling!”

  Aimee’s silver-haired avatar appeared.

  “Retrieving surveillance…”

  “Arbitration in progress…”

  “Verdict: disorderly conduct. Conduct points deducted: 50. Ruling complete.”

  Janelle’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Heh. Serves you right.”

  Then her own terminal chimed:

  [Disorderly conduct — Conduct points deducted: 50]

  Megan laughed out loud behind her. “That’s actually perfect.”

  Janelle’s smile died.

  “What?! I got hit—why am I losing points?! Aimee, you piece of—”

  Her terminal chimed again:

  [Insulting Aimee — Conduct points deducted: 100]

  [Warning: Conduct score critically low. All field operations temporarily suspended. Complete community service to restore conduct score.]

  Janelle’s face turned green.

  “You—” she sputtered, shaking with rage. “Fine. Fine. Just wait. You’re new and you’re this arrogant? You’re gonna regret it.”

  Ethan waved casually. “Bye, sweetie.”

  Janelle stormed off. The spectators, disappointed the show was over, drifted away.

  Megan exhaled, still smiling. “Thanks, Ethan. I’ve hated her for years. That was… incredibly satisfying.”

  Ethan shrugged. “No problem. It’s 2026—grown adults still doing middle school bullying? That’s on her.”

  Megan’s expression sobered. “But… Janelle knows a lot of people. She might bring trouble later.”

  Ethan’s eyes gleamed like he’d just been offered dessert. “Good. I could use some entertainment.”

  He turned away. “I’m gonna train.”

  After he left, Megan’s friend rushed up, practically vibrating.

  “Oh my god—so you do know him! And he’s so hot I can’t breathe. That was insane. My heart is doing cardio.”

  Megan laughed. “It’s not ‘connection.’ It just means he’s a decent guy.”

  …

  That night, Janelle booked a meet-up with Jackson Raines.

  The moment she saw him, she latched onto his arm and pressed herself in like she owned the space.

  “Jackson… Ethan Parker bullied me.”

  Her eyes went big, voice syrupy. “If you don’t stand up for me, I won’t survive in 749.”

  Jackson took a drag of his cigarette, eyes half-lidded. “Ethan Parker?”

  He exhaled slowly. “Yeah… he’s been too cocky.”

  A faint grin tugged at his mouth. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to spar him anyway.”

  Janelle’s eyes lit up. “You’ll fight him for real?!”

  She squeezed his arm tighter. “Perfect. I’ll post the challenge tomorrow. I’ll stir the forum, get everyone watching—when he loses, he’ll get stomped into the dirt in public.”