[A Few Days Later] This update ıs available on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
Ace, Cherry, Jim, and Skyler were rudely awakened by a loud and disturbing alarm in their containment chambers. At that moment, the four humans floated inside cylindrical containers filled to the brim with green fluids. On the other side of the chamber, Anya was in her container, nursing her wounds. None of the other humans knew how long they had been out, and judging by Anya’s injuries, they doubted if she would be able to fight anytime soon.
"Wake up, mutants," Lord Grim commanded as the fluids drained from their containers. "Take a moment to examine your bodies. Before using your powers, allow yourselves to get used to the new adjustments."
As Grim spoke, the three Blood Mutants and Skyler struggled to stay balanced. Their legs felt terribly heavy, painful, and sore. Their backs pulsated with pain, and their vision was temporarily blurred. While slowly adjusting themselves, the humans felt a significant change in their power. For instance, Ace, in his current base form, felt like he used to when transforming back on Earth. In simpler terms, his strength now was the same as when he transformed into his Mutant Form.
He wasn’t the only one facing changes, for even Cherry, Jim, and Skyler felt much stronger than normal. Noticing the humans adjusting to their new ’bodies,’ Lord Grim instructed them to follow him. The Granian warrior led the humans to a simulation chamber within the walls of the Granian Warrior Base, meaning that as the humans were in their cylindrical containers, the Granians returned to their planet.
"So, are we all going to war?" Cherry asked the question she and her comrades were pondering. "The last thing I remember is you telling us about Lord Grania being summoned."
"It is true. We are going into war," Lord Grim answered nonchalantly. His attitude started to bother Cherry and Skyler as they wondered just how much he cared about the impending war.
"You do understand that the Ethisians will be making their way here, right?" Skyler questioned as well, curious at how unbothered Lord Grania was.
"I understand your concern," he answered, preparing to give an elaborate response. "We handle our conflicts differently from how you humans handle yours. You humans would prepare your frontlines, equip your soldiers with expensive and heavy-duty weaponry, and send out millions of troops to die as you wait for your enemy to enter your territory. We studied this behavior while invading your planet.
"We Granians and every other species establish war in a different manner. In this case, it is us against the Ethisians. We have the resources and troops to attack their planet, but it would be unwise of us. Instead, we choose to go for one colony at a time. Strip the enemy of every strip of territory they own as you make your way to their main base of operations.
"These range from colonies to newly discovered planets, overthrown territories, and even gifts from other civilizations. Remember all the colonies we took back? As we speak, our forces are setting their defenses against Ethisian troops. Does that answer your question?"
"It made it a little bit more complicated to understand," Skyler admitted.
"You and your forces are destroying the Ethisians starting from their resources all the way to their main base of operations," Ace added, his voice low yet audible enough for the others to hear. "Your strategy is almost perfect. You’re destroying the Ethisians’ backups to fall back on, so that when you finally destroy their planet, the survivors will have nowhere to retreat."
"Yes, that basically summarizes it."
"There’s one problem with that strategy," Ace continued. "If the Ethisians unexpectedly took over Planet Grania, that would make it easier for them to destroy your colonies. It’s a risky strategy with good sides and bad sides. I wonder if you will be able to pull it off."
Grim remained quiet, unresponsive to Ace’s statement. In silence, he directed the mutants to the Simulation Chamber, activated it, and silently monitored them as the terrain changed to a dark and desolate area. The ground beneath turned into a dry, hard surface with craters filled with dust. The only thing visible was the ground they stood on. Everywhere else was dark and void of anything.
"This is a simulation of our planet’s backlands," Grim elaborated. "Normally, we would have you flown to it, but with the impending war, we cannot risk losing you yet. Your goal is to make it from here to the end," he pointed at a small flame burning at a distance. "This simulation has been designed to accommodate all of you.
"Ace, this is going to be a chance for you to exercise your Blood Bishop power. Cherry and Jim, this should hopefully be enough to push you to the Blood Knight rank. And as for Skyler, this will be a chance for you to get new DNA for you to transform into.
"Be warned, this is not going to be an easy task," Grim warned once more. "This training is the same level of difficulty that Helda, I, and Lord Grania partake in. There will be a stage where all of you will be separated. Be sure to be ready by then.
"Lastly, we have stationed Ethisian clones to appear at random stages. These clones have been engineered to be exactly identical to real Ethisians. For your sake, you’ll face one at a time. This simulation is the first of the many training scenarios Lord Grania has ordered us to put you through. Since you’ll be facing new enemies, it’s high time you all learn how to fight and adapt quickly. Good luck.."
Lord Grania remained where he stood as the humans advanced with the simulation. The first few moments were quiet with none of them saying a word to each other. Meanwhile, Ace was going through his system, looking to see what was waiting to be tested out and exercised. It was at that moment he remembered about the five Blood Points he had left, the ones he wanted to use on his sister.
"Cherry," he called out, pulling his sister aside as Jim and Skyler walked ahead of them. "There’s a way I can automatically move you to the Blood Knight rank. I can..."
{Simulation Commenced.}
The Ship’s AI system interrupted.
{Phase One of Ten: Begin.}
[Make it past the first six phases of the simulation.]
[The rewards will be based on how far you go and how much you accomplish.]