Silent Awakening: Sign-In To Destiny

The dim whirr of servo motors echoed beneath the Raven Estate's sub-basement, deeper even than the training chambers and armour labs. Here, in a space sealed away by biometric locks and cloaked in electromagnetic shielding, Asher Raven stood in front of his newest creations.

Lined up like soldiers were seven humanoid dummies—each one forged from reinforced alloy, with internal servo-bone structures, heat sensors, and pressure feedback modules. They looked human. Moved like humans. Hit harder than most humans ever could.

Asher had built them.

From conception to schematics to soldering, every component was his handiwork. Every joint had a purpose. Every plate had meaning.

"Begin simulation," he commanded.

> \[Simulation Mode: Adaptive Combat Dummies Activated]

> — Engagement Pattern: Unpredictable

> — Aggression Level: High

> — Countermeasure Algorithms Enabled

The seven dummies sprang to life, whirring and creaking as their metal limbs unfolded into stance.

Asher took one slow breath and stepped forward.

The first dummy lunged. He ducked beneath its punch, spun on the ball of his foot, and drove his elbow into its side. The impact rang out with a sharp metallic clang. The dummy recoiled, stumbling a step.

"Too slow," he muttered.

The second came at him from behind.

He twisted and blocked, using his forearm to redirect its punch. The dummy struck again, this time with a sweep. Asher leapt, flipping over it, landing with feline grace behind the third attacker. His palm strike hit its neck, stunning the internal processor. The dummy locked up with a hiss and shut down.

> \[System Feedback: Target Disabled - 1/7]

"You need to increase the speed thresholds by 4%."

> \[Acknowledged. Updating dummy AI speed parameter.]

The fourth and fifth dummies advanced in tandem. He activated his **Diamond Body**, the shimmer of hardened skin gleaming as the two dummies unleashed a flurry of blows. Their fists bounced off his enhanced physique, each strike met with a deadened echo.

He caught one arm, twisted, and flung the dummy into the other. They crashed to the ground, limbs tangled.

> \[System Response: Efficiency Rating - 94%]

"Not good enough. Rerun the scenario. Add environmental hazards."

> \[Confirmed. Environmental variables engaged. Initiating round two.]

Walls shifted. The floor tilted. Blades emerged from hidden compartments and began to swing slowly.

Asher exhaled through his nose. His pulse never rose.

This was his proving ground. Every move was calculated. Every feint and step had intention. The dummies improved with every failed round. They adapted. He adapted faster.

After the third round, his fists bled from repeated impact. Not because the armour failed, but because he refused to wear it. He needed to feel the resistance. The pain. The weight of reality.

He stepped back for a brief moment, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

> \[System Note: You have now completed 3,256 consecutive sparring simulations. Endurance remains constant. Efficiency shows marginal improvement. Emotional variance minimal.]

"I'm not doing this for emotions," Asher muttered.

> \[Correction: You are doing this for control.]

He didn't reply. The system understood him too well.

He approached the dummies again, placing a hand on the chest of one.

"Add thermal response next. And electro-shock feedback. I want every scenario that could happen in the real world."

> \[Updating prototypes. Estimated modification time: 6 hours.]

He walked toward the tool bench, stripped off his sweat-soaked shirt, and began calibrating a new servo array for the next generation.

> \[System Reminder: You have not taken a break in 48 hours.]

"Neither will the people trying to kill me."

In the soft blue glow of the lab, Asher's silhouette leaned over the table—more machine than child, more architect than heir.

And his war had only just begun.