Events Set Into Motion

The next day began like the others—a familiar routine of pain and exhaustion. Cruzer's body groaned as he strapped on the iron suit, its weight pressing down like an oppressive cage, but by now, it had become part of him.

The fatigue, the strain—it had all melded into the process. His muscles had grown accustomed to the ache, no longer screaming in protest, but whispering in the background as a constant companion.

Nina stood at her usual post, watching him with her sharp, predator-like gaze. Her eyes, narrow and calculating, tracked his every movement, measuring his performance with a precision that left no room for error.

But there was no praise in her expression, no sign of acknowledgment for the strength and resilience he had built under her relentless training.

"Move faster, Cruzer!" Her voice cracked through the morning air like a whip. "If you can't keep up, you don't belong here!"