Chapter 4: Simulation System

When Levi returned to Z-Zone—the atmosphere was completely different from the last time. The scholars who had been buried in their research all lifted their heads simultaneously as Levi passed by their floor-to-ceiling windows, and their gazes followed him for quite a while. Their expressions were peculiar, almost scrutinizing-as though Levi himself had become the subject of their study.
As he reached the end of the corridor once again, someone was already waiting for him.
The man appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a meticulously neat military uniform. Judging by the epaulets, he was a Major. His frameless glasses made his eyes look sharp and calculating.

Levi smiled inwardly. This man was just like Claude Sean—except this one displayed his arrogance and aloofness openly, while Claude was more adept at wearing a mask.”Hey,” Levi grinned and was about to walk past, but the man stretched out his arm to block him, “Can’t you see that my rank is above yours?”

“Oh, sorry. Hello, Major.” Levi enunciated each word deliberately. ‘Don’t you know military etiquette?”
“Ah, it’s been too long since I last saluted, I forgot,” Levi waved his right hand dismissively near his ear and walked past him. By now, several people were standing beside the “Pristine Lady, holding holographic display computers, seemingly discussing something.

Claude caught sight of Levi and walked over with a slight smile, ‘Good moming, Corporal Levi Van Pelt.The moment he spoke—the scholars all turned their attention to Levi.
“Haha, I’m in the spotlight again.”

Claude handed his computer to someone nearby and leisurely walked over to Levi, reaching out to undo three buttons on Levi’s chest. Everyone watched the strange scene the atmosphere becoming a bit awkward. Levi didn’t flinch—in fact, he looked down with interest. Claude calmly re-buttoned each one.”Next time, pay attention to your uniform, Corporal, Claude teased, his breath brushing lightly against Levi’s neck as he spoke, glancing playfully into his eyes.
Levi pushed his hand away, “Thanks for the reminder, Major General.”
“Is this the guy you’ve chosen?” the Major from earlier stepped in his voice low. “He has no respect for us! Everyone here outranks him, and has he saluted a single person? Today’s his first time at Z-Zone for training, but he can’t even wear his uniform properly. Does he even take the ‘Pristine Lady’ seriously?”

Claude smiled, “Levi, do you have anything to say?”
“This is exactly why I hate academic types. They waste their time and energy on appearances,” Levi said, hands in his pockets, eyeing the Major. ‘Would you prefer I stand at attention and salute while secretly calling you a four-eyed chicken, or would you rather show me with your skills that you deserve your rank—making me salute you willingly?”

Claude burst out laughing. “Let me introduce you this is Major Miller, the mathematician of our air force base. Or, if you prefer, I could add some adjectives, he’s the best mathematician at Base K11 so far.”
“When I fly with the ‘Pristine Lady,’ I’ll know if he’s really the best,” Levi responded dismissively.
“Alright, enough with the banter, Claude clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Activate the simulation system. Let’s see if Levi truly has the potential to pilot the ‘Pristine Lady. If you come out dizzy and disoriented in under five minutes-I’ll make you salute and apologize to Major Miller.”
“That’s fair. But if I manage it, I hope Major Miller won’t mind me skipping the salute.”
“No problem. If you pull it off, I’ll salute you myself,” Miller said as he moved to the control room, his job being to record and analyze Levi’s data during the simulation..
Levi sat inside the simulator, Claude’s voice echoing in his ear.
“Corporal—this system is called the dual-directional system. It’s more advanced than the Blue Crisis because it includes a curve system.”
“Are you saying I’ll have to spend half my life learning this curve system?” Levi asked as he adjusted to the simulation environment, ready to start. “No need to leam it. It entirely depends on a person’s sense of space. Imagine that the way you move the steering wheel determines your trajectory in three-dimensional space.” “In other words, it’s like riding a bike-once you get the feel, you’ve mastered it?”
“Exactly. Today, we’ll forgo any auxiliary systems and simply test if you have the talent to control the ‘Pristine Lady.” Claude’s voice grew darker, like quartz sinking into water.
Levi said nothing, a seriousness settling over him.
Claude raised his hand to signal Miller to start calculating the data, but before he could react, Levi abruptly activated the simulation system. The holographic image in front of the ‘Pristine Lady’ flared to life-showing a fighter jet shooting out of the hangar and crashing into the sky.

“What’s going on?” The experts nearby murmured in astonishment. Miller scoffed, quickly inputting several commands. Within moments a few aircraft appeared in the simulation, aggressively attacking Levi. The screen was filled with dazzling lights.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Levi shouted. The speed was too fast for him to react. Unlike previous fighters, the ‘Pristine Lady’s’ steering was so sensitive that a tiny moverment of the wheel could result in massive deviations. The rotations and flips tested his nerves to the breaking point. Even knowing it wasn’t real—Levi felt his heart race, as if his breath was caught in his throat. Dodging alone was exhausting-he was like a child struggling to swim for the first time, flailing miserably.

Miller, watching the display—raised an eyebrow, pushed up his glasses, and entered a few more commands. Two more aircraft joined the fray, intensifying the assault. At this point, Levi let out a scream, “Damn it—ganging up on me! This must be that four-eyed chicken’s doing!”

Miller’s face remained impassive. “Do you think there’s such a thing as fairness on the battlefield?”
“Damn it! This steering is already maddening enough! How do I fire?” Levi didn’t waste time arguing with Miller. His only chance to hold out longer was to reduce the enemy’s numbers. ‘The button to your right—Claude began, but Levi had already pressed it.

To his surprise-the missiles didn’t fly straight but followed a parabolic curve, missing their target. Levi barely dodged them himself. If he hadn’t reacted in time he would have been finished within two minutes.
“What kind of missile is this!” Levi yelled-veering left as an enemy laser grazed his wing, narrowly avoiding disaster. “Too bad, it didn’t take you out, Miller was about to input more commands, but Claude stopped him. “Are you sure you want to take out your frustrations this way?” Claude’s smile remained— but his eyes carried a deeper intensity that made Miller pause. “He has talent. He’s lasted over three minutes in the simulation, Miller’s tone was calm and objective. At that moment—Levi fired three more curved missiles. Although they missed again the system showed that his accuracy had improved by 21% on the third shot compared to the first.

“Curved missiles are harder to control than straight shots, especially at high speeds. He’s doing well,” Miller admitted, now fully focused on the data instead of bickering with Levi.
“Most importantly—he hasn’t mentioned feeling nauseous yet.”

“Don’t you have any straight-firing missiles?” Levi was already frustrated. “Yes, I hadn’t finished explaining before you rushed to press it, Claude’s smug voice was infuriating. ‘Push the button forward, don’t press it.”

Levi launched a volley of missiles in quick succession, but because his flying was unstable—they served only to distract the enemy. “I can’t stand this system! It’s completely unnatural! Speed is its only redeeming feature!”

“Despite that, I’m pleased to inform you—you’ve lasted four minutes, Claude whispered to Miller, “What’s our record again?”

“Three minutes and twenty-four seconds. Five enemy aircraft. That was the best result after six months of elite pilot training aboard the ‘Gaze’ space station.” “That record has been broken.” Claude patted Miller’s shoulder.

The timer showed Levi had lasted over five minutes in the simulation. The entire Z-Zone was quiet, though there was a palpable excitement in the air. At five minutes and forty-one seconds-Levi was finally hit.

The cockpit opened, but Levi remained seated inside.
“Not bad,” Claude said, arms crossed, with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Ugh—” Levi suddenly collapsed out of the cockpit, retching on the floor.

‘That’s a side effect of high-speed piloting. I suppose you’ll have to overcome that in the future,” Claude said lightly—while Levi continued vomiting miserably. “Should we call a doctor?” Miller asked, walking over. “I thought he wouldn’t throw up.”

“I bet he’ll be dizzy for days, Claude said as he turned away, a gleeful smile playing in his eyes.
As predicted, Levi was severely dizzy, lying in bed, unable to eat. The military had sent a doctor to administer nutritional fluids.

“Oh my God! I know you have some kind of medicine to relieve this dizziness! Give it to me now! I don’t want any more nutrient drips—I just want that damned ceiling to stop spinning!” Levi covered his eyes with the back of his hand.
“That’s not possible. Major General Claude specifically instructed that you can only be given nutrient fluids and nothing else. You need to adapt to the sensation on your own.”
“Oh, God—who’s the doctor here, him or you?” Levi felt utterly hopeless.

Proofreader/Editor: meowrii