Ethan was walking beside Helena, who led him into a smaller, more private briefing room. “Please. Have a seat over there, Ethan,” Helena said while gesturing for Ethan to sit. She then took a seat across from Ethan.

  “Give me a second,” she added as her fingers moved to activate a console embedded in the table. A series of holographic icons appeared, each representing one of Nemesis’s four cores: Combat, Techno, Stealth, and Vanguard.

  “Let’s start with the basics,” Helena said, her tone measured but friendly. “Nemesis has four operational cores. Each core has a specific function designed to maximize efficiency during missions. These aren’t rigid divisions, but they help us structure our approach.”

  Ethan leaned back slightly, his golden eyes fixed on the icons. “I’m guessing these roles are more about strategy than strength?”

  Helena nodded. “Exactly. The strength of an Ascendant is still determined by their rank, but roles help us coordinate missions more effectively. Let me break them down for you.”

  She tapped on the first holographic icon. An image of a man in a combat gear appeared. “Combat,” Helena began. “This core focuses on direct engagement. Combat operatives are the frontline fighters—trained for brute strength, endurance, and offensive capabilities. They’re the ones who handle high-intensity scenarios where overwhelming force is required.”

  Ethan nodded. He had nothing to ask about the role, as the explanation was straightforward. Helena tapped another icon, revealing a sleek figure with cybernetic enhancements manipulating a holographic screen.

  “Techno,” she continued. “To make it easier for you to understand, they handled everything related to technology—hacking, surveillance, equipment design, battlefield support, and others. Besides, they were the people with the highest understanding of the mission and the strategy.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow before asking. “Sounds like they’re more of a support role?”

  Helena smirked. “Not really, and don’t underestimate them. A skilled Techno operative can turn the tide of a battle without ever stepping onto the field.” She tapped the next icon, displaying a shadowy figure blending seamlessly into their surroundings.

  “Stealth,” Helena said. “As the name suggests, these operatives specialize in infiltration, espionage, and assassination. They operate in the shadows, gathering intelligence and eliminating threats before anyone knows they’re there.”

  Ethan tilted his head slightly. “Cool, even though it is not my style, I can see why it’s important.”

  Helena chuckled. “It’s not for everyone. Stealth operatives require precision, patience, and a certain... flair for subtlety.”

  Finally, she tapped the last icon, showing a versatile figure transitioning seamlessly between combat, technology, and stealth scenarios.

  “And then there’s Vanguard,” Helena said. “The Vanguard core is unique. Operatives in this role are capable of adapting to any situation. They might not excel in one specific area, but they’re invaluable for missions that require flexibility.”

  Ethan leaned forward slightly, studying the hologram. “Sounds like the busiest role of all.”

  “Exactly,” Helena confirmed. “Vanguard operatives can shift priorities based on the mission’s needs. Besides, they’re always required to step in to fill gaps and needed to handle multiple roles. They’re the ones that ensure the team functions as a cohesive unit.”

  Ethan processed the information carefully, his mind piecing together how each role fit into Nemesis’s larger framework. “And I’m guessing my test results have something to do with why we’re having this conversation?”

  Helena smiled faintly, her sharp eyes meeting his. “You catch on quickly. Based on your test results, you’re exceptionally well-balanced. Your strength, speed, endurance, and elemental capabilities are all consistent. That kind of versatility makes you a perfect fit for Vanguard.”

  Ethan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “A jack of all trades, master of none...”

  “Some might see it that way,” Helena replied, “but the Vanguard role isn’t about excelling in one area. It’s about adaptability. You can change your approach depending on the situation, which is a strength most operatives lack.”

  Ethan considered her words, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. “Sticking to one role all the time does sound boring,” he admitted. “Vanguard it is.”

  Helena’s smile widened slightly. “Good choice.”

  She reached under the table and retrieved a sleek, high-tech suit. Its design was streamlined, the gray material accented with faint, glowing lines that pulsed softly with energy. Ethan recognized it immediately.

  “I’ve seen this before,” he said, recalling footage of Mark and Maya wearing similar suits during their missions. “This is what they wore.”

  Helena handed him the suit, her expression serious but approving. “You have one now. The suit enhances your natural abilities and provides protection against most forms of attack. It’s also equipped with integrated tech for communication and stealth.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Ethan held the suit for a moment, his fingers running over the smooth material. It felt weightless yet sturdy, a testament to Nemesis’s advanced technology.

  Helena stood, extending her hand toward him. “Welcome to Nemesis, Ethan Cole.”

  Ethan stood as well, shaking her hand firmly. “Let’s see what this world has in store.”

  ***

  Ethan stood in the heart of one of Nemesis's vast resource centers, surrounded by towering shelves filled with research papers, holographic blueprints, and detailed models of advanced technology.

  The room hummed with quiet energy, the faint glow of digital displays casting a cool light across the space. He had been granted rare access to this treasure trove of knowledge, a privilege that was usually reserved for the researchers in Nemesis.

  At first, Helena and Luciano had been skeptical. When Ethan had requested time to study their technology, they exchanged glances, unsure if he was serious.

  Helena even raised an eyebrow, her tone lightly teasing when she said, "You don’t exactly strike me as the academic type, Ethan."

  But that changed when he brought up the LaRues.

  “The LaRues have been experimenting with things like bio-weapons, silver pills to enhance Ascendants, artificial beings, and what looks like genetic engineering,” Ethan had said, his voice steady and thoughtful.

  He looked at the two of them and added, “If we’re going to take them down, I need to know what we’re up against. What they’re doing might be dangerous, but I believe it’s not so advanced that Nemesis can’t understand or counter it.”

  Helena had been taken aback by his insight. Luciano, ever the composed man, had studied Ethan closely, a flicker of curiosity passing through his normally calm expression.

  There were still many sides of Ethan that they had not seen—the strategist, the thinker, and others that Ethan himself did not know. It wasn’t just about brute strength anymore. He was looking at the bigger picture, trying to understand the enemy from every angle.

  That’s how Ethan found himself here, deep within the resource center, absorbing everything Nemesis had to offer. He moved from terminal to terminal, skimming through detailed blueprints of every single technology developed by Nemesis or any country, reviewing schematics for cutting-edge weapons, and poring over research on genetic engineering.

  Each piece of information sparked something within him, his mind working rapidly to connect dots and analyze patterns. "So, all these while, the movies were not just a mere imagination," he muttered.

  Everything that Ethan observed was accompanied by videos of its creation, successes, failures, and other aspects. He could study what was effective and what improvements were being made. Ethan discovered that Nemesis operated a headquarters dedicated solely to research. "I need to find a way to go there later," he muttered.

  Ethan contemplated, "If I can create something similar or even better, I wonder how far humankind could advance." His mind raced with the possibilities of Nova Tech developing such a groundbreaking innovation. Would he become the founder of a new organization akin to Nemesis?

  One holographic display caught his attention—a model of an advanced bio-weapon developed by a rogue faction years ago. He examined the way it was designed to infect and mutate its host, rendering them nearly unstoppable. His thoughts drifted back to the LaRues and their attempts at creating their own version of bio-engineered soldiers.

  'This... isn’t too different from what they’re doing,' Ethan thought, narrowing his eyes.

  Then there was the silver pill. He found files on early experiments with similar substances used to enhance Ascendants beyond their natural limits. It involved the blood essence of Ascendants, particularly those with the titles of Bronze and Silver. None of them have involved the Golden Ascendant so far.

  'I wonder how many Golden Ascendants exist in this world,' Ethan thought to himself. 'If there are others, they surely wouldn't allow their blood essence to be used for such experiments.'

  The research revealed the risks—the instability, the potential for mental degradation—but it also outlined the enormous power such enhancements could grant. 'No wonder they’re using this on their subjects...'

  Ethan’s eyes scanned through the genetic engineering files, detailing methods of splicing DNA, creating artificial lifeforms, and augmenting human physiology. The sheer breadth of knowledge was staggering, and with each page, he felt his understanding deepening.

  This wasn’t just about learning for the sake of it—he was arming himself with the knowledge needed to anticipate the LaRues' next moves.

  The more Ethan studied, the more his mind expanded. He could feel his Intelligence points increasing as if Nemesis’s technology and research were being absorbed directly into his mind and each of them being rewarded by the system. His understanding of bio-weapons, war tech, and genetic modification was sharpening with every new discovery. It was exhilarating.

  He paused in front of a hologram of Nemesis Dome, the advanced aerial defense system Nemesis had developed to counter airborne threats from warplanes and Ascendants. The technology was brilliant, using energy shields and automated systems to track and neutralize incoming projectiles.

  "This is... too awesome," Ethan said with a beaming smile. He was really excited to see all of this. It was incredibly advanced and interesting.

  He wondered if he truly used his intelligence, could he create something similar or even greater? Moreover, he believed that his intelligence now was on par with or exceeded that of the most brilliant minds on Earth.

  As the hours passed, Ethan realized that this was just as important as training his physical abilities. Strength, speed, endurance—those were all vital in combat, but intelligence?

  That was the key to outmaneuvering enemies like the LaRues. With knowledge, he could predict their strategies, counter their technology, and perhaps even find ways to dismantle their entire operation from within.

  Ethan’s excitement grew as he delved deeper into the archives. He was hungry for more, and the resource center had an endless supply of it. Each new file, each blueprint, and each research paper brought him closer to understanding the full scope of what Nemesis had at its disposal—and what the LaRues were trying to create.

  'Knowledge is power,' Ethan thought to himself. 'True power.'

  Ethan smiled to himself as he pulled up another blueprint, this one detailing a new form of stealth technology that allowed operatives to remain undetected even by the most advanced surveillance systems.

  He marveled at how far Nemesis had come in its research and how much potential there was for him to grow. However, another thought cut off his excitement.

  'Based on what happened to Mark and Maya, it seemed the LaRues had some kind of technology that could detect Nemesis's stealth technology,' Ethan thought. His mind was processing everything.

  'It suggests that the technology possessed by Nemesis must be outdated or that the LaRues had surpassed it in advancement,' Ethan thought. All of these factors pointed to one conclusion: if he relied on Nemesis's technology for the upcoming mission, he was likely to fall into the enemy's trap.

  Ethan let out a heavy sigh. "I need to upgrade this stealth technology, and I also need to develop weapons or some kind of enhancers to counteract the effects of the silver pills."

  He pinched the bridge of his nose and added, "Things are getting crazier."

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