LOWKEY INTERSTELLER CAPTAIN

Cheno Bo stood at the heart of the Academy’s Combat Simulation Hall; his heartbeat steady despite the tension in the air. Today wasn’t about strategy, fleet maneuvers, or political games.

Today was about raw combat.

The Academy’s Elite Combat Course was infamous. It wasn’t just a test of skill—it was a battle of survival. Many cadets walked in, but only the strongest walked out with recognition.

Cheno wasn’t here just to pass. He was here to dominate.

The Trial Begins

The moment the countdown ended; the arena shifted. Holographic walls dissolved, revealing an open battlefield littered with obstacles—ruined buildings, trenches, and scattered debris.

Before Cheno could even adjust, the first attack came.

A blur of movement—a cadet lunged with a plasma blade, aiming straight for Cheno’s chest.

[System Alert: Hostile Intent Detected. Calculating Countermeasures.]

Cheno reacted instantly. He twisted, dodging the strike by mere inches, and delivered a powerful elbow to the attacker’s ribs. The cadet stumbled back, eyes wide.

“Too slow.”

Cheno’s first shot forward—one precise strikes the throat. The cadet gasped for air before collapsing. Not dead but eliminated.

[System Notification: First Opponent Defeated. Combat Efficiency: 92%.]

Cheno didn’t have time to celebrate. Three more cadets were charged from different angles, each wielding energy weapons.

A normal soldier would panic.

Cheno was no normal soldier.

Mastering the Art of War

He activated his system’s Tactical Analysis Mode. In an instant, the battlefield slowed in his mind. Every movement, every attack trajectory—he could see it all.

First attacker—left side, using a rapid-strike baton.

Cheno sidestepped, his left arm snapping out like a whip, grabbing the cadet’s wrist and twisting. A sharp crack echoed as the weapon dropped.

Second attacker—right side, armed with twin daggers.

Cheno shifted low, sweeping the opponent’s legs before launching a precise kick to the ribs. The cadet hit the ground; wind knocked out.

Third attacker—direct approach, energy staff in hand.

This one was smarter. He waited, observing Cheno’s counters before striking. But Cheno had already seen through him.

With a flicker of movement, Cheno closed the distance before the cadet could react. He grabbed the staff mid-swing, yanked the attacker forward, and drove a knee into his gut. The cadet doubled before collapsing.

[System Notification: Three Opponents Defeated. Combat Efficiency: 96%.]

The remaining cadets hesitated. Fear crept into their eyes.

Cheno straightened, rolling his shoulders. “Next?”

A Familiar Enemy

Then, the battlefield shifted again.

A new opponent stepped forward.

Xian Ren.

The crowd murmured. Xian Ren was not just any cadet—he was one of the Academy’s strongest fighters.

And one of its most arrogant nobles.

Born into an elite house, Ren had never known struggle. He was used to winning through privilege, using underhanded tricks and pulling strings behind the scenes. His father was a high-ranking admiral, and everyone knew that defeating him came with consequences.

But Cheno? He didn’t care.

Cheno met his gaze, his expression unreadable. “So, they finally sent someone interesting.”

Ren smirked. “You got lucky against me in tactics. Let’s see if you can do the same in a real fight.”

The moment the bell rang, Ren moved—fast.

His energy spear struck forward, a blur of motion. Cheno barely managed to evade the weapon grazing his uniform.

[System Alert: High-Speed Combat Detected. Adjusting Reflexes.]

Cheno countered immediately, using a precision kick to force Ren back. But Ren recovered with perfect balance, spinning his spear and launching a rapid flurry of strikes.

Cheno blocked, dodged, countered—but Ren was relentless.

Then, Ren smirked. “Got you.”

A sudden shift—Ren’s spear changed trajectory mid-strike, aiming straight for Cheno’s ribs.

But then—

A small electromagnetic pulse erupted from Ren’s wrist guard—an illegal combat enhancer.

[System Alert: Unauthorized Device Detected!]

Cheno’s body stiffened for a fraction of a second—long enough for Ren to exploit the opening.

The energy spear struck hard, sending Cheno skidding backward. The crowd gasped, but the officials said nothing.

They wouldn’t interfere.

Because Ren’s family controlled them.

The Fall of Arrogance

But Cheno had already expected this.

He forced his body to move, overriding the system’s alert. His past life had taught him how to resist electromagnetic stunners. He had fought in worse conditions before.

Ren stepped forward, smirking. “Stay down, fallen noble.”

Cheno wiped the blood from his lips and chuckled. “That’s all you got?”

Ren’s smirk faltered. “You should be on the ground.”

“Too bad,” Cheno said, flexing his fingers. “You bet on the wrong odds.”

With explosive speed, Cheno launched himself forward, ignoring Ren’s spear entirely. He twisted his body, dodging at the last second, and slammed his forearm against Ren’s wrist, forcing him to drop the spear.

Then—a brutal uppercut.

Ren’s head snapped back, his body staggering.

Cheno didn’t stop. One strike. Two. Three. Each punch landed with brutal precision, breaking past Ren’s weak noble-bred defenses.

Finally, a spinning kick sent Ren crashing to the ground.

[System Notification: Opponent Defeated. Combat Rating: S-Rank.]

Varian, the instructor, finally spoke. “Winner: Cheno Bo.”

The crowd erupted into murmurs. Cheno had just defeated the Academy’s strongest cadet—even with Ren cheating.

Ren lay gasping, blood trickling from his lips. He looked up in disbelief, rage burning in his eyes.

Cheno stared down at him, his voice cold. “Next time, fight like a real soldier. Not a spoiled brat.”

Then, without another glance, he walked away.

He had proved what he needed to.

He was no longer a fallen heir.

He was a force to be reckoned with.