Post by Aramis Tezuka on Jan 14, 2023 1:11:51 GMT -5
Although a day in Aramis's life was incredibly busy, the man always found time to put aside to keep his skills polished. To be fair, on occasion, there were practical applications of his fighting abilities. Subduing escaped experiments or a squad member having a nervous breakdown was mandatory. As were they required in the field. Still. Practical experience was good, but practicing the fundamentals, Aramis had found, still had a positive effect on everything else. Many Captains and Lieutenants had no further need of practice, having ingrained their skills over hundreds of years. Aramis was comparatively young. Perhaps the youngest Captain in Soul Society, as the man was still in his thirties. And at least sixteen years of those was spent in a lab under experimentation. In other words, Aramis had less than two decades of training. Only the experiments done to him by his father Sayuri, along with his impeccable mind had allowed him such rapid advancements. Along with the single thing left to him by his.... other father.
Either way, practice of the fundamentals. Aramis had booked one of the division's many training rooms for his solo training. An automated voice rang out in the chamber.
"GOOD EVENING [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]. BEGINNING TRAINING MODULE 4.6.3" Aramis slipped his right hand to his hip and his rapier slid out of its sheath. The weapon glimmered with a sickly, dangerous light in the pale light of the training chamber. The weapon hungered for life. It desired to cause pain. But it would not have its wish today. Today it would be swung with a different purpose. The purpose of its masters' improvement. Aramis's free hand adjusted his glasses, ever so slightly.
"PLEASE TAKE YOUR POSITION [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]." Aramis raised his arm. In the beginning, his sword had felt heavy. Rapiers had the stereotype of being light, flicky and flashy blades. In truth, the weapon Aramis wielded was nearly as heavy as a two handed blade, but weighted such that it only required one hand to wield. It was longer than any other single handed blade, and with the weight placed almost entirely at the guard, the simple rapier was quick to wield, with the darting strikes that were hallmarks of Aramis's combat style. Still, in early training, Aramis's shoulder had ached for days when he had first taken up his sword. His muscles had long since adapted, but he could still recall the weight of his weapon, every time he held it. Nothing but memories. Learn from them. Aramis thought to himself, as a green light lit up out of the corner of his eye. The first sequence of the training module had begun.
Holographic images of various defensive parries and offensive strikes lit up around the room, each with a number associated with them. Aramis knew this module. He would have a mere fifteen seconds to study each position, and memorize the number associated with it. Then the program would throw the numbers at him in a randomized order. Failure to follow the sequence would result in a painful electric shock through the floor. Failure to perform each technique adequately would also result in a shock. A module that tested memorization, reflexes and form, and encouraged the blending of attacks and parries. A flow from one to the other without compromising technique.
ONE. SIX. FOUR. FOUR. Aramis's rapier flickered to action. He stepped back, the point of his rapier rising into a high parry on his left side. Low parry on the right. Flashed back up to on-point as if to redirect a thrust for the chest, then a short circular motion to repeat the defense. Adequate. C+. The voice chimed again. EIGHT. FOUR. THREE. FOUR. Aramis's blade flashed forward in a cut to an imagined targets face, coupled with an aggressive forward step. His weapon raised to deflect a counter-thrust to the chest. Then stabbed low to impale his imaginary target through the leg, before returning to parry the return thrust again.
This continued for nearly fifteen minutes, the sequences gradually getting longer. Which each successive sequence Aramis felt his arm begin to gradually tire from the continuous bladework. But his mind remained focused, and his fatigue did not impede his technique. To extend his stamina too-- that was important. After fifteen minutes of the routine, the green light in the room changed to a blue one. Aramis would be allowed two minutes to catch his breath before the next routine of the module. The module would run for one hour, during which, Aramis would be permitted a total of five minutes of rest. Two minutes after the first routine. Two minutes after the second routine. And one minute after the third. After the fourth routine, the module would conclude.
Aramis let his arm lower, focusing all his energy on catching his breath. He paced slowly, not letting his muscles grow complacent. Mentally evaluating his performance. It had been adequate. It could have been better. It would do to save his life against an opponent of a similar or lesser caliber than himself, but against the likes of someone like Captain Tsuyoshi, the former Captain Francis Grin, or even some lieutenants like the up and coming Shawn Raburedo, Aramis did not believe it was enough. Perhaps to ward off an initial assault, but the fatigue in his limbs told him that he would need to improve.
The light turned green again though, and Aramis turned to meet his next challenge. Three holographic images now stood in the room. Two green, one red. All armed with the katana that so many Shinigami carried. "Combat against multiple opponents. Two Unseated. One Seated Officer class. Combat will continue for fifteen minutes. Each incapacitating blow awards one point. Suffering a hit deducts one point. Taking fatal hit deducts ten points. Electric shock administered for each hit. By [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]'s request, when module used for [CAPTAIN TEZUKA] or [LIEUTENANT SHIHOIN], any score below fifty will result in one electric shock for each point below, at conclusion of routine. Commence timer. Release abilities may not be used during this routine." A red holographic timer reading "15:00:00" hung in the air. Then it ticked down to 14:59:59 and continued. The three holographic images lunged to attack.
The green images moved far slower than Aramis with a speed of only 150. Their attacks were competent, but basic. The red one moved much faster, closer to 300 speed, and its attacks were more advanced. Its routines more complex. Aramis knew the program was still watching to make sure his technique remained clean. The Nakabakki Captain took the initiative, lunging forwards and lashing out at the first green target. It attempted to raise its Zanpakuto in defense, but the Captain's blade was faster, skewering it through the heart. A soft "beep" told him he'd score a point, but the image simply reset and attacked him in retaliation. Aramis sidestepped and then addressed the next target-- no two targets, for in the time he'd struck down the first the two other holograms had teamed up and were attacking him simultaneously from different angles. Aramis leaped over the green targets attack to his legs, while slicing to the red target's hand, interrupting its strike. The moment his feet touched ground, the Captain slashed the attacking green target across the throat before it could bring its sword up and disengaged, narrowly avoiding an attack from the now respawned green target.
So this continued for fifteen minutes, Aramis driven onto the defensive, and finding his moments to initiate his attacks. He did not get struck, though on several occasions he came very close, the red hologram in particular coming extremely close to hitting Aramis through use of teamwork. And Aramis couldn't help but notice he was slowing down the longer the battle raged on, while the holograms remained as fierce and strong as they had from the word go. By the time Aramis concluded the routine he'd nearly lost his grip on Revenant, and his concentration was taxed to the limit to keep his technique clean while battling the ceaseless onslaught of the lesser, but unstoppable targets. At last, Aramis had circled and paced until he had the red target dead to rights, and separated it from its two green cronies. His blade had just pierced its head, and the soft "beep" of a confirmed kill sounded, before the green light went out and switched to blue, the red hologram fizzling out of existence.
Aramis breathed heavily and resisted the urge to sit down. Instead he pulled a cloth from his Shihakusho and removed his glasses, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and making sure his glasses were not fogging up. This was challenging, and he needed to make the most of his two minutes. The next routine would be even harder. And it saved the most arduous for last. A program that Aramis had specifically requested to be programmed into the module.
"Commencing third routine. Alternating opponents. Engaging hardlight constructs." A red and green hologram appeared. Aramis knew this one. The red construct possessed immense physical strength, and speed comparable to Aramis's own. The green one possessed slightly greater strength, and unmatched speed. The two would alternate attacking Aramis, but the exact when they would switch would be determined by the computer. And Aramis had intended it to be insidious. It would change the targets at the least opportune moments for Aramis. No shocks or punishment was required here. As hardlight constructs, both were capable of harming Aramis. Death was possible here.
The same 15 minute timer appeared, and began to count down. The green construct attacked Aramis with a blinding speed of just over 1000. Correct choice. Predictable. Aramis contemplated. The distance allowed the Nakabakki just enough time to react. His Zanpakuto flipped into a parry on his right side, but with the same blinding speed as it had charged, the construct changed the trajectory of its attack towards Aramis's leg. Something the Nakabakki had anticipated and had stepped back, the blow just barely missing. When fighting a faster opponent, Aramis's mind was greatly taxed. He needed to think two, three steps ahead of his opponent. Perhaps even four or five, because an opponent of appropriate speed could act as many times before he could. Aramis had to be reacting to no less than five hypothetical attacks at once. And with his mind already fatigued from the previous drills, this was sublime training. The green construct was all over Aramis, and the Nakabakki was forced to endlessly retreat. Counterattack seemed impossible for the moment, until he could get a better grasp of its tactics and movements. Of course, his program wouldn't make that easy.
Aramis was midway through parrying the constructs cut, when suddenly the lightning fast green blade was gone, and a red one was in its place. The heavy blow crashed against Aramis's blade, and Aramis used the force of the strike to fling himself clear, hurled backwards by a strength of nearly one thousand. Had Aramis not positioned himself well in anticipation of the lightning quick attack, the strike would surely have broken his arm. As it was, Aramis was sent tumbling across the ground as his adversary took advantage of his sprawling motion to come at him with a heavy downward blow. Aramis rolled aside and came up to thrust, but suddenly the red target was gone and the green one easily side stepped, cutting down on Aramis's wrist with its own blade. This Aramis had predicted. Optimal time to transition from red to green is when in process of counter-attack. Green can easily avoid and counter. Red cannot. The green blade crashed into Aramis's left arm which Aramis had brought up to cover his attacking arm like a shield and he twisted it, catching the blade in the chains that bound his demon limb, beneath the illusion generated by the shackle on his wrist. Will transition to take advantage of the grapple. Aramis feinted with a shove and then the moment the image changed to red, he sprang back, slashing the red construct across the face with his longer rapier, and narrowly avoiding a heavy punch that caused the air itself to shake.
Such was Aramis's lot for the next fifteen minutes. By the time the constructs disappeared, Aramis had been backed against the wall, breathing heavily, barely able to see through his goggles. His Shihakusho around his left arm had been shredded to pieces through said arm being used as a shield against the green one's attacks, and his body was bruised from being thrown around by the red one. He'd mitigated the damage well enough, but he had still taken injury. By his count he'd killed the two opponents.... Hmm.... Red one he believed he'd killed five times over the course of the routine. Green one, he'd killed three times. The last time he'd used this module he'd killed the red one seven times, but had failed to kill the green one at all. He made a mental note to at least match his red kill score the next time.
Now he had but a single minute-- no, his mental processing of his victory had taken about seven seconds-- Fifty three seconds to recuperate before the final module. A single opponent with the combined strength and speed of both his prior opponents, as well as a randomly selected ability of all known Shinigami in the computer's memory banks. And Aramis had established many. Commencing final routine in 5... 4... 3..."
As it counted down to one, a blue figure appeared. Aramis raised his Zanpakuto into a ready stance, the blade trembling slightly. He would need to survive ten minutes against this one. That would not be easy. And against a holographic construct his Shikai's ability was useless. And he would not dare use his Saisei Oni here. No. Never. Illusions didn't work on computers after-all. Ken'ichi had numerous skills that would have availed him. Aramis had only his bladework and a handful of tricks. This would be very difficult.
And indeed it was as the construct exploded into motion with such speed that Aramis was forced to evade with Shunpo. It was the only way he could keep up. Against an opponent that was merely fast, he could use his sword to control its angles of attack. Limit its options and by extension make them more predictable. With the force of the red figure from the previous battle his blade was simply not an obstacle so all he could do was dodge. Counterattacks would be similarly impossible. The figure tracked Aramis with the omniscient knowledge that came from a computer system monitoring the entire room and came after him. Aramis used Shunpo repeatedly to keep distance, before abruptly changing tactics and launching a Shunpo past the construct, trying to slice it in passing. He scored but a meager scratch. The construct did not pause to acknowledge the blow, but instead, its blade vanished and instead was replaced by an armguard. That is Vice Captain Kaen Youji's release. A torrent of fire exploded at Aramis and Aramis rolled aside narrowly avoiding the flames.
The kick that followed, however, broke four of his ribs and slammed the Captain into the wall. Exposed and unable to Shunpo. The Construct flew at Aramis and all Aramis could do was unleash Cutback Assault, a wave of spiritual energy stopping the construct in its place for but a moment. A real target would have suffered severe injuries. This creation only was paused and fizzled out of existence for but a moment before respawning at full strength.
For ten minutes Aramis battled this construct, doing all he could to weave clear of its blows. Dodging by the skin of his teeth. Burns added up along his body, though mercifully he did not suffer additional broken bones. After ten minutes Aramis was cornered by the construct. Nowhere left to escape, he was backed against the wall. Over the ten minutes he had used Cutback Assault twice more. He was out of energy, and had nothing left to give. His vision was clouded. His mind was still concentrated but the muscles in his shoulder were tearing from fatigue and it was all he could do to keep his arm up. The construct had formed a battleaxe of flame and came in for the executioners blow, when suddenly the green light filling the room changed to blue and it vanished.
MODULE CONCLUDED. [CAPTAIN TEZUKA] may leave the training zone. Next participant may enter." Aramis took a moment, and lowered his blade. Lots to think about. Lots to focus on. He'd send himself the video logs later to study his performance and review the best possible options. He would refrain from grading his performance until he could review it. What different plays could he have made? Things to consider for the next time he came to practice. For now.... Aramis sheathed his rapier and gingerly clutched his broken ribs. He felt his human fingers touch something damp and sticky. Blood. ...He'd need to request a Regeneration Stimulant for now. He couldn't sit around and wait. There was work to be done. Training was no excuse. Training was no reason to stop working.
Aramis Tezuka left the training center of Squad 12 eyes focused ever ahead. Reflecting not on the mistakes of the past, but on the advancements to the future.
Either way, practice of the fundamentals. Aramis had booked one of the division's many training rooms for his solo training. An automated voice rang out in the chamber.
"GOOD EVENING [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]. BEGINNING TRAINING MODULE 4.6.3" Aramis slipped his right hand to his hip and his rapier slid out of its sheath. The weapon glimmered with a sickly, dangerous light in the pale light of the training chamber. The weapon hungered for life. It desired to cause pain. But it would not have its wish today. Today it would be swung with a different purpose. The purpose of its masters' improvement. Aramis's free hand adjusted his glasses, ever so slightly.
"PLEASE TAKE YOUR POSITION [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]." Aramis raised his arm. In the beginning, his sword had felt heavy. Rapiers had the stereotype of being light, flicky and flashy blades. In truth, the weapon Aramis wielded was nearly as heavy as a two handed blade, but weighted such that it only required one hand to wield. It was longer than any other single handed blade, and with the weight placed almost entirely at the guard, the simple rapier was quick to wield, with the darting strikes that were hallmarks of Aramis's combat style. Still, in early training, Aramis's shoulder had ached for days when he had first taken up his sword. His muscles had long since adapted, but he could still recall the weight of his weapon, every time he held it. Nothing but memories. Learn from them. Aramis thought to himself, as a green light lit up out of the corner of his eye. The first sequence of the training module had begun.
Holographic images of various defensive parries and offensive strikes lit up around the room, each with a number associated with them. Aramis knew this module. He would have a mere fifteen seconds to study each position, and memorize the number associated with it. Then the program would throw the numbers at him in a randomized order. Failure to follow the sequence would result in a painful electric shock through the floor. Failure to perform each technique adequately would also result in a shock. A module that tested memorization, reflexes and form, and encouraged the blending of attacks and parries. A flow from one to the other without compromising technique.
ONE. SIX. FOUR. FOUR. Aramis's rapier flickered to action. He stepped back, the point of his rapier rising into a high parry on his left side. Low parry on the right. Flashed back up to on-point as if to redirect a thrust for the chest, then a short circular motion to repeat the defense. Adequate. C+. The voice chimed again. EIGHT. FOUR. THREE. FOUR. Aramis's blade flashed forward in a cut to an imagined targets face, coupled with an aggressive forward step. His weapon raised to deflect a counter-thrust to the chest. Then stabbed low to impale his imaginary target through the leg, before returning to parry the return thrust again.
This continued for nearly fifteen minutes, the sequences gradually getting longer. Which each successive sequence Aramis felt his arm begin to gradually tire from the continuous bladework. But his mind remained focused, and his fatigue did not impede his technique. To extend his stamina too-- that was important. After fifteen minutes of the routine, the green light in the room changed to a blue one. Aramis would be allowed two minutes to catch his breath before the next routine of the module. The module would run for one hour, during which, Aramis would be permitted a total of five minutes of rest. Two minutes after the first routine. Two minutes after the second routine. And one minute after the third. After the fourth routine, the module would conclude.
Aramis let his arm lower, focusing all his energy on catching his breath. He paced slowly, not letting his muscles grow complacent. Mentally evaluating his performance. It had been adequate. It could have been better. It would do to save his life against an opponent of a similar or lesser caliber than himself, but against the likes of someone like Captain Tsuyoshi, the former Captain Francis Grin, or even some lieutenants like the up and coming Shawn Raburedo, Aramis did not believe it was enough. Perhaps to ward off an initial assault, but the fatigue in his limbs told him that he would need to improve.
The light turned green again though, and Aramis turned to meet his next challenge. Three holographic images now stood in the room. Two green, one red. All armed with the katana that so many Shinigami carried. "Combat against multiple opponents. Two Unseated. One Seated Officer class. Combat will continue for fifteen minutes. Each incapacitating blow awards one point. Suffering a hit deducts one point. Taking fatal hit deducts ten points. Electric shock administered for each hit. By [CAPTAIN TEZUKA]'s request, when module used for [CAPTAIN TEZUKA] or [LIEUTENANT SHIHOIN], any score below fifty will result in one electric shock for each point below, at conclusion of routine. Commence timer. Release abilities may not be used during this routine." A red holographic timer reading "15:00:00" hung in the air. Then it ticked down to 14:59:59 and continued. The three holographic images lunged to attack.
The green images moved far slower than Aramis with a speed of only 150. Their attacks were competent, but basic. The red one moved much faster, closer to 300 speed, and its attacks were more advanced. Its routines more complex. Aramis knew the program was still watching to make sure his technique remained clean. The Nakabakki Captain took the initiative, lunging forwards and lashing out at the first green target. It attempted to raise its Zanpakuto in defense, but the Captain's blade was faster, skewering it through the heart. A soft "beep" told him he'd score a point, but the image simply reset and attacked him in retaliation. Aramis sidestepped and then addressed the next target-- no two targets, for in the time he'd struck down the first the two other holograms had teamed up and were attacking him simultaneously from different angles. Aramis leaped over the green targets attack to his legs, while slicing to the red target's hand, interrupting its strike. The moment his feet touched ground, the Captain slashed the attacking green target across the throat before it could bring its sword up and disengaged, narrowly avoiding an attack from the now respawned green target.
So this continued for fifteen minutes, Aramis driven onto the defensive, and finding his moments to initiate his attacks. He did not get struck, though on several occasions he came very close, the red hologram in particular coming extremely close to hitting Aramis through use of teamwork. And Aramis couldn't help but notice he was slowing down the longer the battle raged on, while the holograms remained as fierce and strong as they had from the word go. By the time Aramis concluded the routine he'd nearly lost his grip on Revenant, and his concentration was taxed to the limit to keep his technique clean while battling the ceaseless onslaught of the lesser, but unstoppable targets. At last, Aramis had circled and paced until he had the red target dead to rights, and separated it from its two green cronies. His blade had just pierced its head, and the soft "beep" of a confirmed kill sounded, before the green light went out and switched to blue, the red hologram fizzling out of existence.
Aramis breathed heavily and resisted the urge to sit down. Instead he pulled a cloth from his Shihakusho and removed his glasses, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and making sure his glasses were not fogging up. This was challenging, and he needed to make the most of his two minutes. The next routine would be even harder. And it saved the most arduous for last. A program that Aramis had specifically requested to be programmed into the module.
"Commencing third routine. Alternating opponents. Engaging hardlight constructs." A red and green hologram appeared. Aramis knew this one. The red construct possessed immense physical strength, and speed comparable to Aramis's own. The green one possessed slightly greater strength, and unmatched speed. The two would alternate attacking Aramis, but the exact when they would switch would be determined by the computer. And Aramis had intended it to be insidious. It would change the targets at the least opportune moments for Aramis. No shocks or punishment was required here. As hardlight constructs, both were capable of harming Aramis. Death was possible here.
The same 15 minute timer appeared, and began to count down. The green construct attacked Aramis with a blinding speed of just over 1000. Correct choice. Predictable. Aramis contemplated. The distance allowed the Nakabakki just enough time to react. His Zanpakuto flipped into a parry on his right side, but with the same blinding speed as it had charged, the construct changed the trajectory of its attack towards Aramis's leg. Something the Nakabakki had anticipated and had stepped back, the blow just barely missing. When fighting a faster opponent, Aramis's mind was greatly taxed. He needed to think two, three steps ahead of his opponent. Perhaps even four or five, because an opponent of appropriate speed could act as many times before he could. Aramis had to be reacting to no less than five hypothetical attacks at once. And with his mind already fatigued from the previous drills, this was sublime training. The green construct was all over Aramis, and the Nakabakki was forced to endlessly retreat. Counterattack seemed impossible for the moment, until he could get a better grasp of its tactics and movements. Of course, his program wouldn't make that easy.
Aramis was midway through parrying the constructs cut, when suddenly the lightning fast green blade was gone, and a red one was in its place. The heavy blow crashed against Aramis's blade, and Aramis used the force of the strike to fling himself clear, hurled backwards by a strength of nearly one thousand. Had Aramis not positioned himself well in anticipation of the lightning quick attack, the strike would surely have broken his arm. As it was, Aramis was sent tumbling across the ground as his adversary took advantage of his sprawling motion to come at him with a heavy downward blow. Aramis rolled aside and came up to thrust, but suddenly the red target was gone and the green one easily side stepped, cutting down on Aramis's wrist with its own blade. This Aramis had predicted. Optimal time to transition from red to green is when in process of counter-attack. Green can easily avoid and counter. Red cannot. The green blade crashed into Aramis's left arm which Aramis had brought up to cover his attacking arm like a shield and he twisted it, catching the blade in the chains that bound his demon limb, beneath the illusion generated by the shackle on his wrist. Will transition to take advantage of the grapple. Aramis feinted with a shove and then the moment the image changed to red, he sprang back, slashing the red construct across the face with his longer rapier, and narrowly avoiding a heavy punch that caused the air itself to shake.
Such was Aramis's lot for the next fifteen minutes. By the time the constructs disappeared, Aramis had been backed against the wall, breathing heavily, barely able to see through his goggles. His Shihakusho around his left arm had been shredded to pieces through said arm being used as a shield against the green one's attacks, and his body was bruised from being thrown around by the red one. He'd mitigated the damage well enough, but he had still taken injury. By his count he'd killed the two opponents.... Hmm.... Red one he believed he'd killed five times over the course of the routine. Green one, he'd killed three times. The last time he'd used this module he'd killed the red one seven times, but had failed to kill the green one at all. He made a mental note to at least match his red kill score the next time.
Now he had but a single minute-- no, his mental processing of his victory had taken about seven seconds-- Fifty three seconds to recuperate before the final module. A single opponent with the combined strength and speed of both his prior opponents, as well as a randomly selected ability of all known Shinigami in the computer's memory banks. And Aramis had established many. Commencing final routine in 5... 4... 3..."
As it counted down to one, a blue figure appeared. Aramis raised his Zanpakuto into a ready stance, the blade trembling slightly. He would need to survive ten minutes against this one. That would not be easy. And against a holographic construct his Shikai's ability was useless. And he would not dare use his Saisei Oni here. No. Never. Illusions didn't work on computers after-all. Ken'ichi had numerous skills that would have availed him. Aramis had only his bladework and a handful of tricks. This would be very difficult.
And indeed it was as the construct exploded into motion with such speed that Aramis was forced to evade with Shunpo. It was the only way he could keep up. Against an opponent that was merely fast, he could use his sword to control its angles of attack. Limit its options and by extension make them more predictable. With the force of the red figure from the previous battle his blade was simply not an obstacle so all he could do was dodge. Counterattacks would be similarly impossible. The figure tracked Aramis with the omniscient knowledge that came from a computer system monitoring the entire room and came after him. Aramis used Shunpo repeatedly to keep distance, before abruptly changing tactics and launching a Shunpo past the construct, trying to slice it in passing. He scored but a meager scratch. The construct did not pause to acknowledge the blow, but instead, its blade vanished and instead was replaced by an armguard. That is Vice Captain Kaen Youji's release. A torrent of fire exploded at Aramis and Aramis rolled aside narrowly avoiding the flames.
The kick that followed, however, broke four of his ribs and slammed the Captain into the wall. Exposed and unable to Shunpo. The Construct flew at Aramis and all Aramis could do was unleash Cutback Assault, a wave of spiritual energy stopping the construct in its place for but a moment. A real target would have suffered severe injuries. This creation only was paused and fizzled out of existence for but a moment before respawning at full strength.
For ten minutes Aramis battled this construct, doing all he could to weave clear of its blows. Dodging by the skin of his teeth. Burns added up along his body, though mercifully he did not suffer additional broken bones. After ten minutes Aramis was cornered by the construct. Nowhere left to escape, he was backed against the wall. Over the ten minutes he had used Cutback Assault twice more. He was out of energy, and had nothing left to give. His vision was clouded. His mind was still concentrated but the muscles in his shoulder were tearing from fatigue and it was all he could do to keep his arm up. The construct had formed a battleaxe of flame and came in for the executioners blow, when suddenly the green light filling the room changed to blue and it vanished.
MODULE CONCLUDED. [CAPTAIN TEZUKA] may leave the training zone. Next participant may enter." Aramis took a moment, and lowered his blade. Lots to think about. Lots to focus on. He'd send himself the video logs later to study his performance and review the best possible options. He would refrain from grading his performance until he could review it. What different plays could he have made? Things to consider for the next time he came to practice. For now.... Aramis sheathed his rapier and gingerly clutched his broken ribs. He felt his human fingers touch something damp and sticky. Blood. ...He'd need to request a Regeneration Stimulant for now. He couldn't sit around and wait. There was work to be done. Training was no excuse. Training was no reason to stop working.
Aramis Tezuka left the training center of Squad 12 eyes focused ever ahead. Reflecting not on the mistakes of the past, but on the advancements to the future.
