A news reporter's face, pristine and serious, appeared on a large screen, her voice echoing through the streets. "Animals have allied themselves with the Els," she announced. People in the street stopped, their faces twisting in shock. "How could they betray us?" one woman said, while a man beside her snarled, "This is why we should make them our food." The propaganda also targeted Zoners, with the reporter calling the Zoner Knights "bacteria and animal apologists."
Venku, a student at the MRI (Mech Royal Institute), walked through the streets, his eyes fixed on the billboards.
He watched heroic images of King Mr. Green flash across the screens, and his heart swelled with a fierce pride. "Today is the day I take my finals," he whispered to himself. "If I score the highest, then I'll be put on the Elda Police unit." He tried to call his girlfriend, Milly, but she didn't answer.
On his way to the academy, he ran into Amiyona. "Amiyona," he said with a smile.
"Hey, cutie," she replied.
Venku "You heading to finals too?"
"Yes sir, but not to be a pilot. I'm going to work in media production."
"Awesome," Venku said, "that means you'll be responsible for keeping the King's image one of heroism, truth, and justice for all." Amiyona simply smiled and nodded.
As they walked, Venku took note of the hundreds of students milling about the school's entrance. "To think we'll be competing with several thousand students to become chosen for the greater good of the kingdom is a dream come true."
Amiyona took his hand. Venku's face flushed with a light blush. "Amiyona?"
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm really scared, but I'll let go if it bothers you."
"I guess it's okay, you have nothign to worry about, you're a smart woman, you'll do fine" he said, and they walked through the campus hand-in-hand.
"So, how's your girlfriend doing?" Amiyona asked.
"Honestly, she's not doing too good. We're trying to have a baby, but she can't seem to be able to do it., It's a bit dissapointing"
"I get it, someday the Zoner people won't exist, and it'll be up to us to populate Deer Point with superior children. If you ever want to do that, I'll always be available for you."
Venku blushed but didn't say a word. They entered the building and parted ways. Venku "Good look Amiyona." She waved drifting off into the crowd of students.
Later, Venku sat in a classroom with seventeen other students, holographic screens infront of each of them. He wrote on a blank white sheet of paper and the answer appeared on the holo screen. The final exam had begun. The screen displayed multiple schematics of advanced mech parts. Venku, however, moved on to the next page, whispering to himself, "It's important that all those joining the MRF Force understand the Royal government in order to protect it." He began typing under a question that asked, "What are the three branches of the Royal family?"
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
He typed: "The Royal Family itself is structured into three dominant branches, each with its own role and hierarchy:
Zeta Branch – Religious figures, spiritual regulators, and prophets.
Delta Branch – Composed of elite robotic units, these members are often fully synthetic or highly advanced Robots who operate as enforcers, deputy mecha pilots, governors, and tacticians within the empire.
Gamma Branch – Known as the Knights of Elda, this branch includes elite mech pilots believed to be chosen by fate. They are fanatically loyal, armored in divine-class gear, and seen as the sacred military might of the Royal Family."
After the written exam, the instructor surveyed the room for any sign of cheating. Next, all the students were placed in mech-like vehicles that remained stationary but were connected to a simulation.
Their final test was to demonstrate their battlefield prowess. Several students entered the simulation, hunting down El Bacteria and even simulated animals. Other students watching from outside could see the action on a massive screen in the school's training room. The terrain was a perfect mimic of the El territory. Some students eliminated the El's, but a few were quickly defeated and sent out of the simulation, signifying they had failed the test.
When it was Venku's turn, he immediately dominated the field. His mech sliced through the virtual battlefield with lethal precision. "Remember," the instructor's voice said through the comm, "avoid civilian casualties. That's Zoners."
Venku slid through the terrain, releasing a machine gun that tore through bacteria.
He then spotted a simulated Zoner.
He pulled back his firearm, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Why are zoners considereed civilians especially given the kings order to exterminate them in the coming selections, they are inferior being so why should us cyborgs protect them even if it is in simulation?" He slid through the terrain, destroying every simulated parasite. His score reached 90 kills in just under six minutes.
The students watching were stunned, and whispers filled the room.
The instructor's eyes went wide. "I've never seen a student have this many kills in just under six minutes! 90 kills! That's more than France and Dakota when they took this very same exam!"
Venku ventured into a rocky terrain and spotted a simulated child screaming in fear. Venku nearly pulled the trigger but stopped. "Child, get to safety," he said. The child nodded, but then Venku's eyes went cold. In the child's hand was a stuffed monkey doll. Venku's eyes hardened, and he opened fire, vaporizing the child and the doll. The students watching gasped in shock.
The instructor's voice was sharp over the comm. "Venku, you were given specific instructions not to target any civilians! Tell me why you violated that order, and it had better be good, or else you will be immediately disqualified."
Venku's response was cold and calculated. "Sir, I was told both Els and animals were enemies of the King and his kingdom. The child was carrying a stuffed animal. Is that not a clear sign of a treasonist? The kings righteous standards must not be taken lightly, even children can destabalize a nation "
The instructor was stunned into silence. The students watching began to clap, a thunderous applause filling the training room. "Woah, I never thought about it like that," one student said. "This guy is a genius," another whispered. "Just the kind of patriot we need."
At the ten-minute mark, Venku had a total of 100 kills, setting a new and unprecedented record. The last simulated achievement was from France, who had 88 kills in under ten minutes.
When Venku removed his VR headset, the students all greeted him with a thunderous applause. Venku smiled, his chest swelling with pride. The instructor, Kishami, rushed over to him, grabbing his hand. "Venku, you're incredible!"
"Thank you, Instructor Kishami, I want nothing more but to become a deputy mech pilot" Venku replied, his gaze already fixed on the future.