Edwin Lunar Chapter 17: Professor Raith’s Challenge

Read chapter 17 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

Rainstorms moved across the skies of Noroel while thunder echoed around the massive towers of Lunar Dominion Academy. Far below the floating bridges and silver castles, Third-Year Combat Sector Three awakened with bright blue training lights. Students gathered nervously inside the enormous chamber. The sector looked more like a battlefield than a classroom. Metal platforms floated above deep mechanical pits while giant holographic walls surrounded the arena. Advanced combat drones rested along the ceilings, their red scanners glowing faintly in the darkness. Carl stared upward uneasily. "I miss normal education." "There was never anything normal about this academy," Iris replied. Edwin adjusted the sleeve of his combat uniform quietly. Something about today felt different. More serious. More dangerous. Then the giant steel doors opened. Professor Raith entered carrying a long black combat staff across one shoulder. The room instantly became silent. Behind him floated a holographic screen displaying one sentence: TACTICAL SURVIVAL EVALUATION Carl immediately whispered: "That title alone is concerning." Raith stopped at the center platform. "Today," he announced sharply, "you will learn the difference between training and survival." The holographic walls activated instantly. A massive digital map appeared around the chamber. Mountains. Ruins. Forests. Destroyed structures. "This simulation recreates hostile combat environments beyond Noroel." Several students looked nervous already. Raith continued. "You will enter as tactical units." The map shifted again. Red danger zones spread across multiple regions. "Objectives: survive, retrieve your assigned core, and reach extraction." Simple enough. Then Raith added: "Failure results in elimination." The room became quieter. Carl slowly raised his hand. "Elimination from… the simulation?" Raith stared at him blankly. "Yes." Carl visibly relaxed. "Oh thank the stars." Several students laughed softly. Raith activated another screen. "However…" Everyone immediately became tense again. "Combat drones in this evaluation operate at real third-year attack levels." The laughter vanished instantly. "Your injuries will be real." Carl looked betrayed. "That feels like important information." Raith ignored him completely. "Unit leaders will now receive mission assignments." Small glowing devices floated toward every team. Edwin caught theirs carefully. TACTICAL UNIT 07OBJECTIVE: RETRIEVE CORE SIGMAZONE: SHADOW RUINS Iris studied the map immediately. "The Shadow Ruins sector has the highest structural instability." Carl sighed dramatically. "So the academy still hates us." The arena lights dimmed suddenly. Then giant gates opened around the combat sector. Beyond them— The simulation world appeared. Dense black forests stretched beneath artificial storm skies while broken towers rose from the distant ruins like skeletons. The realism felt terrifying. Edwin stared quietly. Every year the academy simulations became more advanced. But this… This almost felt real. Raith's voice echoed through the chamber. "Begin." Instantly students sprinted into different sectors. Combat drones launched overhead. Explosions echoed through distant areas of the simulation. Carl grabbed his head. "WHY IS EDUCATION LIKE THIS HERE?" Edwin ran forward through the artificial forest while Iris projected tactical pathways beside them. "This way," she said quickly. "The Sigma Core is beneath the ruins." Metal branches moved overhead while distant mechanical creatures searched through the dark environment. The simulation atmosphere felt incredibly realistic. Wind. Rain. Even temperature shifts. Carl looked around nervously. "If something jumps out at me, I'm resigning from heroism." A loud explosion suddenly echoed nearby. Another tactical team crashed through the forest while being chased by combat drones firing blue energy blasts. One student yelled: "RUN FASTER!" Carl pointed immediately. "See? That's exactly what I'm talking