Elsewhere in campus, Adam faced a different challenge entirely.

His roommate—Gregor, whose build suggested a dirty troll ass ancestry somewhere in his family tree—lounged on a bed that looked too small for his bulk, surrounded by small crew of similarly large candidates who'd apparently adopted him as a social leader.

"Look who's back," Gregor announced as Adam entered their shared room. "The little intelligence kid. Still pretending you belong here?"

Adam maintained a neutral expression, his Mental Dampening core subtly active—not obviously defensive, just making his presence slightly harder to focus on, making Gregor's attention slide away without his conscious recognition.

Same routine, Adam thought with internal exhaustion. The intimidation was obvious, heavy-handed—and for most, effective. For Adam, it meant nothing. He'd murdered men and monsters with the same steady hands. Fear had no weight left to press on him.

"Just need to grab some materials for the next class," Adam said, his tone deliberately bland.

"Did I say you could speak?" Gregor's tone carried a theatrical menace that might intimidate someone without actual combat experience.

He's performing, Adam recognized through his increased cognition. Trying to assert dominance for his friends, using me as a prop in his little social theater.

One of Gregor's crew—Matthias, another oversized boy—moved to block the door. "Gregor asked you a question. Did he say you could speak?"

Adam's Mental Dampening intensified slightly—making him forgettable, making the interaction feel less important, making Gregor's attention want to move to more interesting targets.

"Sorry," Adam said, infusing his voice with exactly enough weakness to satisfy their need for submission without triggering further escalation. "I didn't mean—"

"Pathetic," Gregor interrupted, apparently satisfied. "Go get your materials. Scurry away like a good little mouse."

Adam collected his books without hurry, without visible fear, his mind cataloging the interaction with analytical detachment.

Gregor's father was butler to Cavendish family, Adam remembered from his earlier research. He was not a noble, nor anyone of importance , just a servant elevated through association. That's why he feels the need to establish some form of authority—compensating for insecurity about his own marginal status.

Matthias and others are similar—minor backgrounds, purchased or barely-earned Academy positions, needing to feel superior to someone so they target perceived weakness.

Standard insecurity-driven bullying. Textbook psychology.

Still, they didn't matter. The Academy would correct their delusions soon enough, stripping away the false power they clung to and teaching them what hubris actually cost.

The Mental Dampening made him slip from their awareness even while present in room—not invisibly like Silas's Sense Fade as Silas' ability targeted the reality of its viewers, his made their minds treat him as a background rather than a target.

They'll barely remember this interaction, Adam thought. At most they'll recall feeling superior but not any specific details of the confrontation.The details would just… fail to stick. The confrontation would fade into something insignificant, easily dismissed, barely worth revisiting.

He departed without further incident, hearing Gregor and crew already moving to a different conversation, their attention having slid off him like water off treated fabric.

Gregor and his friends were playing at dominance but he had actually participated in it.

But letting them know that would create worse problems than enduring the performative bullying.

He headed toward Intelligence Specialist track session—where actual training happened, where capabilities mattered more than posturing, where Adam could function as a professional instead of target.

Let the asshole have his petty dominance, Adam thought.

I just have to build toward actual power.

Still, really wish I had a clue on that mind control core. Last I seen it was with the Hosue Aurin captain.

Adam also tried placating himself as he also heard what the old man said on the podium about mental builds. He recognized it as potentially concerning, as his go to solution was always cynical violence —a sign that his mental specialization was already affecting his psychology.

Need friends who'll call out when I'm crossing lines, that's If do tell them when I cross it.

These connections matter. Which means I can't take them for granted. I have to show up, consistently, and keep them alive.

In a way they'll serve as anchors. Reminders of who I was before power started reshaping psychology.

He entered the Intelligence Specialist training room, leaving Gregor and his performative dominance behind.

One day at a time, Adam thought. One careful step toward power

——

The Academy library was a cathedral to knowledge—three stories of shelves, reading rooms, research spaces, all organized with precision that made finding information efficient rather than overwhelming.

Duncan claimed a desk in the core theory section, accessing thedatabase through his soul-force interface that responded to his Academy identification.

TANK SPECIALIZATION - BUILD THEORY

The database provided a comprehensive analysis—documented builds from historical tanks, statistical success rates, compatibility assessments based on those with soul talents and existing core integrations.

Let's start with the foundation, Duncan thought, entering his current specifications.

Current Cores:

- Bone Guard (Defensive Specialization)

Soul Talent:

- None (Baseline Human)

The database processed, generating its recommended progression paths.

OPTION ONE: PURE DEFENSE ENHANCEMENT

Recommended Cores: Regeneration, Damage Resistance, Pain Suppression

Build Focus: Maximum survivability, extended engagement capability, passive tanking

Strengths: more tasking to kill, can maintain position indefinitely

Weaknesses: Limited offensive capability, relies entirely on teammates for damage

Estimated Academy Coin Cost: 300-400 coins

That's doubling down on being punching bag, Duncan thought. Not for me.

OPTION TWO: ACTIVE CONTROL SPECIALIZATION

Recommended Cores: Enhanced Strength, Momentum Control

Build Focus: Battlefield control, engagement direction, protective positioning

Strengths: Creates opportunities for teammates, controls enemy movement, maintains defense while enabling offense

Weaknesses: More complex execution, requires tactical thinking during combat

Estimated Academy Coin Cost: 450-600 coins

More interesting.

OPTION THREE: MOBILE FORTRESS

Recommended Cores: Speed Enhancement, Defensive Projection

Build Focus: Dynamic positioning, rapid response protection, mobile barrier

Strengths: Can protect multiple targets, responds to threats quickly, harder to bypass

Weaknesses: Higher energy expenditure, requires excellent awareness, conflicts with natural build

Estimated Academy Coin Cost: 500-700 coins

This one has an Interesting concept but it would fight against my physiology. Speed Enhancement on a frame like is going to be hundred percent shitty.

Duncan studied the options, his mind processing their implications.

Active Control matches what I want, he recognized. It would maintain the defensive foundation while adding capability to direct engagements, and create critical advantages.

But it's expensive. It would consume most of my converted merit.

He expanded his research, looking at specific core options within Active Control framework.

Enhanced Strength (Common)- 80 coins

Increases physical power across all applications. Stackable with training. Foundational enhancement for control-focused tanks.

Momentum Control (Rare) - 350 coins

Manipulates kinetic energy—own and others'. Enables engagement direction, impact redirection, force multiplication. Defines control specialization.

This momentum control looks like the best choice but I'll have to train like hell to understand the nuances of the core.

The momentum control core was a type core suited for tacticians in combat as it allowed them to redirect the force they charge into a different direction abruptly. It was like a man charging at you with full speed being able to do a one eighty without any drag. The core also had other parts that he would have to explore.

He leaned back, as he had already made his choice about what kind of power he'd eventually become.

His research on the cores use would be cut down though as he was in the academy with its wealth in knowledge, surely he wouldn't take so long to have a rudimentary understanding of the core.

At the same time, he payed for the core with his hard fought money and left right after making the decision.

Outside the library, the Academy continued its relentless schedule—classes progressing, training intensifying, students developing or breaking under systematic pressure.

But Duncan at this point had a moment of calm. Space to think. And for the first time the opportunity to choose.

And he intended to abuse it.

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