My Life Changed with the Unlimited System-Chapter 153: Maria Faye

Ethan followed the assistant quietly through a corridor that felt more like the interior of a luxury aircraft than a regular hallway. Soft lights lined the upper edges of the curved ceiling, and the floors were covered in a dark matte texture that muffled their steps.

He had already changed into the Nemesis training suit Helena had given him. A sleek black outfit made from adaptive material, somewhere between a combat uniform and a hooded sport suit. It fit snugly without feeling tight, designed for movement and endurance.

The hood rested loosely behind his neck, and though it looked simple, Ethan could feel the layers of tech woven into the fabric.

They arrived in front of a sleek black door with a panel glowing faintly on its right side.

"This is your official room, Mr. Cole," the assistant said. "Welcome to The Haven. That's what we call the dormitory."

Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Fitting name."

The door slid open with a soft hiss. The room inside was quiet and cool, designed with a simple but high-class touch. The walls were smooth, dark grey with silver trim, and glowing lines ran along the edges, gently adjusting their brightness as he walked in.

The bed was set neatly against the far wall, built slightly into the frame. It looked firm but inviting, with a clean black sheet and a comforter made from light, breathable fabric. Just standing near it made Ethan feel like he could finally rest properly after days of chaos.

To the right, he noticed a private bathroom. The glass door was slightly open, revealing a wide mirror, a rainfall-style shower, and folded towels stacked on the counter. Everything inside looked brand new.

Instructor: Assigned upon arrival

Note: Full gear required. Be prepared.

=====

Ethan chuckled. "Of course. Nothing ever starts at a normal hour."

He tapped the corner of the screen, and the message closed with a soft chime. He assumed there would be some sort of special device or communicator for easier contact later on.

Helena did say she'd pass him more equipment tomorrow. This was probably just a temporary way of getting messages across.

Still, the precision and control of everything here, it was impressive, but a little unsettling. Every word, every schedule, every breath seemed monitored.

Ethan returned to the bed and lay on his back again, this time letting the silence settle. His thoughts drifted toward what kind of training he'd face tomorrow.

Arena V-13. Vanguard training.

'Let's see what you've got,' he thought with a small smile, eyes watching the clouds roll slowly across the artificial sky above him.

Then, without meaning to, his eyes slowly shut.

Sleep came fast.

***

Outside, beneath the quiet night sky that blanketed Nemesis's inner section, Maria Faye moved like water given shape.

She was alone, training, at the same place Ethan had seen her earlier that day.

Twin blades flashed in her hands, slicing through the air with precise rhythm. Her breathing matched the flow of her movements. She was sharp, controlled, and balanced. Her movement becoming more refined as she swung the blades.

Maria's dark brown hair was tied up in a clean twist behind her head, and her black training suit clung neatly to her form. There were no wasted movements. Every step and swing had purpose.

The inner section's area in Nemesis were free to use for any operative for any purpose, as long as they followed one rule, respect the space. Dueling and training were allowed. Encouraged, even. It was part of Nemesis's culture where iron sharpens iron.

And Maria had always been one of the sharpest.

Footsteps approached.

She didn't stop, not right away. But she heard him.

"Still here, huh?" came a voice from behind her.

She pivoted mid-swing, twisted, then brought both blades to a clean stop before turning around.

Red.

That was his name, or rather, the only one he used. He had fiery red hair, a grin that always looked half-mocking, and an energy that never quite settled down.

Like Maria, he was around twenty, maybe a few months older.

"What is it, Red?" she asked, not bothered, but not exactly thrilled either.

Red crossed his arms and nodded toward the blades in her hands. "You're gonna cut the sky open if you keep going that hard."

She raised an eyebrow. "Get to the point."

He smirked. "Have you heard about the new recruit?"

Maria blinked, then lowered her weapons slightly. "Why?"

Red leaned against the low barrier at the edge of the platform. "Well, my mother told me something weird."

Maria tilted her head. "Weird?"

"Apparently," Red said, drawing out the word, "Nemesis just recruited someone… rare."

Maria frowned slightly. "How rare are we talking?"

Red grinned. "A Golden Ascendant."

That got her attention.

She stood straighter, eyes narrowing just a bit. "Golden?"

"Yup."

Maria scoffed, turning away for a second. "Is he strong?"

"He's a Lower One-Star."

Maria turned back sharply. "That's it?"

Red nodded. "Yep. Lower One-Star. Something in legends. Crazy, huh?"

Maria's expression twisted into something between disbelief and mild annoyance. She muttered under her breath, "Just a Lower One-Star? Is Nemesis that desperate now?"

Red laughed. "Come on. You know how this place works. If they took him in, he's not ordinary."

Maria didn't reply. She looked up at the still sky, then back toward the building where operatives stayed.

Red then said, "Oh. Another thing."

"What is it?"

"He's going to join Vanguard's training."

"He is?"

Red nodded.

Maria blades gleamed under the soft lighting, but her grip on them had tightened just slightly.

"A Golden Ascendant... joining Vanguards," she repeated quietly.

And then, almost as if to herself, "We'll see what makes him so special."