I Received System to Become Dragonborn
Chapter 960 - 960: The Day

Erend and the others finally stepped through the bulkhead and into the chamber where most of the trials would be held. A blast of cold recycled air met them as the heavy door sealed shut behind.

The room was far larger than Erend had anticipated. It was at least thirty meters in both width and length, with a ceiling so high it seemed to vanish into shadows. This was pretty deep underground.

He took a slow step forward, boots echoing against the smooth, polished floor.

The place had the sterile feel of a facility not meant to be seen by many. Something about its size and construction puzzled him. This facility was clearly built deep underground and Erend couldn't tell exactly how long ago it had been constructed. But it must've taken a long time. The project had only restarted a few weeks ago, so there was no way this chamber had been built recently.

"This is massive," Adrien said beside him, echoing Erend's thoughts. "When was this built? It couldn't have been done in the last few weeks. The project only restarted recently."

Colonel Rask gave a short nod, folding his arms, and said. "You're right. This chamber wasn't made for this project. It was originally constructed by the private factory owners years ago and meant to house expanded machinery lines. Reinforced to handle vibrations, pressure, and high-energy output. When the military acquired the site, we repurposed this space."

Erend narrowed his eyes, scanning the structure with renewed understanding. The sheer depth of the chamber and the heavy-duty materials used made sense now.

The walls themselves were thick and built in multiple layers of composite metal and arcane-resistant alloys.

Along the base, dark metal plating curved slightly inward to reinforce against outward force. Almost like the room was designed to contain explosions or pressure surges. They clearly need that for later.

Support pillars jutted from the walls at regular intervals, thick with rivets and etched with faded serial codes from the original builders.

Above their heads, thick black cables ran in bundles along steel tracks toward the far end of the chamber, feeding energy into ports the size of small vehicles.

Aside from a few sealed crates and an array of inactive machines covered with tarps, the room was currently empty. But it wouldn't stay that way for long.

Erend folded his arms. "This place was built like a bunker. Whatever's coming, this room was made to survive it. I'm glad we found the right structure for this project."

"Exactly," Rask said. "That's why we're holding the trials here. No better place if something goes wrong."

Jessica nodded, eyes sharp as she paced along the edge of the chamber. "If something does go wrong, I want multiple emergency protocols in place. Ventilation, suppression fields, shielding. I want live status feeds monitored in real-time."

"Already being set up," Conrad assured her from behind a nearby console. "We'll have full control once the equipment is calibrated."

Erend walked toward the center of the room and stood still for a moment, letting the silence speak to him. The others just watched him and wait for his words.

Despite the hum of machinery beyond the walls and the occasional beep from startup systems, the chamber itself is waiting with heavy purpose.

He wasn't sure if it was ready or if anyone truly was. But the trials were coming. The best he can do when its all started is to contain anything that may leak, or goes wrong.

After standing in the center of the vast chamber for a moment, Erend finally turned back toward the others. His expression turned relaxed and calm. He offered them a faint but reassuring smile.

That small gesture somehow carried weight. The tightness in the air loosened.

Adrien let out a breath. Jessica straightened her stance. Billy gave a small nod. If Erend was smiling that gives them enough assurance.

"I hope everything goes well," Erend said. His voice was quiet but firm, echoing slightly in the cavernous space.

Colonel Rask smiled back. "Me too," he said. "I'm... actually excited. Though I probably shouldn't say that out loud."

Erend chuckled once and walked toward the exit with the others. One by one, they left the chamber behind.

The door sealed itself shut again with a deep mechanical hiss, leaving the chamber in silence once more in its waiting state.

They made their way back up through the winding corridors and reinforced lifts, eventually stepping into the upper levels where the real work was being done.

Engineers buzzed between machines. Sparks flew as welders secured frame parts. Dozens of personnel moved with urgent rhythm across scaffolding and along platforms, assembling the final components of the interface modules.

Erend, Adrien, Billy, and Jessica joined Conrad, Thomas, and Colonel Rask as they inspected the ongoing progress.

From time to time, they pointed out design adjustments or gave input on positioning.

Conrad occasionally stopped to explain calibration timings, while Thomas made sure logistical supplies were flowing where they needed to.

Jessica spoke directly with the engineers, tightening the safety margin protocols they were building into the core systems. She was especially concerned about that.

The hours passed in steady diligence. By late afternoon, the sun outside had begun to dip behind the far hills. Its light filtered in only faintly through the high windows above the factory floor.

One by one, the technicians began shutting down their stations and logging their progress.

Erend stretched his back and glanced at the others. "We've done enough for today I think."

Adrien nodded. "Let's head back."

The group gathered their things and moved toward the exit. Vehicles were already waiting outside.

Erend, Adrien, Billy, and Jessica climbed into one. As the car pulled away, Conrad, Thomas, and Rask remained behind to watch it go.

Colonel Rask stood with his hands on his hips, watching the trail of dust fade behind the car.

"I can't wait. This whole project is going to be something incredible," he muttered, mostly to himself.

Conrad nodded, eyes thoughtful. "Yeah. I'm excited too." But he didn't elaborate. Something in his voice suggested a deeper reason he wasn't ready to share.

Thomas let out a soft sigh and turned to follow them back inside.

"Let's just hope excitement doesn't turn into regret," he said quietly.

None of them replied. The hum of the factory swallowed their footsteps.

---

A few more days passed. During that time, Erend, Billy, and Adrien continued overseeing every aspect of the project site from structural integrity checks to equipment calibration.

They walked the factory floor multiple times a day, making sure everything was operating smoothly.

Jessica was constantly running diagnostics with the engineering teams, her focus laser-sharp.

The chamber below remained untouched since their first visit, silently waiting for what was to come.

Then, the day finally arrived.

The candidates—numbering twenty in total—arrived at the factory aboard a military transport truck. The vehicle rumbled to a stop outside the compound.

One by one, the candidates stepped out onto the pavement. Most were between their early twenties and late thirties. Each of them had undergone prior screening, psychological testing, and physical evaluation.

Some looked calm, the others looks nervous, but all shared a sense of tension in their posture.

They stared up at the looming facility ahead of them. The test site that could redefine human potential.

Not long after, the low purr of another vehicle approached from the road behind. A sleek black car pulled up and parked beside the truck.

The doors opened in swift succession.

Captain Adrien stepped out first, followed by Billy and Erend. Jessica emerged next, tablet already in hand, followed by a taller, older man in decorated uniform who was General Lennard.

His presence carried weight. The candidates immediately straightened as he approached, his expression still hard as stone.

General Lennard scanned the group with a critical eye, then turned toward the factory entrance.

"They're ready," he said simply. "Come inside."

Once they were all inside the factory, the echo of their footsteps filled the vast space.

The hall was mostly empty now. The machines, cables, and equipment had all been transferred underground to the testing chamber. Only traces of the past few weeks' furious labor remained. The silence was thick.

General Lennard stepped forward and turned to face the candidates. He stood tall beneath the overhead lights. In his hand, he held a compact microphone.

"This is a classified project," he said without preamble. "This project, if successful, could mark a turning point in human history. A breakthrough not just for science or military but for what we understand as the limits of our own evolution."

The candidates listened in silence. Their expressions were hard, focused.

"But make no mistake," Lennard continued. "You were not chosen for this program to chase glory. You are not here because this is exciting. This could possibly kill you."

A small pause followed, just long enough for his words to sink in.

"You already knew that when you signed the papers. When you walked away from your lives and agreed to be tested. Every one of you was told the risks. And those risks have not diminished."

He glanced across the line of men and women standing before him. Each held their own composure, but the tension was visible in their shoulders, in the way some clenched their fists or held their breath.

"If you succeed," Lennard said, his voice quieting slightly, "you will become something more. A symbol. You will have achieved what no human has before. You will carry forward the future of our country. Perhaps even the world."

He took a step back, lowering the mic.

"I expect all of you to remember that."

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