"I'm not going to beat around the bush and get started. Let's start with Strikers. What are they?" He took his datapad, swiping the screen. The transparent screen above them came to life, projecting whatever was on his datapad to the class.
"They are enhanced humans of course, with physical and or sensory augmentations. They are designed for combat, speed, and direct engagement. They are essentially the blades of not only our academy, but Caüs' military force."
A heavy weight settled in the room as Instructor Barnes' words hung in the room. A few of the Strikers in the room shifted in their seats, Lennon included.
The screen changed, displaying a list concerning their traits.
"Superhuman speed, strength, and reflexes. Enhanced senses like hearing, touch, and smell. Some can even develop biological weaponry like claws, venom ect.. All things designed to protect not only themselves but the people around them. Though these are usually in dire cases and are quite rare."
As he said this, Kenneth couldn't help thinking back to Lennon's words. "I could feel the door opening and closing,"
"It's a Striker thing…or a me thing, I'm not sure. I have sensitivity to these kinds of things."
So it wasn't just a him thing. Every Striker has this ability, he thought.
"Striker's have typically shorter-temper, they are confident and can come across as cocky, they are assertive, sharp, and hyperaware of everything. With that comes adrenaline surges, emotional volatility.
Once their stability is low, usually below 35% most Strikers start to exhibit early signs of rampaging, including but not limited to headaches, vomiting, nausea. They become irritable and sensitive. Anything can set them off."
"So they are basically ticking time-bombs," a girl near the front row mumbled under her breath.
Instructor Barnes turned to face the source of the comment making the girl freeze, realizing she had spoken aloud.
"I'm guessing it wasn't your intention to say that out loud, but yeah, you're correct in a sense. They are time-bombs and extreme liabilities, however, and this is a big one, this is only when they are on the verge of rampaging.
Though statistics show us that it usually occurs once they've reached that 35% mark, it's more accurate to say that they'd need to fall below this estimated number, around 20 to 25% to be in danger. This number varies from person to person.
Some can function just fine at twenty, some even lower. Though we like to avoid having our Strikers reach this point. It is mandated by the school as well as the state to get some anchoring once they've reached the fifties."
The girl's cheeks coloured as she sank into her seat, vowing never to utter a single word again. She could feel the pointed stares from the other student's, most likely Strikers who didn't appreciate being compared to a bomb.
"This brings me to my next point," Instructor Barnes continued, moving away from the girl and addressing the rest of the class.
"Strikers require pairing to avoid rampaging and for long-term mental and physical stability. They exert a lot of power and with that power comes some drawbacks unfortunately. It's why we have Anchors to keep them stable and in that green zone."
The screen then changed to the next slide: COMBAT SPECIALITIES (SUB-CLASSES)
Instructor Barnes swiped his datapad again, and the display shifted to a new diagram: four outlined figures, each labelled in clean white text: Brawler, Hunter, Sentinel, Blitzer.
"Now that we've covered what Strikers are," he said, tone steady and matter-of-fact, "we will cover how they fight."
The image expanded, showing each type in motion, one mid-punch, one disappearing into shadow, another standing firm against an incoming blast, and the last launching forward like a streak of lightning.
"These," Barnes continued, pacing slowly before the screen, "are four major specialities you'll encounter during your training here. Most Strikers fall into one of these categories, though not always cleanly. Think of them as frameworks—ways to better understand how you operate in the field."
He stopped by the first figure.
"Brawlers. They are close-range combatants. They rely on raw power and hand-to-hand mastery. Most Brawlers have reinforced musculature, stronger bone density, and in some cases, regenerative capabilities. They are your frontline fighters, designed to take hits and deliver them back ten-fold."
He gestured, and the next figure brightened.
"Hunters. They are agile, stealth-based specialists. They excel in tracking, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. What they lack in brute strength, they more than make up for in speed and adaptability. You'll often find them operating from the shadows, scouting, observing, eliminating threats before they're even aware of the danger."
Lennon's eyes flickered towards the projection, his posture shifting slightly. Kenneth caught it in his periphery, filing the reaction away for later.
Barnes moved on.
"Sentinels. Defensive experts. Their bodies are built for endurance and protection. They possess near-impenetrable durability, both physical and mental. They act as shields, stabilizers for their team. It's rare to see a Sentinel lose their composure. They're not the fastest or flashiest, but they are damn near unbreakable."
Fae, the girl with the big curls and kind eyes, raised her hand, attracting the attention of not only Barnes, but her fellow classmates. He gave her a slight nod.
"Instructor Barnes," she began, her tone careful but curious," does that mean Sentinels are the least likely to… rampage? Since they act as stabilizers and don't break easily?"
The question drew a few nods from around the room. Even Kenneth tilted his head, interested in the answer.
Barnes considered her for a moment, his lips pressed together in thought before nodding slowly. "That's a good question." He stepped closer to the center of the room, arms folded loosely across his chest. "But not exactly."
He let the silence linger before continuing.
"You're right that Sentinels appear the most stable. They are steady, hard to shake, and in many ways serve as emotional anchors for the people around them. But that doesn't mean they're immune."
His eyes scanned the class, making sure every student was listening. "The thing about Sentinels is that their strength lies in resistance, not absence. They're like a dam holding back water. It looks solid from the outside, but if the pressure keeps building and there's no release…" He snapped his fingers. "The break is catastrophic."
"In other words," he continued, "their nature doesn't change. They can delay the blow from coming, yes. They can hold it back longer than most. But it doesn't change the outcome if the conditions are bad enough. It's like putting flimsy tap over a large crack. It will hold the object together for a while, but it won't hold for long. Rampage isn't a matter of willpower. I hope you all understand that. You can't will the rage away. That's not how this works. It will happen, whether you like it or not. Sentinels are simply better at managing their output since they rely less on raw power."
Fae nodded slowly, mulling over his words. Barnes softened his tone, just a fraction.
"This is why it's important to understand yourself. Your limits, your triggers. Of course we will be there to help you become aware of what sets you off since you can't control what you don't know."
He paused, moving on to the last image. The figure appeared blurred, mid-motion, barely visible.
"Finally, Blitzers. Like the name, they are lightning-fast, offense-heavy, and relentless. They push their bodies to extremes of acceleration and force. Think of them as living storms. Overwhelming, unpredictable, and devastating when unleashed.
They burn bright and fast, which makes them powerful…but also volatile."