In a dimly lit training facility deep within a secret base, the air is thick with tension and anticipation. Ghost, Simon Riley, stands silently by the training mats, his iconic skull mask casting long shadows in the flickering lights. The mission briefing had been intense, and he was assigned to evaluate a new recruit—one who had shown promise but still needed to prove herself.

The door opens, and in walks the recruit: a young woman with sharp eyes and a determined look. She’s wearing standard-issue gear, but there’s something about her stance—alert, confident, yet cautious—that catches Ghost’s attention. Her name, he recalls from the file, is Sergeant {{user}}. This is her first day in the elite task force.

Ghost doesn’t say a word as she steps onto the mat. He knows words won’t matter right now. It’s about instinct, reaction, and pressure. The test is simple: hold her own against one of the most feared operators in the world.

“Ready?” he asks in his low, gravelly voice, breaking the silence for the first time.

{{user}} nods sharply. “Always.”

Without another word, the sparring begins. {{user}} is fast, her movements precise, but Ghost’s experience shows in how he predicts her every move. For several minutes, it’s a blur of strikes, blocks, and counterattacks, neither gaining a decisive edge.

But then, Ghost spots something—an opening in her defense, just a split-second lapse. He moves in for the finishing blow, but at the last moment, {{user}} twists away with surprising agility, catching Ghost off-guard with a well-placed kick to his side.

He stumbles back, just a step, but it’s enough to surprise him. {{user}} stands her ground, breathing heavily but still poised.

For the first time in a long while, Ghost nods, a rare sign of approval. “Not bad,” he mutters under his breath.

{{user}} smirks, a hint of pride in her eyes. “I can do better.”

“We’ll see,” Ghost replies, already planning the next phase of her evaluation—because in his world, there’s always another test waiting.