《Vortex Reincarnated》 MY NEW WORLD A distant echo reverberated through the vast darkness. The air was thick, heavy, with a faint glow that barely pushed back the shadows. ¡ª"Where... am I supposed to be?" My voice echoed into the void. I looked around, but all I found was absolute nothingness. A shiver ran down my spine. The last thing I remembered was being with my classmates... and then, that portal. A blinding light swallowed us, and in an instant, everything disappeared. ¡ª"Hello?! Is anyone here?!" Silence was my only answer. Was this a dream? I slapped my face repeatedly, but the sharp pain shattered any illusion that this was just a fantasy. Just as panic began to settle in, something changed. From above, a figure descended gracefully. A woman, wrapped in a celestial glow, floated before me. Her presence was overwhelming¡ªalmost suffocating. ¡ª"Mortal, I welcome you. I am Arka, goddess of hope and life." Her voice carried an absolute, undeniable power. ¡ª"I have brought you to this world because you are one of the chosen. This kingdom stands on the brink of destruction; monsters from the underworld and their demon king threaten to consume everything. From now on, you shall be a hero¡­ and as a token of my gratitude for your sacrifice, I will grant you two blessings." My thoughts spiraled into chaos. ¡ª"What?! You didn''t even ask me if I wanted to come! I was with my friends, where are they?!" Arka took a step forward, smiling sweetly. Something in her expression sent a chill through me. ¡ª"Silence magic." I tried to scream, but my throat clenched shut. My voice was gone. ¡ª"Don¡¯t worry," she continued. "My first gift to you is **Regeneration**. You will never lose consciousness, no matter how much damage you take. Your body will heal over time, even severed limbs¡­ but each wound will bring you unbearable agony." My breathing grew unsteady. ¡ª"My second gift is **Cloning**. You will be able to create copies of yourself to aid you in battle." I wanted to protest. I wanted to demand answers about my friends. But my lips remained sealed. ¡ª"That¡¯s all for now," she said with a radiant smile. "I hope you survive. See you soon, hero." With a snap of her fingers, the world collapsed around me. --- The crushing weight in my chest vanished. A nauseating stench filled my lungs. The wind howled, whipping sand into the air with a sinister whistle. I opened my eyes. A crimson sky, stained as if with blood, stretched endlessly above me. All around, a desolate wasteland sprawled as far as I could see. The ground was littered with charred remains. Skeletons. Rusted weapons. ¡ª"Where the hell¡­ am I now?" I scanned my surroundings, hoping to find someone¡ªanyone¡ªbut there was no sign of life. ¡ª"Aren''t heroes supposed to appear in a castle or something¡­?" Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. My voice wavered against the wind. Here I was. Alone. In an unknown world. With powers I never asked for and a fate I never wanted. Then, a sound tore through the silence. Something was approaching. Not just one. Hundreds. A horde of monsters emerged from the wasteland. Twisted creatures, grotesque chimeras towering over six meters, their contorted bodies and bloodshot eyes seething with madness. I ran. I ran without thinking. No direction. No plan. Just the overwhelming need to get away from **them**. My legs burned, my breath seared my throat, but I didn''t stop until I lost sight of them. I stumbled, crashing onto the ground before what seemed to be an abandoned brick house. Damaged, but still standing. Shelter. I entered cautiously. The place was in ruins, but it held together. I ventured deeper, reaching a small room at the back. A bathroom. Two corpses. A man, slumped against the wall. And an infant, lying beside him. A shiver crawled down my spine. The man had a sword. Rusted, but still usable. I gripped it tightly. I didn''t know what I¡¯d have to fight, but I wasn¡¯t planning to die without trying. Fear settled deep in my bones. I couldn¡¯t process any of this. Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty. Something entered the house. I saw the shadow through the crack in the door. A human¡­ maybe? I cracked the door open just enough to peek. Tall. At least 1.90 meters. Lean, wearing a long coat and a wide-brimmed hat. A saber hung at his waist, giving him the air of an old western gunslinger. Our eyes met. He drew his saber, pointing it at the door. ¡ª"A human¡­? Here?" In an instant, the door was split in two. ¡ª"This area isn¡¯t habitable. We¡¯re too far from the settlement. How the hell are you still alive?" My heart pounded. ¡ª"Identify yourself. Now. Or the next thing I do will be splitting your head in two." I thought fast. "I should make up a name. I don¡¯t know this guy¡ªif he has bad intentions, I won¡¯t be able to stop him." ¡ª"My name is Michael." ¡ª"Michael?" The man tightened his grip on his saber. And cut off my arm. A scream tore from my throat. ¡ª"AGHHH!!" I collapsed to my knees, the pain unbearable. I started to vomit. But I didn¡¯t lose consciousness. I **couldn¡¯t** lose consciousness. ¡ª"Why¡­?! Why did you cut off my arm?!" ¡ª"Because you''re suspicious. That name is strange. Your clothes are weird. You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯re from any known settlement." He readied his blade for the final strike. The edge of his saber gleamed before my eyes. ¡ª"Sorry, kid. I can¡¯t take any risks." My mind spiraled into chaos. Why was this happening? What did I do? Had I offended God? What about my family? My sister? It was all because of that damn goddess¡­ The man raised his saber. ¡ª"May the goddess of life, Arka, guide you to the afterlife." The blade came down. My head rolled to the ground. Blood covered everything. And with that¡­ I died. --- Or so I thought¡­ A ragged gasp tore from my throat. ¡ª"Ahh! What the hell?!" My hands frantically searched my body. My arm¡­ my head¡­ they were still there! But I had seen it¡ªI **knew** I had been cut. I froze, feeling the frantic pounding of my own heart. No pain, no wounds. My body was intact, as if nothing had happened. ¡ª"I was supposed to be dead¡­ wasn¡¯t I?" My thoughts collided, desperately searching for a logical explanation. Maybe I hit my head¡­ yeah, that had to be it. A dream, a hallucination¡ªanything but reality. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The important thing was that I had woken up, and to my relief¡­ I was in a city! Not an endless desert, not a barren wasteland swallowed by nothingness. ¡ª"I''m home!" That thought gave me strength. I stood up clumsily, letting the city unfold before me. But the more I looked, the less I recognized. Something was wrong. I loved history, architecture. I could identify almost any place with just a glance at its buildings, its streets, its structure. But this¡­ This was nothing like anything I had ever seen. Narrow streets, flashing neon signs casting eerie glows over digital billboards, towering buildings with sharp angles and materials unfamiliar to me. Holographic screens projected ads in a language I understood¡­ yet didn¡¯t. The characters were completely foreign, but my mind processed them effortlessly. My breathing turned erratic. The closest thing to this would be a cyberpunk city¡­ maybe China or Japan, with their fusion of technology and urban life. But no¡­ this wasn¡¯t either of those places. A cold chill crawled down my spine. My legs gave out, my back hitting the cold alley wall. I curled into the corner, my body trembling as my thoughts plunged into an abyss of uncertainty. No¡­ this couldn¡¯t be¡­ ¡ª"I¡­ I can¡¯t be in another world¡­" My voice barely escaped my lips. My gaze was lost¡­ Chapter 2: Rebirth I stood on the edge of that alley, watching the people pass by. However, no one seemed to notice my presence. Although their clothing was similar to that of my world, it had a distinct, almost eccentric style, hard to define. Time passed, and the people continued with their routines. I realized that staying there wouldn''t get me anywhere. My heart ached... but not for a physical reason. It was the weight of longing, the deep desire to reunite with those I loved: my family. For a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined them searching for me relentlessly. The anguish of not knowing where I was, the desperation on their faces... No. I refused to leave them behind. "I will return to my world. I will go back to my family." My thoughts cleared. The uncertainty that had tormented me began to dissipate. My family was my greatest blessing, my reason to move forward. I smiled faintly, still carrying the weight of everything that had happened. I stood up without hesitation and decided to try something. The goddess had mentioned that I had abilities or blessings. How exactly did they work? I closed my eyes and focused. I envisioned the word in my mind: "Cloning." In an instant, a duplicate of myself appeared before my eyes. It was me. Every detail, every feature, was identical. Surprising. Finally, that goddess had done something useful for me. Without wasting any more time, I left the filthy alley. The neon lights surrounded me, dazzling my pupils. The city was beautiful, a vision straight out of a cyberpunk dream. At that moment, a floating vehicle stopped in the middle of the vast street. It seemed to be a commercial area. Several armed men stepped out from inside. Laser guns? Their uniforms were military, but with an extravagant design, like something out of a science fiction movie. Each of them began shooting into the sky before someone who seemed to be their leader descended. "We''ve reached the designated area, research general." "Good, that''s good. I want you to investigate and find the lost product. It''s of vital importance for the experiment." "Understood!" A soldier, who appeared to be the commander, took out a communication device and spoke coldly: "We¡¯ll begin the Black Swan Operation." Immediately, the soldiers dispersed, entering the nearby establishments. I stayed hidden. I didn¡¯t know these people, but their gear and weapons didn¡¯t suggest they were the "good guys."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. I watched for several minutes. Gunshots echoed inside the buildings when suddenly, one of the soldiers emerged, dragging a small girl with white hair. She was malnourished. She wore only a thin patient¡¯s garment, the kind used in hospitals. She was covered in blood. The soldier brought her to the thin, elderly man they called the "research general." My fists clenched. Should I act? My instinct screamed that I should do something. But... what if they shot me? What if I died? My body didn¡¯t move. Fear paralyzed me again. I didn¡¯t want to suffer anymore. I didn¡¯t want to die again. I was afraid again. Terrified of being noticed and having something done to me. But... something inside me burned. If I kept running, what awaited me? Dying miserably again? A flame of hatred for myself consumed me. My body moved almost instinctively. I approached them. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind in that moment. I was scared. Deep down, my entire body trembled. Yet, I stood firm and, without hesitation, spoke: "What do you think you''re doing with that girl?!" One of the soldiers raised his weapon and fired beside me. A burst of light shot from his gun, grazing my body. "Leave now, or next time, the shot will be to your chest." "Wait..." the research general stopped him. He approached me with a curious look. "Everyone in this empire has an identification code on their necks." His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why doesn¡¯t this one have it?" A chill ran down my spine. There was a brief silence before his expression turned colder. "You know the punishment for being a wanderer is quite severe, right?" While the general spoke and the soldier distractedly listened, my mind only thought of saving the girl. My clone, without me noticing, acted on those desires. It moved swiftly, struck the soldier, and took the girl in its arms. It ran toward the alley without hesitation. But then... BANG. A shot pierced its chest. My clone fell to the ground, still holding the girl. My heart trembled. Tears filled my eyes. I couldn¡¯t even save an innocent girl. Not even with the power of this stupid goddess. Two soldiers approached the bodies. "General, the girl is dead." The elderly man frowned with contained fury. "Idiot!" he roared, pulling a gun from his belt. Without hesitation, he shot the soldier who had pulled the trigger in the head. The body collapsed lifeless to the ground. "Now that I no longer have my lab rat, I need another..." he muttered with disdain. "And I think I have the perfect specimen... a filthy wanderer." He turned to the other soldiers. "Take him." One of the soldiers came over and hit me hard in the back of the neck. Though the pain was intense, I didn¡¯t lose consciousness. But instead of resisting, I let myself fall to the ground. I couldn¡¯t faint, so I just went along with it. Meanwhile, another pair of soldiers collected the bodies. "What do we do with these?" one of them asked, pointing to the bodies of the clone, the girl, and the fallen soldier. The research general looked at them with disdain. "Throw them in the trash. They¡¯re useless." The soldiers obeyed without question. One of them looked at my clone¡¯s body with curiosity. "General... This wanderer... did he have a twin?" "Tch... I don¡¯t care. Just get rid of it." That¡¯s how simple life was for a human in the eyes of those people. Or... maybe, in this world. As they took me away, my mind burned with thoughts. I think I¡¯m starting to understand how things work. I won¡¯t make the same mistakes again. I won¡¯t be so foolish anymore. Never again. Chapter 3: Key T34 Underground Base Alfa_14 After they captured me, I tried to resist, but it was futile. They locked me up and immobilized me in this place. I can''t even speak: a metal mask covers my face, pressing against my mouth. The sedative continues to flow through my system... It''s a strange sensation. My body feels heavy, but thanks to my ability, the effect is slower. It seems my capabilities go beyond what I thought, even interfering with chemicals that induce unconsciousness. I can''t see anything. The mask deprives me of any sense of orientation. From a distance, I hear a metal door creak open. "Welcome to my laboratory! Do you like it? Oh, that''s right... you can''t see! Kekeke..." The voice is mocking, almost childishly sadistic. "What is your name, wanderer? It must be something fun... but never mind! From today, you will be nothing but experiment T34. That will be your new name." A hissing sound... Something burning. A second later, a searing pain pierced my skin. "AGHH!" Something burned on my forearm. Though I couldn¡¯t see it, I felt it with cruel clarity. "T34" That man had marked my skin as if it were a trophy.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Good! That name fits you perfectly. We¡¯ll meet again soon, T34..." The metal door slammed shut. And then, the sedative finally took effect. I never imagined that in the future, that cold room would become the most familiar place in my existence. --- I don¡¯t know how many hours, days, or weeks have passed. From time to time, someone approaches and opens a small slit in the mask to feed me. I have no strength to chew, so the food is introduced through a tube. At first, the sensation was unbearable, but over time, I got used to it. I try to think, to stay conscious of myself. I can''t afford to disappear. But¡­ how much time has passed? I haven¡¯t heard anyone¡¯s voice in a long time. I¡¯m tired. I want to go home. That wish faded. Now, my only happiness is the food they bring me. I¡¯ve lost all sense of everything. Until one day, I came to. The food they gave me was different. Of better quality. "Enjoy it. It might be your last." The guard''s words sent a chill through my body. Fear returned. Soon after, someone entered the room. I felt the stretcher I was lying on move. Though I couldn¡¯t see anything, my instinct told me something terrible was about to happen. --- "Finally, you¡¯ve arrived, T34! I''ve been waiting for you. I hope you''ve gotten used to this place... My soldiers are quite friendly, kekeke..." The voice was the same. "I always like to talk to my patients before starting the research. Do you know why you''re here? After we lost the first front in the battle against the demons in the Zed war, our Dragon Empire began to weaken. We weren¡¯t strong enough to defend ourselves... so we resorted to drastic measures." He paused briefly, as if enjoying the tension. "That girl you saved... she was experiment number A10. We nurtured her with the best this world had to offer, the best of our technology, hoping to find a way to defend ourselves from those demon rats." His words echoed in my mind, but my body was too exhausted to react. "However, that girl managed to escape due to our negligence. And because of that, we¡¯ve taken more extreme measures. I hope you''ve gotten used to your bed and mask..." He laughed maniacally. I could barely think. I could barely understand what he was saying. I didn¡¯t care. I just wanted to rest. "Well, enough chatter. It¡¯s time to start the experiment on subject T34." Chapter 4: Efficiency Every part of my body was in pain. It felt as if I were being torn apart from the inside, like my flesh was burning for no reason. I didn''t understand what was happening. The sound of machines rumbled around me, accompanied by the tearing of flesh and the echo of metal puncturing bone. I tried to scream, but my voice drowned in my mind. I couldn''t pass out. I couldn''t escape the pain. This body... this curse... Why? Why does it hurt so much? Why does everything hurt? I don''t want this! Please, stop! What did I do to deserve this? The sound of the machines grew more distant, more muffled. I heard my bones breaking, my flesh splitting, the cold echo of something metallic embedding itself inside me. Then, a robotic female voice announced: ¡ªExoskeleton complete. That sedative again... and darkness consumed me. --- ¡ªAre you awake? I hope so, T34. The voice sounded euphoric, almost mocking. ¡ªDo you like your new enhancement? Maybe you can''t appreciate it right now, but I worked really hard to make it for you. Kekeke... I tried to move, but my body was numb, as if it didn''t belong to me anymore. ¡ªI replaced your bones with something... more suitable for you. Now, even if you fell from several meters, they wouldn''t break so easily. Isn''t that incredible? Before I could process those words, another voice interrupted the conversation urgently. ¡ªSorry to interrupt, sir, but the Central has spoken. They''ve asked us to send the experiment to the northern front. They''re doubting whether to continue supporting us and want to see the results of our research. If we don''t do this, they might withdraw funding. There was a tense silence before the previous voice spoke again, this time with an irritated and serious tone. ¡ªTalk to Central. Tell them the experiment will be ready in a few days to be deployed... I still need to make a few more modifications. ¡ªYes, sir! I''ll withdraw. --- The machines resumed their work. Though my eyes couldn''t see them, the sound of gears turning and metal scraping against metal allowed me to imagine what was happening. My mind sank into a dark, viscous, empty abyss. Suddenly, I felt something invading my head. The edge of a blade pierced my skin. The pain consumed me. And once again, I was lost in the darkness. --- Where am I? What is this place? And this suit... The sounds of gunfire and explosions echoed around me. The hum of helicopter blades filled the air. A robotic voice announced inside the ship: Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.¡ªT34 is ready to be deployed. And then, I fell. Like a meteor. The wind howled around me, the weight of the armor pulling me down at full speed. I didn''t understand anything. The ground was approaching fast, and when I finally hit it, the crash was deafening. The dust settled, and the voices of people around me filled the air. ¡ªTHE REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED! ¡ªWE''RE SAVED! My body began to move on its own within the mechanical armor. Something sharp drilled into my head. Through the visor of my helmet, I could barely see the battlefield. An automatic targeting system scanned everything around me, and over their bodies, a red warning appeared: "Enemy detected." "Eliminate." Eliminate? What does that mean? What does this even mean? I screamed in desperation, but no one heard me. No one could hear me. The pain in my head intensified. My arms moved on their own. A gut-wrenching sound filled the air. When I regained control, I saw the mangled body of... something. A robot. Or at least that''s what it seemed like. It was a pile of metal impaled on the edge of my arm, releasing a strange liquid. For a moment, I wanted to believe this was all just a dream. Then, a memory flashed across my mind. ¡ªMom, today I had a dream. I was a knight fighting demons to protect people. I used my sword to eliminate the bad guys! ¡ªThat''s my son. Those who are strong must use their power to protect the helpless. Even trapped in that armor, burning from the inside, even with those cables forcing me to move uncontrollably... I was able to smile. ¡ªMom... I''ll fight to protect these people. Without realizing it, my eyes started to bleed. But I never noticed. --- For an entire day and night, that armor moved tirelessly. Cutting. Piercing. Annihilating everything in its path. The thick smoke of battle covered everything around me. The smell of blood and metal was unbearable. In the end, the empire had won this battle. When the armor stopped moving, my body was as destroyed as it was. I bled everywhere. And I screamed. I screamed until I had no voice left. A shadow approached. ¡ªWe found him. I didn''t imagine this would be my routine from now on. --- I woke up in the same laboratory. ¡ªDid you wake up? Welcome back! ¡ªsaid the mocking voice¡ª. You looked so tired... Did you like your first battle? ¡ªThanks to my incredible work, I can keep experimenting on you. The pain returned. I felt something piercing my organs. Days. Weeks. I lost track of time. ¡ªKekeke... I didn''t think this would be a success, but you surprise me. Your regeneration ability is... fascinating. Her voice was full of delight. ¡ªI worked so hard on this. It''s a gift for me. Now, your organs are superhuman. You shouldn''t stop in a fight, nor should you fall wounded. You will defend this nation. This Empire. For the rest of your life. ¡ª...Like the machine you are. Her words pierced through me like a blade. Defend. Yes... I''ll defend... like Mom said. I smiled. --- Time passed. Scars covered my entire body: arms, neck, legs. The machinery left deeper marks with each experiment. My armor bore the flag of the empire. They called me "the immortal knight." I was sent to the south. To the north. To the west. To the southeast. Twenty battles. And counting. I became accustomed to this life. Pain. Power. Killing. Returning. A machine designed solely to kill. --- The empire has gained significant territory thanks to my experiments ¡ªhe boasted¡ª. Without a doubt, I''m a genius. ¡ªSir, the general commander of the empire is here. He wants to speak with the immortal knight. ¡ªLet him in. We''ll see you later, T-34. Kekeke. Firm footsteps slowly approached me. ¡ªIt''s a pleasure to meet you, Immortal Knight. His words sounded solemn. ¡ªThe Empire is preparing for the greatest war of all. The conquest of Soldam, the capital of the demons. You, along with the first batch of immortal knights, will be the spearhead of this operation. He stepped closer. My body, still bound with metal plates and dozens of devices to contain my strength, barely reacted when I felt the weight of something on my chest. ¡ªWe award you the Hero Medal. ¡ªYou are the pride of the empire. Do not disappoint us. No. I won''t.. Chapter 5: Countdown - 100 days until the War of Soldam - Ark ship operator communicating with headquarters. ¡ª T34 ready for deployment. Authorization confirmed. ¡ª Deploy the Immortal Knight! A meteor descended from the sky, sweeping everything in its path. This is how they saw me: an inevitable force of destruction. To some, a beacon of hope amidst the collapse; to others, the very manifestation of terror. Here again... As I understand it, this will be my last deployment before the great war. I''ll do my best to protect all of you... But something didn''t fit. The smoke from the impact cleared, revealing a strange battlefield. Where are the robots? Why are there only people? Did they get the location wrong? Voices crashed into my thoughts, desperate, filled with panic and rage. ¡ª Look, there''s the Immortal Knight! Eliminate him! What''s happening? Why do these people want to harm me? No... I can''t allow it. An unbearable pain pierced my head, as though a drill was boring into my skull. I must defend myself. My eyes bled. When my vision returned, the scene was the same... except for one detail. Something was writhing, impaled in my arm. It was no longer the synthetic liquid from the mechanical enemies leaking from their bodies. This time, it was red. Hot. Human. The sound of flesh being pierced vibrated in my ears. I heard it all. The armor began to move on its own. The swords hidden in my arms deployed. A military truck was heading straight for me. For a moment, I hesitated. However... I had to defend myself, right? My body and armor were on another level. Like a torpedo, I tore through the vehicle with ease, splitting it in two as if it were butter. "This is fun... the flesh tears faster than robotic metal." Small buildings surrounded the battlefield, but I didn''t pay them any mind. Until soldiers armed with weapons emerged from them. They wanted to eliminate me. Eliminate the light of the Empire. From my left hand, a blast of energy swept away those who stood in my path. They fell like flies. My armor detected an enemy close by. A girl. She was holding a stuffed animal. For a second, I hesitated to attack her. "She''s just a little girl..." For the first time, I asked myself: What am I doing here? Who am I trying to kill? Then, an unbearable pain pierced my head. The girl exploded. No, the stuffed animal did.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The shockwave damaged my armor. Armed men approached. The armor could repair itself automatically, but it needed time and energy. Until then, I was just a simple pawn, surrounded by enemies. Dazed, I heard their shouts. ¡ª We will protect our village from the Empire''s claws! We will never fall! We will kill you to prove our sovereignty! All the men raised their voices in unison: ¡ª Destruction to the Empire! They aimed their weapons. They weren''t ordinary rifles. These were weapons designed to bring down large targets. Inside the armor, a red flash glowed. My head began to hurt. But for the first time, I felt freer than ever. Euphoria took over me. The armor had never worked so well. This... this was a gift from God. I rose in the middle of the battlefield. No one could see it, but beneath the armor... I was smiling. My mind clouded. All I could see were spots on my visor''s screen. "Everyone is my enemy." The pain in my head returned, driving deeper. And then... The massacre began. It was one-sided. A bloodbath. A slaughter. The Immortal Knight and the military wiped everything out. When the killing stopped, a sea of blood stretched before me. Tears rolled down my face, mixing with the blood. Something inside me cracked. ¡ª No... no, no, no, it can''t be... How could I do this? What is happening? I... I was supposed to protect them... -- - 99 Days until the War of Soldam - What did I do...? The pain was unbearable. The machinery that kept me alive clung to my body, piercing it, extracting data, injecting serums. But nothing hurt more than what I felt in my chest. That weight... that pulsing heartbeat that refused to go away. Those people had families... children... "My son, purify the souls of those who are not loyal to the Empire." Mother... Mother, I will fulfill what you entrusted to me. I will save those poor lost sheep from the Empire. I will purify them with my armor. I am the Immortal Knight. Laughter bubbled from my throat uncontrollably. It turned into cackling. My body trembled with excitement. When I opened my eyes, I realized that the mask no longer covered my face. Now I could see everything clearly. The metallic, dark, silent room. The broken machinery. But none of that mattered. Euphoria consumed me. I couldn''t stop laughing. I couldn''t stop feeling alive. --- - 80 Days until the War of Soldam - ¡ª Kekeke... T34, tell me, did you feel anything different today? The voice was mocking, distorted, as if enjoying the spectacle. ¡ª You experienced what it''s like to be a hero of the Empire... Kekeke... ¡ª Now your medal shines brighter than before. Now I understand it all... I was born for this. To purify the souls of the lost. To protect the Empire. Long live the Empire! ¡ª Kekeke... Looks like you finally understood your place. ¡ª Like an object. ¡ª I will make you my masterpiece. ¡ª So you don''t die in the great battle... ¡ª I will make you stop being human. The machines came to life. The mechanical shadows rose above me. But this time, I wasn''t afraid. I was happy. I wanted to transcend my limits. I wanted to keep cutting. I wanted to protect the Empire. The metal figures danced around me with surgical precision. Needles, scalpels, mechanical arms... like hungry insects, waiting to devour me. Then, the first cut. It was clean. Too clean. My skin opened without resistance, as if it had always been waiting for this moment. I felt neither cold nor heat. Just a cold emptiness spreading through my body. A red line appeared on my chest. The hooks dug in. They opened me. They expanded me. --- - 70 Days until the War of Soldam - My muscles trembled. They tried to resist. It was futile. The blades descended. The first layer came off. The sound... God... the sound. A wet, fibrous tear. Like raw flesh being torn from bone. That sound was me. --- - 60 Days until the War of Soldam - My nerves burned. Each fiber, taken and cut with precision. The mechanical arms pulled. They meticulously flayed me. There was no anesthesia. But my mind reveled in it. The pleasure of being used... --- - 50 Days until the War of Soldam - The machine chewed. It chewed me. My muscles. My tendons. They were reduced to a nauseating paste. That was me. My body... Was nothing but disposable pulp. Dehumanization. I should hate it. But I can''t. I''m so happy. I have fulfilled my mother''s goal. I will protect the Empire by being something more than human... --- - 40 Days until the War of Soldam - The rebirth began. The new muscles were implanted. Black fibers. Alive. They moved before they joined me. And when they did... The pleasure was indescribable. They were sewing me into something that wasn''t human. --- - 30 Days until the War of Soldam - My fingers trembled. My legs shook. My jaw snapped shut with a dull click. Now I am something more. Something broken. Something better. Chapter 6: Training What''s happening to me...? The euphoria that had consumed me faded, along with the pain in my head. It was gone. This place... is peaceful. I sank into my thoughts, trying to understand what I was feeling when a manic laugh echoed in my mind. Kekeke. I recognized it instantly. ¡ª"How do you feel? Do you like your new enhancement?" I opened my eyes, and everything had changed. I was no longer on a stretcher but inside a glass tube, submerged in a thick, viscous liquid¡ªstrangely comforting. A mask supplied me with oxygen and nutrients. Slowly, I turned my head¡ªand saw him. ¡ª"Looks like you''re enjoying your new blessing, keke." His twisted smile widened. "Your skin is tougher now. Your entire body is. Even if I shot you with a regular handgun, you''d barely feel the impact. Isn''t that amazing?" I watched him in silence. ¡ª"Unfortunately, this will be the last enhancement you receive. The Central Command has spoken. As the predecessor of the Immortal Knights, they''ve assigned you to train the first generation. Isn''t that exciting? You''ll finally make new friends! Kekeke." His eyes gleamed with a mix of madness and satisfaction as he looked at me. ¡ª"Tomorrow, I''ll release you and introduce you to your companions. For now, rest. Sweet dreams, T34." --- ¡ª29 days until the War of Soldam-Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡ª"I came back for you." His mocking tone irritated me. ¡ª"We might not see each other again, T34. What a shame... I''ll have to find more test subjects." I didn''t reply. I just stared at him. ¡ª"I want you to wear this." He tossed a suit in front of me. ¡ª"It''s the gear Central provided for you to train the new recruits." For the first time, I removed my clothes by choice... if those tattered rags could even be called clothes. My body was covered in scars¡ªsilent witnesses to war and the experiments I had endured. I looked at myself. I was somewhat malnourished, but my physique remained imposing... aside from the scars and the faintly protruding bones beneath my skin, reinforced with metallic alloys. ¡ª"You are truly my greatest blessing, T34. Don''t disappoint me." With those words, several soldiers entered the room. Six in total, all heavily armed with specialized gear. The scene was familiar. They restrained me firmly and placed a mask over my face, blinding me completely. At least this time, it wasn''t as brutal as before. ¡ª"We''re taking you to Military Camp D5. We boarded a transport ship. They removed the mask. ¡ª"Central, reporting! We''re transporting the *Immortal Knight* to the training zone." The journey lasted several hours. ¡ª"We''ve arrived. Get out." They escorted me to a massive military complex, surrounded by towering walls and turrets made of an unknown metal¡ªetched with strange markings that channeled energy into the defensive weapons. A man approached and grabbed my arm, inspecting the mark imprinted on me: "T34" ¡ª"Welcome, Immortal Knight. From now on, I''ll be your guide." The soldiers who had escorted me withdrew. He showed me around the facility. ¡ª"This is the general dormitory, where the first generation members sleep." He pointed to another sector. ¡ª"Over there are the dorms for the guards and key personnel of the complex." I nodded silently as we continued. There were many interesting areas¡ªa private gym, the armory, locker rooms, showers... But what caught my attention the most was a structure at the center of the complex. A massive dome. ¡ª"Your companions are inside," he said with a smile. "The first generation of Immortal Knights." He turned away and, in a firm voice, concluded: ¡ª"I''ll take my leave." He left me standing before the dome. From the outside, I could hear voices. Children''s voices. None of them could be older than seventeen. I took a deep breath. And opened the door. Chapter 7: Enemies I was decided. I opened those doors, and a faint sound began to echo: Tic... tac... Everything exploded. I was sent flying against the metallic walls, which dented from the impact. I tried to react, but my entire body was bleeding. The explosion had been strong enough to destroy the entire dome. The place was burning, and the sirens wailed endlessly. A robotic voice spoke: "Alert, Level 5." It repeated the warning multiple times: "Sector D has been damaged. Requesting support." Soldiers from all nearby zones began arriving, but something felt wrong. A bad feeling crept over me. Another explosion shook the area¡ªthis time, several kilometers away. "Alert, Level 5. Sector C has been damaged. Requesting support." My head... the pain drilled even deeper. My eyes were bleeding, but that no longer mattered. I moved as fast as I could and, within minutes, reached the armory. I smiled. By instinct, I saw it reflected in the light¡ªthat beautiful, gleaming armor... my armor. Without hesitation, I stepped inside. I felt it again. That indescribable pleasure of being devoured by the cables, of being injected with fluids designed to keep me from dying. The machinery dug into my skin, piercing through the suit from within, but none of that mattered now. Wearing the armor, I sprinted toward the dome, covering kilometers in mere seconds, searching for survivors¡ªor enemies. Then I saw him. My visor detected it: enemy. The contracted blades were released. I charged, aiming to slice him in two. "You will die today for the sake of the Empire!" The thirst to see his blood flow consumed me. But when the dust from my attack settled, he was still standing, amidst the rubble of what was once the dome. The man wore a brown cloak and a completely white mask with a single blue stripe. Words escaped his lips: "It''s been a long time." ¡ªI don''t care who you are or how long it''s been since we last met¡­ I just want to see your blood spill more than anything right now. I attacked relentlessly. He was faster than me and seemed well-trained. He deflected my armored strikes with his bare body. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. When I used my full speed to close in on him, I was hit directly¡ªa kick to the chest so powerful that it sent me flying several meters. "Don''t you realize who I am? What''s the point of fighting me? Just leave, and I''ll spare you." I laughed uncontrollably. ¡ªSpare me? An uncontrollable excitement coursed through my body. ¡ªI am the Empire''s light. The first and last Immortal Knight. **Decompression at 80%.** Even if I used the suit''s remaining energy, it would be enough to kill him. I launched forward at full speed. My attack was unavoidable. A crimson-red beam was about to be unleashed, but then¡ª I didn''t see it coming. Not even my visor detected it. From the sky, a comet fell. I managed to react in time, redirecting my attack. The condensed beam illuminated everything around it, splitting the clouds apart¡ªbut the descending figure activated a strange device. A shield. It nullified my entire attack. My beam couldn''t penetrate its energy barrier. I could no longer move. The core of my armor had been completely drained. But they ignored me. The one who activated the device spoke in a female voice: ¡ªWe have to go. The mission is complete. We''ve eliminated the future Immortal Knights. The Queen will be pleased. ¡ªYes, I understand. Let''s withdraw before reinforcements arrive. No. I won''t let them leave! I will kill them here and now! The words echoed in my head over and over. An unbearable pain drilled into my mind. It consumed me... And I loved it! My armor glowed a deep crimson red. I knew it by instinct: "No one will protect this Empire better than me!" I shouted with all my might. ¡ªSecond Stage: Berserk. Both of them stared at me in silence. ¡ªHmm... so this is your trump card, huh? ¡ªthe man said, curious. ¡ªLooks like he won''t let us leave ¡ªthe woman remarked. She removed her brown cloak, leaving only her mask and the suit underneath. For a moment, I noticed it... Is she a demon? Her figure was dazzling. She looked human. Her pale skin contrasted with the mechanical parts of her body. She was a cyborg. No different from me. A chill ran down my spine. My mind tried to reject it, but the truth was right in front of me. If she was a monster, then what was I? No. We are not the same. I fight for something greater than myself! She... she is just another tool of the Empire''s enemies. ¡ªSeems like I''ll have to get serious¡­ That transformation of yours doesn''t look simple. I''ll make sure you never rise again. When I tried to move, a blinding light covered my visor. And then I felt it. My body¡ªslashed in multiple directions. I was conscious, but I couldn''t get up. Never before had I suffered such damage in combat. ¡ªIn the end, you''re a joke. You couldn''t even withstand my energy blade. ¡ªI won''t fall! I can''t! This Empire, these people, they need me! ¡ªSo useless and weak... ¡ªher voice was sharp¡ª. You seek to protect the Empire? Don''t you get it? You''re nothing but a tool to them. They''ll never see you for what you are. She pointed at me in fury. ¡ªLook at me! Look at my body! The implants. The scars. ¡ªI have these damn wounds too. This Empire, these people, they used me as well. They did unthinkable things to me. And yet, you still say you''ll protect them? There was silence. ¡ªThat''s enough ¡ªthe man interrupted¡ª. Look at him¡­ he''s suffering. His mind is in chaos. ¡ªLet''s go. He turned away. ¡ªIt was amazing seeing you again after six years. I hope we meet again soon. My mind burned. I understood nothing. The pain was unbearable. Does the Empire need me? Am I one of its people? Am I a hero¡­? Then, the questions vanished. My mind shut down. Why was I even asking such complicated things? It doesn''t matter. I only need to protect the Empire. That is the only thing that should matter. My armor lost all its energy. So did I. I was made to be fully compatible with it. Symbiosis. Chapter 8: Enemies(2) ¡ª CENTRAL ¡ª ¡ª High Command Meeting ¡ª "General, we have a major problem. Military Field D5 has been completely destroyed after a series of chain explosions. We are doing our best to rebuild it, but we don''t have enough time." "Moreover..." The man hesitated for a moment. "The subjects designated to become *Immortal Knights* have been killed." One of the high-ranking officials slammed the table in fury. "WHAT?! Killed!? What are you talking about?! Those children were the future of the empire! I will make sure¡ª" "Silence." The general raised his hand, cutting off the discussion with a simple gesture. "I must keep my composure... I am the general. I must not show emotion..." His fists were clenched tightly, but it wasn''t enough. His blood boiled with rage. "I understand the situation... Now tell me, is the *original Immortal Knight* still alive?" he asked, his tone serious yet filled with frustration. "Yes, sir. He is in recovery." The general sighed, stood up from his chair, and slowly walked forward, standing before the other officials. His voice became firm and resolute. "Our empire is suffering. Whether it be from demons, rebels, or the wanderers..." He paused, scanning each of the officials with his gaze. "Therefore, as of today, I decree that the plans for the Soldam War will be moved forward ahead of schedule." One of the officials raised his hand. "Speak, Director of Intelligence," the general ordered. "Sir, I suggest we take immediate action and start mobilizing now. I recently received a report from the intelligence squad: it appears that our plan has been leaked. We must act before it''s too late!" Another man intervened. "I am in charge of imperial resources and treasury. Because of this, I understand our internal situation better than anyone. The empire is facing a concerning shortage. If we do not launch the offensive now, it will be counterproductive¡­ we could lose the war." "Are you implying that our empire is weak?" asked an elderly man with a raspy voice. "That is not what I mean, Minister of Defense. However, in our current position..." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "Enough," the general interrupted. "I have made my decision. We will mobilize the entire military force towards the capital of Soldam." He clenched his fists and, with a firm voice, declared: "We will destroy the demons and reclaim our continent." The officials stood up abruptly and shouted in unison. "SO BE IT! LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" "LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" --- ¡ª City of Bleach ¡ª "Students, do you know how our empire was born?" The professor looked at his students with a smile. "There are many theories about the origin of our nation. Some are widely accepted, while others have been lost to time. But the truth is, our empire has existed for hundreds of years..." A hand was raised among the crowd. "Do you have a question?" The voice of a young girl echoed in the classroom. "Teacher, as far as I understand, very few people truly know how the empire was founded due to the Era of the Void, right?" The professor smiled. "An interesting question. Let''s talk about it!" He positioned himself in front of the class and began his explanation. "As you know, our continent is divided into four major nations." He picked up a pointer and directed it at a map on the board. "We are at the center, the heart of the continent. To the south, we have the Kingdom of Altea; to the north, the Kingdom of Xorder; and to the west, the Kingdom of Soldam." He paused for a moment, allowing the students to absorb the information. "Hundreds of years ago, tensions between the nations escalated. This led to the Fourth World War." The room fell completely silent. "The conflict pushed us to the brink of destruction. We used all kinds of weapons that had been developed over decades. Although they are now considered lost, it is said that these weapons were capable of splitting mountains and dividing the skies." He took a deep breath before continuing. } "The war cost us dearly. Out of a global population of 10 billion people... only 3 billion survived." The classroom fell into a heavy silence. "It was, without a doubt, one of the greatest catastrophes in human history." A student raised his hand impatiently. "Teacher! I have a question. How exactly did the war end?" The professor smiled bitterly. "It never ended." The students exchanged confused glances. "We simply united against a common enemy." He turned to the board and wrote two words: Machinist Revolution. "At that time, humanity was completely dependent on technology. We were at the peak of the machine revolution.According to records found in ancient human settlements, machines did practically everything for us." The professor''s voice grew graver. "However, one day... they rebelled." The students held their breath. "The machines deemed us an unfit race and decided to attack us. That is why all the nations joined together to destroy those that committed the sin of raising their hands against their creators." The classroom remained in complete silence. "Tsk... this class is too boring..." A young man stared out the window in disinterest. "I''m a super athlete... what am I even doing here?" However, he had been hearing a strange sound in the distance for a while. "Bah, it''s probably nothing... I''ll just keep sleeping." "Hey, you! The red-haired one!" the professor suddenly called out. "Answer me, why do you think the machines rebelled?" "Uh¡­ uh¡­ because we''re better than them¡­?" The professor observed him in silence for a few seconds before giving a slight smile. "I''ll let it slide for now. It was a decen¡ª" Until suddenly... BOOM! A loud explosion shook the ground. Something fell from the sky at an incredible speed and crashed violently onto the school''s courtyard. The students jumped in surprise. One of the boys, curious, approached the window to see what it was. It was the last thing he ever did. A beam of light incinerated his head in an instant Chapter 9: Enemies(3) The eyes of all the spectators who witnessed that harrowing scene were left in shock. No screams came out, only a palpable bewilderment. Everything happened so fast, so suddenly, it felt like a dream¡­ Everyone''s thoughts aligned: "What just happened?" The teacher, now stained with his student''s blood, trembled, and his chalkboard eraser fell to the ground. Chaos erupted. Some screamed without stopping, those closest to the scene were covered in their classmate''s blood, some ran, others collapsed in shock¡­ a true hell. My hair was dyed red again¡­ I had to run. I had to run with everything I had. As if this were a race, I had to give my best if I wanted to live. I just had to run and run. I opened my classroom door without hesitation. While others screamed or froze, I couldn''t afford to hesitate. My classroom was on the fourth floor, so escaping was complicated¡­ Should I do it? The monster was on the school field, wasn''t it? Tsk, who cares? I just had to escape. When I made it out, all I could see were the other classrooms filled with terrified students, worried about what was happening. I''m not a hero, I''m not a soldier or a military man, I''m just an athlete. If I tried to help these people, I''d only increase my chances of dying. So, I ran. At that moment, another noise rang out¡­ No, not just one, several. Just as I was about to go down the stairs, a teacher who was coming up tried to stop me. ¡ª"Where do you think you''re going?! Get back to your classroom now, let the teachers handle this!"¡ª At that exact moment, something crushed her.. The same thing that fell onto the school field¡­ was here. Fear drove me forward. I wasn''t going to die. I didn''t want to die. My ears and senses were better than most people''s. In the distance, I heard heart-wrenching screams, people dying. It wasn''t just my classroom¡­ the entire school had become a battlefield. Classroom after classroom, I ran past them. The people around me were piling up like stray sheep. The teachers, though good people, couldn''t resist their primal instincts and were consumed by fear¡­ just like me, just like you. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Second floor. I made it to the second floor. Though the chaos was infernal, I did it. I had to push people aside and step over others, but my survival came first. The lights seemed to have gone out. The fall of that thing and the chaos it unleashed must have destroyed the nearby power source. As I drowned in those thoughts, I noticed something strange. Moisture? Something wet was soaking my sneakers¡­ I noticed it. The floor was covered in¡­ Blood?!!! The entire hallway was a pool of blood, and at the end, where the light didn''t reach, where only the reflection of the windows and the faint illumination made its silhouette visible¡­ A metallic giant was standing against the wall, at the end of that sea of blood. Humanoid figure. Empty eyes with an intense light deep inside. A constant noise, the sound of light machinery, and a strange liquid dripping from it. The color of human blood mixed with its fluids, turning into a dark crimson¡­ Vomit¡­ I vomited at the sight of the blood. When its eyes, if they could even be called that, met mine, I was paralyzed¡­ And it seemed to enjoy it. Even though its face was expressionless, I felt it. It was mocking me. A sound similar to laughter came from that machine. Ha-ha-ha¡­ I was frozen. If I was going to die, I at least had to warn the others. Even though I hesitated, I screamed with all my might. ¡ª"A DEMON!!" Then that thing started moving towards me. It took erratic steps. One¡­ two¡­ three¡­ The sound of its body and my heartbeat grew louder and louder. I had to run, but my legs wouldn''t move. Run, run¡­ I ran, I ran as fast as I could. But I slipped on the blood. This is the end for me. My career, my dreams¡­ everything would be devoured by this demon. I screamed and screamed, but my screams were nothing compared to the thousands of voices around me. I tried to get up over and over again. What was once my school uniform, that beautiful shade of blue, drowned in an endless sea of blood. That demon¡­ was the same one that killed my classmate. However, it seemed damaged. It moved erratically. I tried to crawl, to back away, but that thing kept getting closer and closer. Then, I felt it on my back¡­ The cold wall. This was my limit. Someone came out of one of the previously abandoned classrooms. With a scream, they caught the monster''s attention¡­ and attacked it with a chair! They hit the machine from behind. However, it only stunned it for a few seconds. I blinked. And when I looked again¡­ That teacher had been impaled by the machine''s arm. That thing¡­ seemed to smile in pleasure. But there was another smile¡­ one that lit up the place. That teacher smiled in his final moments. As he looked at me, he screamed with all his might: ¡ª"RUN, RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN!!" A shiver ran through my entire body. I got up from the blood-stained floor, opened the door to a classroom, and entered without hesitation. I couldn''t hide from that thing. That was certain. I was desperate. I needed to escape. A window¡­ That''s it! I broke it without hesitation. I wasn''t going to die. So, I jumped. Even though I was on the second floor, the ground looked much farther than it actually was. For a few seconds, I saw myself falling¡­ But in the end, everything turned black as I hit the ground. Chapter 10: Enemies (4) Abruptly, the boy woke up¡­ The place looked like the school infirmary. Modern equipment surrounded him, and he lay on one of the beds. With the power out, the only light came from a window behind him. It seemed to be late afternoon¡­ ¡ª"Where¡­ am I?" he muttered, confused and disoriented. From a distance, an excited voice responded: ¡ª"You''re awake! How do you feel? Are you okay?" A girl rushed toward him, worry clear in her eyes as she checked on the injured boy after his fall. ¡ª"Who¡­ are you?" he asked, his voice serious and cautious. ¡ª"Don''t worry. My name is Mika. I''m a student and part of the medical club. May I ask your name?" She smiled warmly. Her long, wavy hair, a peculiar shade of pink, and her striking emerald eyes made her stand out. ¡ª"You''re¡­ beautiful." ¡ª"H-huh!? M-me? B-beautiful?! What are you saying¡­?" Mika turned red, looking like a tomato at his unexpected words. ¡ª"Ah¡ª! Forgive me! I only thought it¡ªI didn''t mean to say it out loud¡­" ¡ª"U-uh¡­ my name is Jason," the boy said, attempting to sit up. ¡ª"Ah! Don''t try to move! You seem to have broken some bones¡­ if you force yourself, you could make it worse." ¡ª"Agh¡­ yeah, I get it. It hurts like hell¡­" ¡ª"I''m sorry¡­ There''s not much I can do with the equipment here, and I don''t have enough experience." ¡ª"Nice to meet you, Jason. Can you tell me about yourself? What happened? How did you end up on the ground?" Jason averted his gaze, looking down at himself. Then, glancing around the room with growing concern, he asked: ¡ª"Where are my clothes?" Mika turned bright red. ¡ª"Ah¡­ about that¡­ they were covered in blood, so I had to take them off¡­" she admitted nervously. ¡ª"Ugh¡­ but I''m not wearing anything underneath!" ¡ª"D-don''t worry! I have a spare change of clothes from the infirmary¡ªones the doctor used. I think they''ll fit you¡­" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Still blushing, she hesitantly handed him the clothes. ¡ª"Thanks¡­" Jason took them. An awkward silence settled between them. Jason looked at her and, raising an eyebrow, asked: ¡ª"You''re not planning to leave the room, are you?" Mika, visibly flustered, hesitated before quickly nodding. ¡ª"S-sorry!" Jason tried to dress himself, but pain shot through his body. A sharp, agonizing scream escaped his lips. ¡ª"Agh!" ¡ª"Are you okay?!" Mika asked, alarmed. ¡ª"No¡­ help me¡­" For a moment, Mika forgot Jason was injured. ¡ª"I-I''m so sorry!" As she helped him put on his clothes, her eyes inadvertently wandered to his body. His muscles were well-defined, like those of a high-performance athlete. She found herself staring at his abdomen, feeling a strange urge to touch it¡­ ¡ª"Are you okay?" Jason asked, noticing her distraction. ¡ª"Ah! Y-yeah, I just spaced out¡­ hahaha¡­" Trying to change the subject, Mika said: ¡ª"You haven''t eaten anything. It''s almost nighttime¡­ Do you want an energy bar?" ¡ª"If you don''t mind, sure." Jason smiled. Mika pulled a few energy bars from her small sports bag and handed him one. As he ate, Jason suddenly remembered. ¡ª"You wanted to know how I ended up on the ground, right?" He placed the bar on his lap. After a long pause, he finally said: ¡ª"Alright¡­ I''ll tell you." He recounted everything in detail. As he spoke, his eyes grew heavier, dimmer¡­ yet, he pushed forward. By the time he finished, his gaze was empty. He regretted it. Fear had consumed him. Clenching his weak fists, he suddenly yelled at Mika: ¡ª"You would''ve done the same thing as me, right?!" Tears welled up in his eyes. ¡ª"I never wanted to be responsible for anyone''s death¡­ I just wanted to live¡­" Mika remained silent. She pulled a chair close and sat in front of the bed. She lowered her gaze to the white, marble floor before finally speaking. ¡ª"I¡­ went through something like that too." Jason''s eyes widened. ¡ª"My class and I were running laps around the track when we saw that thing fall near us." Mika closed her eyes, reliving the moment. ¡ª"It was a capsule¡­ radiating intense heat, emitting white smoke, and making strange noises. It was gray¡­ We just stood there, watching. Then, our teacher shouted at us, telling us to stay behind him. We obeyed without hesitation." ?He stood in front of us and ordered us to run¡ªbut no one did. Everyone was mesmerized. They pulled out their phones and started recording. ?The capsule opened¡­ and something emerged. ?A robot. ?It raised its head to the sky, then looked around¡­ and finally, lowered its gaze. It lifted its arms, and something in its hand began to glow¡ªbrighter and brighter¡­ ?We froze. ?The teacher shouted, "Everyone, get down or you''ll die!" but no one listened. Mika swallowed hard. ¡ª"And then¡­ it happened." ?One of its shots hit a classroom. Your classroom. A shiver ran down Jason''s spine. ¡ª"I was standing beside my best friend¡­ We held hands tightly. But¡­ the last thing I wanted to happen, happened." Her voice trembled. ¡ª"She took the second hit." Mika clutched a necklace in her hand, her eyes wide with the memory. ¡ª"I saw her body burn¡­ and I broke. My best friend, since childhood¡­ disappeared in an instant." ?I collapsed, defeated. Her hand¡­ was the only thing left of her. I held it tight, praying that this was all just a nightmare¡­ ?The teacher yelled at me, but I couldn''t hear him. I just stared at my friend''s remains. ?The robot slowly approached me¡­ and I just ignored it. It raised its arm again. ?At that moment, the teacher¡­" She paused. ¡ª"¡­The teacher threw himself at it." ¡ª"What?" ¡ª"He always bragged about being in the military. But¡­ he only bought us a little time." ?And me¡­ I just ran. Tears streaming down my face. ?As I ran, I saw something else fall from the sky. Jason held his breath. Mika looked at him and smiled, her voice carrying a nostalgic tone. ¡ª"I saw you." ?A figure falling from the window. Jason''s heart pounded. ¡ª"And that''s how we ended up here¡­" Chapter 11: Enemies (5) -Central- The place where high-ranking officials and other important figures gather. It is the central operations base, the heart of the continent and the empire. A small city within the capital, where only the most powerful reside. A sharp knock echoed through the massive door of the central office. ¡ªEnter. ¡ªA firm voice responded from inside. A middle-aged man, dressed in a formal suit adorned with medals, burst into the room. His breath was ragged, and his trembling hands clutched a briefcase. ¡ªGeneral! We''ve received a report¡­ The western front has been under relentless attack since this morning! We''re barely holding out. The forces that left the empire are repositioning to defend the borders¡­ Specifically, the First and Second Battalion, sir. The man tried to continue, but the general cut him off. ¡ªENOUGH! ¡ªHe slammed the table with such force that it split in two¡ª. I don''t want to hear any more excuses. Mobilize the entire army to the border. We will crush those damned demons once and for all! The officer''s expression shifted. Where there was once worry, now there was determination. ¡ªY-yes, General! I will relay the message to the high command immediately. Thus, the war for the empire''s dominion began¡­ ---- ¡ªGood morning, Jason! Are you awake yet? I have great news! ¡ªMika beamed with excitement, her voice brimming with happiness. Jason, still half-asleep, rubbed his eyes and yawned. ¡ªI slept pretty well¡­ What happened, Mika? ¡ªI was able to charge my phone! ¡ªShe exclaimed, jumping slightly in joy. Then, a faint blush appeared on her face¡ª. And¡­ I wanted to wait for you so we could research together. Jason looked at her in surprise before giving a soft smile and taking her hand. ¡ªOh¡­ Thank you, Mika. We can do it together. --- "My name is Leo! And as many of you know, I''m the number one reporter in the empire!" Today, I''ll be covering recent events¡ªhot news! According to our investigations, this morning''s attacks on Bleach City and its surroundings are the result of our ongoing war with the Kingdom of Soldam. Though we''ve maintained a balance in recent years, it seems the scales are about to tip. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. We urge everyone to stay in their homes or designated bunkers while reinforcements from the capital and the empire crush these weak enemies. Under no circumstances should you go outside! Thank you for tuning in. If we receive any updates, we''ll be the first to report them! This has been¡­ News Plus, the best in the continent! The report ended with a message at the bottom: ¡ªFacts backed by the Imperial Central¡ª --- Mika and Jason remained silent, processing what they had just heard. ¡ªWe should¡­ try to reach the nearest bunker. ¡ªMika broke the uneasy silence, her voice trembling with worry. ¡ªYeah¡­ I think that''s the best option. We need to get out of here as soon as possib¡ª Before Jason could finish his sentence, a beam of light shot through the room, grazing his hair and scorching it instantly. The impact was devastating. Half of the room was obliterated on the spot, reduced to ashes. Debris flew everywhere, and a heavy chunk fell directly onto Mika''s leg. The pain paralyzed her. She couldn''t even react. Without thinking, Jason kicked her toward the corner of the room, pushing her away from danger. Mika let out a pained gasp and looked at him in confusion. ¡ªWhy, Jason?! He remained firm, his body trembling from the pain as he searched for the attacker. His voice, though weak, was clear. ¡ªSorry¡­ but I don''t want to see you die. I don''t want to see anyone die again¡­ Then, from amidst the sunlit rubble, a silhouette emerged. Tall. Humanoid. The scent of blood and metal filled the air. Jason knew immediately. "The demon." His body began to tremble. But behind him was the only person who truly mattered to him. "I can''t back down." The demon lunged forward, aiming a punch straight at Jason''s chest. However, Jason managed to dodge, tilting his body at the last second. The demon hesitated for a moment, surprised. That boy, the same one who used to cower at the mere sight of him¡­ had just defended himself. Without hesitation, the demon launched a kick, but Jason reacted faster, stepping out of its reach. The demon studied him intently, then shifted its gaze toward Mika. It seemed to smile. Jason understood its intent in an instant. "No¡­ Mika!" The demon moved at a terrifying speed. Jason didn''t think twice. He grabbed a rock from the debris and hurled it with all his strength at the demon''s face. The impact didn''t hurt it, but it was enough to draw its attention. Now, the demon was coming straight for Jason. Its arms began to glow with a crimson light. "That beam again¡­" Jason swallowed hard. "It doesn''t matter. I''m an athlete. I can dodge it." The beam shot forward, and with almost superhuman agility, Jason bent backward. The light barely grazed his face. "I can win! I can beat it!" But then¡­ Crack. The pain pierced through him like a knife. His bones, pushed beyond their limit, had snapped. He collapsed to the ground, unable to move. ¡ªJason! Are you okay?! ¡ªMika tried to run toward him, but her injured leg betrayed her. She fell. Yet, ignoring the pain, she began crawling desperately toward him. The demon, on the other hand, was enjoying the scene. Mika could barely move. The blood loss was making her dizzy. The monster advanced toward Jason, savoring its prey. Jason could only watch as it approached. His body refused to respond. He couldn''t move. The demon extended its hand and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him effortlessly. ¡ªKil¡­l¡­ Jason felt the crushing pressure. ¡ªSOMEONE, HELP ME! I DON''T WANT TO DIE! HELP! But no one answered. At that moment, the demon''s hand began to glow again. Chapter 12: Enemies (6) As the light in the demon''s hand intensified, a terrifying roar shook the entire place. It was the sound of collapsing structures, an echo of destruction coming from the upper floors of the infirmary. Suddenly, something tore through the ceiling. Mika and I saw it. A figure descended like a lightning bolt, illuminating the clouds that blocked the sun for a fleeting moment. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through the demon before it could even react. A divine judgment. A swift, merciless punishment. "The Hammer of the Empire." The being that stood before us resembled a demon itself, yet something about it was different. Tall, sleek, clad in silver armor that reflected the light of the destruction around it. But its appearance wasn''t what mattered¡ªit was the insignia on its suit¡­ A symbol carried only by those men who belonged in history books. "A war hero." With precise movement, the figure reached for its helmet, activating a side communicator. ¡ª"Reporting to central command. I was expelled from the ship and have landed in what appears to be a city. Requesting extraction." Its message was interrupted. ¡ª"Sir¡­ can you take us with you?" Mika''s voice was weak, trembling on the verge of collapse. The warrior lowered his gaze. ¡ª"At least¡­ take her," I murmured, struggling to speak. "Please..." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡ª"Your injuries are severe," he replied. "Save your strength." Mika, gathering what little energy she had left, insisted: ¡ª"There''s a bunker nearby¡­ If you can take us there, we''d be grateful." The warrior''s visor flashed briefly. ¡ª"System, locate a civilian bunker." "Searching for refuge¡­ 10 kilometers northeast. Calculating the safest route." He returned to his communicator. ¡ª"Central, change of plans. Cancel the extraction. I have another matter to attend to." ¡ª"You can''t do that!" a voice barked through the channel. "The border will fall if you don''t hurry! This can wait!" ¡ª"I understand¡­ I''ll handle this quickly and return for extraction." His eyes met ours, filled with unwavering resolve. ¡ª"You''ll be safe now. I''ll take care of this." But before he could move, a metallic sound interrupted him. Something was approaching. Mika and I tensed. We were powerless. Completely at the mercy of those things. ¡ª"Take Mika and go! Get her out of here! Leave me if you have to¡ªjust save her!" Figures emerged from the massive hole in the ceiling. "Demons." Cold, expressionless metal constructs, built solely to destroy. There were more than ten. And they seemed¡­ pleased to see humans. The warrior cracked his knuckles within his armor. ¡ª"Finally..." His voice carried a hint of excitement. "It''s been too long since I had some real fun." His blue visor flickered. Then, red. ¡ª"Decompression at 20%!" His arm expanded, revealing concealed energy cannons within its structure. The blast was blinding. When the light faded, nothing remained. The weapons retracted into his armor as if they had never existed. But before we could even process what had just happened¡­ The ground groaned. The walls split apart. So many battles had weakened the structure. Now, it was coming down. The warrior didn''t hesitate. He seized us in his arms and, activating his propulsion, launched us away from the collapsing ruins. Behind us, the infirmary crumbled in a deafening roar¡ªa final testament to the destruction that had overtaken this place. As we landed, he carefully set us down. ¡ª"I can''t take you all the way to the bunker," he said. "But you''ll be safe now. My system detects no more demons in the vicinity." Mika and I simply nodded, too exhausted to speak but deeply grateful. Without another word, the armored man propelled himself skyward at impossible speed¡ªvanishing into the horizon.. Chapter 13: Extraction "Extraction complete. We have retrieved the designated subject: ''Immortal Knight.''" Suddenly, my body began to rise. From the heights, the ruined city unfolded before me like a moving painting. Despite the chaos, it still retained a trace of its former grandeur. The sunlight filtered through the broken structures, giving them a gleam. For a moment, I thought: "I wish I could fly." The pain in my head slowly faded. Something invisible was pulling me with firm yet unexpectedly gentle force. As I ascended, an almost imperceptible energy formed a translucent tunnel around me, guiding me toward the ship as though an invisible entity were welcoming me. Upon crossing the threshold, mechanical tentacles emerged and grasped me with precision. There was no violence in their movements. They scanned me thoroughly, assessing every inch of my body. A subtle electronic sound accompanied the inspection. When they finished, the door closed behind me with a metallic echo. The tentacles lifted me to another level and released me. The first thing I saw was the interior. Impressive. The metallic edges of the structure vibrated with a turquoise energy. The material that composed the ship was unlike anything I had ever seen before. ¡ª"Do you like the ship?" ¡ªa female voice asked, tinged with pride. I turned. A young woman was watching me with a confident smile. Her suit, a blend of flexible latex and thin metallic plates, suggested both lightness and resilience. On her chest, a steel plate gleamed under the bluish light. On her thighs, two laser pistols rested in tightly secured holsters. ¡ª"This is the R14 combat model," ¡ªshe continued¡ª. "It''s made with an alloy of the strongest metals and best conductors on the planet. It can hold up to six thousand soldiers and multiple smaller ships. It was specially created to exterminate demons. It''s the pride of current engineering." "R14 combat ship." A bit shy, I replied: ¡ª"I can tell... It''s quite impressive." The girl smiled again. ¡ª"I''m the ship''s sub-captain. I''ll also be your guide to the point designated by headquarters. Pleasure to meet you." She extended her hand. I returned the gesture, but as soon as our hands touched, her bracelet flashed. An energy field erupted around her, enveloping her arm in armor similar to mine. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Her expression changed. Her smile became more challenging. She tightened her grip on my hand. The metal of her glove creaked against my armor. Her grip was firm. I could feel how her glove applied pressure, seeking a response. I squeezed back. A faint flash traveled through my suit as my strength surpassed hers for a brief moment. Her eyes sharpened. She redoubled the pressure. But my suit didn''t give. Then, her glove emitted a subtle sound, an internal adjustment, a response to the force applied. Her expression shifted from determination to surprise. ¡ª"Wow..." ¡ªshe whispered, still holding my hand¡ª. "Your suit really is as resistant as the rumors say!" Her smile grew wider, with a spark of excitement in her eyes. There was anticipation in her gaze. Not bad... You passed the test. But her smile faded slightly as she noticed my lack of reaction. Hmm... Wow, you''re colder than I expected. It''s like talking to a wall... You don''t react at all. "I don''t understand why she talks so much. Does she really expect me to respond?" I simply stared at her and nodded. ¡ª"You look like someone who''s sad..." ¡ªshe murmured, with a disappointed expression. "Maybe she was expecting someone different..." I didn''t respond. I looked down at the floor, feeling strange. Something inside me weighed heavily, but I decided to ignore it. ¡ª"I heard the journey would be long, right?" ¡ªI asked. ¡ª"That''s right. Would you like to go to your room?" ¡ª"Yes." I walked down the corridors. "Why is this place so empty?" The neon lights flickered weakly along the edges of the floor, casting long shadows on the metal walls. My footsteps echoed lightly, but there was no one else. ¡ª"Oh, that''s because everyone is working in the heart of the ship," ¡ªthe sub-captain explained¡ª. "Here, even if you''re a soldier without specialization, there''s always work for everyone." ¡ª"I see..." We arrived in front of a door. She took a holographic card from her pants, but before using it, a faint electronic sound came from her ear. Her expression changed. ¡ª"Take good care of it! It''s pretty hard to get another key." With that, she hurried off. I observed the door. There was no lock, just a small camera. I passed the card in front of it, and the mechanism responded with a soft hum. The door slid open, revealing the interior of the room. Inside, a small metal table held a chess-like board game. In the center, a blue armchair. On the other side, a bed fixed to the floor, covered with a plain white blanket. The neon lights on the ceiling illuminated the place with a cold tone. I entered. Each step felt heavier. The armor not only covered my body; it trapped it. I wanted to rest, but something in me refused to give in. "These damn meds..." The suit was administering medication to keep me on my feet. They made me incapable of sleeping most of the time, only allowing me to keep functioning. I collapsed onto the bed, not caring that the dirt and dust stained the white blankets. "This bed is comfortable..." I closed my eyes, but the soft hum of the ship vibrated in my head. My body refused to relax. It was an unpleasant feeling: being tired without being able to rest. However, the warmth of the mattress began to seep into my skin. My breathing slowed. After so long, I felt that this suit stopped suffocating me. Even if just for a moment, I was able to sleep.