A white empty void. I could go up and down, left and right. But no matter how far I went, I couldn't make any progress. Was this because the space I was in was equal to 0 or infinity? I can't tell, but I don't care.
Is this what happens after death? Forever walking, hoping for something to change? This is boring.
I counted, as that was the only thing I could do while walking. I've been walking for 2 years, 11 months, and 14 days. I feel bored rather than tired.
It was 4 years later that a painful ringing noise started to come into my ears. Is this hell? It has to be. I've been forced to walk eternally. Will this ever end?
12 years. 12 years walking through this empty land. Though, that was the least of my worries. The ringing was so distracting, I almost lost count of time. I'm not even sure if this was truly 12 years. I've restarted about... I don't even know anymore.
100 years! I swear I saw a different color, but it was just white. I can't even hallucinate any colors or anything like that. I could only think of white. I couldn't think of anything else. I couldn't even see my body.
350 years. The ringing didn't stop. It got even more intense. I dropped to the floor, unable to move any further. Something wet was coming from my ears and eyes. It was... blood? As it dripped down the originally white void started to become red.
At that moment, I felt pure ecstasy. Seeing a different color felt like... a piece of my brain was being massaged, or something like that. Then I woke up.
"Master! He's finally awake!"
I felt poking at my abdomen. It took me some time, but I finally managed to open my eyes. It felt like there were strings in my eyes, but there was nothing there.
My hands were tied to the roof and I hung from there. It reminded me of something. When my eyes moved down at the person poking me, she quickly scurried away, making a cute sound.
A young girl stood there with a fearful expression on her face. Her skin was grey and horns protruded from her forehead. Her eyes were dark black and her hair was dark black, falling to her shoulders. It seemed that she was about my age.
"Where the hell am I?"
I scanned the room. It was iron-plated and dimly lighted, with a torch that emitted blue fire. It was about the size of my room, which wasn't very large. In front of me was the timid girl and a glass.
The door next to the glass opened and an old, stout man walked out. His skin was pale and he had reptilian eyes. He slithered, with an evil expression. He had gray hair that was pretty long. 180 cm or so?
He was wearing a white lab coat that was buttoned down and a black collared shirt underneath that.
"My first success!" he exclaimed, with a happy smile on his face. The change was dramatic. From an evil and sinister face to a joyful and happy face.
"Success?" I asked, confused.
"Look down."
I looked down. There were several stitches on my body, with different segments of skin attached. It caught me by surprise.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"I tinkered with your brain a little bit. Sorry if something happened in your mind."
So that's what I felt. All those centuries were fake? It does seem to make sense, though. Despite all those years, I don't think my mental age changed a bit.
"How did you find me?" I asked. He stopped pacing back and forth after hearing my answer. The girl sat there, cross-legged.
"I remember hearing news about some sea monster wrecking the barbarians over at Stritant. Then 2 weeks later, body parts appeared on the shore. It was a month of experimenting, but then I finally made the perfect combination!"
"What day is it?"
"It's the 13th day of the 5th month in the 1401st year! Or, 5-13-1401."
When we departed onto the ship, it was 4/6/1401. At least I know that this scientist is being truthful.
"You can just call it May, you know?" I said. I wasn't even sure if this world actually named months.
"It feels more professional! So, no."
I guess this world does use named months.
"May I ask another question? I don't want to seem... annoying."
"Go ahead. You're a new creation, after all. I have to make you more knowledgeable!" he said.
"What am I composed of? Like, my body parts."
"For most of the outside body, I used spare parts. Your muscles are about 70% demon and 30% other stuff. Your organs, though? I found them scattered around the northern shore, but it seems that some of them come from the same person."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Your heart, eyes, 80% or 90% of your brain, all of your veins, even your nervous system. There are a lot of other organs that are from the same person, too. Even your genitals."
"Ah. I see."
My memory is a little... foggy.
. . . . .
. . . .
. . .
. .
.
"Okay! Now, you're gonna fight Rosette, that little demon girl."
I looked at Rosette, then back at the scientist.
"This doesn't seem right."
He threw a wooden sword at me, and gave me a thumbs up, smiling. I sighed. I don't know what he expected of me. I'm not a strong person. Though, the wooden sword did feel a bit lighter.
"And, no casts!"
"Right."
I dashed at the girl. She wasn't even focused, yet she was able to block it so easily.
My blade forcefully flew up, though I kept my grip on it. With this, she had an open strike on me. She sent a thrust at me, which I barely dodged.
The old me wouldn't have even been able to see that strike! I've definitely gotten stronger!
My excitement was cut short after I was struck in the with the blunt side of Rosette's wooden sword.
"Dr. Vaen, couldn't you get anybody stronger?" Rosette whined. I clenched my jaw but loosened my grip.
"Don't worry, Rosette. His muscles are just severely undeveloped. After all, those muscle parts are pretty old. I found them like... 200 years ago, or so."
I didn't think he was that old! But, undeveloped? My muscles were undeveloped?
"Are you telling me that... this raw strength I feel is just a part of having a demon body?" I asked, my jaw slightly open.
"You're only 70%, so don't act like you're a demon now. Apparently, you have a human brain, huh?" Rosette snapped back. What a proud person.
"I'll train you... uhh... what should we call you?" Dr. Vaen asked, scratching his head.
"Julian. Call me Julian."