In a dark alley with garbage scattered around, a young man, about 20 years old, sat slumped against a wall. Blood from a stab wound in his stomach slowly trickled down, forming a small crimson puddle on the ground. His breath was ragged as he tried to stem the bleeding with his hands.
"Damn...why? Why can't I even go buy something without this happening to me?" he murmured, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Haha... what a pathetic death... killed by a stranger in an alley..."
He looked up at the dark sky, dense clouds gathering, signaling an imminent storm. His brown eyes held a slight smile. "Damn...am I going to an isekai or something? That would be interesting..."
{Is that what you choose?}
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand, a sharp pain shooting through his stomach. "Come on, Anthony... you can do it... just a little more..."
He managed to get to his feet and staggered out of the alley onto an empty street. The pain was intense, but he kept moving, each step a struggle. "Damn...it hurts..."
He took a few more steps before collapsing onto the pavement. "Shit...I'm cold...I want...to sleep..."
With the last of his strength, he turned onto his back and looked up at the sky. A drop of rain fell on his face, and he whispered, "What a...boring life..."
{Well...you're right, aren't you?}
As the rain began to fall, quickly turning into a heavy storm, he gave a pained smile. "I want to play Devil May Cry..."
{Well...then go...}
His eyes began to lose their shine, and he took his last breath.
---
In the midst of an infinite darkness, a small spark of light floated freely. A booming voice echoed through the void. "So you like this... This is just a whim of mine... Then I will give you another chance because I'm bored... You're really lucky, aren't you, Anthony?"
The little spark of light seemed to shimmer as the voice continued, "Well...enjoy your new life...Anthony. I hope you have fun...
---
I felt strange... My head hurt...
{calibrating options...}
What was that noise...? It sounded like a voice speaking directly to me, but I couldn't quite make it out... It was like static in my mind...
"Do you think it works...? It's only 12 years old but it looks useful..." a voice made me jump. The voices continued, but they were moving away quickly. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise, as if they had closed or slammed a door shut.
"Oh, it seems like he's already awake..." a woman's voice caught my attention. It sounded like an old woman.
Suddenly, a horrible pain shot through my chest. "GAHHHHHHH!!" I screamed in agony, clenching my teeth and bearing the excruciating pain. It felt like my skin was burning and melting away.
"Well, it seems like it can withstand a lot of heat, write that down," the woman's voice instructed someone. I couldn't see anything; it was as if my vision had been covered with a bandage.
I heard the sound of someone writing, and I tried to move my head, but I felt restrained, as if I were chained down. Where the hell am I?!
My chest hurts... Did I not die on the street?!
"Oh, it looks like he wants to try to escape... Hey, boy, can you hear me?" The woman's voice addressed me, and I responded desperately, "Where the hell am I?!
The woman explained, "Well... it's complicated... I bought you, and your hair is quite peculiar, you know...?" I gritted my teeth in anger and frustration.
Suddenly, I felt the same pain in my chest again. Shit! It hurt like hell. I clenched my teeth tighter than ever, my saliva dripping uncontrollably. A few seconds later, the pain stopped once more. Why...? WHY?!
"Why...?" I asked, trying to move my hands, but they felt stuck to the wall. I was restrained, my body aching.
"Well well... You are quite resistant for your young age... Indeed, you are useful..." the old woman said.
I smiled and laughed, "Haha... What the fuck?" Is this an isekai...? I thought sarcastically. I expected to be transported to a kingdom and hailed as a hero, but life always has other plans, doesn't it? Nothing is ever easy... Although, if that had happened, it would probably have been cliché.
"Well, prepare more tests," the woman instructed others. "I hope they are successful. Understand?"
"Got it!" several people responded in unison.
So, there are more people here...?
Time passed, and each day brought new tests that pushed my body to its limits. I don't know how I endured it all, but somehow, I managed to survive. It seemed likely that I possessed regeneration abilities or something similar. I still vividly remember the time they stabbed me in the stomach; I screamed in agony, but within seconds, the wound healed, and the pain subsided.
"So, you're X-4, right...?" An adult voice spoke to me. I couldn't see him, but his voice suggested that he was probably a grown man, though I wasn't very good at judging age based on voice alone.
"It seems like you have some great skills, huh...?" the adult voice continued. I smiled, my tone casual as I replied, "Obviously. What do you want now? Are you going to bore me with more shit?"
"Haha... A 12-year-old boy saying that... You really are different, aren't you...?" the voice said, and suddenly, I felt blows to my stomach. I vomited blood uncontrollably, but my smile remained. "Haha... Is that all you've got...?"
"Hahahaha! You truly are exceptional..." the adult voice exclaimed. Soon after, I heard the familiar sound of the door opening.
"How do you see it, sir...? Great potential, right...?" the old woman asked the man.
"Yes, it's truly incredible... A 12-year-old enduring a blow from me... Although, I must admit, I don't have much time to spare with the academy keeping me busy these days..." the adult voice replied. Academy...? Is this a magical world or something...? Is it a traditional magical world or an advanced magical world like in manhwas...?
"Well, I must take my leave. Continue with your work. For now, it's quite exceptional..." the voice said as he walked away. I desperately wanted to see... I FUCKING WANTED TO SEE!!
"Well, X-4, we'll continue with this..." the old woman's voice said. I smiled and retorted, "Fuck you, old bitch..."
"Haha... Always so playful. Well... Let's continue," the old woman said, unperturbed.
Time marched on, and each day brought new experiments and torturous experiences. They made me drink substances that made me vomit, caused me to feel like I was melting from the inside out, and even cut open my stomach. Every day was a living nightmare, but somehow, my mind adapted to the unbearable pain.
Haha... I don't know if this is a good thing, but it's definitely not pleasant.
I wondered if I was becoming a psychopath or if I had already lost my sanity. I hoped not...
---
Time flies by, and I've lost track of how long I've been here... I'm nothing but a lab rat to them. At least I won't turn into some power-hungry supervillain... right?
I found myself staring at the stark white walls of my confinement. A week ago, they finally released me from being chained to the wall. I could now see my surroundings, though the room was sparse, containing only a bed and a toilet. Oddly enough, I never felt the need to use the bathroom. Perhaps it had something to do with my peculiar physiology?
I lay on the white bed, gazing up at the white ceiling. Everything was devoid of color. Thankfully, my mind remained calm despite my circumstances. Now that I think about it, I've never actually seen my face, even though I know my hair is white. Yes, white.
Will I be a cold, edgy character with ice magic or something? Maybe... although I don't want to embrace the edge.
I covered half of my face with my hand and muttered, "Come to my divine dead space dragon..." Shit... I couldn't help but do it, even if it was cringeworthy.
Sighing, I muttered, "How boring..." I jumped off the bed and eyed the black camera mounted on the wall. "Hey!! Is there any food or what?!" I shouted, hoping for a response. But none came. I am in some evil laboratory run by a secret organization or something?
"Maybe... maybe..." I murmured, my gaze fixed on the camera. It seemed like talking to myself was becoming a habit.
I sighed and slumped to the ground, uncaring about the impact. The pain no longer bothered me. I had become so accustomed to it that even the thought of eye-gouging or stomach-slicing left me unfazed. What kind of powers will I end up with...?
So, I'm 12 years old... Quite young, actually. I thought I'd be 15 or 16, the typical age for an isekai protagonist, but here I am, 12. This is going to be a bore.
"X-4, your food will be served," a voice suddenly announced from the black security camera on the wall. A hatch opened in the wall, revealing a tray of food.
I approached and saw a bland meal of meat and rice. Really...?
I picked up a plastic fork and prodded the meat. This doesn't look appetizing at all... I want something tastier... This is too... boring.
"Isn't there anything else to eat...?" I asked aloud, but no one answered. Annoyed, I sighed and began eating the meat and rice. It tasted as uninspiring as it looked.
Time passed slowly, filled with endless tests and failed escape attempts. My strength was average at best... which is to be expected, considering I'm only 12 years old... Duh...
I possess healing and regeneration abilities, but no super strength. How disappointing...
---
Days turned into months, and months into years. Three years of agony and endurance. Yet, I pushed through, adapting to the pain and maintaining my sanity. Occasionally, they would trim my hair to keep it from growing too long. At least they allowed me to see my reflection in a mirror they provided. When I first saw my face, my eyes widened in shock, but I quickly schooled my features into a neutral expression.
My face bears a striking resemblance to Dante from Devil May Cry, specifically the version from Devil May Cry 3. Thankfully, I'm not an overly edgy character, though I do have a certain charm and swagger. And yes, I have to admit, I am quite handsome!
I sighed, my gaze sweeping the familiar white room. I had been confined here for three years, enduring the same monotonous routine day after day: sleep, wake up, eat, spend hours doing nothing, sleep again... It was a boring existence, and I longed to escape.
{filled!}
Hey? What was that?
{DMC system activated!!}
Ohh....
OHH!! A SYSTEM!! Thankfully, I managed to maintain my composure, having grown accustomed to hiding my emotions during my time here.
A system...?
{STORE}
A floating screen appeared, displaying only the word "store." Nothing else.
I sighed and thought about the word, not wanting to speak aloud and draw attention.
{ORBS: 0
-WEAPONS
-SKILLS }
The interface was simplistic, showing only weapons and skills, along with a form of currency that could be used in the store. Of course, I had none to spend.
Suddenly, I felt the room shaking violently. What the hell...?
{beginning physical manifestation of power!}
Physical manifestation of power? What does that mean?
The room was filled with an incredibly heavy and powerful aura, and I was thrown against the wall. What's happening?! Fortunately, the pain was negligible, and I quickly stood up. My eyes widened in surprise as I beheld something that made me smile: a large, long sword with a skull adorning its hilt.
Wow... I approached the sword, which was floating in mid-air. I grasped the hilt and murmured, "Rebellion..."
It wasn't as heavy as I expected.
Suddenly, the room began to shake even more violently.
"What the hell is going on...?" I muttered, gripping my new sword tightly and resting it on my shoulder.
---
(a few moments before)
In a spacious office, an elderly woman dressed in a scientist's lab coat sat before a screen, observing a 14-year-old girl writhing and screaming in agony on the floor. The woman commented, "Her Mana is out of control. She'll likely perish... another failure... But I'm intrigued that she's able to cause the entire facility to shake like this..."
Her attention briefly shifted to another screen displaying a live feed of a 15-year-old boy lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. "It seems X-4 is still doing well..." she noted.
Returning her focus to the 14-year-old girl, the old woman furrowed her brow as the girl's convulsions abruptly ceased. "What's wrong—?" she began, but before she could finish, the screens went dark, and the lights in the office shut off completely. "Well... This is unexpected..." she muttered.
A sound akin to a small explosion echoed from outside her office. "What the hell is happening now...?" she wondered aloud.
The woman rose from her chair and cautiously approached the door. As she opened it, the sight before her caused her to exclaim, "It looks like this is a failure... A catastrophic failure..."
The once pristine white hallway was now bathed in crimson, littered with the broken bodies of her colleagues. Amidst the carnage stood a girl clad in a white coat, her clothes soaked in blood. The old woman began to slowly close the door, hoping the girl hadn't noticed her. However, small balls of fire began to materialize around the girl, showcasing her impressive control over Mana.
The girl turned, and the woman hastily shut the door, whispering, "Shit... Damn... I think we've made a grave mistake this time..."
She sighed and tried to reassure herself, "No... It's fine... Mr. Edgerton requested this... It's our job..."
Suddenly, the woman was sent flying, crashing into a wall. The office door was obliterated, and dust filled the air. She attempted to stand but found herself unable to move. Blood trickled down her forehead. The 14-year-old girl approached the office, stepping over the wreckage of the door, and glared at the woman, saying, "You..."
The woman, struggling to maintain her composure, retorted, "Haha... A failure... I hope the guards arrive soon..."
The girl clenched her teeth and pointed her hand at the woman. Suddenly, an immense pressure filled the air, causing both of them to gasp for breath. The woman began to bleed from her eye sockets and ears, her face contorting in pain. The girl, equally affected by the pressure, fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to breathe.
The old woman, her voice strained, murmured, "What the hell...?" Those were her last words as the blood continued to flow from her ears and eyes relentlessly. She couldn't take it anymore and succumbed to the pressure, her lifeless body slumped against the wall.
The girl, overcome with fear, curled up in a fetal position, shaking uncontrollably. "M-monster..." she whispered, her eyes reflecting the terror she felt.
In the distance, a thick metal door was effortlessly sliced open, its heavy frame falling to the ground. A 15-year-old with white hair and piercing blue eyes stepped out, surveying the gruesome scene before him. "What the hell happened here?" he asked, his expression one of disgust, though he had become accustomed to such sights due to his own experiences.
The hallway was drenched in blood, and bodies lay strewn about. The teenager ran his fingers along the edge of the sword he held, testing its sharpness. "I really need to get out of here... This sword is insanely sharp..." he muttered to himself.
He continued down the hallway, stepping over the bodies of those who had fallen. At the opposite end, an elevator door slid open, revealing several individuals dressed in black suits, their long swords sheathed on their backs. One of them spoke, their voice cold and commanding, "Well... Eliminate every single experiment in the area... Leave no one alive... It's an order..."