The Painful Decision
Death sat in his modest tent, deep within the heart of the organization, his gaze fixed on the two pills resting in the small box before him.
The red and blue pills—each held extraordinary power capable of altering his life and potentially tipping the scales of battle.
Slowly, he reached for the manual that came with them, his fingers brushing over the worn pages as he read aloud in a hushed tone, carefully weighing every word:
"The Red Pill: Regenerates muscles and bones while increasing the blood flow speed, enabling the body to reach its maximum potential. The enhancement varies between individuals, but typically, physical capabilities are multiplied by four."
Warning: The body's reconstruction process causes extreme pain and temporary weakness during the transformation period, which lasts for one hour.
Death exhaled heavily as he finished reading, his mind racing with thoughts.
"Body regeneration... That means unbearable pain. Perhaps more than I can handle. But if I don't take the risk now, when will I? I'm in the heart of the organization, the safest place I could be, at least for now. There won't be a better opportunity to test this pill."
His eyes flicked to the blue pill. For a brief moment, he considered reading what it did before proceeding, but he shook his head.
"The red pill first. Physical strength is the priority."
Without further hesitation, he picked up the red pill and swallowed it, silencing the faint pang of unease creeping into his chest.
At first, nothing happened.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever was to come. Then, suddenly, a sharp, tearing sensation erupted from his chest.
The pain began deep in his heart, spreading rapidly as if something inside him was being torn apart.
He clutched his chest, gasping.
"This... isn't just pain. It feels like my body is collapsing, being broken down to be rebuilt."
The sensation escalated quickly. It wasn't just his heart—it was every internal organ. His liver, kidneys, and lungs burned as though they were being reshaped from within.
*"How does the human body even endure this? Am I going to pass out?"* He thought, fighting to stay conscious as waves of agony tore through him.
For fifteen minutes that felt like an eternity, Death endured the torment.
Sweat drenched his body as he gasped for air, his muscles trembling from the sheer strain. Yet he clung to the memory of the manual's warning. This pain was a necessary price for power.
"If I want strength, I have to endure this. I've survived worse battles—haven't I?"
Eventually, the pain subsided slightly, signaling the end of the first stage. His heartbeat steadied, and for the first time in years, he felt his internal organs functioning with remarkable efficiency.
But his relief was short-lived. The second phase began immediately.
A new wave of pain coursed through his muscles, which seized and contracted uncontrollably. It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing his flesh, shredding his old muscles to make way for new ones.
Death gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as he fought the urge to collapse.
"These new muscles… they'll be stronger. Endure the pain now for a better tomorrow."
For thirty agonizing minutes, his body underwent this transformation.
Then came the turn of his bones. Every inch of his skeletal structure seemed to crack and fracture, only to reform stronger than before. The pain was excruciating, yet it was shorter in duration than the previous stages.
By the time the process reached his skin, Death could barely think. His old skin began to peel away like a snake shedding its layer, revealing beneath it a new, tougher, more resilient surface.
This final stage lasted fifteen minutes and was the least painful of them all, but by then, Death was utterly exhausted.
When it was all over, he collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily as he tried to process the transformation. He ran his fingers over his body, marveling at how different it felt.
"It's... lighter. My muscles are more defined. Even my joints move with a smoothness I've never known before."
Pushing himself to his feet, he took a moment to adjust to his new body. His movements felt sharper, faster. The world around him seemed slower, as though he could react to anything in an instant.
But Death was not one to leave things to chance. He decided to test his abilities in the training field.
Exiting his tent, he made his way to the elite training area reserved for squad leaders—a space tailored for warriors like him.
As he entered the room, he surveyed its three distinct sections:
1. The first zone was filled with stationary and moving targets for combat practice.
2. The second was an open, serene space teeming with nature—plants, trees, and a steady water source—designed for energy training.
3. The third was a stark, empty room with walls made of reinforced stone, built to measure raw strength and power output.
Choosing the third section, Death stepped into the center of the room, ready to push his new body to its limits.
He began with a burst of speed, his movements blurring as he dashed across the room. To his astonishment, his speed had tripled.
"Incredible... It's like I can outmaneuver anything."
But when he tested his physical strength, he felt a pang of disappointment. His power had only doubled, far below the fourfold increase the manual had promised.
Standing still, Death pondered the discrepancy.
"Perhaps it's because my body was already at its peak. The enhancement is less noticeable because I was already at the summit of my physical potential."
Even so, he couldn't deny that this new body was far superior to his old one. The red pill had granted him a significant edge—but he knew this was just the beginning.