He might not have been the most physically fit, the best marksman, or an expert of CQC coming out just a bit over average In everything but what set him apart from ewryone else was the fact that he never gave up he was like a cockroach no matter how many times you stomped on him he would always come back stronger and better.
A bullet wound there, shrapnel there, a burn there but he would always come back, recuperate, get back into shape, and dive head first back Into another off the books mission only to come back more broken than the last time.
Sometimes he would be the only one to return carrying with him his lost battle brothers bloody dog tags yet every time he made sure to complete the mission no matter the cost.
By the time Dracula reached his mid-forties, the wear and tear of a lifetime of strenous physical activity, constant mental stress and combat had begun to take its toll.
The scars on his body were a testament to the battles he had survived, but they also served as a reminder of the pain he had endured.
His once unbreakable body and mind were beginning to show signs of fatigue, and his superiors knew it was time for him to step down.
In 2046, Dracula was honorably discharged and placed into the active reserve, the military had given him everything by shaping him Into the man he was today, but at the same time, it had also taken so much from him.
The horrors of war had left deep emotional wounds that no amount of treatment could heal, leaving him as a crippled man both body and mind resulting In him making the ultimate gamble In life and It paid off.
"Hahaha, I f*cking did It, I f*cking cheated death Itself again!"
The man started laughing out loud like a madman as he finally regained every bit of his memory.
...
MC POV
One Week Later.
I sat in my bed watching the large glass see-through holographic TV fixed on the wall in front of me as I ate my breakfast the best money could buy.
The meal was even bigger than I used to eat back in my prime, a testament to my body's rejuvenation brought by the military grade anti aging serum.
I'd been awake for a week, and at my request, the SCMC had essentially crammed almost 170 years of history into a video to help me familiarize myself with my soon to be new life.
As the video played, I learned that humanity hadn't nuked itself into the Stone Age as I had expected, though it had come close, real close.
Thankfully the Milky Way's Galactic Council's pre-FTL species Observation Force, which had apparently been spying on us from a cloaked outpost for the last 4000 years, decided to finally step in at the brink of our self-destruction.
You assholes could have stepped In sooner, Instead of gorging yourself on popcorn as you watched us kill ourselves for the dumbest reasons.
I joked sarcastically In my mind.
Once humanity realized it wasn't alone in the universe, it didn't take long for us to form a united government a prerequisite to join the galactic community and probably to make sure that we didn't try to kill each other off again before we could be a useful addition to their cosmic club.
With the help of the Galactic Council, humanity received technological assistance and quickly colonized the solar system while also rebuilding our mother planet which was plagued by toxins and all kinds of other problems caused by reckless Industrialization and war.
But of course, it wasn't smooth sailing. Why would it be? Two Solar Wars erupted, a fact that didn't surprise me in the least.
Humanity's propensity for conflict seemed ingrained in our DNA.
If it weren't for the Galactic Council's peacekeeping force that came running after the horrified xenos sent them a video of E*rth's fleet orbital bombing M*rs surface with their nukes.
And their polite but firm threats of taking away all advanced technology, humanity would have likely annihilated itself.
Scratch that we would have nuked ourselves to extinction 100 percent, I was positive about It.
The video explained, almost in a bored tone, how humanity nearly lost its shiny toys twice.
The first Solar War in 2083 lasted five years and ended with the signing of the Solar Accords, thanks to the Galactic Council's intervention.
The second one in 2125 was shorter but more brutal, ending only after the Council threatened to downgrade us back to the equivalent of interstellar toddlers after pummeling each warring faction Into submission with their advanced weaponry which to us cavemen was like magic.
After finally calming down, and acquiring a functional hyperdrive, yay for us!, humanity stepped out into the galaxy and so far had already colonized 7 solar systems.
It was like watching a highlight reel of humanity's greatest hits and misses, mostly misses, wrapped up in a neat package.
I paused the video and put down my fork, letting the enormity of the changes sink in. The reality I knew was gone, replaced by something entirely new and vast.
The names of the new colonies flashed before my eyes: Alpha Centaury Prime, Alpha Centaury Secundus, Med Karash Prime, Med Karash Secundus, and others In total humanity had colonised 8 planets not Including M*rs and V*nus which were still at the stage of being covered by biodomess because humanity doesnt have access to planet scale sized terraforming technology each one representing a fresh start, a new chance to mess things up.
But did I regret my decision to freeze myself Into a popsicle at the slim chance of extending my life?
Hell no, at fifty years old I couldn't even take a proper s*it any more thanks to the toll that my 25 years long service took on me.
So It was either to spend the rest of my life In an elderly home with no one to care for me since I never settled down because of my life style or say f*ck It, let's give It a shot.
Thankfully my gamble paid off.
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Ah, reality calling, just when the nostalgia trip was getting good.
"Come in,"
I called out, my voice still rough from disuse.
As I did, the auburn-haired nurse whose name was Lara came in.
"Sir, it's time for your physical test."
"Got it, give me a moment,"
I said as I pulled off the blanket covering me and stepped onto the cool floor, stretching my body.
The movement caused my medical gown to reveal part of my muscular butt cheeks, now hairless thanks to the anti aging serum that not only reverted my body to my prime but also eliminated all body hair since the scientists behind It deemed them as unnecessary which I agreed with fully.
Without thinking, I tore off the medical gown covering me, grabbed the neatly folded gym shirt, underwear, and shorts, and put them on, only to hear the nurse cough.
"What, you don't like what you see?"
I said while flexing my left arms whose forearm was fully tattooed muscles and grinning with my trademark devilish smile, causing the nurse to blush.
I was a bit of a player back in my prime.
Lara averted her eyes, still blushing.
"I... uh... let's just get to the physical test, sir."
I chuckled, enjoying the reaction.
"Lead the way, Lara."
She turned and exited the room, and I followed her down the sterile, brightly lit corridors of the medical facility.
The place was a labyrinth of advanced technology and clean, white walls, with the occasional holographic display providing information or directions.
"So, what's involved in this physical test?"
I asked as we walked.
"Basic strength and endurance tests, along with some agility drills,"
Lara explained.
"We need to ensure that your body has fully reverted to you're peak biological state"
"Sounds like fun,"
I said sarcastically.