Silence. A heavy, all-encompassing silence, as if the world had frozen in a single moment.
His eyes were still closed, but something pulsed inside him. Not his heart, but something mechanical. Rhythmic. Cold. Unnatural. He felt his body moving, but not by his own will. Then, the realization hit him: he was alive, but why?
Slowly, his eyes opened. In front of him was a transparent wall, glowing with a faint blue light. His body was submerged in a viscous liquid that burned his skin. It felt like it was eating away at him, bit by bit. He tried to breathe, but his lungs screamed with pain.
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
> [System activated.]
[Synchronization initiated. Level: 0.5%.]
The liquid began to drain rapidly, and his body collapsed onto the cold metal floor. His muscles trembled, his skin felt raw, and his right arm... it wasn't fully human. Instead of flesh, it was smooth black metal with glowing blue lines pulsing in sync with his ragged breathing.
> [Kinetic energy insufficient. Synchronization paused.]
He looked up at the screen in front of him. Images flickered. A camera feed showed a capsule—the one he had just escaped from. Inside it was himself, scarred and burned. People in white lab coats stood around, observing. They seemed to be discussing something, but the audio was muted. Words appeared on the screen:
> "Experiment failed. Subject does not comply with commands."
He stared at the screen, rage boiling inside him. But before he could process it, a loud noise echoed from the corridor. Heavy footsteps. Approaching fast.
A shadow loomed at the entrance. Standing before him was a massive figure—a cybernetic laboratory guard. Its metallic body gleamed in the dim light, and its glowing red eyes locked onto him. Its voice was cold and mechanical:
> "Subject detected. Termination initiated."
He tried to get up, but his body was still too weak. The guard raised its arm, and a glowing blade extended from its forearm. It swung the blade down, aiming directly at him.
> [Threat detected. Survival mode activated.]
[Kinetic energy in the area: detected.]
His biomechanical arm flared with blue light. Instinctively, he raised it, and in the next instant, a pulse of energy erupted from his palm, sending the guard crashing into the wall. It didn't fall, though. It rose again, its metallic frame creaking under the strain.
> [Kinetic energy absorbed. Synchronization: 2%.]
He felt a surge of strength. His body no longer felt as weak, and his arm glowed brighter. But the guard wasn't finished. It snarled, its red eyes locking onto him again.
On the screen, new words appeared:
> [Task updated: eliminate the threat.]
[Access to evolution: locked. Increase synchronization.]
The rumbling grew louder. In the distance, he could hear more footsteps. He realized this was just the beginning.