Chapter 33
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I groaned with pain and threw the heavy machine gun down on the ground for the third time.
I was currently walking toward the town through forest. Walking along the highway might have been easier, but it also exposed me to all the the abnormals and mutant beasts lurking around in the area.
I did not know if walking through a forest was safer. I could only hope I would not have to fight against any more. My arms hurt like hell and every step that I walked only made me realize how exhausted I was.
I had the strength of four men now, but the heavy machine gun weighed around 60 kilograms. That's 15 kilogram of weight for a normals person. I could pick it up easily and walk around with it with no problem as well. But that was not all that I had to do.
The place where reinforcements had fought against the abnormals was about 700 meters away from the town.
I had only travelled 200 meters by now and was already panting with exhaustion.
'Fuck this Heavy machine gun.' I cursed and kicked it a few times to express my dissatisfaction but didn't get any relief.
'This can't go on.' I thought and looked at the highway in the distance. After thinking for a while I dragged the heavy machine gun to the highway and threw it inside a black colored van.
I remembered it's name plate and then heaved a sigh of relief.
'If big bro really wants it, then he can send someone to get it himself.' I then continued on my journey.
I felt a stinging sensation on my thigh with every step I took. It had not been so apparent when I started walking but after a while, when the adrenaline faded away, I realized that I was not in a very good condition.
I touched my thigh and felt that it had swollen considerably. I was not surprised as the same thing had happened to both both my arms where the mutant dogs had bitten.
My condition was bad, but not so bad that I would not be able to walk. Just that, I would preferred to be in a better conditions.
I walked back to the forest and continued to move in the direction of the town.
After five excruciatingly painful minutes, I reached back to the town which had become deserted once again. Just like the first time when I saw it.
'Well, I'm back again.' I thought and started jumping from one building to another. Although I was sure that all the abnormals must have left the town along with the horde, I did not want to take chances.
After I jumped a few more time, I finally reached the house where I was given a room.
'I should go and give a report to Big bro. But before that, I should take care of these wounds.' I thought 'If Neha and big bro sees me in such a battered condition, then they would definitely worry about me.'
I dragged injured leg which was hurting even more after all the jumping and opened the door and was surprised for a moment.
'Oh yeah. She was here as well.' I thought and looked at the beautiful girl sleeping in the bed. She looked rather cute and… venerable in her current position and I would have appreciated such a sight any other time. But right now, there was something else in my mind.
'If she's sleeping in my bed, then where the hell am I supposed to rest.'
There was no other furniture in the room after all. And I was too lazy and tired to go to any other house.
I pushed her aside gently and laid down in the bed beside her. Then I took off my helmet and looked the ceiling in with a frown.
I looked at the Black watch in my hand and opened the hologram after which I started searching for some kind of medicine.
But I really had no idea what I should be buying at this point so I asked Lily instead.
'Oi Lily. What kind of medicine should I buy?' I asked.
'Well, I have a few medicines in my mind, but I have a better option that will save you some white coins.' She said.
'What is it?' I asked tiredly.
'Well… Thing is, after you raise all of your stats to 4.0, something significant will happened all of your wounds will be healed automatically.'
'Something signification. What do you mean?' I asked.
'You'll understand yourself when you get to that point.'
'Well… Alright then.' I said and checked up on my wealth.
After selling the three cores of the mutant dogs, I had a total of 194 white coins.
I used 160 white coins and bought 16 green crystals.
'This should be enough.' I thought and gulped them down with some water.
Soon, the crystals melted in my stomach and a warm feeling spread throughout my entire body.
I moaned in ecstasy and after the feeling faded away, I was going to open the hologram when I realized that I could not move anymore.
It was as if all the muscles in my body had gone stiff all of a sudden.
I could see, smell and hear everything that was going around me, but I could not move a single finger.
'What the hell!' I cursed in my mind and tried to move my eyes to look around. But when I looked at the lower part my body, my heart froze in terror.
I dense black fog was being emitted from the Black watch and it was slowly covering my entire body.
'Damn it!' I cursed but it didn't help and the black fog slowly crawled up to my face and submerged my whole body.
—————
I opened my eyes at once but as the bright light burned my eyes, I had to close them once again.
After a few seconds, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around to have a good understanding of my surroundings. But…
Everything that I saw around me was white for as far as I could see.
I looked down at the floor beneath my feet. It was bright white in color and extended to the horizon for as far as the eyes could see.
The sky above, if it could be called a sky, had a bright white color.
I looked down at my feet and realized that I had no shadow of my own.
'Where's the light source in this place?' I thought but then another important thought hit me.
'Where the hell am I anyway?'
'You're in a simulation created by the Black watch.' I heard Lily's voice coming from all around me.
'A simulation? Well… What the hell am I supposed to do here? And how am I supposed to get out of here?' I thought 'Wait! Why am I here in the first place?'
'You're here because you've increased all of your stats to 4.0 points. Now we're going to enhance your genes and help you evolve. But before that, you must prove that you're deserving of this reward.'
'Huh! Evolve my genes? What do you mean by that?' I asked confusedly. I didn't really liked where this was going.
All of this seemed far too complicated and far too unnecessary. I just wanted to increase my stats and become powerful so that I could protect my family. Why he hell did I do to get here. And what the hell was up with the Black fog coming out of the watch.
Thoughts rapidly circulated in my mind but I couldn't draw any conclusion from the little information I had.
'A normal human cannot eat crystals and grow stronger indefinitely.' Lily explained. 'There's a limit to how much strong a human's body could become.'
'The black fog is designed to help you evolve and become much greater than a mere human. But as I said before, you must prove yourself deserving of this power.'
'So… You're saying that I cannot advance any longer unless I evolve into an enhanced human? Is that it.' I sought for conformation.
'Yes.' Lily replied in a simple. She was being a bit too formal today which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. But I chose to ignore it.
'Is the 'evolving' thing going to harm me in any way?' I asked.
There was a slight pause after which Lily replied 'Do you remember the pain you felt when you the black fog left?'
'Yes. How can I forget such a dreadful thing.' I answered in fear. 'Am I going to feel that pain once again?'
'Yes.' Lily replied.
'And… What happens if I… failed to hold on. Would I become an Abnormal as well?' I asked.
'No. If you cannot resist the pain then you'll die.' Lily replied formally. And I finally understood why she was talking in such a formal manner. She probably did not wanted to show her emotions.
'Is she even an AI. She's so advanced. Her creator must have been a genius.' I thought in my mind and said.
'Alright then. Go on. I'm ready for it.' I said with a clenched fist.
'No. You misunderstand.' Lily said.
'I misunderstand? What do you mean?' I asked with a frown.
If the Severe Pain was not the test, then what was?
'The test is to see if you can actually fight the abnormals on your own or not.' She replied.
'Fight the abnormals. Isn't that what I've been doing for the past few day?' I asked with a snort. 'You should be well aware of what I can and cannot do right.'
'Yeah. I know that but… this is a protocol that everyone has to follow. I hope you'll consent to this.'
I thought for a while before saying 'Alright. What do I have to do?'
'It's pretty simple. You just have to fight a 2nd tier abnormal with a weapon of your choice. If you can defeat it, then you would be qualified to get the enhancement.'
'Isn't that easy.' I thought but then I thought about Neha. If I gave her more crystals to eat and then she had to fight a 2nd tier abnormal, then would she be able to defeat it.
I somehow doubted that she would. At the same time, I also understood why this protocol was put in place.
Only those who are brave and deserving will evolve.
'Very well then. Give me a basic sword and start this… protocol or whatever you call it.'
'Alright then. Good luck Ashok.' Lily said and suddenly, a mechanical voice took it's place.
"Select a weapon for the test."
Along with that voice, a wide selection of weapons came in front of me. There where other sword which were probably better than the Basic Sword, but I had only ever used this one sword so I did not hesitate. I quickly went to the sword section and took the Basic Sword.
"The Test will start in 3 seconds. Please prepare yourself."
3…
2…
1…
START
Before I could ask anything else, a 2nd tier abnormal appeared in front of me.
'How did it appeared all of a sudden. Oh wait! This is a simulation isn't it. Then what happens to me if I die here.'
The abnormal seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. But unlike me, it did not have a surprised expression. Nor did it had any questions in it's mind like me. It just stared at me like all the other abnormals did.
Like I was the most delicious dish ever.
And then it ran it me.
'Shit!' I threw all of the thoughts in the back of my mind and raised my sword to meet my foe.
'Agility Booster Skill. Activate.' I said in my mind but nothing happened.
'Advanced Vision Skill. Activate.' Nothing happened this time either.
'Seems like I can't use skills here.' I thought and got ready to face the Abnormal.
Although I would have preferred to fight it along with a skill, it was not like I would fail if I was not able to use it. The skills were just a boost for me. It's absence doesn't make me a defenseless person.
The abnormal jumped at me as soon as it closed the distance between us.
'Predictable.' I bent down on my knees and rolled to the left.
The Abnormal passed a few inches from my body and fell behind me.
We both stood up at the same time, but it had lost it's momentum after the jump.
I took the initiative and ran at the abnormal. After I closed the distance once again, it swung it's arms at me violently.
And non combat person would have easily been torn apart by this strike. But to me, it was a very predictable attack. Not any different from the 1st tier abnormals.
I went to the left and dodged it's attack easily after which I swung my sword at it's abdomen. I had lost my momentum when I dodged it's attack so the swing was not able to cut it in half. But it still did it's job.
A large cut had been formed in the Abnormal's stomach and a few organs feel out of it. It staggered at the attack but then swung it's arm at me once again.
I rolled to the left and got ready to face it's attack once again.
It ran to me and swung it's arm just like the previous time. And I performed a similar dodge and swing routine.
Just that this time, I focused more on the swing and this time, I was successful in splitting the Abnormal in half.
It's leg feel to the side and did not move after that, but the upper part of the Abnormal was still alive, as if not lost anything at all.
It dragged itself toward me in a desperate attempt to taste my flesh. Most of it's organs fell out of it's body as it did so.
'How the hell do these guys stay alive even after all of this.' I cursed in my mind at this sight and thrusted my sword at it's head.
After finishing it off. I took out my sword and check the surrounding for any other Abnormal.
Although Lily had said that I would only face one opponent, it never hurts to be prepared.
I looked around vigilantly for a few moments but nothing happened, until I finally heard the mechanical voice once again.
"Congratulations. You've passed the test and are qualified to get genetic enhancements and evolve."
"You have only one option you can choose to enhance your genes:-
Enhanced Human I (Rating- 1 star)
"After evolving into an 'enhanced human', a person gains a very sturdy body which is comparable to that of Abnormals. They also gain a 10% boost in all of their stats."
"Would you like to evolve into an Enhanced Human?" the mechanical voice asked.
"Yes I would." I answered.
"Good luck then. If you survive through the evolving procedure, then you'll become an Enhanced Human."
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
I groaned with pain and threw the heavy machine gun down on the ground for the third time.
I was currently walking toward the town through forest. Walking along the highway might have been easier, but it also exposed me to all the the abnormals and mutant beasts lurking around in the area.
I did not know if walking through a forest was safer. I could only hope I would not have to fight against any more. My arms hurt like hell and every step that I walked only made me realize how exhausted I was.
I had the strength of four men now, but the heavy machine gun weighed around 60 kilograms. That's 15 kilogram of weight for a normals person. I could pick it up easily and walk around with it with no problem as well. But that was not all that I had to do.
The place where reinforcements had fought against the abnormals was about 700 meters away from the town.
I had only travelled 200 meters by now and was already panting with exhaustion.
'Fuck this Heavy machine gun.' I cursed and kicked it a few times to express my dissatisfaction but didn't get any relief.
'This can't go on.' I thought and looked at the highway in the distance. After thinking for a while I dragged the heavy machine gun to the highway and threw it inside a black colored van.
I remembered it's name plate and then heaved a sigh of relief.
'If big bro really wants it, then he can send someone to get it himself.' I then continued on my journey.
I felt a stinging sensation on my thigh with every step I took. It had not been so apparent when I started walking but after a while, when the adrenaline faded away, I realized that I was not in a very good condition.
I touched my thigh and felt that it had swollen considerably. I was not surprised as the same thing had happened to both both my arms where the mutant dogs had bitten.
My condition was bad, but not so bad that I would not be able to walk. Just that, I would preferred to be in a better conditions.
I walked back to the forest and continued to move in the direction of the town.
After five excruciatingly painful minutes, I reached back to the town which had become deserted once again. Just like the first time when I saw it.
'Well, I'm back again.' I thought and started jumping from one building to another. Although I was sure that all the abnormals must have left the town along with the horde, I did not want to take chances.
After I jumped a few more time, I finally reached the house where I was given a room.
'I should go and give a report to Big bro. But before that, I should take care of these wounds.' I thought 'If Neha and big bro sees me in such a battered condition, then they would definitely worry about me.'
I dragged injured leg which was hurting even more after all the jumping and opened the door and was surprised for a moment.
'Oh yeah. She was here as well.' I thought and looked at the beautiful girl sleeping in the bed. She looked rather cute and… venerable in her current position and I would have appreciated such a sight any other time. But right now, there was something else in my mind.
'If she's sleeping in my bed, then where the hell am I supposed to rest.'
There was no other furniture in the room after all. And I was too lazy and tired to go to any other house.
I pushed her aside gently and laid down in the bed beside her. Then I took off my helmet and looked the ceiling in with a frown.
I looked at the Black watch in my hand and opened the hologram after which I started searching for some kind of medicine.
But I really had no idea what I should be buying at this point so I asked Lily instead.
'Oi Lily. What kind of medicine should I buy?' I asked.
'Well, I have a few medicines in my mind, but I have a better option that will save you some white coins.' She said.
'What is it?' I asked tiredly.
'Well… Thing is, after you raise all of your stats to 4.0, something significant will happened all of your wounds will be healed automatically.'
'Something signification. What do you mean?' I asked.
'You'll understand yourself when you get to that point.'
'Well… Alright then.' I said and checked up on my wealth.
After selling the three cores of the mutant dogs, I had a total of 194 white coins.
I used 160 white coins and bought 16 green crystals.
'This should be enough.' I thought and gulped them down with some water.
Soon, the crystals melted in my stomach and a warm feeling spread throughout my entire body.
I moaned in ecstasy and after the feeling faded away, I was going to open the hologram when I realized that I could not move anymore.
It was as if all the muscles in my body had gone stiff all of a sudden.
I could see, smell and hear everything that was going around me, but I could not move a single finger.
'What the hell!' I cursed in my mind and tried to move my eyes to look around. But when I looked at the lower part my body, my heart froze in terror.
I dense black fog was being emitted from the Black watch and it was slowly covering my entire body.
'Damn it!' I cursed but it didn't help and the black fog slowly crawled up to my face and submerged my whole body.
—————
I opened my eyes at once but as the bright light burned my eyes, I had to close them once again.
After a few seconds, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around to have a good understanding of my surroundings. But…
Everything that I saw around me was white for as far as I could see.
I looked down at the floor beneath my feet. It was bright white in color and extended to the horizon for as far as the eyes could see.
The sky above, if it could be called a sky, had a bright white color.
I looked down at my feet and realized that I had no shadow of my own.
'Where's the light source in this place?' I thought but then another important thought hit me.
'Where the hell am I anyway?'
'You're in a simulation created by the Black watch.' I heard Lily's voice coming from all around me.
'A simulation? Well… What the hell am I supposed to do here? And how am I supposed to get out of here?' I thought 'Wait! Why am I here in the first place?'
'You're here because you've increased all of your stats to 4.0 points. Now we're going to enhance your genes and help you evolve. But before that, you must prove that you're deserving of this reward.'
'Huh! Evolve my genes? What do you mean by that?' I asked confusedly. I didn't really liked where this was going.
All of this seemed far too complicated and far too unnecessary. I just wanted to increase my stats and become powerful so that I could protect my family. Why he hell did I do to get here. And what the hell was up with the Black fog coming out of the watch.
Thoughts rapidly circulated in my mind but I couldn't draw any conclusion from the little information I had.
'A normal human cannot eat crystals and grow stronger indefinitely.' Lily explained. 'There's a limit to how much strong a human's body could become.'
'The black fog is designed to help you evolve and become much greater than a mere human. But as I said before, you must prove yourself deserving of this power.'
'So… You're saying that I cannot advance any longer unless I evolve into an enhanced human? Is that it.' I sought for conformation.
'Yes.' Lily replied in a simple. She was being a bit too formal today which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. But I chose to ignore it.
'Is the 'evolving' thing going to harm me in any way?' I asked.
There was a slight pause after which Lily replied 'Do you remember the pain you felt when you the black fog left?'
'Yes. How can I forget such a dreadful thing.' I answered in fear. 'Am I going to feel that pain once again?'
'Yes.' Lily replied.
'And… What happens if I… failed to hold on. Would I become an Abnormal as well?' I asked.
'No. If you cannot resist the pain then you'll die.' Lily replied formally. And I finally understood why she was talking in such a formal manner. She probably did not wanted to show her emotions.
'Is she even an AI. She's so advanced. Her creator must have been a genius.' I thought in my mind and said.
'Alright then. Go on. I'm ready for it.' I said with a clenched fist.
'No. You misunderstand.' Lily said.
'I misunderstand? What do you mean?' I asked with a frown.
If the Severe Pain was not the test, then what was?
'The test is to see if you can actually fight the abnormals on your own or not.' She replied.
'Fight the abnormals. Isn't that what I've been doing for the past few day?' I asked with a snort. 'You should be well aware of what I can and cannot do right.'
'Yeah. I know that but… this is a protocol that everyone has to follow. I hope you'll consent to this.'
I thought for a while before saying 'Alright. What do I have to do?'
'It's pretty simple. You just have to fight a 2nd tier abnormal with a weapon of your choice. If you can defeat it, then you would be qualified to get the enhancement.'
'Isn't that easy.' I thought but then I thought about Neha. If I gave her more crystals to eat and then she had to fight a 2nd tier abnormal, then would she be able to defeat it.
I somehow doubted that she would. At the same time, I also understood why this protocol was put in place.
Only those who are brave and deserving will evolve.
'Very well then. Give me a basic sword and start this… protocol or whatever you call it.'
'Alright then. Good luck Ashok.' Lily said and suddenly, a mechanical voice took it's place.
"Select a weapon for the test."
Along with that voice, a wide selection of weapons came in front of me. There where other sword which were probably better than the Basic Sword, but I had only ever used this one sword so I did not hesitate. I quickly went to the sword section and took the Basic Sword.
"The Test will start in 3 seconds. Please prepare yourself."
3…
2…
1…
START
Before I could ask anything else, a 2nd tier abnormal appeared in front of me.
'How did it appeared all of a sudden. Oh wait! This is a simulation isn't it. Then what happens to me if I die here.'
The abnormal seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. But unlike me, it did not have a surprised expression. Nor did it had any questions in it's mind like me. It just stared at me like all the other abnormals did.
Like I was the most delicious dish ever.
And then it ran it me.
'Shit!' I threw all of the thoughts in the back of my mind and raised my sword to meet my foe.
'Agility Booster Skill. Activate.' I said in my mind but nothing happened.
'Advanced Vision Skill. Activate.' Nothing happened this time either.
'Seems like I can't use skills here.' I thought and got ready to face the Abnormal.
Although I would have preferred to fight it along with a skill, it was not like I would fail if I was not able to use it. The skills were just a boost for me. It's absence doesn't make me a defenseless person.
The abnormal jumped at me as soon as it closed the distance between us.
'Predictable.' I bent down on my knees and rolled to the left.
The Abnormal passed a few inches from my body and fell behind me.
We both stood up at the same time, but it had lost it's momentum after the jump.
I took the initiative and ran at the abnormal. After I closed the distance once again, it swung it's arms at me violently.
And non combat person would have easily been torn apart by this strike. But to me, it was a very predictable attack. Not any different from the 1st tier abnormals.
I went to the left and dodged it's attack easily after which I swung my sword at it's abdomen. I had lost my momentum when I dodged it's attack so the swing was not able to cut it in half. But it still did it's job.
A large cut had been formed in the Abnormal's stomach and a few organs feel out of it. It staggered at the attack but then swung it's arm at me once again.
I rolled to the left and got ready to face it's attack once again.
It ran to me and swung it's arm just like the previous time. And I performed a similar dodge and swing routine.
Just that this time, I focused more on the swing and this time, I was successful in splitting the Abnormal in half.
It's leg feel to the side and did not move after that, but the upper part of the Abnormal was still alive, as if not lost anything at all.
It dragged itself toward me in a desperate attempt to taste my flesh. Most of it's organs fell out of it's body as it did so.
'How the hell do these guys stay alive even after all of this.' I cursed in my mind at this sight and thrusted my sword at it's head.
After finishing it off. I took out my sword and check the surrounding for any other Abnormal.
Although Lily had said that I would only face one opponent, it never hurts to be prepared.
I looked around vigilantly for a few moments but nothing happened, until I finally heard the mechanical voice once again.
"Congratulations. You've passed the test and are qualified to get genetic enhancements and evolve."
"You have only one option you can choose to enhance your genes:-
Enhanced Human I (Rating- 1 star)
"After evolving into an 'enhanced human', a person gains a very sturdy body which is comparable to that of Abnormals. They also gain a 10% boost in all of their stats."
"Would you like to evolve into an Enhanced Human?" the mechanical voice asked.
"Yes I would." I answered.
"Good luck then. If you survive through the evolving procedure, then you'll become an Enhanced Human."
I groaned with pain and threw the heavy machine gun down on the ground for the third time.I was currently walking toward the town through forest. Walking along the highway might have been easier, but it also exposed me to all the the abnormals and mutant beasts lurking around in the area.I did not know if walking through a forest was safer. I could only hope I would not have to fight against any more. My arms hurt like hell and every step that I walked only made me realize how exhausted I was.I had the strength of four men now, but the heavy machine gun weighed around 60 kilograms. That's 15 kilogram of weight for a normals person. I could pick it up easily and walk around with it with no problem as well. But that was not all that I had to do.The place where reinforcements had fought against the abnormals was about 700 meters away from the town.I had only travelled 200 meters by now and was already panting with exhaustion.'Fuck this Heavy machine gun.' I cursed and kicked it a few times to express my dissatisfaction but didn't get any relief.'This can't go on.' I thought and looked at the highway in the distance. After thinking for a while I dragged the heavy machine gun to the highway and threw it inside a black colored van.I remembered it's name plate and then heaved a sigh of relief.'If big bro really wants it, then he can send someone to get it himself.' I then continued on my journey.I felt a stinging sensation on my thigh with every step I took. It had not been so apparent when I started walking but after a while, when the adrenaline faded away, I realized that I was not in a very good condition.I touched my thigh and felt that it had swollen considerably. I was not surprised as the same thing had happened to both both my arms where the mutant dogs had bitten.My condition was bad, but not so bad that I would not be able to walk. Just that, I would preferred to be in a better conditions.I walked back to the forest and continued to move in the direction of the town.After five excruciatingly painful minutes, I reached back to the town which had become deserted once again. Just like the first time when I saw it.'Well, I'm back again.' I thought and started jumping from one building to another. Although I was sure that all the abnormals must have left the town along with the horde, I did not want to take chances.After I jumped a few more time, I finally reached the house where I was given a room.'I should go and give a report to Big bro. But before that, I should take care of these wounds.' I thought 'If Neha and big bro sees me in such a battered condition, then they would definitely worry about me.'I dragged injured leg which was hurting even more after all the jumping and opened the door and was surprised for a moment.'Oh yeah. She was here as well.' I thought and looked at the beautiful girl sleeping in the bed. She looked rather cute and venerable in her current position and I would have appreciated such a sight any other time. But right now, there was something else in my mind.'If she's sleeping in my bed, then where the hell am I supposed to rest.'There was no other furniture in the room after all. And I was too lazy and tired to go to any other house.I pushed her aside gently and laid down in the bed beside her. Then I took off my helmet and looked the ceiling in with a frown.I looked at the Black watch in my hand and opened the hologram after which I started searching for some kind of medicine.But I really had no idea what I should be buying at this point so I asked Lily instead.'Oi Lily. What kind of medicine should I buy?' I asked.'Well, I have a few medicines in my mind, but I have a better option that will save you some white coins.' She said.'What is it?' I asked tiredly.'Well Thing is, after you raise all of your stats to 4.0, something significant will happened all of your wounds will be healed automatically.''Something signification. What do you mean?' I asked.'You'll understand yourself when you get to that point.''Well Alright then.' I said and checked up on my wealth.After selling the three cores of the mutant dogs, I had a total of 194 white coins.I used 160 white coins and bought 16 green crystals.'This should be enough.' I thought and gulped them down with some water.Soon, the crystals melted in my stomach and a warm feeling spread throughout my entire body.I moaned in ecstasy and after the feeling faded away, I was going to open the hologram when I realized that I could not move anymore.It was as if all the muscles in my body had gone stiff all of a sudden.I could see, smell and hear everything that was going around me, but I could not move a single finger.'What the hell!' I cursed in my mind and tried to move my eyes to look around. But when I looked at the lower part my body, my heart froze in terror.I dense black fog was being emitted from the Black watch and it was slowly covering my entire body.'Damn it!' I cursed but it didn't help and the black fog slowly crawled up to my face and submerged my whole body.I opened my eyes at once but as the bright light burned my eyes, I had to close them once again.After a few seconds, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around to have a good understanding of my surroundings. ButEverything that I saw around me was white for as far as I could see.I looked down at the floor beneath my feet. It was bright white in color and extended to the horizon for as far as the eyes could see.The sky above, if it could be called a sky, had a bright white color.I looked down at my feet and realized that I had no shadow of my own.'Where's the light source in this place?' I thought but then another important thought hit me.'Where the hell am I anyway?''You're in a simulation created by the Black watch.' I heard Lily's voice coming from all around me.'A simulation? Well What the hell am I supposed to do here? And how am I supposed to get out of here?' I thought 'Wait! Why am I here in the first place?''You're here because you've increased all of your stats to 4.0 points. Now we're going to enhance your genes and help you evolve. But before that, you must prove that you're deserving of this reward.''Huh! Evolve my genes? What do you mean by that?' I asked confusedly. I didn't really liked where this was going.All of this seemed far too complicated and far too unnecessary. I just wanted to increase my stats and become powerful so that I could protect my family. Why he hell did I do to get here. And what the hell was up with the Black fog coming out of the watch.Thoughts rapidly circulated in my mind but I couldn't draw any conclusion from the little information I had.'A normal human cannot eat crystals and grow stronger indefinitely.' Lily explained. 'There's a limit to how much strong a human's body could become.''The black fog is designed to help you evolve and become much greater than a mere human. But as I said before, you must prove yourself deserving of this power.''So You're saying that I cannot advance any longer unless I evolve into an enhanced human? Is that it.' I sought for conformation.'Yes.' Lily replied in a simple. She was being a bit too formal today which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. But I chose to ignore it.'Is the 'evolving' thing going to harm me in any way?' I asked.There was a slight pause after which Lily replied 'Do you remember the pain you felt when you the black fog left?''Yes. How can I forget such a dreadful thing.' I answered in fear. 'Am I going to feel that pain once again?''Yes.' Lily replied.'And What happens if I failed to hold on. Would I become an Abnormal as well?' I asked.'No. If you cannot resist the pain then you'll die.' Lily replied formally. And I finally understood why she was talking in such a formal manner. She probably did not wanted to show her emotions.'Is she even an AI. She's so advanced. Her creator must have been a genius.' I thought in my mind and said.'Alright then. Go on. I'm ready for it.' I said with a clenched fist.'No. You misunderstand.' Lily said.'I misunderstand? What do you mean?' I asked with a frown.If the Severe Pain was not the test, then what was?'The test is to see if you can actually fight the abnormals on your own or not.' She replied.'Fight the abnormals. Isn't that what I've been doing for the past few day?' I asked with a snort. 'You should be well aware of what I can and cannot do right.''Yeah. I know that but this is a protocol that everyone has to follow. I hope you'll consent to this.'I thought for a while before saying 'Alright. What do I have to do?''It's pretty simple. You just have to fight a 2nd tier abnormal with a weapon of your choice. If you can defeat it, then you would be qualified to get the enhancement.''Isn't that easy.' I thought but then I thought about Neha. If I gave her more crystals to eat and then she had to fight a 2nd tier abnormal, then would she be able to defeat it.I somehow doubted that she would. At the same time, I also understood why this protocol was put in place.Only those who are brave and deserving will evolve.'Very well then. Give me a basic sword and start this protocol or whatever you call it.''Alright then. Good luck Ashok.' Lily said and suddenly, a mechanical voice took it's place."Select a weapon for the test."Along with that voice, a wide selection of weapons came in front of me. There where other sword which were probably better than the Basic Sword, but I had only ever used this one sword so I did not hesitate. I quickly went to the sword section and took the Basic Sword."The Test will start in 3 seconds. Please prepare yourself."321STARTBefore I could ask anything else, a 2nd tier abnormal appeared in front of me.'How did it appeared all of a sudden. Oh wait! This is a simulation isn't it. Then what happens to me if I die here.'The abnormal seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. But unlike me, it did not have a surprised expression. Nor did it had any questions in it's mind like me. It just stared at me like all the other abnormals did.Like I was the most delicious dish ever.And then it ran it me.'Shit!' I threw all of the thoughts in the back of my mind and raised my sword to meet my foe.'Agility Booster Skill. Activate.' I said in my mind but nothing happened.'Advanced Vision Skill. Activate.' Nothing happened this time either.'Seems like I can't use skills here.' I thought and got ready to face the Abnormal.Although I would have preferred to fight it along with a skill, it was not like I would fail if I was not able to use it. The skills were just a boost for me. It's absence doesn't make me a defenseless person.The abnormal jumped at me as soon as it closed the distance between us.'Predictable.' I bent down on my knees and rolled to the left.The Abnormal passed a few inches from my body and fell behind me.We both stood up at the same time, but it had lost it's momentum after the jump.I took the initiative and ran at the abnormal. After I closed the distance once again, it swung it's arms at me violently.And non combat person would have easily been torn apart by this strike. But to me, it was a very predictable attack. Not any different from the 1st tier abnormals.I went to the left and dodged it's attack easily after which I swung my sword at it's abdomen. I had lost my momentum when I dodged it's attack so the swing was not able to cut it in half. But it still did it's job.A large cut had been formed in the Abnormal's stomach and a few organs feel out of it. It staggered at the attack but then swung it's arm at me once again.I rolled to the left and got ready to face it's attack once again.It ran to me and swung it's arm just like the previous time. And I performed a similar dodge and swing routine.Just that this time, I focused more on the swing and this time, I was successful in splitting the Abnormal in half.It's leg feel to the side and did not move after that, but the upper part of the Abnormal was still alive, as if not lost anything at all.It dragged itself toward me in a desperate attempt to taste my flesh. Most of it's organs fell out of it's body as it did so.'How the hell do these guys stay alive even after all of this.' I cursed in my mind at this sight and thrusted my sword at it's head.After finishing it off. I took out my sword and check the surrounding for any other Abnormal.Although Lily had said that I would only face one opponent, it never hurts to be prepared.I looked around vigilantly for a few moments but nothing happened, until I finally heard the mechanical voice once again."Congratulations. You've passed the test and are qualified to get genetic enhancements and evolve.""You have only one option you can choose to enhance your genes:-Enhanced Human I Rating- 1 star"After evolving into an 'enhanced human', a person gains a very sturdy body which is comparable to that of Abnormals. They also gain a 10% boost in all of their stats.""Would you like to evolve into an Enhanced Human?" the mechanical voice asked."Yes I would." I answered."Good luck then. If you survive through the evolving procedure, then you'll become an Enhanced Human."
