I woke up with a start, the cold air pressing against my skin like an unwanted reminder. For a second, I thought I was still trapped in the ice, but the sharpness of my senses and the faint hum of distant machinery brought me back to reality.
This wasn't the museum.
The sterile walls of the government base surrounded me. A gray ceiling, flickering lights, and a single bed tucked into a corner with a thin blanket. It wasn't much—barebones—but it was all I needed for now.
I rolled over and rubbed my eyes, pushing myself up. The morning light filtered through a small, high window. I hadn't bothered to look outside, but now I saw the faint glow of the sun. It didn't matter what time it was, though; I felt like I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in years.
I threw my legs over the side of the bed and stood, wincing as my muscles protested. Stamina wasn't something I had in abundance anymore.
Three years of being frozen, and now I had to make up for all that lost time. There was no one to take it easy on me anymore.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the dyed strands as they slid through my fingers. I still wasn't used to it. The black and blue mix, giving off a faint sheen under the dim lights, was jarring compared to my old look. And the eyes? I couldn't even remember what my natural eye color was anymore. The government had used some high-tech implant to change them. I had no idea how it worked, but it felt like my body was still adjusting.
With a groan, I grabbed the clothes they left for me—a simple black tank top and some tactical pants. At least I didn't have to wear some stiff military uniform like I expected.
As I dressed, my thoughts wandered.
What now?
President Cross had made it clear.
I was going to be trained. Hard. No soft landings, no breaks. But, at least I had a choice—I still had a chance. And maybe, just maybe, there was something I could do about the threat that loomed over us.
I needed answers. And that meant trusting people I'd just met, like Evelyn Cross, who felt more like a stranger than someone I could count on.
But I had no choice.
I finished dressing and left the room, finding a sparse hallway that led me to a common area. There was a mess hall, but I didn't feel like eating. Instead, I made my way to the training facility they mentioned.
The facility was huge. The kind of place where the world's strongest heroes trained before they went out into the real world. I'd seen glimpses of it during my brief walk, but now that I was standing in front of it, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
This place was built for monsters.
I took a deep breath, then pushed through the door. The moment I stepped inside, I could feel the energy in the air. The space was massive, lined with equipment I had never seen before. There were battle simulators, training dummies, and a whole section of the room dedicated to weaponry.
I wasn't used to this.
I didn't even know where to start.
But then, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing behind me.
I turned to see Evelyn Cross walking toward me, her boots clicking against the floor, with that unshakable confidence that always seemed to be with her.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her voice colder than I expected.
I didn't answer immediately.
"Define well," I said instead.
She gave me a look that told me I wasn't going to get anything out of her. "Let's keep this simple. The real work begins today, Kai. Don't get comfortable."
I wasn't sure what that meant, but I didn't ask.
"Follow me," she said, turning on her heel and walking toward a section of the room I hadn't noticed before.
It wasn't until we were near the center of the facility that I saw what she meant. There were training pods set up in a circular formation, each with different simulation programs running. One had a forest scene, another had a battlefield, and a third had some kind of mountain terrain.
"This is where we'll start," she said, her eyes scanning the pods. "I've already put your name in the system. Choose the environment you're most familiar with."
I didn't even have to think. I stepped toward the mountain terrain, the one that seemed the most familiar, and tapped the screen beside it.
The ground beneath me hummed to life, and before I knew it, the room around us changed. The walls became a rocky cliffside, the air grew colder, and I could hear the faint sound of wind howling through the rocks.
I could practically taste the sharpness in the air.
"This is where you'll learn what you're really capable of," Evelyn said, standing back. "Don't hold back, and don't expect me to go easy on you."
I cracked my knuckles.
"I wouldn't expect you to," I muttered.
And then, the ground trembled.
The simulation kicked into gear. A huge creature appeared on the horizon—like some kind of giant, monstrous bear, but with horns and fur that looked as if it belonged in some ancient age. It roared, and my body instinctively tightened.
Time to test out everything.
I smiled to myself.
Training had just begun, and for once, I felt something other than fear.
I was going to get stronger.
No more running.