Asher's muscles strained under the weight of his own body as he held the plank position, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. The makeshift training area in the supply room echoed with the sound of his focused breaths and the rhythmic tap of his trembling hands on the hard floor.
"Uh, uh..." Determination etched across his face as he pushed himself to his limits. According to Shadow, this was the way to maximize the benefits of the mysterious solution he had consumed.
Suddenly, Shadow materialized before Asher, his expression cold and devoid of warmth. His voice cut through the air with urgency. "Asher, I cannot maintain my presence for much longer. Stay here and continue to consume the solution. Train your muscles and wait for my return."
"Alright... When will you be back?" asked Asher.
"I don't know, maybe a month or so," replied Shadow.
Hearing Shadow's words, Asher felt nervous. He didn't want to admit it, but he didn't think he could survive without this mysterious presence, whether it was real or not. However, he felt he didn't have another choice, so he simply nodded while trying to maintain his plank position.
With a final, despairing glance, Shadow dissipated into thin air, leaving behind a void that sent shivers down Asher's spine. What if Shadow didn't come back? How could Asher survive in this place alone? Countless questions surged through his mind, sapping his strength and causing him to collapse to the ground.
Days turned into a week, then two weeks and Asher remained confined to the supply room, only leaving to go to the bathroom. He diligently trained his body and consumed the solution, his muscles growing stronger and his endurance heightened. The solution worked its magic, healing his once-weak body and infusing it with newfound vitality.
The benefits of the solution were remarkable. Not only did it grant Asher physical strength and healing, but it also negated his need for food. However, it wasn't without its side effects. Asher noticed that prolonged consumption of the elixir caused him a surge of pain that was indescribable, almost driving him crazy. It was a delicate balance he had to maintain.
Amidst the grueling training routine, Asher found solace in the repetition of movements, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion and then pushing a little further. In the quiet solitude of the room, he discovered an inner strength he never knew existed. With each push-up, sit-up, and squat, he built not only his physical resilience but also the mental fortitude necessary to survive the horrors that awaited him.
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"Ninety-eight... ninety-nine... one hundred," as Asher finally reached his goal, his body quivering with exhaustion. He collapsed onto the hard floor, sweat-soaked and gasping for breath. A mix of satisfaction and fatigue washed over him, mingling with the throbbing ache in his muscles.
Amidst the exhaustion, Asher's mind drifted to thoughts of Shadow. When would Shadow return? And why is he even missing him that much? The weight of shadow's absence lingered in the air, a silence that made Asher think of a lot of things in the past two weeks, but still, the thing that disturbed Asher the most was the existence of that being called Shadow, Who is he? Why is he helping him? Is he real or not? And most importantly why does Asher feel so hopeless and uncomfortable when he's not here?
After several minutes, Asher rose from the ground and made his way toward the bathroom, which was the third room that had been opened on this floor so far. There, the mirror stood as a symbol of his transformation, offering a glimpse into the physical changes his body had undergone over the past weeks.
Staring into the reflection, Asher's eyes widened with satisfaction. His once-pale skin now possessed a hint of color, and his once-skinny frame had developed lean muscles. His face, once gaunt, now held a healthier, more vibrant appearance. Dark hair framed his features, and his brown eyes sparkled with determination. Standing there, completely naked and stripped of his blood-stained clothes, Asher saw a version of himself he had never known before—a version that carried an air of confidence and resilience.
Using the water from the sink, Asher cleansed his body, washing away the grime and sweat that clung to his transformed physique. The mirror became a symbol of hope, a reminder that he had come so far from the frail and broken state he had been in when he first woke up in this nightmarish facility.
At that moment, Shadow reappeared beside Asher. "It's time to leave this floor," he declared, his voice carrying a renewed sense of urgency. "We have wasted enough time here."
Asher, taken aback by the sudden appearance of Shadow, couldn't comprehend his words. There was something different about Shadow this time. Asher's eyes widened in shock as he noticed that Shadow, too, was completely naked.
"What... why are you naked?" Asher stammered, unable to hide his surprise.
Shadow's gaze met Asher's, his voice calm but slightly low. "I am you. I can only take on your current appearance while I'm out. But why are you naked?"
"Oh! Well, actually, the hospital clothes were getting stinky, and I didn't find anything else to wear," said Asher, his face turning red.
"Ask the AI if there are any clothes on this floor," said Shadow.
"I already asked, and it said there are clothes on the 34th floor, but not here," replied Asher.
"Sigh. Alright, let's move to the computer panel room," said Shadow.
They made their way through the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps muffled by the oppressive silence. The air felt heavy with anticipation as they approached the room housing the computer panels. Shadows danced along the walls, casting an ominous aura over their path.
Finally, they stood before the room's entrance. Shadow turned to Asher, his gaze piercing. "Tell BOI-TEK to show us the camera footage of the 34th floor," he instructed.
Asher took a deep breath, summoning his resolve. "BOI-TEK, show us the camera footage of the 34th floor," he commanded, his voice tinged with urgency.
The room responded with a low hum, and the monitors flickered to life one by one. Images from the 34th floor materialized on the screens, revealing a maze of corridors and ominous shadows lurking in the darkness. The faint growls and echoing footsteps that accompanied the footage sent a chill down Asher's spine.
Shadow's voice cut through the tension. "We need to understand the structure of the 34th floor—where the creatures are, how many of them, and how they move. Only then can we establish a plan."