With the sound of approaching footsteps echoing in the distance, I knew time was running out. Taking a deep breath, I leaped toward one of the nearest vents, my fingers grasping for the metal edge. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I hoisted myself up, praying that the aliens wouldn’t spot me. The biting chill of the vent pressed into my fingers as I clung on, adrenaline and fear surging through me like wildfire.
BA-DUM! HEARTBEAT!
Would this risky move pay off? Or had I just signed my own death warrant? I couldn’t think about that now; all I could do was hang on and hope for the best.
Honestly, I’m pretty surprised at how high I can jump now. It’s wild to think that I kept forgetting I’m no longer an ordinary human. I’m way stronger than I used to be—stronger than any average person on Earth, really. It’s like my body has been completely upgraded, and every move I make just feels... powerful. You’d think that would be enough to make me feel unstoppable, but honestly, something still feels missing. Deep down, I know I’m not quite there yet.
As strong as I’ve become, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m still not ready to take on the aliens yet. Seriously, how powerful are these aliens? The thought alone sends a shiver down my spine. And then there’s the real question—how much stronger do I need to be to stand a chance against even one of them? It’s kind of crazy to think about, but I guess I’ll eventually find out in the future.
STEP-STEP! TAP-TAP!
At this time, I could hear the aliens' footsteps as they approached—at least two or three of them were heading toward this dumpster room. I’m not sure why they are coming here; perhaps they’re looking for any garbage that hasn’t been thrown away yet. Regardless, I could only pray they wouldn’t find me. If they did, I supposed I’d have no choice but to fight.
After dying a few times and respawning in the past, I no longer fear death. Death is nothing to me, but what really terrifies me is actually the agony that comes with it. I wouldn’t mind a quick, painless death, but a slow and excruciating demise? No, thank you—I’d do everything in my power to avoid that kind of end.
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Call me a coward if you want, but as humans, isn’t it natural for us to avoid pain? I mean, who in their right mind actually enjoys suffering? Sure, maybe there are a few sadists out there, but most of us? Definitely not.
In any case, there’s no need to rush. I’ll just keep completing my daily quest, day after day, until I’m strong enough to take on the aliens. Until then, I’m more than happy to lay low and bide my time.
Soon, three aliens in bizarre, metallic suits entered the dimly lit dumpster room. Their presence sent a shiver down my spine, each movement deliberate and calculated. With every ounce of strength and mental focus I could muster, I forced myself to remain utterly still, silencing every instinct that urged me to fidget or breathe too loudly. I knew that any sound could alert them to my hiding spot.
Also, being positioned higher, I had a clear view of this entire dumpster room below, my heart pounding as I watched them closely. They paused at the massive entrance, and I could see them looking around and scanning the room. For a brief moment, I held my breath, praying they wouldn’t look up.
Nervousness overwhelmed me as my hands grew increasingly sweaty, to the point that a single drop of sweat fell to the ground. Talk about bad luck! Why do my fucking hands have to sweat now of all times?! Ugh! Please! Please! Please, don’t look up! I swear, if they cast their eyes upward even once, I’ll be done for. A few seconds ticked by, and thankfully, nothing happened; it seemed the aliens hadn’t noticed my drop of sweat. Phew! That was a damn close call!
After they finished checking out the dumpster room, they turned their attention to the enormous entrance door that I had previously destroyed to escape this dumpster room earlier. As they focused on the door, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my luck could run out at any moment. Every second felt like eternity, and I remained frozen, knowing my life depended on staying hidden and keeping quiet, no matter how small the noise.
I’m not entirely sure what they did, but in less than a minute, they had completely repaired the massive door. I can’t say I was surprised, though. With their advanced technology, it was only natural that they could fix such an enormous door like it was no big deal.
After they left, I let out a sigh of relief. Phew! Thank goodness they’re finally gone.
Jeez, what a scary experience. Well, at least it won’t be forever; it’s only a matter of time before I’m strong enough to destroy them all. When that time comes, I won’t have to hide anymore. It’ll be an all-out attack.