While on top of the highest metal cargo container, I dropped to my stomach, lying prone and pressing myself flat against the cool surface to avoid detection by the aliens below. My heart raced as I peered over the edge, watching their movements with keen interest. They were busy organizing cargo and barking orders to one another, completely unaware of my presence.
As I lay here, trying to make myself as small as possible, a plan began to form in my mind on how to take them down. I considered my surroundings, noting the crates stacked nearby and the shadows cast by the bright overhead lights.
With each passing moment, I let my situation sink in, taking a moment to assess what was going on around me. I wasn’t in a hurry—there was no need to rush my thoughts. I knew I had time to think through things and figure out my best approach wisely. Every detail mattered, and I wanted to make sure I had a solid plan before making my move. After all, this was about more than just survival; it was about outsmarting the aliens and turning the tables in my favor while minimizing the risks.
Wait… now that I think about it, what happened to those four aliens I killed earlier? Have their bodies been discovered by others yet? Just as that thought crossed my mind, a loud, piercing sound erupted—almost like the blaring siren of an emergency ambulance.
BLARE! BLARE! BLARE!
In an instant, I noticed the remaining aliens working in this cargo station suddenly started moving around frantically, their movements a chaotic ballet of panic. Confusion flooded my mind—what the hell is going on? The air was thick with tension, and the sense of urgency in their actions sent chills down my spine. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but a gnawing unease settled in my gut. Something felt off, though I couldn’t quite explain why.
My instincts screamed at me to hide, a primal warning echoing in my mind. It was as if my body had sensed danger before my thoughts could catch up, urging me to take cover. The ominous blaring noise that had interrupted my thoughts reverberated through the cargo station, amplifying my anxiety.
Without wasting a second, I quickly climbed down as fast as I could and sprinted back to the portal. I had to hide immediately! Once I stepped through the portal and landed back in my personal metal cargo container, a wave of temporary safety washed over me, and I finally began to calm down. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. Leaning against the cold metal wall of the container, I caught my breath and gathered my thoughts.
Did they perhaps sense my presence…?! I hoped not—if they had, I’d be in serious trouble.
Suddenly, a realization struck me, jolting my thoughts like a shockwave. An unsettling memory surfaced, bringing with it an overwhelming wave of dread. I recalled the four aliens I had killed previously in the sleeping station near the vast garbage hall. Wait a minute… don’t tell me they’ve already discovered the corpses?! The mere thought sent a chill down my spine.
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Oh no, fuck! Could that blaring sound I just heard have been an emergency alarm?! An urgent signal alerting them to the discovery of the four aliens I killed?
Suddenly:
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
At this moment, more and more aliens were swarming this cargo station, their presence becoming impossible to ignore. I caught sight of the weapons they carried—sleek, metallic, and menacing. They had to be plasma guns, or maybe something else even more advanced and deadly. The way the energy pulsed from their weapons made the air hum with an unsettling charge. Their muscular bodies stood out the most, and that’s when it hit me—they looked just like the ones from my first encounter in the vast white room.
Wait, are those alien soldiers?! Just then, one of them seemed to stare directly at me. My heart skipped a beat, and out of pure fear, I ducked down, holding my breath. After a few heart-pounding moments, it hit me—I realized they couldn’t see through the portal, let alone being aware of the portal's existence. Right… I almost forgot. I’m the only one who can see and use this personal portal.
Phew! That scared me. I thought I was done for, but thankfully they couldn’t see me.
Anyway, alien soldiers are definitely not something I can fight right now, especially since they must be equipped with powerful automatic barrier shields. Those damn barrier shields could even deflect a bullet like it was nothing. I could certainly try breaking the barrier shield with my current power, but I don’t feel confident enough for that yet. For now, I need to take down some lesser aliens first and gradually work my way up to challenge the higher-ranking alien soldiers.
I wasn’t sure how long these alien soldiers would stick around here, but for now, I decided to focus on my daily quest exercises first while I waited for them to leave. Each moment felt like it was dragging on, but I knew keeping myself busy would help pass the time quicker.
…
…
Twelve hours later...
Finally, the alien soldiers had disappeared. I wasn’t certain where they had gone, but I assumed that since they couldn’t find me, they had probably given up and halted their search. The tension in the air lifted slightly, replaced by a sense of relief.
But I couldn’t afford to relax just yet. Glancing at the hologram screen displaying my progress tracker, I saw that I was only 3% through my exercises. The realization hit me like a cold wave: I still had another 97% left to complete. The sheer scale of it was daunting; 10,000,000 reps per exercise was no small feat. It would likely take me a few weeks to finish everything, with each rep becoming a battle against fatigue and waning stamina.
As I peered through the portal to see outside, I noticed that while the alien soldiers had retreated, the lesser aliens were still busy working in the cargo station. I decided to bide my time for a few more hours, waiting until bedtime for the aliens to sleep, as the cargo station would be quieter by then, before venturing out to hunt.
This time, I aimed to capture ten lesser aliens and eliminate them silently inside this metal cargo container. I’d stick to the ones closest to the portal, making it easier to snatch them up and pull them inside before they even knew what hit them. It was going to be a smooth operation, and I was ready to get it done without making a fuss.