Morning broke with an unusual tension in the air. Echo woke to the sound of his stomach growling, a deep, insistent rumble that seemed to vibrate through the room. He groaned, rubbing his abdomen, startled by the intensity of the sensation.
“Alright, alright, I’m up,” he muttered, swinging his legs off the cot. He stood, stretching, and noticed something odd—his body felt lighter despite the ache lingering in his muscles.
Across the hall, Rook was already pacing in the common area. His disheveled hair and wide-eyed expression made it clear that he’d been awake for some time.
“Echo, please tell me it’s not just me,” Rook said, clutching his stomach. “I’m starving. I had breakfast an hour ago, and I already feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”
Echo frowned. “Same here. It’s like... nothing’s sticking. No matter how much I eat, I’m still hungry.”
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The Feast and Revelation
The two hurried to the dining hall, where they piled their trays high with food. Roasted meats, fresh bread, bowls of rice, and stacks of fruit quickly disappeared as they devoured their meal with alarming speed.
Echo glanced at Rook between bites. “What’s happening to us? This isn’t normal.”
Rook shook his head, his mouth full. “Must be the training. Our bodies are burning more energy than we can replace.”
Their mentors, Sentinel and Gladiator, entered the dining hall just as the two were finishing their second trays and standing for thirds. Gladiator raised an eyebrow, smirking at the spectacle.
“Well, looks like the hunger’s finally hit,” Gladiator remarked, his tone laced with amusement.
Sentinel approached the table, her voice calm but firm. “This is expected. As your bodies undergo transformation—bones condensing, muscles repairing, and impurities being expelled—your metabolism is skyrocketing. You’re burning fuel faster than before, and it’s only going to increase.”
Echo paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. “So... this is normal?”
“For now,” Sentinel replied. “As your body adapts to the changes, the hunger will subside. Until then, eat as much as you need to maintain energy for training. But don’t let it slow you down.”
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The Hidden Corridors
After their third round of food, Echo and Rook decided to explore the sprawling complex that had become their home. Until now, their days had been a blur of training and exhaustion, leaving little time for curiosity. But the relentless hunger was making it hard to focus, and a distraction felt necessary.
They wandered through the halls, past dormitories, training chambers, and empty classrooms. The architecture was sleek and futuristic, with glowing blue lines etched into the walls like veins pulsing with energy. Occasionally, a holographic map would appear, projecting routes and points of interest.
“This place is massive,” Rook said, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet corridor. “I wonder how many people actually live here.”
“Not many,” Echo replied, gesturing to the emptiness around them. “It’s like the whole facility was built for us—or maybe for people like us.”
They turned a corner and found themselves in a grand hall lined with statues. Each figure depicted a warrior in various battle stances, their weapons glowing faintly with holographic overlays. Beneath each statue was a plaque, engraved with names and achievements.
“Heroes of the past?” Echo guessed, running his hand over one of the plaques.
“Or warnings,” Rook said, his tone more somber. “If they’re so great, why aren’t they here now?”
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A Curious Encounter
Their exploration led them to a room labeled "Resource Hub." Inside, holograms flickered to life, displaying rows of weapons, tools, and armor, each accompanied by detailed descriptions.
“Think we’re allowed to touch this stuff?” Rook asked, eyeing a sword that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow.
“No clue,” Echo said, though he couldn’t resist reaching out to one of the displays. The hologram shifted, projecting a message: "Access Restricted. Authorization Required."
“Figures,” Rook muttered. “Guess we’ll have to earn it.”
They spent the next hour exploring more of the facility, discovering a library filled with glowing tablets, an observation deck overlooking a barren training ground, and a series of sealed doors marked with cryptic symbols.
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The Hunger Persists
By the time they returned to the dining hall, their hunger had returned with full force. They ate again, though the food seemed to do little to quell the gnawing emptiness in their stomachs.
Sentinel and Gladiator were waiting for them when they finished.
“Get enough to eat?” Gladiator teased, though his eyes were sharp with observation.
“Not even close,” Rook admitted.
Sentinel handed each of them a small vial of translucent liquid. “These are nutrient concentrates. They’ll help stabilize your energy levels during training. Use them wisely.”
Gladiator grinned. “And don’t think this means we’re going easy on you. Training only gets tougher from here.”
Echo and Rook exchanged wary glances, the weight of the day’s revelations settling over them. Despite their exhaustion and insatiable hunger, they couldn’t ignore the growing anticipation for what lay ahead.