What's happening to me...? The euphoria that had consumed me faded, along with the pain in my head. It was gone. This place... is peaceful.

I sank into my thoughts, trying to understand what I was feeling when a manic laugh echoed in my mind.

Kekeke.

I recognized it instantly.

—"How do you feel? Do you like your new enhancement?"

I opened my eyes, and everything had changed. I was no longer on a stretcher but inside a glass tube, submerged in a thick, viscous liquid—strangely comforting. A mask supplied me with oxygen and nutrients.

Slowly, I turned my head—and saw him.

—"Looks like you're enjoying your new blessing, keke." His twisted smile widened. "Your skin is tougher now. Your entire body is. Even if I shot you with a regular handgun, you'd barely feel the impact. Isn't that amazing?"

I watched him in silence.

—"Unfortunately, this will be the last enhancement you receive. The Central Command has spoken. As the predecessor of the Immortal Knights, they've assigned you to train the first generation. Isn't that exciting? You'll finally make new friends! Kekeke."

His eyes gleamed with a mix of madness and satisfaction as he looked at me.

—"Tomorrow, I'll release you and introduce you to your companions. For now, rest. Sweet dreams, T34."

---

—29 days until the War of Soldam-

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

—"I came back for you."

His mocking tone irritated me.

—"We might not see each other again, T34. What a shame... I'll have to find more test subjects."

I didn't reply. I just stared at him.

—"I want you to wear this."

He tossed a suit in front of me.

—"It's the gear Central provided for you to train the new recruits."

For the first time, I removed my clothes by choice... if those tattered rags could even be called clothes.

My body was covered in scars—silent witnesses to war and the experiments I had endured. I looked at myself. I was somewhat malnourished, but my physique remained imposing... aside from the scars and the faintly protruding bones beneath my skin, reinforced with metallic alloys.

—"You are truly my greatest blessing, T34. Don't disappoint me."

With those words, several soldiers entered the room. Six in total, all heavily armed with specialized gear.

The scene was familiar.

They restrained me firmly and placed a mask over my face, blinding me completely. At least this time, it wasn't as brutal as before.

—"We're taking you to Military Camp D5.

We boarded a transport ship. They removed the mask.

—"Central, reporting! We're transporting the *Immortal Knight* to the training zone."

The journey lasted several hours.

—"We've arrived. Get out."

They escorted me to a massive military complex, surrounded by towering walls and turrets made of an unknown metal—etched with strange markings that channeled energy into the defensive weapons.

A man approached and grabbed my arm, inspecting the mark imprinted on me:

"T34"

—"Welcome, Immortal Knight. From now on, I'll be your guide."

The soldiers who had escorted me withdrew.

He showed me around the facility.

—"This is the general dormitory, where the first generation members sleep."

He pointed to another sector.

—"Over there are the dorms for the guards and key personnel of the complex."

I nodded silently as we continued. There were many interesting areas—a private gym, the armory, locker rooms, showers... But what caught my attention the most was a structure at the center of the complex.

A massive dome.

—"Your companions are inside," he said with a smile. "The first generation of Immortal Knights."

He turned away and, in a firm voice, concluded:

—"I'll take my leave."

He left me standing before the dome.

From the outside, I could hear voices.

Children's voices.

None of them could be older than seventeen.

I took a deep breath.

And opened the door.