Time Skip: 3 Years Late
Three years have passed. I have mastered multiple languages and perfected various killing techniques. I pushed my [Bloodcontrol] mastery to 10%—a frustrating plateau, yet one that grants me the strength of five men when active.
Hydra succeeded in turning us into living weapons, and after two years, they finally removed our shock collars, convinced the brainwashing had taken root.
They were right about the others, but dead wrong about me.
I have mapped every inch of this bunker. I know the blind spots of every camera, the schedule of every guard, and the timing of every shift change. It's time to leave. No matter how strong I've become, escaping a Hydra facility is suicide—unless you pick the perfect moment.
[The window of opportunity is the walk back to your cell,] Bloodcode whispered. [Only one guard. Tonight is the night.]
8:05 PM
As the guard escorted me, we reached a blind spot in the security feed. I decelerated my pace for a fraction of a second, then lunged. My hands clamped around his neck, and with a sharp twist, I snapped it.
I was about to trigger [Bloodlust] when a door hissed open. It was Two.
Without a second thought, I bolted toward her. Despite the three years of hell we shared, Hydra taught me one absolute truth: the enemy must be eliminated, regardless of who they are. She didn't flinch. With a fluid motion, she condensed six needles of pressurized water and launched them at me.
They were lethal, but I knew her weakness: she loses pinpoint control over the projectiles after three seconds. I calculated the trajectory, pivoted, and sprinted just outside their arc. Using the wall as a springboard, I launched myself at her with a devastating kick. She managed to block, but my five-man strength shattered her forearm instantly.
She tried to condense more needles with her remaining hand, but I was faster. I buried a hook into her jaw, knocking her unconscious before she could finish the move. I knelt over her, my pulse racing, and began to drain her essence.
[Status Update,] Bloodcode whispered, sounding almost satisfied. [Bloodlust Triggered. Analyzing DNA... Siphoning Ability: 'Water Manipulation' detected.
Potential synchronization with 'Bloodcontrol' found. Accept synchronization?]
"Yes."
[Synchronization with Water Control... Successful.]
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Zero | Surname: Bloodcode
Core Abilities:
[Bloodcode]: Grants access to internal stats and sub-categories.
[Bloodlust] (Passive): By consuming the blood of another being, you can permanently siphon one of their abilities.
[Bloodlock] (Active): Ingesting a target's blood induces total paralysis.
[Bloodcontrol] (Active): You can now manipulate your blood outside your body as if it were an extension of your own limbs.
Mastery: 50%
Copied Abilities:
[Acute Hearing] (Passive): Hear heartbeats to detect lies or map surroundings via sonar.
I was still staring at the updated status when the sirens began to scream.
WHEEE-OOO! WHEEE-OOO!
"Alert! Subject Zero is loose! Lethal force authorized! Capture the asset!"
[Well, Zero,] Bloodcode chuckled darkly in my mind. [The quiet part is over. Shall we show them what 50% mastery looks like?]