Blinding white.
That was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.
The ceiling stretched above me, spotless and sterile, a void of colour that pressed down with an eerie stillness. It should have unsettled me. Instead, a strange calm settled in my chest, like I was waking from a deep, dreamless sleep.
I smiled. I had no idea why.
I pushed myself up, and the crisp rustle of fabric broke the silence. The entire room was bathed in the same blinding whiteness—the walls, the floor, even the bed beneath me. No windows. No doors. No shadows. It was as if the entire world had been erased, leaving only this empty, sterile box.
That's when it hit me.
I couldn't remember anything.
"My name?.....Is...Neto? Neto Am-"
A slight headache creeped in.
My mind was blury.
It was mentally straining to try to remember anything.
I looked down at myself, at the plain white garb covering my body. A loose top and trousers, nothing special. But around my wrist—a black band. The only thing in this room that wasn't white.
Attached to it was a small metal tag bearing the text:
[ZERO]
I had no understanding of the number.
The silence pressed against my ears, heavier than before.
I forced myself to move, crossing the room in slow, cautious steps.
As my fingers brushed against the smooth wall, a strange feeling washed over me.
Annoyance? Or maybe Rage?
It was confusing as I had no idea where the feeling came from.
To my left, a section of the wall slid open.
It had been seamless before, blending perfectly into the whiteness.
Now, it stood wide open, revealing a pathway beyond.
[Head to the training hall]
The voice spoke again. I didn't question it, I simply followed.
The pathway led me to an expansive hall—empty. At least, it appeared empty at first glance. The cold metallic floors stretched on, reflecting the stark lighting that bathed the entire space. It felt vast, like a gym or training facility, but there was no one here. No instructors. No fellow participants. Just me.
For a moment, I questioned if I was truly the only one here. But that thought slipped away as quickly as it came. I didn't have the time or energy to focus on it.
My wristband flashed again, and a small holographic screen appeared in front of me.
---
[Daily Fitness:]
Strength: Lift a ton ten times (0/10)
Speed: Reach speed of 50 meters per second (0m/sec)
---
I stared at the screen, processing the absurdity of it all. A ton? Fifty meters per second? I felt… out of place.
But even with that thought, a sense of acceptance settled in.
This wasBut when I gripped the first weight and pressed it to my chest, I could feel the strength within me—more than I could have ever imagined.
I pushed through, focusing on the task. One. Two. Three.
The weight became easier to lift with each rep until I finally completed the required ten.
Next, I moved to the speed test. A treadmill-like machine stood ready, monitoring my performance. The goal: 50 meters per second. A laughable number for a normal human. But as my feet hit the belt, I pushed myself harder, running faster, until I broke through my limits.
I surpassed the target. 56 meters per second.
With the strength and speed tests behind me,it seemed I was done.
I had no idea what to do.
Then suddenly
A screen materialized before me.
■■■■■
Name: Neto Amari
Age:300 days
Race: Human/Mechanoid
State :Human
Level :0
Grade:Tier 0
Exp :0%
Hp:100%<+1/min>
Energy:100/100<+1/min>
Stamina :100% <+1/sec>
{STATS}
Str:22
Agi:28
End:27
Vit:20
Dex:25
Int:5
Charisma :20
SP:0
---------
{ABILITIES}
• Disconnection
• Gravity
• [KAINOS]
Quests :Ø
Inventory : Ø
■■■■■
I blinked.It seemed like something out of a video game.
But even in such a confused state,I found it intriguing.
"Ah, that's what it was,Neto Amari."
A slight smile appeared on my face as I remembered my name.
At least i could remember my own name.
I looked through the virtual screen.
I tapped the "disconnected" icon, hoping for clarity.
A message popped up.
---
[Disconnected: Mental stability is low
Effects: Intelligence stat has been mildly disconnected, reducing usable stat value by 80%. Disables evolution possibility.]
---
It was new information. it seemed like something had happened to me.
Or more so a lot of things for me, not to remember.
Before I could process more, a voice spoke behind me.
"Follow me."
I turned, and there was a lady behind me.
Tall, fluid, and dressed in a black jumpsuit that shimmered like liquid, her presence radiated power and grace.
Her eyes looked dim.
I had no idea how she got behind me.
She turned and walked away to my confusion.
Her steps were silent ,it was hard to pick up even as I followed behind her.