Welcome To The Fight

He had spent a lifetime avoiding risks, seeking stability in a world that had descended into chaos. Yet now, faced with a chance to seize control of his destiny, he hesitated.

His eyes locked onto Alina's, separated only by the one-way glass. In that moment, their gazes mirrored each other's internal turmoil.

Both were ensnared in a dance of uncertainty, both in search of answers and a path forward.

"If I agree to this... if I become a Slayer Knight, will I possess the strength to protect her?" Hobe's voice wavered, a blend of doubt and determination. He was not only questioning Alina's offer but also wrestling with his own self-doubt.

Alina's resolute demeanor softened, a glimmer of something more human flickering in her eyes.

"Strength manifests in myriad forms, Hobe. It's not solely physical prowess, but the will to fight, endure, and protect what holds value."

In that moment, Hobe's resolve solidified. He regarded Alina, his eyes reflecting newfound determination. "Tell me what I must do."

A faint smile graced the corner of Alina's lips, a glint of approval in her eyes. "First, you must understand the risks. The installation of Slayer Knight carries perils. It could fail, with fatal consequences. Death. But if you're willing to embrace that risk, to fight for your sister, then there's a chance to make a difference."

Hobe drew a deep breath, his heart racing. The path ahead was fraught with peril, but he couldn't stand idle while Hari's life hung in the balance.

"I'll do it," Hobe declared, his voice unwavering despite the tremor in his heart. "I'll become a Slayer Knight."

"And one more thing. You will accumulate a substantial point debt during your transformation into a humanoid like us, as Hari will receive specialized treatment known as 'quarantine for the special infected persons,' incurring significant point costs. Your points will start deeply in the negative. Should you persist in falling to the bottom limit without the means to pay it off, it will spell the end for both you, Hobe, and your little sister."

"I don't care. I agree. Do I even have a choice to refuse?" Hobe replied in exasperation, his gaze fixed on his naked body bound in the agonizing chair.

"Miya..."

"Alina!"

"Oh, Alina..."

"What do you want?"

"You can see me from mirror over there, right?"

"Yes."

"Then they can all see my shrunken, trembling d***."

Alina remained silent.

The Upper Society staff stifled their laughter, wary of incurring Alina's displeasure if they continued to chuckle.

"At the very least, ask them to provide me with some shorts," muttered Hobe.

Alina raised a cold eyebrow. "No one cares about your trembling shrunken dick. Also, I'll emphasize this to you once more, nothing comes for free in the Upper Society system, Hobe. You don't even have enough points to get shorts. Work hard if you don't want to stay naked."

Hobe grinned. "You're quite ruthless."

Alina ignored Hobe's comment and spoke coldly. "Welcome to the fight, Hobe."

With those words, the die was cast. Hobe had made his decision, and the journey into the unknown had begun.

As the room seemed to pulse with anticipation, he couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead – the trials, the revelations, and the chance to protect Hari — the one he held most dear.

Two burly men dressed as nurses entered the room. One tilted Hobe's head to the side, while the other wielded a massive syringe, plunging it into the base of his neck.

"Aargghhh! Arggghhh!!!" Hobe screamed and writhed in agony.

The sensation of micro robotic devices entering his bloodstream and coursing toward his heart was excruciating.

He convulsed in the restraints of the torture chair, his eyes rolling back until only the whites were visible.

The two nurses repositioned Hobe's torture chair horizontally, rendering him supine.

They tightened the restraints around his wrists, ankles, and body, ensuring he remained prone.

Hobe continued to convulse violently in pain as they affixed electrodes to his chest and head.

On the monitor screen, the heart rate graph and brainwave patterns appeared highly unstable.

"He's going to die," mumbled the male operator beside Alina. "His heart won't hold, and it will explode. Boom! Blood will spray from his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears." The operator had seen this happen before, and he relished it.

Alina glanced at the screen but remained silent.

During those agonizing minutes, Hobe's suffering reached an unbearable crescendo.

His convulsions racked his body, each one a brutal assault on his senses.

His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, contorting his limbs in ways that defied nature's design.

The room seemed to close in on him, its sterile, white walls reflecting the harsh, unforgiving reality of his torment.

The stark lighting overhead bore down on him like a spotlight, intensifying the torment as if every second were an eternity.

Hobe's cries of anguish pierced the sterile air, echoing off the cold, unfeeling walls.

Each scream was a raw, primal release of pain, a guttural plea for mercy that went unanswered.

He couldn't control the sounds that tore from his throat, and they only served to amplify his agony.

As the convulsions continued, his body contorted in ways that seemed impossible. His limbs jerked and twitched, disconnected from his will, as if they had rebelled against him.

The torment etched itself onto his face, transforming it from a mask of determination into a grotesque visage of suffering.

His eyes, once filled with resolve, now held only torment. They rolled back into his head, leaving only the whites visible, a haunting sight that spoke of a mind pushed to its limits.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and dripped down his face, mingling with the tears that streamed from the corners of his eyes.

The taste of salt filled his mouth as sweat and tears intermingled, a bitter reminder of his helplessness.

His breaths came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling in erratic patterns.

His vocal cords strained as he continued to vocalize his torment, the sounds morphing into incoherent cries that reverberated through the room.