Chapter 7: Uncharted Territory

The rhythmic thrum of the helicopter blades fills the cabin, but my mind is elsewhere—turning over possibilities, questions, and theories. The serum. The system. The strange sense of purpose that keeps gnawing at me.

I glance at the lead scientist—the one responsible for this whole nightmare—and narrow my eyes.

"Start talking," I growl. "What exactly did you inject me with?"

He shifts nervously, but under my cold stare, he caves. "It's... an adaptive serum. Theoretically, it triggers the subject's biological evolution at a rapid pace, giving them combat enhancements. But you—" he pauses, scanning me like I'm an anomaly. "You shouldn't be functioning this well. No one's survived the full effects before."

"Lucky me," I say, voice flat. "What else?"

He swallows hard. "The serum might have... synchronized with something in you. Something we didn't foresee. The system—"

I lean closer, my patience wearing thin. "What about the system?"

He hesitates for a moment too long.

System Notification: Threat Detected – Deception Imminent.

Before the scientist can finish his sentence, I grip his collar and yank him forward. "You lie to me again, and I'll throw you out of this chopper. Speak."

He coughs, choking under the weight of my grip. "It's not just evolution. The serum unlocks... memories. Reincarnation memories. We suspected it might access buried consciousness from past lives, but—"

I go cold. "You knew this could happen?"

His eyes widen, realization dawning on him. "You... you remember?"

I shove him back into his seat, disgust bubbling in my chest. "Yeah. I remember everything."

Unexpected Reinforcements

The helicopter shudders midair, yanking me out of the conversation. The pilot's voice crackles over the comms. "We've got company! Two enemy birds closing in fast!"

I glance out the window. Two military-grade helicopters are bearing down on us, guns trained.

"Strap in!" I shout to the scientists. "This isn't over yet."

The pilot banks hard, trying to lose them in the clouds, but they stick to us like bloodhounds. Bullets rip through the air, and the helicopter jerks under the impact. We won't last long at this pace.

System Notification: Tactical Options Available.

Evade and Land – Find a clearing to set down and fight on the ground.Board the Enemy Helicopter – Risk a midair leap to hijack one of the enemy birds.Defensive Counterattack – Use onboard weapons to hold them off until reinforcements arrive.

I grin, adrenaline spiking. There's only one answer. I've always preferred the high-risk options.

Midair Madness

I yank open the side door, wind whipping violently against me. The enemy helicopter roars past, circling around for another pass.

"Stay inside!" I bark at the scientists. "I'll be right back."

Before anyone can stop me, I leap from the chopper.

System Notification: Adrenal Surge Activated.

The world slows to a crawl as I soar through the air, my hands outstretched. The enemy helicopter looms closer—rotors spinning like scythes—and I grab the landing gear, hauling myself up in one fluid motion.

A soldier leans out, startled by my sudden appearance. Too late. My knife is already in his throat.

System Notification: Silent Kill. +100 XP.

I climb into the cabin, where two more soldiers are scrambling for their weapons. Phantom Step kicks in, and I move faster than they can react—firing, slicing, and breaking bones.

Control Seized

Within seconds, the enemy helicopter belongs to me. I slide into the co-pilot seat, shoving the dead pilot aside. The other enemy chopper is still in pursuit, unaware that their ally is now my weapon.

I flip the controls, bringing the helicopter around in a sharp turn. The gunner seat swivels into position, and I let loose a storm of bullets, riddling the other enemy chopper with fire.

System Notification: Kill Confirmed. +500 XP.

The second helicopter spirals out of control, exploding in midair. I grin and pull the chopper back toward my original ride.

Back in the Air

I guide the captured helicopter close to the scientists' chopper. The pilot gives me a look of disbelief as I signal him to steady the bird.

"Open the door!" I shout over the comms.

The scientist yanks the side door open, and I leap back into the original chopper just as the captured enemy bird drifts off and explodes in the distance.

System Notification: Mission Update – Pursuit Neutralized. Extraction Imminent.

I slam the door shut and sit down, breathing hard. The scientists stare at me like I've sprouted wings.

"I told you," I say with a grin, "I've got this."

The Aftermath

The rest of the flight is uneventful. We reach the extraction zone without further incident, and as the chopper touches down, a squad of friendly soldiers rushes forward to secure the area.

I climb out, helping the scientists down, and stretch my sore limbs.

The lead scientist looks at me, a strange mix of fear and admiration in his eyes. "You're not just a soldier," he mutters. "You're something... more."

I chuckle darkly. "You have no idea."

As the soldiers escort the scientists to safety, I feel the familiar hum of the system stirring in my mind again, offering me new paths—new evolutions.

System Notification: New Evolution Path Unlocked. Choose Your Specialization:

Reaper – Master of stealth and assassination.Titan – Unstoppable force of brute strength and resilience.Ghost – Expert in evasion and deception, blending seamlessly with the environment.

I roll my shoulders, a grin spreading across my face. The war's far from over, and I've only just begun.

With the world as my battlefield and the system in my head, I'll carve my own path—one evolution at a time.