The siren blared at 6:00 AM, tearing me from sleep. I stood up and moved toward the door, where they had left what they called "highly nutritious" food; unfortunately, it tasted like damp, dirty rags.
At 6:30 AM, the cell door slid open. Waiting for me was the same guard as always, his eyes dull and vacant. He led me to the common room where the other recruits were gathered for language class. We were expected to master German, French, Spanish, English, and Russian.
At 8:00 AM, we were moved to history. The professor lectured us on how Hydra had lost because of America, and how the world is a corrupt place that only Hydra can "cure." After that, we endured standard subjects until 1:00 PM, when we were sent back to our cells for another lunch that tasted like cardboard.
At 2:30 PM, the brainwashing video began. Of course, I didn't actually watch it; Bloodcode filtered it out for me. By 4:00 PM, we were in the gym for physical conditioning and combat training—first without powers, then with them. The winner of the duels would be exempt from the next "activity."
From 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, we had to endure "endurance training": torture sessions where screaming meant forfeiting dinner. The rules of this routine were simple: no communication between recruits, no laziness, and absolute obedience to superiors.
From 8:00PM to 6:00 AM is rest time.
But I haven't been idle. I'm using [Acute Hearing] to map out the bunker's layout, and my training with [Bloodcontrol] is paying off. I can now double my physical output.
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 allows you to induce total paralysis. (Effectiveness scales with the target's willpower/power level).
* [Bloodcontrol] (Active): Allows you to accelerate your own blood flow for enhanced physical output.
* Mastery: 3%
* Current Effect: 2\times Physical Output.
Copied Abilities:
* [Acute Hearing] (Passive): Allows you to hear the heartbeats of others to detect lies or map your surroundings via sonar.
[That 3% might look small, but doubling your strength is a start. Let them think you're just another soldier... while we turn you into their worst nightmare. Keep mapping the halls, Zero.] Bloodcode whispered in my mind.