RISE FROM THE ASHES

Inside a dimly lit room, shadows flickered against the rough stone walls, cast by the faint glow of a single, light source that hung crookedly from the ceiling. The air was thick, and oppressive, as if time had grown heavy in this space. On the center of a queen-sized bed, something stirred. The figure lay motionless for a moment, as though trapped between sleep and consciousness, its body twitching as if from a dream—or a nightmare.

Suddenly, the stillness was shattered.

"Gah!!"

The figure leaped from the bed, the violent motion sending the sheets flying in disarray. It stumbled forward, its scream reverberating off the walls.

"Where! Where is that bastard?! I WILL KILL HIM!!"

The voice, thick with rage, filled the room like a storm. The figure—more beast than man in its raw fury—spun in place, fists clenched, searching for an unseen enemy. But the anger dissolved into confusion as the figure froze, staring at its own hands.

"Huh? What's this?" It muttered, voice trembling now, eyes widening. "My body... why is it metallic?"

Panic flared as the figure inspected itself more closely, seeing only cold, reflective metal where flesh should be. Breathing quickened. The harsh light glinted off the surface of sleek, futuristic armor. Suddenly, the figure's gaze was drawn to a mirror, standing alone in the corner of the room like a sentinel of truth. Slowly, almost unwillingly, it moved toward the mirror, each step echoing through the room.

The reflection that greeted the figure was alien.

"M-my body!" it gasped, backing away in disbelief. "Why am I inside... armor?"

It wasn't just any armor. The suit that encased its entire form from head to toe was impossibly advanced, a design that belonged in a distant future, not here. Black plating gleamed under the dim light, interrupted by harsh red lines that pulsed with an almost living energy, like veins of molten lava coursing through metal. It was something straight out of a sci-fi nightmare.

"What happened to me?" The armored being muttered, the voice now tinged with something new—fear. "I remember the—AARGH!"

Suddenly, the being clutched its head, as if its skull were splitting open from the inside. A violent scream tore through the room, a sound of both pain and frustration. Memories swirled like chaotic fragments, incomplete, jagged, teasing the mind but offering no clarity. The only clear image was a face—ugly, twisted, and cruel.

When the pain finally subsided, the armored figure staggered, regaining its balance. It began talking to itself, desperation coloring its words.

"Why can't I remember? Every time I try, it's like my brain is being ripped apart... The only thing I can recall is that bastard's ugly face."

A sudden noise startled the figure. A voice, clear and mechanical, echoed in its mind.

[Connection complete. All functions have synchronized with the Durablium Body Armor.]

The figure's head snapped up, its eyes darting around the room. "What the—who said that?! What's this voice in my head!?"

[Greetings. I am your assistant, Faraday.]

The figure scowled beneath its helm, anger flaring again. "I don't know who you are, but get out of my head! And get this... junk off me!"

[Attempting to remove armor…]

The armored figure hesitated, heart pounding, a sliver of hope flickering inside. "Wait... it's that easy?"

[Attempt failed. The host does not meet the requirements for removal.]

The hope withered instantly. "Of course not," it muttered, frustration heavy in its voice. "What did I expect?"

The figure took a breath, attempting to compose itself. "You mentioned requirements. What... requirements?"

[The requirements are as follows…]

As Faraday began listing an overwhelming string of information, the armored figure groaned, pressing its hands to its head. "Stop! Ugh, my head... It's too much. Isn't there a better way to explain this?"

There was a pause before Faraday responded. [You may use Holographic Mode.]

The figure blinked. "Holographic Mode? How does that work?"

[Simply say: Activate Holographic Mode.]

"Activate Holographic Mode," the figure muttered, feeling more than a little ridiculous.

Suddenly, a sharp beam of light shot from the armor's helmet, its lenses glowing bright red. The beam hung in the air for a moment before it solidified, forming a rectangular, semi-transparent screen before the armored figure.

Bzzz~

The holographic display shimmered in front of the figure, red and ominous, with lines of text scrolling across it. Despite being startled by the appearance of the screen, the figure forced itself to focus, reading the data.

[Armor: Name - 9th gen Durablium Body Armor.

 Abilities - 1. Holographic Mode, 2. Sensor, 3. Rocket Boots, 4. Laser Beam, 5. Overdrive, 6. Claw Hand., 7. Electric Discharge, 8. Zoom, 9. [Locked], 10. [Locked], 11. [Locked], 12. [Locked], 13. [Locked], 14. [Locked], 15. [Locked],16. [Locked], 17. [Locked], 18. [Locked], 19. [Locked], 20. [Locked], etc.

Requirements to Unlock 9th Ability: 1. Kill 1000 Grade 1 Variants or 100000 Zombies. 2. Save 100 people.

Requirements to Unlock 10th Ability: 1. Kill 1000 Grade 2 Variants or 10000 Grade 1 Variants or 200000 Zombies. 2. Save 1000 people.

Requirements to Unlock 11th Ability: 1. Kill 1000 Grade 3 Variants or 10000 Grade 2 Variants or 50000 Grade 1 Variants or 300000 Zombies 2. Save 10000 people

Requirements to Unlock 12th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 13th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 14th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 15th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 16th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 17th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 18th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 19th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 20th Ability: Unknown

Requirements to Unlock 21st Ability: Unknown

ETC..

 Host: Name - Unregistered, Age - 20, Sex - Male, Birthday - 30th October, Height - 181 cm.

Assistant: Name - Faraday, Model - 3006MK-35HZ, Created by: [Locked].]

"What the hell? Why is there so much info? And why is the most important information Locked."

"Wait, you didn't answer my question of how to get you out."

[Requirements have not been for you to know the information yet.]

"I'll ask one more time, what are the freaking requirements!?"

[To know the answer you must Unlock All Abilities.]

"God dammit! First, I lost my memories and the-!"

"Wait a minute, my memories tell me how can I get them back!"

[To know the requirements to unlock your memories, Unlock the 16th Ability.]

"Then, how did I end up in this armor and you inside my head?" 

[To know the requirements to unlock your memories, Unlock the 16th Ability.]

"Did anyone give this armor and you to me?"

[Yes.]

"Who?"

[My creator.]

"And who the hell is this Creator?"

[Unlock the 16th Ability.]

"Ughh... you are useless."

"Wait, what did you just say? Zombies? Variants? What the heck is with this?"

[Humans who have been infected by #@/$% Virus turn into Undead creatures known as Zombies. Variants are zombies who have gained unique powers. The higher the grade of a Variant, the stronger it is.]

"Huh? What's that static sound? Repeat that again, will you?"

[#@/$% Virus.]

"It's still there. Well, whatever, it's not my headache."

"Anyways."

"How many zombies are there in total?"

[Exact number unknown. Rough Estimate: Over 95% of the human population has turned into zombies.]

"What the hell!?"

***

Shoutout to I_am_good_boy, Thank you!