Chapter 2: Return to Reality_2

Amira's thoughts shifted to Alex's words about spiritual cultivation techniques developed through years of struggle in the previous timeline.

The concept of cultivating energy to form a "spiritual core" felt foreign, yet strangely familiar.

She knew she was only at the Awakened stage, nowhere near the higher levels she had attained before. But she needed more energy, urgently, to strengthen her body and prepare for her escape.

As she drew in the ambient energy, she felt a familiar chill spread through her veins. It was like the first touch of winter, cold but oddly comforting.

Her senses sharpened, and the room's details became clearer: the faint hum of the ventilation system, the rustle of a loose sheet on her bed, and even the distant footsteps of a patrolling guard outside.

Everything seemed more vivid, more alive.

But with the surge of energy came a deep-seated ache.

Her muscles strained under the pressure of the spiritual influx, and her meridians, a tiny channels within her body meant to carry energy that felt tight, as if they were not yet ready to accommodate this sudden power.

The strain was intense, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through it.

Pain was nothing new to her. Having endured worse in the future than she had left behind, where survival meant constant battle and relentless training.

But now, in this moment, the pain was a reminder of her limitations.

Clenching her fists, feeling the cold seeping into her palms, and forcing herself to keep drawing in the energy.

The process was slow, each breath measured and deliberate.

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, then froze into tiny crystals as the room's temperature dropped even further.

She focused on the core of her being, where the energy began to settle, slowly thickening into a tangible presence.

It was a fragile start, but it was something. Her muscles felt a bit stronger, her body more resilient.

Hours passed in quiet cultivation, the air around her growing colder with each passing minute.

Upon opening her eyes, she noticed a thin layer of frost had covered the room, enveloping the floor and walls like a delicate veil.

She felt the change within her body a newfound strength, albeit still limited, but enough to make a difference.

She stood up slowly, testing her limbs.

Her movements were more fluid now, and there was a subtle but noticeable increase in her physical capabilities.

She could feel the raw power coiled within her, ready to be unleashed.

Yet, she knew she was far from where she needed to be. The Awakened stage was only the first step; there were many levels to ascend before she could be truly formidable again.

She mentally assessed her options. The guards outside were well-trained, but their routines were predictable.

She had observed their patrol patterns over the past day, noting every potential gap in their surveillance.

The facility was small but heavily guarded, designed to keep people in, not necessarily to defend against an intruder. This worked to her advantage.

She knew she had to act quickly. The electromagnetic pulse on June 5 would bring down communications and unleash the first wave of beasts.

Her current location would become a death trap if she didn't escape before then.

She needed to find her covert unit, secure resources, and eventually meet Aiden, who would soon be fleeing from the central military headquarters.

But to do any of that, she first had to break free from this facility.

She began to stretch her muscles, warming up her body for the task ahead. The physical movements were simple but effective, each stretch meant to enhance her flexibility and prepare her for combat.

As she moved, she felt the surge of cold energy course through her, now more responsive and controllable.

She stuffed her meager belongings into a small backpack books, her battered laptop, and a few personal items. She glanced around one last time, her expression cold but determined. 

"Just a bit longer," she whispered to herself, tightening the bag's straps.

With the essentials secured, she turned her attention to creating makeshift weapons.

She grabbed a pair of dumbbells from a corner, freezing the metal rods at their centers before breaking them in half.

Wrapping torn strips of bed sheets around the ends, she ensured the metal edges were blunt enough to avoid lethal injuries.

"I don't want to kill you," she muttered to the silent room, her voice tinged with grim resolve. "But I won't hesitate if you force my hand."

The facility's layout was ingrained in her memory. She had mapped out every room, every corridor, and every exit during her confinement.

There were typically four guards patrolling her level: two at the far end of the hallway, one near the elevator, and one patrolling the main corridor.

She was certain of her plan first, neutralize the guards at her level, then make her way to the control room to disable the facility's surveillance and communication systems.

"Neutralize them fast, then get to the control room," she whispered. Her breath was visible in the cold air.

It was 1 AM, the facility at its quietest.

The dim lights in the hallway flickered occasionally, casting fleeting shadows that she used to her advantage.

She emerged from her room, moving with silent precision. The guards at the end of the corridor were the first targets.

She approached slowly, her ice-infused weapon held at the ready.

As she drew closer, she summoned a thin veil of cold mist, reducing visibility and masking her approach.

She swung her weapon swiftly, landing a precise blow to the first guard's temple. He fell silently, and before the second guard could react, she struck again, dropping him with a quick hit to the neck.

"Shh," she whispered softly, dragging both unconscious guards into a supply closet. "Just rest for a while."

After dragging their unconscious bodies into a supply closet, tying them up with makeshift restraints.

She then moved toward the elevator, her senses on high alert.

The guard stationed there was more alert, likely due to his position near the exit. She conjured an ice shard in her hand, feeling its sharp coldness.

The guard barely had time to register her presence before the ice shard flew through the air, hitting him in the shoulder.

He staggered, stunned by the impact, and seizing the opportunity to close the distance and struck him with her weapon, knocking him unconscious.

"You should've taken a night off," she said under her breath, dragging him to the side.

After securing the guard, she entered the elevator.

Using her ice abilities, to create an illusion in the elevator a faint, empty reflection to deceive the surveillance cameras.

The elevator doors slid shut, and it began its ascent to the control room.

The control room was the heart of the facility's security. Monitors filled the control room, displaying live feeds from various cameras around the building.

The guards here were well-trained, and She knew she had to act quickly and accurately.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a small room with six guards. Two of them were positioned near the alarm system, while the other four were patrolling the room.

With no time to hesitate. She conjured two ice daggers in her hands, feeling their familiar weight. With a flick of her wrists, she hurled the daggers at the guards near the alarms.

The daggers struck true, embedding themselves in the guards' shoulders and rendering them incapable of triggering the alarm.

The remaining guards reacted quickly. One of them fired a stun gun at her, the dart aimed directly at her chest.

She attempted to dodge, but the dart grazed her arm, sending a painful jolt through her body. Her muscles seized for a brief moment, but her strengthened physique allowed her to recover faster than expected.

"That… was a mistake," she hissed.

She conjured an ice shield in front of her, blocking a barrage of bullets from the remaining guards.

And then released a burst of cold energy, sending a wave of frost toward her attackers.

The sudden temperature drop disoriented the guards, and using the momentary distraction to close the distance.

She moved with lethal grace, striking each guard with precision. Her ice-infused weapon left a trail of frost in its wake, each blow incapacitating the guards without causing fatal damage.

Within moments, the control room was under her control, with the guards either knocked out or tied up.

The digital interface hummed quietly, the screen lighting up with a detailed map of the facility, a confusing maze of hallways, doors, and gates.

She paused briefly, her fingers hovering over the controls, then quickly got to work. She navigated through the security protocols with practiced ease, her focus sharp.

A few swift commands later, the motion sensors were down, and the surveillance cameras went dark along the perimeter.

To buy herself some time, she activated the communication jammers, ensuring no outgoing signals would get through for the next 72 hours.

"That should keep them off my back," she muttered,

With one final tap, she sealed the guards inside the main hub and other sections, trapping them behind reinforced doors. Making sure there was only one way left open her way out.

She made her way to the storage room, where her original combat gear was kept.

She retrieved her black, reinforced suit a familiar, comforting presence. The suit was designed for both stealth and protection, capable of resisting sharp objects and light weaponry.

She slipped into the suit, feeling a surge of confidence as the material molded to her body.

"Feels like home," she whispered, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

With everything in place, she paused, steadying herself.

"No room for mistakes now," she reminded herself.

Moving quickly but quietly, she navigated the empty corridors, her every sense on high alert.

Unconscious guards lay scattered along her path, each one neatly subdued and bound with makeshift restraints.

She had handled them with a steady hand fast, silent, and without a moment's hesitation.

The heavy metal door leading to the facility's courtyard loomed just ahead.

Her heart thudded in her chest not from fear, but from the adrenaline rush of a plan that was actually coming together.

She paused briefly, pressing her ear against the cool metal, listening intently.

Beyond the door, she caught the faint sound of footsteps and the occasional crackle of a radio.

"Just a little more fun before I'm out of here," she muttered, her voice tinged with dry sarcasm.

With one swift, practiced motion, she pushed the door open and slipped into the shadows beyond.

Two guards were patrolling the area, their silhouettes cast faintly by the dim security lights.

They seemed relaxed, chatting quietly and clearly not expecting any trouble.

She smirked.

"Amateurs," she thought.

She moved forward swiftly and silently, her approach unnoticed.

The first guard barely had a moment to react before she struck a quick chop to the side of his neck.

His eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground without a sound.

The second guard spun around, just in time to see his partner collapse,

"What the?" he began, but before he could react further,she was already on him.

She drove her knee into his stomach, forcing the air out of his lungs. As he doubled over, she followed with a sharp elbow to the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

"Two more down," she whispered to herself, dragging their limp bodies into a corner and tying them up.

She paused, pressing herself against the shadowed corner of a building, her eyes scanning the open yard beyond.

She noticed a small guard outpost by the facility's perimeter wall, its windows dark and abandoned.

Staying low, she crept toward perimeter wall, moving carefully.