H

Jin Arasaka's POV

"Ugh!" I groaned as my attempt to open my eyes sent a jolt of pain through my body. Past injuries and aches throbbed, forcing me into full consciousness. Blinking open my eyes, I found myself sprawled in an unforgiving desert landscape. The scorching sun beat down on an endless horizon, intensifying the pain and discomfort.

The air wavered with heat, suffocating breaths and leaving throats parched. The vast terrain stretched out, dominated by shifting sand dunes molded by the persistent wind. Harsh sunlight cast long shadows over the landscape.

Walking on the uneven ground felt treacherous, and the absence of recognizable landmarks created an optical illusion, making distances appear deceptively close.

Isolation hung heavy in the air, accentuated by the sparse vegetation and an eerie silence that amplified every sound. Resources were scarce, particularly water, which required careful rationing.

"I'm fortunate I ate and drank before attempting the experiment," I mused aloud, grateful for the foresight that might just save my life in this harsh environment.

"Now, it's time to start moving. I need to find a forest or some habitable place soon," I thought, bracing myself for a long journey.

As the day transitioned into night, sunsets painted the sky with fleeting beauty. The cold nights were shrouded in profound stillness. Survival here was more than a physical feat; it was a test against the extremes of the environment, shaping the journey in ways as profound as the desert itself.

"I believe I've covered enough ground for a few hours," I said to myself, checking the distance counter that showed around 9-10 miles of walking. "What's that?"

My steps halted as I noticed a strange object about 2 miles away in the middle of the desert. Using my custom-made and modified cyberoptic, the Rikugan MK 2.5, I zoomed in on the object. It was white with what seemed to be a drawing of two eyes and a smile.

A/N: I'll create an auxiliary chapter for his powers and cyberlimbs.

"My Hyper Global Awareness is tingling. That object must pose a significant danger," I noted mentally. It seemed wise to avoid direct contact and instead mark its location on my map with a red flag.

[Hyper Global Awareness: A form of extrasensory perception acquired via a combination of technology, acute senses, and experience. It activates as an alert before a life-threatening situation occurs.]

"Now, I can take a break here," I affirmed, making sure to distance myself from the enigmatic object. Settling onto the cool sand, I gazed up at the star-studded sky above.

"Not a completely bad day," I reflected, my thoughts wandering as I embraced the serenity of the moment. With one final notion, I drifted into sleep, not out of exhaustion, but a simple desire to rest.

A few hours later

"Wow, that was quite a productive nap," I commented upon awakening, feeling surprisingly refreshed. I performed a few stretches and light warm-up exercises to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"My body functions are operating at 9% lower efficiency. What's going on?" I wondered aloud, puzzled by the subtle decrease in my body's performance. Yet, I remained calm, not letting panic set in.

"A.U.R.O.R.A., can you please analyze this? Sometimes I forget I have an AI," I chuckled dryly, realizing I could rely on my advanced system.

"Advanced Unit for Real-time Operational and Resourceful Assistance activated. Analysis completion ETA 00:56 seconds, running in the background," the AI responded, initiating tests on my body's condition.

"Apologies for the inconvenience, but the system was shut down when the master was drawn into the black hole."