Chapter 2: Step One

Ever since I first became aware in this life, I have been in this place.I have never seen the sun.No one has ever called me by a name—only by cold numbers.Perhaps they never even knew my name in the first place. After all… it was the system that showed it to me.

Compared to this life, maybe my first one wasn’t so bad.

But why did my memories return now?”If only they had returned a few days earlier…” I muttered.

And why did they return at all?

Countless questions and thoughts flooded my mind, but among them, one stood above all the rest:

“I have to get out of here.”

Just one day ago, that thought would have been impossible. I had no information.

But now…

I knew where I was. And I knew where the exit was.

This laboratory was located within the Solaria Empire—one of the three great empires of this world—hundreds of meters underground, near the northern border separating the empire from the Lands of Death, territories infested with monsters.

However, the only entrance and exit to this place were teleportation gates.A location completely isolated from the outside world.

I knew this from the game.

The main character would later discover this laboratory and learn much about the experiments… and about the vessel.

And since I had explored this place while playing as the protagonist, I was familiar with the general layout—and the location of the teleportation gate.

There weren’t many guards here.Nor were there many people stronger than me.

The reason?

This place was nothing more than a small branch laboratory of the Void System.

And the second reason…

The chip in my head.

Every experiment in this facility had a chip implanted in their brain.Its purpose was to prevent us from attacking anyone here—along with many other functions.

Including…

Instant kill at the push of a button.

Additionally, the walls and doors of this facility were made of materials I couldn’t break with my current strength.

And for me…

Simply escaping wasn’t enough.

I had to destroy all data related to me—especially the latest analysis results.Otherwise, the moment I escaped, the entire Void System would come after me.

“Heh…”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Freedom?It sounded like an impossible dream.

But if there was even the slightest chance of success…

I was willing to risk everything.

After all…I had nothing left but my miserable self.

I took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed, resting my chin on my hand, sinking into deep thought as my mind worked at full capacity, searching for a way out.

There was one more problem…

Time.

I had to act before that doctor finished his analysis and contacted the main headquarters.

Time passed as I thought…Two hours slipped by.

And finally…

I formed a plan.

Reckless.Dangerous.But there was no time to be careful.

I replayed every possible scenario in my head, considering all the ways my plan could fail.

I let out a held breath, an excited smile forming on my lips.

I muttered as I stood up and walked toward the door:

“Success… or death.”

There was no third option.

I stood before the reinforced door, which could only be opened with a guard’s card.Beside it was a communication button.

After taking a deep breath, I pressed it.

The first step…Dealing with the chip in my head.

A moment later, a cold male voice came from the speaker mounted on the wall:

“What do you want, 01?”

I adjusted my voice to sound like I was in severe pain:

“There’s unbearable pain in my head… I think there’s a problem with the chip.”

Silence followed for a few seconds. Then the cold voice returned:

“Is the pain severe?”

“Yes… it feels like my head is about to explode.”

My heart pounded violently as I spoke.

“Understood. I’ll contact the doctor and see what can be done.”

Silence again.Leaving me alone with my thoughts.

They have to check me.After all… I’m Number One.

There was a chance they might ignore me.And if that happened… my plan would end before it even began.

I waited, my heartbeat growing louder with each passing second.

“Come on… come on…Aren’t I important to you?”

I muttered under my breath.

Finally, the voice returned:

“The guards are on their way to escort you to one of the doctor’s assistants.”

I let out a long breath.

Minutes later, the door opened, and two guards stood before me.

One of them spoke coldly:

“Come, 01.”

I followed him out.

I made sure to show pain on my face and weakness in my steps.The guards didn’t care—they simply gestured for me to walk ahead.

As we moved through the cold corridors, I evaluated their strength:

“Rank Two… Intermediate.”

Just like me.

They led me silently to a door. One of them opened it and pushed me inside.

I pretended to stumble.

One guard spoke:

“Sir Arthur, we’ve brought 01.”

A young man stepped out, wearing a white lab apron and small-framed glasses.He looked innocent…

Far too innocent for this place.

And he was unfamiliar.I had never seen him before.

“A newcomer…”I thought.Maybe… that worked in my favor.

He nodded and said in a tone he tried to make firm:

“Come, 01. You two, wait outside.”

The guards sighed and left, the door closing behind them.

I approached him, pretending to grow weaker with every step.

He gestured for me to lie down on a medical bed.

I walked toward it, leaning heavily as if I were about to collapse.

“You said you’re experiencing severe pain in your head, correct?”He asked while observing me.

I nodded.

“Alright. Lie down. I’ll examine you. It might be a minor malfunction in the chip.”

He turned toward one of the computers and began pressing keys.

But I…

Didn’t follow his instructions.

I dropped to my knees, clutching my head.

“The pain… it’s getting worse… my head is going to explode!”

My voice came out distorted between clenched teeth.

Arthur rushed toward me, trying to help me up:

“Let me help you lie down—”

I shouted, cutting him off:

“Doctor! Stop it! Stop it! I’m going to die!”

Panic spread across his face.He hesitated.

I delivered the final push:

“I—I’m Number One… are you ready to let me die in your hands?!”

He completely broke.

“Alright! Just a moment! I’ll stop the chip!”

He rushed to the console, pressed several buttons, then pulled out a card from his pocket and scanned it.

“Okay… it’s stopped. Do you feel better?”

I felt the change instantly.The restraints… were gone.

He actually did it.

He stepped closer and placed a hand on my shoulder:

“Are you alright now?”

I slowly raised my head and looked at him with a smile—

Not a kind one.

The essence within my body moved in response to my will, reinforcing my muscles.

And in a fraction of a second—

My hand pierced through his heart, emerging from his back, crushing it completely.

He never had a chance to resist…Not even to scream.

Only disbelief froze on his face.

I pulled my hand back. His body collapsed to the floor, forming a small pool of blood.

I stood up and brushed the splattered blood off my hand.

I muttered calmly:

“Step one.”

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