"Extraction complete. We have retrieved the designated subject: 'Immortal Knight.'"

  Suddenly, my body began to rise. From the heights, the ruined city unfolded before me like a moving painting. Despite the chaos, it still retained a trace of its former grandeur. The sunlight filtered through the broken structures, giving them a gleam. For a moment, I thought: "I wish I could fly."

  The pain in my head slowly faded. Something invisible was pulling me with firm yet unexpectedly gentle force. As I ascended, an almost imperceptible energy formed a translucent tunnel around me, guiding me toward the ship as though an invisible entity were welcoming me.

  Upon crossing the threshold, mechanical tentacles emerged and grasped me with precision. There was no violence in their movements. They scanned me thoroughly, assessing every inch of my body. A subtle electronic sound accompanied the inspection. When they finished, the door closed behind me with a metallic echo.

  The tentacles lifted me to another level and released me. The first thing I saw was the interior. Impressive. The metallic edges of the structure vibrated with a turquoise energy. The material that composed the ship was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

  —"Do you like the ship?" —a female voice asked, tinged with pride.

  I turned. A young woman was watching me with a confident smile. Her suit, a blend of flexible latex and thin metallic plates, suggested both lightness and resilience. On her chest, a steel plate gleamed under the bluish light. On her thighs, two laser pistols rested in tightly secured holsters.

  —"This is the R14 combat model," —she continued—. "It's made with an alloy of the strongest metals and best conductors on the planet. It can hold up to six thousand soldiers and multiple smaller ships. It was specially created to exterminate demons. It's the pride of current engineering."

  "R14 combat ship."

  A bit shy, I replied: —"I can tell... It's quite impressive."

  The girl smiled again. —"I'm the ship's sub-captain. I'll also be your guide to the point designated by headquarters. Pleasure to meet you."

  She extended her hand. I returned the gesture, but as soon as our hands touched, her bracelet flashed. An energy field erupted around her, enveloping her arm in armor similar to mine.

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  Her expression changed. Her smile became more challenging. She tightened her grip on my hand.

  The metal of her glove creaked against my armor. Her grip was firm. I could feel how her glove applied pressure, seeking a response.

  I squeezed back. A faint flash traveled through my suit as my strength surpassed hers for a brief moment. Her eyes sharpened. She redoubled the pressure.

  But my suit didn't give.

  Then, her glove emitted a subtle sound, an internal adjustment, a response to the force applied. Her expression shifted from determination to surprise.

  —"Wow..." —she whispered, still holding my hand—. "Your suit really is as resistant as the rumors say!"

  Her smile grew wider, with a spark of excitement in her eyes. There was anticipation in her gaze.

  Not bad... You passed the test.

  But her smile faded slightly as she noticed my lack of reaction.

  Hmm... Wow, you're colder than I expected. It's like talking to a wall... You don't react at all.

  "I don't understand why she talks so much. Does she really expect me to respond?"

  I simply stared at her and nodded.

  —"You look like someone who's sad..." —she murmured, with a disappointed expression.

  "Maybe she was expecting someone different..."

  I didn't respond. I looked down at the floor, feeling strange. Something inside me weighed heavily, but I decided to ignore it.

  —"I heard the journey would be long, right?" —I asked.

  —"That's right. Would you like to go to your room?"

  —"Yes."

  I walked down the corridors. "Why is this place so empty?"

  The neon lights flickered weakly along the edges of the floor, casting long shadows on the metal walls. My footsteps echoed lightly, but there was no one else.

  —"Oh, that's because everyone is working in the heart of the ship," —the sub-captain explained—. "Here, even if you're a soldier without specialization, there's always work for everyone."

  —"I see..."

  We arrived in front of a door. She took a holographic card from her pants, but before using it, a faint electronic sound came from her ear.

  Her expression changed.

  —"Take good care of it! It's pretty hard to get another key."

  With that, she hurried off.

  I observed the door. There was no lock, just a small camera. I passed the card in front of it, and the mechanism responded with a soft hum. The door slid open, revealing the interior of the room.

  Inside, a small metal table held a chess-like board game. In the center, a blue armchair. On the other side, a bed fixed to the floor, covered with a plain white blanket. The neon lights on the ceiling illuminated the place with a cold tone.

  I entered.

  Each step felt heavier. The armor not only covered my body; it trapped it. I wanted to rest, but something in me refused to give in.

  "These damn meds..."

  The suit was administering medication to keep me on my feet. They made me incapable of sleeping most of the time, only allowing me to keep functioning. I collapsed onto the bed, not caring that the dirt and dust stained the white blankets.

  "This bed is comfortable..."

  I closed my eyes, but the soft hum of the ship vibrated in my head. My body refused to relax. It was an unpleasant feeling: being tired without being able to rest.

  However, the warmth of the mattress began to seep into my skin. My breathing slowed.

  After so long, I felt that this suit stopped suffocating me. Even if just for a moment, I was able to sleep.