Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Belittled
As I followed Sergeant Thomas and the others into the military base, the imposing gates loomed overhead, closing behind us with a resonating clang.
The air inside the compound was heavy, a blend of machinery, sweat, and metal a stark reminder of the life we lived now.
Soldiers moved purposefully, their boots clanking against the hard ground, their faces set in a perpetual state of alertness.
It felt suffocating, but I kept my expression neutral, masking the unease swirling inside me.
As we walked deeper into the base, I began to notice something odd.
Soldiers we passed would glance at me, their eyes narrowing slightly before they whispered to each other.
It wasn't subtle.
Their muttering barely dropped to a murmur as they eyed me with suspicion, disdain even.
The realization sent a cold prickle down my spine.
What were they saying?
I wasn't naïve enough to think it was anything good, but the blatant stares made my skin crawl.
I tried to ignore it, but curiosity and a growing irritation got the better of me.
Slowing my pace just a little, I strained my ears, catching fragments of their hushed conversations.
"Where are the others?"
"Sadly, I think they're dead"
"If they are dead, then how did he survive?"
"He is supposed to be dead if other capable soldiers died, right?"
"How did he even survive out there?"
"He can't even do a thing right, yet he survived. Luck is sure by his side"
"Bet he hid while everyone else fought."
"I think Awakened Amber protected him, she has always been the one helping him"
"Useless. A liability on the field."
"He should just quit or drop dead, I'm ashamed to call myself a soldier with that guy still alive and in the military"
"Right"
"They should remove people like this from the military"
"Yeah"
Each word cut deeper than I expected, but I kept my face blank, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.
They didn't know me.
Not the real me, anyway.
These insults weren't even directed at me but at the original Sky.
Still, the venom in their words made my blood boil.
The soldiers who had been walking alongside Sergeant Thomas seemed to notice the whispers too.
Their gazes shifted toward me, their expressions unreadable.
Were they wondering the same thing?
Did they share the same doubts?
I actually saved them all from the infected beast, they can't really be thinking the same thing, right.
I clenched my fists.
They didn't know what I'd been through or what I was capable of now. Let them talk.
Sergeant Thomas, walking ahead, didn't seem to notice or maybe he just didn't care.
His pace was steady, his shoulders rigid with the authority he carried.
I realized we were all heading to report to the military heads.
Thomas suddenly stopped and turned, his sharp gaze pinning me in place.
"You're not coming with us," he said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt dismissal.
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Thomas's eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought he might actually answer.
But then he simply turned away, gesturing for the others to follow him. not even sparing me a glance.
My jaw tightened as I watched them leave.
The soldiers behind him exchanged glances, a few smirking before following their sergeant without a word.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, the whispers of the base still buzzing around me.
I couldn't help but wonder was this how the original Sky had lived?
Constantly judged.
Belittled.
Dismissed?
My anger simmered beneath the surface, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Losing my temper wouldn't change anything.
Why am i in the most useless extra body.
This is ridiculous.
As I walked aimlessly around the base, the whispers and stares still played in my head.
The weight of them bore down on me, dragging my thoughts into darker corners.
Was this how Sky lived?
In constant ridicule.
In disdain.
In isolation.
Wasn't it was suffocating.
The realization hit harder than I'd expected.
This wasn't just about being weak,
It was about being utterly powerless in a world that demanded strength.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to distract myself from the bitterness welling up inside me.
Dwelling on how everyone hated Sky, how I was now inheriting that hate, wasn't going to help.
If anything, it was only going to depress me further.
I needed to think about something else. Something practical.
What was next?
I let out a sigh and started brainstorming.
I needed a plan.
Something to stabilize my position here.
I couldn't afford to stay lost in this unfamiliar world.
I considered finding a way to train, to strengthen myself or maybe figuring out more about this cube and the "Spawn of a Fallen God" it promised.
But none of those ideas felt immediate enough.
Then it hit me.
Where was sky room?
I couldn't just wander around the base forever.
If I was going to figure out who Sky really was, I'd need to start with his living space.
Maybe there were clues about his life, his connections or lack thereof that could help me navigate this place better.
But there was one problem,
I had no idea where it was.
"Damn it!"
I stopped in my tracks, groaning softly as I ran a hand through my hair.
How was I supposed to find it?.
Just ask someone?.
That would only invite more ridicule.
Frustrated, I shoved my hands back into my pockets.
My fingers brushed against something smooth and rectangular.
Frowning, I pulled it out, a card.
"Here you are"
A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
It was Sky's ID card, complete with a room number.
"Finally, a break," I muttered to myself.
Studying the room number printed on the card.
The base was massive, its corridors lined with cold metal walls that seemed to stretch endlessly.
Every now and then, a soldier would pass me, their eyes lingering just a little too long, but I ignored them.
I had something to focus on now.
After what felt like forever, I finally found it.
The room was unassuming, tucked away in a quiet corner of the base.
"Just the best place to be..."
For an introvert like me.
The number on the door matched the one on the card.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the door.
Taking a deep breath, I slid the card through the scanner.
The lock beeped, and the door slide open.