I pushed myself up slowly, every muscle protesting the movement. My body felt like it had been disassembled and put back together—which, considering what Alexis had just done, wasn't far from the truth.
But as I moved, I felt something else returning.
My System.
It wasn't like flipping a switch. It was gradual, like water filling a container. First came the awareness of it—that familiar presence at the back of my mind that had been absent for what felt like lifetimes. Then came the jobs, one by one, slotting back into place. Construction Worker. Firefighter. Detective. Astronaut. All of them, returning home.
And with them came the skills.
Superior Endurance kicked in immediately, washing away some of the weakness in my limbs. Observation sharpened my vision, bringing the room into clearer focus. Advanced Trauma Care automatically assessed my condition—elevated heart rate, mild dehydration, significant cranial trauma successfully treated.
