As I had nothing else to do here, I found a calm place next to the base's wall and let my body fall on the ground. I was tired!
The adrenaline that had been fueling me for the last few hours finally started to recede, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion.
I pulled out a few pieces of jerky meat and drank mouthful gulps of the water I had stored in my inventory.
The meat was tough, but the protein felt like life returning to my limbs. Then I closed my eyes and slept like a baby. No dreams, no system notifications—just the dark, heavy slumber of a man who had been pushed to his limits.
My sleep lasted for what felt like a blink of an eye to me. At some point, the darkness was shattered. I felt someone holding my shoulders and shaking me in a violent, jarring way.
"What?!!" I hurriedly opened my eyes, jolted to my feet, and instantly took out my swords in a blurred motion. My heart was hammering against my ribs, and I was ready to fight—fight even the one who had woken me up.
