THE MOMENT
Glenda cried as she ran. She didn't have any regrets and she wasn't sad; but, she was exhausted in almost every sense of the word. Fortunately 'physically' wasn't one of those interpretations. She felt like she'd been running over a month non stop. Running and killing and most importantly, surviving.
Over six weeks ago she woke up in a new, unfamiliar world with no clear memory of her past. All she found was a glass card, that she learned was called a 'node' and she discovered using it turned her into a powerful ninja. The fighting started as soon as she transformed that first time, and she'd been going ever since. The fact that she had access to ninja magic, and that she had been going six weeks weeks at full bore without sleep added up to a simulation experience. Even without her full memory, she felt like it was something possible where ever she came from. She grew stronger and leveled up as she cut through endless opponents, and it became easier over time.
Physically easier as she got stronger; but, she hesitated less and less between each new wave she countered. She hesitated at first, of course. At least, it felt like the right thing for her to do. Glenda used her ninja abilities to run away from the first few soldiers she encountered, though they got stronger and more wily as time went on. The first kill was an accident, and it resulted in the victim disintegrating into white powder. He wasn't human, and she quickly verified that the rest weren't either. After two waves of disintegrating non-people she leveled up the first time.
Now, so many weeks later, she was running and cutting her way across the country. She didn't want to stay in one place waiting for an ending that might never come. If she was going to be stuck there indefinitely, she didn't want to spend it all in the same area so she traveled and dispatched anyone that made themselves an obstacle along the way.
At some point, the bodies stopped disintegrating. Glenda only noticed superficially; but, she was still leveling up. And, everyone she met still made the first move. She'd killed enough people to recognize that look in their eye. As soon as they made eye contact, she knew they were out to kill her and responded before they could act; it was the safest course.
Despite the stench of blood, Glenda trusted her own body. She didn't feel tired yet. The simulation only got more realistic but, she was still in VR. She had to be, and she couldn't let herself get killed either. The only way out was to endure until it was over. She woke up there with no memory wearing a military uniform before she transformed. It felt right, and she felt like she was on a mission she didn't have all the details to. Over time, the only conclusion she came to was that she was there to get stronger. If she died, the best case was that she would fail the mission. That was if she didn't actually die, and that was a risk she couldn't take.
She continued forward as another group came into view. They were standing there in front of a school; but, most of the enemies she encountered were standing around before she engaged them. This group looked a little younger than the previous batch; but, the simulation was always trying to trick her. She knew they were enemies as one of the kids, a green-eyed girl, looked up at Glenda and smiled. Glenda defended herself.
"....why..?" one of kids, she didn't know which one, gurgled the question in their last breath. That was new, they hadn't spoken before. But, as Glenda considered slowing down, she got a notification in her view.
[LEVEL UP!]
Glenda cried as she ran forward.