Jin crawled faster, his injured leg protesting the movement. The vibration intensified, and a loud groan echoed through the tunnel.
"Tunnel collapse imminent," Asha warned urgently. "Increase speed to maximum. Forget the pants."
Jin pushed through the pain, crawling as fast as he could. Behind him, the tunnel began to collapse, metal groaning as it gave way.
"Exit ahead," Asha reported. "Fifty meters."
Jin crawled faster, the collapse gaining on him. Debris rained down around him as the tunnel continued to fail.
"Thirty meters."
A section of ceiling collapsed directly behind Jin, missing him by inches.
"Fifteen meters."
Jin saw the exit hatch ahead. With a final burst of energy, he lunged forward, grabbing the hatch just as the tunnel collapsed completely behind him.
"Clear," Asha reported. "You've reached the fusion core control room. And you're still in one piece. Mostly."
Jin pulled himself through the hatch and collapsed onto the floor of the control room, breathing heavily. The fusion core hummed before him, its progress bars crawling across nearby screens.
"Made it," he gasped, pushing himself to his feet. "Now let's save those pods."
Jin's fingers flew across the console, initiating the fusion core's reactivation sequence. Progress bars crawled across the screen as the ancient machinery hummed to life.
"Reactivation sequence initiated. Estimated completion: three minutes," Asha reported. "Power output increases to 12%... 15%..."
Suddenly, a guttural roar echoed from beyond the blast door. The metal barrier shuddered as something massive slammed against it.
"Threat breach imminent," Asha warned, her tone urgent. "Multiple signatures approaching. Recommend defensive position."
Jin spun around, gripping his pipe like a lifeline. The blast door groaned, hinges straining as twisted claws punched through the widening gap. Three shamblers forced their way through, their bodies horrifically distorted—limbs bent at impossible angles, jaws hanging open with rows of needle-like teeth, milky eyes fixed on Jin with predatory hunger.
[THREAT DETECTED]
• VHNDS Shambler Alpha ×1 — enhanced musculature, armored skull plate
• VHNDS Shambler ×2 — standard variants
"Getting into position," Jin called out, moving to put a console between himself and the shamblers. His injured leg protested, but he ignored the pain. "What am I looking at, Asha?"
"Alpha variant shows 47% increased resilience. Standard variants vulnerable to cranial trauma," Asha reported clinically. "Recommend targeting joints and sensory organs. And perhaps run away very quickly."
The Alpha shambler charged first, moving with terrifying speed despite its twisted form. Jin sidestepped, his AGI allowing him to evade despite his injured leg, but the shambler's claws raked across his back.
[CRITICAL HIT]
• Deep lacerations — upper back
• HP: 32/120 → 24/120
• Bleeding: moderate
Jin grunted in pain but countered with a vicious swing of his pipe. The metal connected with the shambler's knee joint with a sickening crunch.
[Improvised Melee Weapon — Precision Strike]
• Critical hit! Joint shattered
• STR damage: 4.77 × 1.5 (critical) = 7.15
• Target mobility: severely impaired
The Alpha shambler collapsed, howling in rage as its leg bent sideways. The other two shamblers flanked Jin, their movements coordinated despite their monstrous appearance.
"They're trying to flank me," Jin observed, his eyes darting between the threats.
"Flanking maneuver detected," Asha confirmed. "Recommended area denial tactic."
Jin spotted an exposed power conduit near his position. "I've got an idea," he said, smashing the console. Sparks erupted as electricity arced through the air. One Shambler walked directly into the electrical field, convulsing violently as its flesh burned.
[ENVIRONMENTAL KILL]
• Shambler neutralized via electrocution
• System energy: -5% (now 48%)
The remaining shambler lunged at Jin while he was distracted. He raised his pipe to block, but the creature's strength overwhelmed him. They crashed to the ground, the shambler's snapping jaws inches from Jin's face. Its breath smelled of rot and decay.
"I'm pinned!" Jin gasped, struggling against the creature's weight. "Can't get free!"
"Physical strength insufficient to overcome," Asha stated clinically. "May I suggest screaming?"
Jin snarled, tapping into his RES. He pushed against the shambler with all his might, his muscles straining. The creature's jaw snapped shut just short of his neck as he managed to roll them over, gaining the superior position.
[RESISTANCE CHECK — SUCCESS]
• Physical force overcome
• STR bonus: +0.77
"Got you now," Jin growled, slamming his elbow into the shambler's throat repeatedly. Cartilage and flesh gave way under the brutal assault. The creature gurgled, black blood spraying across Jin's face as its windpipe collapsed.
[MELEE UNARMED — Brutal Strikes]
• Multiple critical hits
• Target neutralized: asphyxiation/trauma
Before Jin could recover, the Alpha shambler—its leg still mangled—dragged itself toward him with terrifying determination. Its claws scraped against the metal floor, leaving trails of black ichor.
"Alpha variant is still active," Asha warned, her tone urgent. "Threat level: high. HP critical. Recommend a tactical retreat."
Jin's HUD flashed red warnings as his HP dropped to 18/120. Blood loss was becoming critical. But retreat meant abandoning the fusion core—and the fourteen lives depending on it.
"No," Jin panted, pushing himself to his feet. "I can't leave.." He gripped his pipe with both hands, ignoring the pain in his injured forearm. "I'm ending this."
The Alpha shambler charged, moving on three limbs with horrifying speed. Jin stood his ground, his PER tracking every movement, his Mutated Fauna Combat Basics skill analyzing attack patterns.
"It's going for a high lunge," Asha reported. "Vulnerability: underbelly."
"I see it," Jin said, his focus absolute. At the last moment, he dropped into a slide beneath the shambler's outstretched claws. His injured leg screamed in protest, but he pushed through the pain. As he slid under the creature, he drove the pipe upward into its exposed abdomen with all his STR.
[DESPERATE STRIKE TRIGGERED]
• Critical hit! HP below 25%
• Damage multiplier: ×2.5
• STR damage: 4.77 × 2.5 = 11.92
• Internal organs ruptured
The pipe tore through the shambler's body, emerging from its back in a shower of black blood and viscera. The creature collapsed, twitching violently as its life fluids pooled across the floor.
[ALPHA SHAMBLER NEUTRALIZED]
• All hostiles eliminated
• Area secure
Jin collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. His body was covered in blood—some his, some the shamblers'. The fusion core's progress bar showed 78% complete.
"Reactivation at 78%," Asha reported, her tone clinical once more. "Two minutes remaining. Medical attention strongly advised. You currently have enough holes to qualify as a colander."
[TIMER: 00:02:00]