The heavy, reinforced doors at the end of the lobby hummed with the same palpable vibration as the Grey Remnant Signature, a low, resonant thrum that seemed to vibrate in Alex’s very bones. They were massive, made of some dark, unidentifiable metal, scarred and twisted but still stubbornly intact amidst the surrounding ruin. Ancient, alien symbols, similar to those he’d seen on the Abominations, pulsed faintly on their surface, glowing with an internal, malevolent light.
"You think that's the source?" Alex asked, his voice low, filled with a new blend of apprehension and determination. He was Level 2 now, with Energy Push and Enhanced Strike. He had Verwel, his shadow-bound companion, a formidable ally. But the feeling emanating from those doors was immense, a cold, oppressive weight that hinted at something far beyond the corrupted humans they’d faced.
Verwel nudged him again, then let out a soft whine, his silver eyes fixed on the doors. He didn't seem afraid, more... curious, and perhaps a little impatient. Alex took a deep breath, the metallic tang of the Grey Remnant filling his nostrils. There was no turning back now. His desire to understand, to fight back against this encroaching horror, was stronger than his fear.
He approached the doors cautiously, his hand hovering over the cold metal. Basic Analysis activated automatically.
[Object: Reinforced Core Chamber Door]
[Description: Constructed from unknown, highly resistant alloys. Sealed by an ancient, energy-based lock. Requires significant force or specific energy signature to open.]
[Hint: Direct application of concentrated System Energy may bypass the lock.]
"Energy-based lock, huh?" Alex muttered, a flicker of an idea forming. He looked at his Energy bar: 10/10. He had just replenished it with the medium Grey Shard. He had Energy Push and Enhanced Strike, both consuming Energy. Could he use his raw System Energy directly?
"Alright, Verwel," Alex said, a plan solidifying in his mind. "Stand back, boy. This might get loud."
He placed both hands flat against the cold, unyielding surface of the doors. He closed his eyes, focusing on the hum of the System within him, the warm current that flowed through his veins. He imagined that energy, not as a push or a strike, but as a key, a concentrated beam directed into the ancient lock. He poured his will into it, channeling the raw power.
The symbols on the door flared, glowing with an intense, sickly green light. A high-pitched whine began, growing in intensity, vibrating through the metal, through Alex's hands, and into his very teeth. He gritted his teeth, pushing harder, sweat beading on his forehead. The energy drained from him, a rapid descent.
[Energy: 8/10... 6/10... 4/10...]
The doors shuddered, a deep, grinding sound echoing through the lobby. Cracks, thin as spiderwebs, appeared in the metal around the glowing symbols.
"Come on, come on!" Alex grunted, pushing with everything he had. His Energy plummeted to 2/10.
With a final, ear-splitting shriek of tortured metal, the ancient lock disengaged. The massive doors, groaning like dying beasts, slowly, ponderously, began to slide inwards, revealing a deeper, absolute darkness beyond.
[Skill Acquired: Energy Channel (Active)]
[Energy Channel: Expends 5 Energy per second. Allows direct application of System Energy for various purposes (e.g., unlocking, powering devices, focused blasts). Advanced applications require higher levels and specific abilities.]
Alex staggered back, panting, his Energy at a critical 2/10. He felt lightheaded, but a thrill of triumph surged through him. He had done it. He had a new skill, a powerful one.
"You okay, Alex?" Verwel whined, nudging his hand, his silver eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah, boy," Alex gasped, forcing a shaky grin. "Just... a little drained. But we're in."
The darkness beyond the doors was absolute, a void that seemed to swallow the dim light from the lobby. A cold, heavy silence permeated the air, broken only by the faint drip of water and a low, almost imperceptible hum that was different from the Grey Remnant Signature â€" deeper, more ancient. Alex instinctively activated Basic Analysis.
[Environment: Core Chamber - Unexplored]
[Description: An ancient, sealed chamber. High concentration of residual Grey Remnant energy. Contains unknown entities and potential artifacts.]
[Warning: Extreme Danger. Proceed with Caution.]
"Extreme Danger," Alex read aloud, his voice flat. "Well, that's reassuring." He reached into his backpack and pulled out the flashlight, clicking it on. The beam cut through the oppressive darkness, revealing a vast, circular chamber. The walls were made of the same dark, unidentifiable metal as the doors, seamless and smooth. In the center, a colossal, pulsating orb of swirling grey energy hung suspended, casting no light of its own, but absorbing all light around it. This had to be the source.
Around the orb, scattered across the metal floor, were dozens of figures. Not Grey Abominations, but what looked like desiccated husks of humans, their bodies twisted into grotesque, silent screams. They were frozen in place, as if caught mid-transformation, their skin a withered grey, their eyes hollow.
"Oh, god," Alex whispered, a wave of nausea washing over him. This was the true horror of the Grey Remnant. These weren't just monsters; they were people.
Verwel let out a low, mournful whimper, pressing against Alex's leg. His silver eyes were fixed on the husks, a profound sadness in their depths.
Suddenly, two of the husks twitched. Then another. And another. The grey energy around the central orb pulsed, and the husks began to stir, their limbs cracking as they slowly, agonizingly, began to move. Their hollow eyes, once lifeless, now glowed with a faint, malevolent grey light.
[Threat Detected: Grey Husk (Corrupted Human)]
[Level: 2]
[Danger: Moderate (in numbers, High)]
"They're waking up," Alex breathed, his heart hammering. Dozens of them. He was Level 2, they were Level 2. This was going to be a massacre. He gripped the frying pan, the metal cold and clammy in his hand.
"Verwel, stay close!" Alex commanded, his voice tight. "We need to get to that orb. It has to be the key!"
The Grey Husks shuffled forward, their movements jerky and unnatural. They didn't shriek like the Abominations; they just emitted a low, guttural moan, a sound of endless suffering. Alex swung the frying pan, activating Enhanced Strike. The pan glowed green, slamming into the nearest Husk. It shattered into grey mist, but two more immediately filled its place.
[Damage Dealt: 15]
[Experience Gained: 20 XP]
[Energy: 0/10]
"Damn it, out of Energy already!" Alex cursed, dodging a slow, grasping claw. He was surrounded. Verwel was a whirlwind of silver, tearing at the Husks, but even he was being overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
Think, Alex, think! His mind raced. He needed a way to deal with multiple targets. He needed a way to get to that orb.
He remembered the Energy Channel skill. It was for "various purposes." Could he use it to... power something? Or perhaps, create a larger blast? He focused on the central orb, the source of the grey energy that was animating these horrors.
[Hint: Direct application of Energy Channel to the Grey Remnant's core may disrupt its influence.]
Disrupt its influence? That was it! He didn't have to fight all of them. He had to hit the source.
"Verwel, cover me!" Alex yelled, pushing off a Husk with his foot. He sprinted towards the central orb, dodging grasping hands and lumbering bodies. Verwel, understanding, let out a furious series of barks, drawing the attention of several Husks, tearing into them with renewed ferocity.
Alex reached the edge of the pulsating orb. It felt like touching pure cold, a void that sucked the warmth from his skin. He placed his hands on its surface, focusing all his remaining will, all his desperation, into the Energy Channel skill.
[Energy: 0/10]
[Warning: Insufficient Energy. Skill will draw from Host's HP.]
"What?!" Alex gasped, but he didn't stop. He had no choice. He had to do this. He felt a sharp, burning pain as his own life force began to drain, feeding the skill.
[HP: 9/10... 7/10... 5/10...]
The orb began to pulse erratically, the grey energy swirling faster, brighter. The Husks surrounding Alex and Verwel paused, their moans turning into confused, pained whimpers. The entire chamber began to hum, a high-pitched, resonant frequency that vibrated through the metal walls.
"Just a little more," Alex gritted out, his vision blurring from the pain and exhaustion. He could feel the orb resisting, pushing back, but he was stronger. He was an Unbound Survivor.
With a final, desperate surge, Alex poured every last ounce of his strength and remaining HP into the orb. The grey energy flared, a blinding white light erupting from the core.
[Grey Remnant Core Disrupted! Influence Temporarily Suppressed!]
[Host: Alex Mercer - Level Up!]
[Level: 3 (0/300 XP)]
[Strength: 7 (+1)]
[Dexterity: 8 (+1)]
[Constitution: 9 (+1)]
[Intelligence: 8]
[Wisdom: 7]
[Charisma: 4]
[Skills: Basic Analysis (Passive), Energy Push (Active), Enhanced Strike (Active), Energy Channel (Active)]
[Abilities: Core Resonance (New!)]
[Energy: 0/10]
[HP: 1/10]
The white light subsided, leaving the chamber in a strange, subdued glow. The Grey Husks, no longer animated, collapsed into piles of inert, desiccated flesh. The central orb still pulsed, but its energy was muted, contained.
Alex collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, his body screaming in protest. He was alive. Barely. Verwel rushed to his side, nudging him gently, licking his face.
"We... we did it, boy," Alex whispered, a weak, triumphant grin spreading across his face. He looked at his new ability: Core Resonance. He had no idea what it did, but he knew one thing: he was still in this fight. And he was getting stronger.
He pulled out the Basic First-Aid Kit and, with trembling hands, applied a bandage to a deep gash on his arm. He needed to rest. He needed to recover. But first, he needed to understand what he had just done, and what Core Resonance truly meant. The Grey Remnant was suppressed, but not gone. And he knew, with a chilling certainty, that this was only the beginning.