The apartment felt different in the morning—or whatever counted as morning in a place that barely resembled time. The light was pale, uniform, almost antiseptic, and every shadow seemed frozen in a liminal freeze-frame.
I sat against the wall, the C4-class cube still pulsing faintly in my chest. The HUD was open now, Status fully functional. I ran my eyes over the small panels:
Absorption Method: 64% efficiency
Stored Company Points: 7
Battery Level: 1.3%
Active Skills: None
Anomalous Objects Recovered: 2
Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Endurance 1, Intelligence 1, Perception 1
The HUD flickered briefly.
[XP gained from object absorption: 40] [Company Points awarded: 4] [Attribute Points available: 0 (requires 150 XP / 15 Company Points per attribute)]
I blinked. "Okay… so I can't just spam XP to get stronger. Makes sense… I guess."
It took a moment to internalize. One attribute per 150 XP, equivalent to 15 Company Points if spent that way. Status now demanded careful planning.
The apartment wasn't going to explore itself.
I started methodically checking rooms, keeping one eye on the hallways in case the Duke-class N.I.N.A.H. decided to reappear. Floorboards groaned under my boots; a crooked lamp flickered as if in warning.
Then I found it—a C2-class object, a small metallic orb, dull bronze with faint glyphs etched across its surface. Its pulse was weak but rhythmic, like it was counting heartbeats.
[Anomalous object detected. Class: C2. Rift energy signature: moderate.] [Recover object? Y/N]
I hesitated. Each recovery fed the System, gave Company Points, and logged it in the Codex. But the more objects I absorbed, the more attention I could draw. Something else could be watching.
Still, XP and points were important. I reached out. The orb hummed, then shot into my chest, leaving the shelf empty.
[Object absorbed. Removed from environment.] [Recorded in Codex for Company records.] [System battery: 2.0%] [Company Points Awarded: 2] [XP gained: 20]
I exhaled. "Okay… slowly building a portfolio here."
Status updated automatically. My XP total was climbing, but still far from enough for a new attribute. Every point felt precious now—decisions mattered.
The apartment hummed as I moved through it. Every absorbed object made the walls shimmer faintly. Doors I hadn't noticed before creaked slightly, their handles warm to the touch.
I checked my Codex for the first time. The absorbed objects were neatly logged:
C3-class cube – bedroom. Battery +0.1%, Company Points +3.
C2-class orb – living room. Battery +0.9%, Company Points +2.
Neat. Corporate bookkeeping. It felt weird—like the Company was silently watching me, approving my every move.
Further exploration revealed a small C1-class crystal on a countertop. No bigger than a sugar cube, faintly glowing.
[Anomalous object detected. Class: C1. Rift energy signature: low.] [Recover object? Y/N]
XP, battery, Company Points—couldn't resist.
The crystal shot into my chest. Status and Codex updated instantly.
[Object absorbed. Removed from environment.] [Recorded in Codex for Company records.] [System battery: 2.1%] [Company Points Awarded: 1] [XP gained: 10] [Attribute Points available: 0 (requires 150 XP)]
I rubbed my temples. Intelligence 3? Nope. Not yet. Patience was required.
[Current Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Endurance 1, Intelligence 1, Perception 1] [Effects: Absorption efficiency 64%, minor analysis improvement, basic environmental awareness.]
Perception was subtle—faint flickers in my vision, an intuition about warped walls, a subtle pull toward objects I might have missed. I could feel it nudging me toward anomalies I hadn't noticed.
The apartment's silence was oppressive. I could feel it lurking—watching.
I peeked around a hallway corner. Nothing.The Duke-class N.I.N.A.H. hadn't returned. Not yet.
I muttered, "Good. Stay gone… please."
Then I noticed the door to the balcony had warped slightly. Outside, the liminal streets stretched endlessly, uniform lamps casting cold light. Shadows moved where no source existed. My HUD buzzed faintly.
[Detecting anomalous entities nearby: none immediate.] [Recommendation: Proceed with caution. Absorbing additional objects increases risk.]
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the reassurance."
I sat on the floor, Status open, Codex loaded, and thought about my next steps.
One day, I'd have to leave this apartment.One day, I'd have to face the Duke-class N.I.N.A.H. again.One day, I'd need all of this—the System, the Company Points, the absorbed anomalies—if I wanted to survive.
For now, small victories. Small gains. Slowly stacking XP, points, and keeping my perception sharp. That was enough.