Cockroach crawled deeper into the ruins. The energy fragments it had touched before now appeared in greater numbers and more active. But the Guardians—same as before, or perhaps more—were waiting. Their bodies moved like thick mist, hands spinning and reaching, closing every opening.
"Damn… they're faster than before. I have to be careful," thought Cockroach, antennae adjusting to the vibrations of energy around it.
The first attempt failed. The Guardians struck faster, the fragment's energy rebounding into its body, causing pain and almost knocking it into the ash chasm.
"Hah… their rhythm… I need to read it… can't let my guard down!"
Day after day, Cockroach observed the Guardians from a safe distance. It began to understand their movement patterns: one step forward followed by the rhythm of the fragment's energy, one swing of a hand in the same direction. Each failed attempt provided a small piece of information.
"If I wait for the hand to retract, maybe I can touch the fragment longer… yes, like this."
After several days, the first partially successful attempt appeared. It could touch the fragment longer, feeling the energy flow—still weak, but real. The Guardians were still watching, but now Cockroach began anticipating their movements.
It felt a new drive within, not just ambition, but the awareness that this world would give nothing freely. Everything had to be learned, gaps found, and carefully understood.
"This fragment… I have to master it. No shortcuts," it whispered to itself.