Cockroach approached the shattered tower rising among the ruins. The energy fragments here appeared more stable, but the Guardians were smarter—they seemed to communicate, moving in patterns almost like military formations.
"Hah… this isn't like before. They know I'm here. I have to be smarter," thought Cockroach.
Every step in this tower produced echoes from the fragments. Some fragments emitted warm energy, some pulsed like a heartbeat, and some appeared nearly dead, waiting for the right touch.
The Guardians struck faster than before. Their bodies twisted, closing every opening. Cockroach was nearly swept away by a wave of fragment energy.
"Damn… I have to wait for the hand to retract… yes, like this," it whispered, extending its antennae slowly.
Day after day, Cockroach learned the rhythm of the Guardians and the pattern of the fragments. It began connecting each fragment to the tower's history—that this tower had once been a center of energy, and the Guardians were remnants of laws preserving the balance of the fragments.
"These fragments… aren't just energy. They're part of something bigger. I have to understand them, not just take them," it thought.
With patience, it managed to touch some fragments longer, feeling energy flow in new ways. The real threat remained, but now Cockroach began to comprehend the rules of this world and the history that shaped them.