Reever crouched low at the edge of the glowing chamber, his suit humming softly in camouflage mode. He had seen more than he had anticipated—the floating Zombots, countless and suspended in midair, fusing together without any visible guidance, as if some invisible hand worked tirelessly in the background. The sight was fascinating, almost hypnotic, but he knew better than to linger. Whatever was orchestrating this mass production was not aware of him yet, but he didn't intend to stick around to find out.
His eyes scanned the chamber quickly, seeking the tunnel he had noticed near the entrance. It was small, almost hidden behind one of the larger support pillars of the underground space. The tunnel was narrow, but he judged it to be the safest route forward. He signaled to himself mentally, and his steps slowed even further, each one precise and silent. The phase camouflage blended him seamlessly into the shadows of the wall, and the soft hum of the floating bots faded behind him as he moved.
The tunnel was far shorter than the long passage he had just traversed. Within a few minutes, the walls closed in gently, curving slightly as the faint algae glow reflected off their smooth surfaces. He felt the cool air brush against his armor and the faint vibrations underfoot from the machinery behind him. Every sense remained alert. He had expected, as any seasoned hunter would, to find a massive central figure controlling this entire assembly, perhaps something commanding the bots directly.
But when the tunnel finally opened into the chamber beyond, Reever's expectations were challenged. The space was small, minimal, yet oddly tense. Hovering at its center was a small cube, no bigger than a fist, but its surface was unlike anything he had ever seen. Strange engravings traced along its sides, pulsing faintly as if alive, yet not truly alive. The cube emitted a soft, almost imperceptible hum, synchronizing with the faint vibrations of the tunnel walls. It hovered perfectly still, and there was an intelligence in the way it moved, subtle but undeniable.
Curiosity pushed Reever forward. Carefully, he approached, analyzing its movements and engravings. His steps were slow, measured, as he adjusted his phase camouflage to maintain complete invisibility. Every instinct screamed to remain cautious, yet fascination rooted him in place.
As he drew closer, the circular sealed auxiliary he had hidden in the quicksand outside the forest appeared without warning. It materialized directly in front of him, its smooth surface reflecting the glow of the cube and the tunnel walls. The moment it appeared, Reever's camouflage flickered and disappeared. He froze instantly, ready to react, but the cube did not acknowledge him in the slightest. Its focus had shifted entirely to the auxiliary.
For a moment, the cube hovered midair, spinning slightly as though assessing its surroundings. Then, almost instinctively, it began to move—fast, precise, and with a clear intent to escape.
Reever's heart rate increased subtly, but he remained still, observing. The auxiliary was not passive. Its circular form rotated with purpose, and suddenly, a force erupted from its center—a powerful suction that reached toward the escaping cube. The cube attempted to resist, thrashing slightly, its faint hum rising in pitch. But the suction was relentless. Every movement the cube made was meaningless against the auxiliary's force. Piece by piece, the cube's movements slowed, then halted completely as it was drawn inexorably into the center of the auxiliary. Within moments, the cube was fully absorbed, disappearing without leaving even a trace of its presence behind.
The chamber was silent again, except for the faint hum of the tunnel walls and the soft vibrations beneath his feet. Reever exhaled slowly, his mind racing to process what had just occurred. The auxiliary had not destroyed the cube—it had contained it, absorbed it, and apparently gained something in return.
Then, almost immediately, a message appeared in his vision:
[Auxiliary Item. 10% unlocked.
Find more #$@*#$ to unlock it and manage to use it]
Reever blinked at the message, his mind buzzing with possibilities. The cube, though small, was clearly significant, and the auxiliary had responded in a way he had not fully anticipated. Ten percent unlocked was just the beginning. There were more to find, more steps, more pieces that would give him the power to control—or at least use—this strange technology.
He crouched for a moment, letting his senses absorb the silence of the chamber. No bots stirred in this small room. No hum of machinery beyond the tunnel disturbed the quiet. It was as though the entire area was holding its breath, leaving him alone to contemplate what had just happened. The message lingered in his mind, a challenge, a puzzle, and a promise all at once.
Reever knew what he had to do next. The path forward would not be simple. He had to locate more of these cubes, more of whatever mysterious items existed to fully unlock the auxiliary. But for now, he had a piece of the puzzle. And that was enough. Slowly, carefully, he began to backtrack, returning through the tunnel, his mind racing with strategy and calculation.
What he thought would end with a brutal fight with loss of his remaining lives was just ended like that. Without even having to kill the boss. And it was his first major win and his first survival challenge he ever had experienced since being reborn as a bot. As he sat down to calm his mind and think of the next step to take, a message he had awaited for two months finally.
[ System back online.
Preparing the player to go home.
Select Yes if you want to go, or No if not]