Cain's expression softened, and he raised his fist and pulled it back in a gut pose.
'Hell yeah. I thank you! My blurred memories.'
It took great determination for him not to yell in the place over his discovery.
Without stopping his momentum, Cain pushed the iron table that circled the core computer. His pupils swam to the side as he read the series of details he received while trying to break through its firewall.
His eyebrows furrowed, the throbbing in his skull pounded his consciousness hard as if it was about to burst due to receiving information on a large scale all at once.
Cain gritted his teeth, trying to keep his eyes open, even though he felt a hot sting that was frying his retinas.
[.... activation via voice: Initiated Rebooting Database Sector 3.]
He closed his eyes; the tool in his mind took root as his body shivered, then his legs trembled, before it turned soft and unable to support his upper body. His hand tried to reach for the nearest chair, but failed.
The boy fell with a dull 'thud'. Cain shook his head, struggling with the onslaught of pain that sharply eroded his brain. His closed eyes shed tears that streamed down his cheeks.
A deafening silence descended into the empty, dim room. A few seconds had passed, but to him, hours had gone by. Cain began to open his mouth. His hoarse voice echoed in the room.
"Initiated Rebooting Database Sector 3."
One second, two seconds, nothing happened. Until finally, a vibration jolted his eyes open. The vibration was followed by a blue glow that spread like a path, gathering around the large projection in front of him as its core.
The light on the floor pulsed like a heartbeat, and a buzzing sound began to spread throughout the room. It awakened something that had been dormant for so long.
The main projection emitted a blue light that turned into a floating holographic monitor before him.
Cain looked up, his eyes widened, and all the horror and pain that consumed his consciousness felt like a lie. He saw the computer in front of him begin to display lines of text containing critical military-grade data.
He took a deep breath, gathering his lost strength, and stood up, approaching the core computer.
His right hand reached for the panel screen, which felt familiar to him. Cain tapped one of the documents that contained a regular report.
[Year 2309 XX months, XX days]
Attribute research progress.
-The creation of attributes reached a bright spot. After several trials, filtering, and refinement. We successfully extracted elemental power from nature, a powerful force capable of turning the tide of war.
…
[Year 2310 XX months, XX days]
The apocalypse happened.
- An explosion from a meteoric cosmic that fell onto the southern continent spewed a deadly virus into the Earth's atmosphere. The human population rapidly declined, forcing them to evacuate underground and wait for a miracle to happen.
…
'This!?'
Cain took a cold breath. He never expected that this facility stored important research data on man-made weapons, and that this was the beginning of how the cosmic virus spread on the mainland.
He clicked his tongue as he compared the information stored in his brain and what he held today; the difference was like heaven and Earth.
In the library, the history they wrote was like fiction with a slight mix of sweet illusions that most people could swallow. However, the data he found seemed more realistic with a touch of dark truth and cold reality.
[Year 2313, XX months, XX days]
{Attribute research progress (Halted).
- A powerful weapon created for the war over resources had to be stopped because the researchers' attention was forced to shift to fixing the atrocities happening on the planet's surface. This project stalled halfway, but we are determined to complete it because perhaps this research is not meant to be used for fellow humans but to guide the world toward a better future. ...
Cain was immersed in the sea of data listed on the main computer. His blue eyes never stopped moving, continuously absorbing as much information as possible.
He gritted his teeth, feeling a searing heat scorch his brain. The boy's hands clenched so hard that they caused the armour to 'clatter'.
The deeper he knew the truth, the darker the mud in his heart overflowed, creeping as a negative emotion that wanted to gnaw at his mind.
The boy could feel the tone of their writing changing over time, from teeming with hope, regret, and sacrifice to a genuine fear that humanity would one day be wiped from the face of this Earth.
"Ukh!"
A pained groan escaped his lips, accompanied by his vision turning red. Cain blinked, realizing that in his mouth he could taste the tangy flavor of iron.
Cain panted; he held his staggering body onto the table beside him. Silence began to strike, swallowing the emotions that overflowed in his heart into emptiness.
While he was regulating his breath, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance, attracting the boy's attention as he gazed at the red-haired girl pointing her pistol at him.
"Cain, what happened to you?"
***
Time rewinded a few minutes ago. The roaring engine of the Humvee charged down the empty street and brought the vehicle closer to the abandoned research facility.
Peter stepped on the brake pedal, which made the wheels underneath screech loudly. Rika, Abel, and Louise raised their hands to withstand the G-force generated by the sudden stop.
"We've arrived."
Rika nodded and glanced at her smartwatch screen. Her expression twisted, aware of the amount of time she wasted in self-pity.
"Okay, we will get down here and pick up our leader."
The other three members nodded and simultaneously opened the doors beside them, then jumped out.
As the vice-leader, Rika walked in front, even though her role was a sniper. She seemed not to care about that as she strapped her rifle onto the back and drew a pistol in her hands. The girl was ready to charge into the old building.
She glanced to the side and made eye contact with Peter, who nodded, understanding what his vice-leader wanted.
Without pause, the group led by Peter in front, Rika, Louise, and Abel in the very back. They traced the dim building and stopped at a door in the corner of the hall.
Peter waved his hand, telling the others to follow him. The series of 'clang' sounds echoing in the dark room ignited the fighting spirit of the cadets.
After they stepped foot onto the bottom floor, the four stood still, gazing at the thick iron door, which was now wide open.
"Peter, is this the place you meant? Why does it feel brighter than the surface?"
Rika asked, her voice firm, laced with authority as if denied any uncompromising conduct from others. An ideal leader figure emanated from her personality.
"We were also surprised at first. This door was difficult to recognize because it blended with the surrounding wall."
Peter paused for a moment before continuing.
"Louise and I suspected that the underground vault behind this door is a room that has been sealed for a very long time; even our predecessors who found this ruin have not touched it yet."
The girl holding the pistol tightened her grip around the handle. She turned to Peter and asked.
"How were you able to find this place then?"
The boy scratched his head and showed a wry smile. Rika's question reopened his past as a cheeky brat who frequently explored secret rooms in his parents' mansion.
"Ah, you could say I'm an expert in finding secret rooms."
Peter flashed his white teeth and winked at the group. His behaviour froze the atmosphere in the room.
Rika narrowed her eyes, while Louise averted her gaze to the side, too embarrassed to look at Peter right now. As for Abel, he nodded, showing admiration for his friend's talent.
"Enough, we will go in. Where did you find the computer room?"
"Right door."
Rika stared straight ahead and took a deep breath. The reason she didn't immediately rush in was to give a little space for Cain, who was trying to find something inside, and for herself, who still couldn't sort out her feelings.
She shook her head, exhaling sharply, and gave the instruction.
"We are going in now!"
Seeing the other three nod, Rika entered first, raising her pistol, followed by Peter, Louise, and Abel.
Slowly, they descended the stairs and set foot in the vast underground room. Their expressions hardened as they witnessed the room with the open door on their right, which should have been dark, burst with glowing blue neon.
Rika and Peter exchanged glances. Her body darted forward before her mind could understand. The sound of their echoing footsteps faded in her head. She bit her lips, fearing that the worst-case scenario had already happened to Cain.
As she barged into the room. She pointed the muzzle forward before widening her eyes, witnessing Cain leaning on the iron table, struggling even to stand.
"Cain, what happened to you?"