I chose to search the Mogma's corpse for relics or fragments, pseudo-vessels like the Mogma often carried salvageable components—biomechanical scraps or essences useful for upgrades or offerings to other vessels like M-03.
The corpse, a grotesque amalgam of chitin and wiring, lied vulnerable, but rummaging through it risked triggering environmental hazards in the unstable nursery, such as a conduit surge or a collapse of nearby debris.
The search.
I approached the Mogma's corpse, crouching beside its shattered form.
The Ecdysis Spur remained at the ready in one hand, while my umbilical whip coiled instinctively, wary of unseen threats.
I probed the creature's thorax, where its Blood Bulbs once glowed, my proto-bipedal fingers sifting through cracked chitin and oozing fluids.
Amid the body I uncovered a Proto-Vessel Shard, a pulsating fragment of biomechanical tissue embedded with faint circuitry.
The shard thrummed with residual energy, suggesting it could enhance my systems or serve as an offering later in my journey.
My interface registered: ''Proto-Vessel Shard acquired. Potential for augmentation or trade.''
The search was successful, but disturbing the corpse caused a nearby conduit to spark violently, dislodged by the Mogma's earlier thrashing.
A small electrical surge arced toward me, grazing my already-injured leg.
The shock aggravated the acid graze, causing a flicker in my interface: Minor system strain.
Blood Bulbs intact. I lost no health, but the combined acid and electrical damage increased my slowdown, making swift movements riskier until I could rest or upgrade.
The Mogma's corpse was now thoroughly searched, offering no further loot.
The corrosive pool bubbled nearby, its edges slick and hazardous.
The conduit pile, now more unstable, continued to spark, posing a risk if I lingered.
Shattered tanks and debris littered the area, potentially hiding other relics like the Red Egg or a Rust Blade, though the Proto-Vessel Shard and Ecdysis Spur may suffice for now.
The Magnetic Garden's barrier hummed invitingly, ready for the Spur's touch, with no immediate threats blocking my path.
The Proto-Vessel Shard could be used to enhance my form e.g., reinforcing my exoskeleton or boosting a Blood Bulb's resilience.
Or offered to a merchant vessel for lore or access to new areas, as suggested by my systems guide references to items.
The nursery feels emptier now, but its oppressive atmosphere hints at other dangers or secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Even though my environement was dangerous I chose to explore the nursery further, drawn to the cracked tank emitting a faint red glow.
The tank, half-submerged in viscous fluid, sat among shattered pods and tangled debris, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat.
Investigating it risked exposure to the nursery's hazards—corrosive leaks, unstable structures, or dormant threats—but the promise of a powerful relic drove me forward.
I approached the cracked tank, my umbilical whip coiled defensively and the Ecdysis Spur ready for quick use.
The tank's surface was fractured, leaking a slick, bioluminescent fluid that mingled with the nursery's grime.
The red glow emanated from within, casting eerie shadows on the surrounding debris.
I peered through the cracks, my operator interface scanning for details.
Inside, nestled in a nest of organic wiring, lied a Red Egg, a pulsating, crimson orb veined with biomechanical tendrils.
Its surface quivered, as if aware of my presence, and my interface registered: Red Egg detected. Viable for offering or activation. Handle with caution.
I carefully reached into the tank to retrieve the Egg, avoiding the sharp edges of the cracked surface.
My tendril manipulators closed around the orb, its warmth pulsing through my proto-bipedal hand, but the tank shifted under my weight, dislodging a stream of corrosive fluid from its base.
The fluid splashed near my feet, narrowly missing my already-injured leg.
My interface flickered: Hazard avoided.
System strain persisted.
The Red Egg was now in my possession, but the disturbance caused a low rumble in the nursery, and a faint skittering sound echoed from deeper within—perhaps another pseudo-vessel stirred by the noise.
The nursery felt less dormant now, its shadows heavier with potential threats.
The Egg's weight added to my burden, further slowing my movements alongside the existing acid and electrical damage.
The cracked tank was now unstable, leaking more corrosive fluid into a growing pool nearby.
The conduit pile continued to spark, a lingering hazard.
The sealed pod in the shadows hummed faintly, still unopened, potentially hiding another relic like a Rust Blade.
The Magnetic Garden's barrier pulsed steadily, accessible with the Ecdysis Spur.
The skittering sound grew louder, suggesting a new threat may emerge soon.
My biomechanical form was weighed down by the cumulative strain of an acid graze, and electrical damage, and the pulsating Red Egg I clutched in my grip.
My three Blood Bulbs glowed steadily in my operator interface, a testament to my quick thinking.
The Ecdysis Spur, a jagged blade of bone and metal, hummed with readiness, its energy attuned to the Magnetic Garden's barrier, which pulsed invitingly at the nursery's edge.
The Proto-Vessel Shard, scavenged from the defeated Mogma, thrummed with potential, its circuitry promising augmentation.
Before moving to the exit, I focused on the Proto-Vessel Shard, its pulsating tissue and circuitry resonating with my own systems.
I integrated it into my biomechanical frame, pressing it against my thorax where my Blood Bulbs pulsed.
The Shard melded seamlessly, its energy surging through my conduits.
My interface updated: Augmentation complete.
Mobility enhanced.
Slowdown mitigated.
The Shard reinforced my proto-bipedal limbs, counteracting the slowdown from my injuries.
My movements felt fluid again, and a new ability emerged: Pulse Lash, an upgrade to my umbilical whip.
This allowed me to emit a short-range energy pulse from the whip's barb, capable of stunning enemies or activating biomechanical devices from a distance.
The process was stable, with no immediate side effects, though my interface warned: ''Shard energy finite. Use Pulse Lash sparingly.''
The augmentation left me feeling invigorated, my form now more agile and equipped with a versatile new ability.
The nursery's skittering grew louder, urging haste, but no threat emerged immediately.
Deciding not to dawdle any longer, I approached the Magnetic Garden's barrier, a shimmering wall of interwoven biomechanical tendrils pulsing with electromagnetic energy.
The Ecdysis Spur vibrated in response, its edge glowing as I sliced through the barrier's core.
The tendrils parted with a wet hiss, revealing a tunnel-like passage into the Magnetic Garden.
The barrier sealed behind me, ensuring safety from the nursery's threats.
My interface confirmed: ''Magnetic Garden accessed. Safe zone established.''
The Magnetic Garden was a sprawling, open biome within the derelict planet, a surreal landscape of rusted metal flora and pulsating, magnetic fields.
Towering structures resembling petrified godhusk limbs rose from the ground, their surfaces veined with glowing circuits.
Electromagnetic currents fluctuated, creating pockets of weightlessness where debris floated lazily.
The air was cleaner here, tinged with an ozone-like scent, and bioluminescent vines casted a soft, blue-green glow.
According to my system, the Garden was a neutral zone where vessels could rest, reflect, or prepare for moral choices.
Distant structures hinted at altars or merchant vessels, where the Red Egg might be offered.
As a safe zone, the Magnetic Garden posed no immediate threats, allowing me to rest or explore without combat pressure.
The strain from my injuries felt muted in this calmer environment.
With the Pulse Lash ability unlocked, I could test its capabilities in the Magnetic Garden's unique terrain.
I experimented in a clearing surrounded by floating debris and magnetic flora, my interface tracking the results:
I aimed my umbilical whip at a floating metal fragment, triggering a Pulse Lash.
The whip's barb emitted a crackling energy pulse, shattering the fragment into shards that scatter harmlessly.
The pulse had a short range, about 10 feet and could stun organic or biomechanical targets, making it ideal for crowd control or disabling single enemies.
My interface noted: ''Pulse Lash effective. Energy cost moderate.''
Next I attempted to affect my environment.
I targeted a nearby magnetic vine, its circuits glowing faintly.
The pulse activated the vine, causing it to uncoil and reveal a hidden alcove containing a Circuit Bloom, a small, glowing orb that could be used to power devices or as a minor offering.
The pulse slightly drained the Shard's energy, but it remained functional for further use.
With the slowdown mitigated, I tested my enhanced agility by navigating a pocket of weightlessness.
I glided effortlessly through the floating debris, my proto-bipedal limbs adapting to the low-gravity environment.
The Garden's magnetic fields amplify my newfound fluidity, allowing me to leap and maneuver with precision.
The Pulse Lash was a versatile tool, enhancing both combat and exploration.
It complemented the Ecdysis Spur's precision and the Red Egg's potential for offerings.
The Magnetic Garden's safe environment allowed further experimentation, but my interface hinted at deeper areas—altars, Vessel hubs, or paths leading to the godhusk's Head or Body—where moral choices awaited.