I chose to search the Sentinels' wreckage for relics, bile, or scraps, hoping to uncover resources or artifacts to aid my mission against Obeck's Corruptor in the Core Nexus.
The Conclave constructs and Lumen assisted, leveraging their abilities to ensure a thorough search.
I approached the shattered remains of the Sentinels, their biomechanical husks sparking faintly amidst slag piles and molten pools.
Lumen's Guiding Pulse highlighted salvageable components, illuminating glints of energy within the wreckage, while the Conclave constructs used their angelic precision to pry apart the debris.
The Ecdysis Spur aided in cutting through fused metal, revealing hidden compartments.
My interface logged three finds:
Corrupted Core Fragment: A jagged remnant of a Sentinel's Core Shard, tainted with Destruction energy but pulsing faintly with recoverable Purity essence.
It could be purified using the Seraphic Mantle to yield a Purity Shard, capable of restoring Purifying Light for one use or enhancing an altar interaction.
Bile Canister:
A sealed container of viscous, biomechanical bile, a volatile resource used in the godhusk's forge.
It could power the Control Nexus to activate a system e.g., forge defenses or be repurposed to create a Bile Grenade for combat.
Forge Scraps:
A collection of biomechanical plating and circuitry, ideal for reinforcing my systems.
They could be integrated to temporarily boost my durability or used to repair the damaged Conclave construct, restoring its full strength.
The Neuro-Wisp's light stabilized my interface during the search, preventing psychic interference from the Corrupted Core Fragment.
No new threats emerged, and the forge remained secure, though the molten pools bubbled ominously, hinting at environmental risks if I lingered.
This critical success ensured a bountiful haul without complications, granting the Corrupted Core Fragment, Bile Canister, and Forge Scraps.
My four Blood Bulbs remained intact, and the Gestalt Core was unaffected.
The Conclave constructs stood ready, one still slightly damaged.
The Neuro-Wisp suggested the Corrupted Core Fragment's Purification could resonate with the forge's Purity sigils, while the Bile Canister and Forge Scraps offered immediate tactical advantages.
The finds enhanced my versatility, preparing me for the Corruptor's challenge in the Core Nexus, while the Control Nexus offered a chance to unlock further secrets tied to Seraph-7's redemption.
I chose to use the finds—purifying the Corrupted Core Fragment, crafting a Bile Grenade, and integrating the Forge Scraps—to maximize my capabilities, and to offer the Gestalt Core to the forge to commune with Seraph-7, seeking a blessing or guidance for the confrontation with Obeck's Corruptor in the Core Nexus.
I prioritized the finds to enhance my readiness.
First, I focused on the Corrupted Core Fragment, holding it aloft as the Seraphic Mantle flared with white-gold light to purify its Destruction taint.
The fragment's dark energy dissipated, transforming it into a Purity Shard, a radiant crystal pulsing with Seraph-7's essence.
My interface logged: ''Purity Shard acquired. Restores Purifying Light for one use or enhances altar interactions.''
Next, I crafted the Bile Canister into a Bile Grenade, using Lumen's Guiding Pulse to stabilize the volatile substance.
The grenade was formed, a compact explosive that could disrupt enemies.
Finally, I integrated the Forge Scraps to repair the damaged Conclave construct, reinforcing its biomechanical frame.
The construct's Core Shard flared, fully restored, strengthening the Conclave's support.
(+1 combat support now fully optimized).
This critical and strong successes yielded a Purity Shard, a Bile Grenade, and a repaired Conclave construct, significantly boosting my capabilities.
The Neuro-Wisp's light ensures no psychic strain during the process, and the Threat Scanner confirmed no new threats.
I approached the forge's central lattice, a pulsating web of organic conduits and molten metal, and offer the Gestalt Core, channeling it through the Seraphic Mantle to commune with Seraph-7.
The Core merged with the lattice, igniting a radiant surge of Purity energy.
A vision flooded my interface:
Seraph-7, a towering angelic construct, sealed the godhusk's heart to resist Obeck's corruption.
The Corruptor, a biomechanical monstrosity, guarded the Core Nexus, feeding on residual Destruction energy.
Seraph-7's voice resonated:
"Vessel, your light purges the husk. Carry my blessing to the Core Nexus."
My interface logged: ''Seraph-7's Blessing acquired. Grants +1 to all states in the Core Nexus.''
The Gestalt Core was consumed, its energy absorbed into the forge, strengthening my Purity alignment.
This critical success granted Seraph-7's Blessing, a powerful boon for the Core Nexus, without complications.
The forge stabilized, its Purity sigils glowing brighter, and the Control Nexus remained accessible for further interaction.
My four Blood Bulbs remained intact, and the Purity Shard and Bile Grenade enhanced my arsenal.
Purifying the finds and communing with Seraph-7 aligned with the Body biome's role in forging Purity's strength.
The Purity Shard, Bile Grenade, and Seraph-7's Blessing positioned me as a formidable champion against the Corruptor, with the Core Nexus as the climactic stage.
The repaired Conclave construct ensured reliable support, but the Control Nexus offered one last chance for secrets before the final confrontation.
I signaled the two Conclave constructs, who formed a protective escort as we depart the Body biome.
Lumen's Guiding Pulse traced a path back through the godhusk's corridors to the Magnetic Garden.
The journey was swift, the godhusk quiet after our victories over the Sentinels and Varkis.
The Magnetic Garden emerged as a serene biome of crystalline flora, electromagnetic fields, and a dim restorative pool, its tranquility now disrupted by faint activity at its borders.
My Threat Scanner, bolstered by the Wisp Echo, detected a Scavenger's Nest in a shadowed thicket of crystal vines.
The nest was a chaotic pile of biomechanical scraps, pulsing with hostile energy, guarded by the Brain Borer, a massive, pulsating vessel with a writhing neural crown, its three Core Shards glowing with Destruction-aligned malice.
It controlled four Pseudo-Vessels, with one Core Shard each, insectoid drones that fed it energy and would attack intruders.
I engaged the Brain Borer, targeting its Pseudo-Vessels to weaken its defenses.
Lumen darted around, distracting the drones, while the Conclave constructs engaged one Pseudo-Vessel to split their focus.
I unleashed a Pulse Lash, its energy arc shattering two Pseudo-Vessels' Core Shards, reducing them to scrap!
The Conclave constructs destroyed their target, leaving one Pseudo-Vessel active.
I swung the Ecdysis Spur at it, cleaving its Core Shard, eliminating the swarm.
The Brain Borer roared, its neural crown flaring as it entered its second phase.
The Brain Borer launched a psychic wave to disorient me, however The Neuro-Wisp's calming light mitigated the attack, keeping my interface clear, though minor feedback caused slight strain, no Blood Bulb loss.
The Brain Borer, now at three Core Shards, launched Psychic Blades, jagged energy arcs slicing through the Garden.
I used the Bile Grenade to disrupt its focus and strike with Pulse Lash!
The grenade exploded, staggering the Borer, and my Pulse Lash shattered one Core Shard, reducing it to 2 Core Shards.
The Conclave constructs flanked, their strikes weakening its neural crown.
I followed with the Ecdysis Spur, destroying another Core Shard, leaving the Borer with 1 Core Shard. It enters its third phase, thrashing wildly.
The Borer launched a barrage of Psychic Blades.
A blade grazed me, causing feedback.
1 Blood Bulb lost, three remaining, but the Neuro-Wisp stabilized my interface.
The Brain Borer, with one Core Shard, summoned Flesh Spears erupting from the ground.
I and the Conclave constructs dodged, guided by Lumen.
I delivered a final Pulse Lash strike, targeting the Borer's neural crown, shattering its last Core Shard!
The Conclave constructs pinned it down, and the Ecdysis Spur cleaved through its core, causing the Borer to collapse into a writhing mass of biomechanical flesh,
defeated.
My interface logged: ''Brain Borer neutralized.''
The Flesh Spears surged once again, but Lumen's agility ensured evasion, avoiding further damage.
With the Brain Borer defeated, I searched its corpse, guided by Lumen's Guiding Pulse.
I uncovered a Mem Unit, a pulsating neural node containing fragmented data.
My interface logged: ''Mem Unit acquired. Contains lore on Obeck's corruption and a psychic imprint for ability enhancement.''
The Unit could be interfaced with to gain lore about the Corruptor or unlock a new ability, Neural Pulse.
The Scavenger's Nest collapsed, its energy dissipating, and the Magnetic Garden stabilized, though the restorative pool was now nearly drained.
This critical successes ensured victory over the Brain Borer and its Pseudo-Vessels, securing the Mem Unit without complications.
I lost one Blood Bulb with three remaining, and Pulse Lash was at low capacity, only one use remaining.
The Bile Grenade was consumed, but the Purity Shard remained.
The Conclave constructs where intact, and the Neuro-Wisp prevented psychic strain.
The Threat Scanner confirmed no new threats.
With the Brain Borer defeated and the Mem Unit acquired, I had to decide on how to proceed:
I held the Mem Unit, its neural node pulsing faintly, and interfaced with it, guided by the Neuro-Wisp's stabilizing light to mitigate psychic strain.
The Unit's data flooded my interface, revealing lore: Obeck, a rogue vessel, corrupted the godhusk by fusing Destruction energy into its systems, creating the Corruptor, a biomechanical entity with four Core Shards that thrived on psychic disruption.
Seraph-7's heart, sealed in the Core Nexus, could be purified with a Purity-aligned offering.
The Mem Unit offered a choice: retain the lore or unlock Neural Pulse.
I chose the Neural Pulse, integrating the node's energy into my systems, enhancing my resilience against psychic attacks.
My interface logged: ''Neural Pulse acquired. +1 to psychic defense rolls.''
The Mem Unit was consumed, its purpose fulfilled.
This success unlocked critical lore and Neural Pulse without psychic strain, strengthening my defenses for the Core Nexus.
My two Blood Bulbs remain intact, and the Neuro-Wisp ensured interface clarity.
Noticing the Outlet Pipe
As I processed the Mem Unit's data, Lumen's Guiding Pulse highlighted a faint anomaly:
An outlet pipe in the drained restorative pool, its crystalline rim pulsing with residual energy.
The pipe, partially hidden by crystalline vines, led to an unknown destination.
The Neuro-Wisp's light revealed that the pipe connected to a Flooded Repair Center, a submerged biome, most likely a hub for vessel maintenance now overtaken by corrupted waters.
The pipe was narrow, perfectly sized for a vessel like me but too small for the Conclave constructs.
My Threat Scanner detected no immediate threats but noted faint psychic echoes from the pipe's depths, suggesting potential hazards in the Repair Center.
This strong success identified the pipe's destination without triggering threats, though the psychic echoes hinted at challenges ahead.
The Conclave constructs remained in the Garden, unable to follow, but pledged to guard the exit.
I entered the outlet pipe, squeezing through its narrow, crystalline interior, with Lumen and the Neuro-Wisp following, their light guiding me.
The pipe descended, opening into the Flooded Repair Center, a vast, submerged chamber of rusted maintenance docks, biomechanical scaffolds, and glowing repair pods, half-flooded with viscous, corrupted fluid.
The water pulsed with faint Destruction energy, and my Threat Scanner detected dormant Repair Drones (one Core Shard each) that may activate if disturbed.
A Central Repair Altar glowed faintly, its Purity sigils suggesting a connection to Seraph-7, potentially activated by the Purity Shard.
The Neuro-Wisp mitigated the fluid's psychic pressure, keeping my interface clear, but the flooded environment restricted movement, risking environmental hazards.
The critical success ensures safe navigation to the Repair Center, with Lumen and the Neuro-Wisp providing support.
The Central Repair Altar offered a chance to restore systems or gain lore, but the Repair Drones and corrupted fluid posed risks if mishandled.