Leaving behind the central chamber that marked the end of the entrance labyrinth, Cid and Jinwoo entered through an opening that spiraled downward into the depths of the structure. The organic nature of the base was accentuated; the corridors became tunnels that resembled giant arteries, their walls pulsing with a slow, heavy rhythm. The air was thicker here, laden not only with psychic oppression but also with a metallic, rancid smell, like ancient blood and cosmic rust.
The descent was long, and with every meter, Knull's lurking presence grew more overwhelming. It was no longer just distant whispers; it was a tangible pressure upon their minds, a cold weight of existential emptiness intent on crushing any trace of light or individuality. Fleeting, unwanted images flickered in the periphery of Jinwoo's vision: colossal shadows devouring stars, worlds screaming as they were engulfed, the infinite loneliness before creation. The resonance with his own power was now a constant hum deep within his being.
Cid, although apparently unaffected by the psychological onslaught, mentally cataloged the environment.
Cid thought: Descent into the core of the main base of operations. The Cult's 'architecture' becomes more organic and... visceral as we approach the source. The ambient pressure, both physical and psychic, intensifies. A defense protocol designed to wear down infiltrated agents before direct confrontation. The Level 7 Agent must maintain their 'Operational Integrity' under extreme hostile conditions.
As they descended, they encountered new kinds of obstacles. Not mechanical traps, but more direct manifestations of Knull's power. Zones of active "void energy," where reality seemed to fray and the mere touch caused a painful sensation of nullity. Viscous fluids dripped from arterial conduits, corroding matter itself. And creatures that weren't loose symbiotes, but integral parts of the walls—crimson eyes that opened and fired bolts of corrupted energy, or tentacles that emerged to ensnare them.
Jinwoo used his shadows to create temporary shields against the energy beams and to clear the path of corrosive fluids. He leaped over sections of the ground where the void energy was too intense, his generals covering his flanks. The fight was less of an open combat and more of a survivalist navigation through a lethal environment.
Cid, with his speed and energy control, remained essential. Where Jinwoo used force, Cid used subtlety. He would temporarily disable the eyes on the walls with precise touches, freeze the matter of emerging tentacles, or create small "stability fields" around them to mitigate corrosive effects and void energy, calling this his "Level 7 Agent Field Toolkit."
Cid thought: High-level environmental hazards. Manipulation of space and energy at a fundamental level. Requires the use of 'Hostile Environment Mitigation Protocols'. The Level 7 Agent's 'Operational Adaptability' is key. The Designated Shadow Asset is effective against point threats, but the overall environment requires a more... strategic approach.
In a vast cavern that opened halfway down, they found evidence of something older. Massive chains, made of a material that was neither symbiote nor known metal, were embedded in the walls, broken and torn. They radiated immense residual energy, a power fundamentally opposed to the Void. They were remnants of the original prison that had held Knull.
Jinwoo felt the power in the broken chains, an echo of the force that had once confined the god of darkness. It was tangible proof of the cosmic war the System had described to them. The scale of the conflict was staggering.
Cid examined the chains with interest.
Cid thought: Remnants of a failed 'Alpha-Plus level containment system.' Evidence of a previous large-scale operation by Allied Organization forces or their precursors. Its residual energy is compatible with the 'Cosmic Entity Imprisonment Protocols.' Valuable information for the current containment mission.
Further on, they passed a section where the symbiote matter looked different. Instead of being chaotic and twisted, it formed more geometric, almost crystalline structures, with a dark glow that wasn't oppressive, but... silent. It was symbiote matter, yes, but with an order that Knull didn't seem to impose. A vestige of the symbiotes that rebelled against Knull and formed the Klyntar, or perhaps a remnant of the prison itself that refused to be fully corrupted.
Jinwoo felt a subtle difference in this area, a less aggressive, more... neutral resonance. It was intriguing.
Cid noticed it too, but he interpreted it differently.
Cid thought: An anomaly in the Cult's network. An abandoned 'quarantine zone' or 'experimentation lab' where the Cult's structures failed to completely subjugate the material. It could be a trap or a point of interest for data collection on the 'enemy's composition.'
They continued their descent, Knull's presence ever more potent, the environmental challenges more frequent and dangerous. They overcame pits of seething energy, passed nests of symbiote creatures fully integrated into the walls, and withstood blasts of psychic influence that sought to paralyze their wills. Every step was a struggle against dominion itself.
The air grew thick with concentrated power. The rhythmic heartbeat they had heard from above turned into a deafening rumble. The descent path ended in a vast chamber, unlike any before. It was immense, the beating heart of the base, perhaps even the corrupted planet. And at its center, a concentration of darkness and power that eclipsed everything they had felt so far. It wasn't Knull himself, not yet, but they were incredibly close.
The chamber was defended. Ominous figures moved in the gloom, larger and more powerful than anything they had faced since Sentinel Alpha. They were the final guardians before the Black King's location.
Cid stopped at the threshold of the chamber, his posture firm.
Cid thought: Arrived at the 'Base of Operations Core'. The final boss's location is in the immediate vicinity. The central chamber is defended by elite security units. This is the 'Final Guardian Confrontation Protocol'. As a Level 7 Agent, this is the kind of challenge I was designed for.
Jinwoo felt the concentrated power of the guardians, and Knull's overwhelming presence beyond them. The resonance in his being reached a painful peak. They had reached the corrupted heart of the planet. The next fight would be their last before facing the Black King himself.
"This is it," Jinwoo said, his voice low, resonating with the seriousness of the moment. His shadows pulsed beneath his skin, preparing for the impending battle.
They were on the threshold of the final confrontation. The journey through the horrors of the deep void had reached its climax.
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