The reunion at The Haven was a mix of joyous relief and somber reflection. Marcus, Mr. Henderson, Chloe, Lily, Sam, and Jasmine rushed out, their faces alight with hope at the sight of the armored truck, but quickly clouded with concern as they saw Ethan's heavily bandaged arm and the general exhaustion etched on Anya and Jax's faces.
"Ethan! Your arm!" Marcus exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"Just a souvenir," Ethan managed, a weak smile touching his lips. He was helped out of the truck, the simple act of standing sending waves of pain through his ribs.
Anya quickly reassured the group. "Everyone's safe. Mission accomplished. We got the data, and the source of the specialized infected is gone."
Inside the fortress, under the warm glow of a few battery-powered lanterns, Anya laid out the retrieved tablet. The digital information it contained was now their most valuable asset, a horrifying blueprint of the apocalypse. As she explained the true nature of Project Chimera, the Alpha, and the engineered origins of the fast, smart anomalies, the faces around the table grew pale.
"So, it wasn't just a virus," Mr. Henderson whispered, shaking his head. "It was... designed?"
"Yes," Anya confirmed, tapping a diagram of the Alpha's neural network. "A bioweapon. And the Alpha was the controlling intelligence, the 'brain' of these new, highly evolved infected. We destroyed it, and the research that created it. So, no more Runners, Lurkers, or Brutes acting with coordination or intelligent tactics. They'll revert to mindless shamblers."
Relief washed over some of the faces, but for others, like Marcus, a new kind of dread settled in. "What about other labs?" he asked, his voice low. "If this was a black-site operation, there could be more."
"That's the unknown," Anya admitted, running a hand through her hair. "The data we recovered doesn't directly mention other facilities, but it's a huge world. And if this was a government project, it's possible there are other installations, other strains."
Ethan, feeling a little steadier after a few more painkillers and some re-bandaging by Mr. Henderson, spoke up. "We have the original strain's genetic markers. The data showed how it works, how it mutates. Maybe... maybe there's a counter."
Anya looked at him, a flicker of hope in her weary eyes. "It's a long shot, Ethan. We're not scientists. But yes, the raw genetic data is here. If we could find a functioning research lab, or someone with the expertise... it's a possibility, however remote."
**\[New Primary Objective: Seek Scientific Expertise to analyze Project Chimera data. Reward: Path to a cure/mitigation.]**
The discussion continued late into the night. The revelation of the apocalypse's origins was a heavy burden, but also a new direction. They were no longer just surviving; they were holding a piece of the puzzle that could, potentially, lead to a solution.
Ethan, listening to them debate strategies for finding scientists or a new lab, felt the familiar System notification. He had been saving his available **Point** and **SkillPoint**. Now seemed like the time to allocate them.
His injuries were severe, but healing. He needed to be able to take hits, to keep moving. He put his stat point into **Stamina**, boosting it to its absolute maximum for his current level.
**\[Point allocated to Stamina. Stamina: 13 (+1).]**
For the **Skill Point**, he considered his options. **MeleeProficiency** and **Ranged Accuracy** were strong, but what about defense? He recalled the critical blow from the Brute.
He scrolled through the **Skill Tree**:
* **Combat Skills:** Melee Proficiency (Tier 2), Ranged Accuracy (Tier 2), Critical Strike (Tier 1).
* **Survival Skills:** Scavenging (Tier 1), Stealth (Tier 1), First Aid (Tier 1), **Hardened Constitution (Tier1)**.
**Hardened Constitution (Tier 1)** caught his eye. *Effect: +5% damage reduction from all sources. Cost: 1 Skill Point.* It was exactly what he needed. To absorb blows, to survive the impossible.
"Hardened Constitution (Tier 1)," he thought.
**\[Hardened Constitution (Tier 1) acquired! Effect: +5% damage reduction from all sources. Cost: 1 Skill Point.]**
A subtle, internal shift. He felt a faint reinforcement, as if his very bones and muscles had become marginally denser, tougher. It wouldn't make him invincible, but it was a crucial step towards becoming more resilient.
His new Title, **AnomalyHunter**, felt more earned than ever. He had faced the engineered nightmares and survived. Now, with the knowledge from Sierra One, their purpose had broadened beyond mere survival. They were seeking a future.