Chapter 18: The Onset of Exploration and Escalating Threat
A few hours after sunrise, Kaelen left the shelter. The atmosphere outside was far from "calm." A heavy silence hung over the university, a silence that wasn't natural, but charged with tension, like the quiet of a graveyard after a fresh burial. The accumulated rubble, cracked buildings, and long shadows cast by decaying structures painted a picture of absolute devastation. The scent of dust, rust, and dried blood clung to the air, a constant reminder that this world had died, and another, far harsher one, had been born from its ashes.
Kaelen moved cautiously, his steps measured, his eyes scanning every corner. He knew that every shadow could conceal a threat. As he advanced, he decided to activate his new skill, "Mana Sense."
[Mana Sense (Dormant) - Activating...][Warning! Unstable Mana Concentration! Risk of Incomplete Activation!]
Kaelen felt a sharp prick in his head, as if something was trying to tear through him. It wasn't as easy as he expected. But before he could retreat, a new message from the System flashed, this time with a sharp, urgent tone:
[Warning! Imminent Threat Detected! Forced Activation of Mana Sense (Level 1) to Counter Danger!]
A wave of information surged into his mind, not as text, but as a direct sensation. He felt the presence of beings, not just in his immediate vicinity, but at a distance, slowly moving towards the shelter. These weren't just ordinary monsters; they emanated a different, denser, and more sinister mana signature.
[Second Wave Creatures Detected. Type: Ghost. Level: 8.][Warning: These creatures possess the ability to become intangible and move through solid objects.]
"Ghost creatures?" Kaelen muttered, his eyes narrowing. This was an entirely new challenge. These weren't the massive, slow creatures whose weaknesses he could exploit. These were phantoms, capable of bypassing physical barriers.
Suddenly, Kaelen felt an icy coldness pierce his body, as if something invisible had passed right through him. He spun around quickly, but saw nothing. Then another message appeared from the System:
[Attack detected from Ghost creature. Damage: 50 Health Points.]
"Damn it!" Kaelen growled. He couldn't even see them! This meant that "Analysis" alone wouldn't be enough. He had to rely entirely on "Mana Sense."
Kaelen closed his eyes for a moment, focusing all his awareness on sensing the mana flows around him. He no longer saw with his eyes, but with his "Mana Sense." He perceived three faint, translucent forms moving with incredible speed around him, each leaving a faint trail of purple mana. They attacked and retreated swiftly, exploiting their ability to pass through objects.
The battle was completely different. It was no longer entirely physical. He had to anticipate their movements through his mana sense, striking the moment they partially materialized to attack. Kaelen unleashed concentrated waves of mana towards the faint forms, seizing every opportunity to hit them. The creatures shrieked faintly when struck, but they did not retreat.
After a few minutes of desperate fighting, the last ghost creature fell, disintegrating into small Essence Crystals. Kaelen gasped for breath, his body covered in the cold scratches left by the ghosts' attacks, which caused a burning pain.
[Second Wave Creatures (Type: Ghost) eliminated.][Quest Progress: 100%.][Quest Completed: Clear the Dungeon.][Reward: Essence Crystals, Rare Resources, chance to obtain an Artifact.]
[New Location Discovered: Mana Nexus.][Location: Science Faculty Building, Basement.][Danger: Very High. Reason for Danger: Unstable Mana Flow, Third Wave Monster Activity.][Note: This location is a primary source of unstable mana flow in the university, strongly attracting creatures.]
Kaelen looked towards the Science Faculty Building, which appeared like any other ruined structure, but now he felt an immense concentration of mana emanating from it. This wasn't just a random dungeon. This was a focal point, a source of threat, and perhaps a key to a deeper understanding of the catastrophe.
"Mana Nexus..." Kaelen muttered. This meant the catastrophe wasn't just about monsters appearing; it was a profound transformation in the very fabric of the world. And that meant there were more such points.
At that moment, Kaelen felt a powerful surge of mana emanating from deep within the Science Faculty Building. It wasn't just a flow; it was a sensation of something colossal, something dormant, but slowly awakening.
[Warning! Massive Mana Activity Detected at Mana Nexus. Risk of Third Wave Threat Appearance Increasing.]
Kaelen realized that time was running out. This Nexus wasn't just a place to explore; it was a ticking time bomb. He had to do something about it, or the entire shelter would be in imminent danger.