Chapter 28: Secrets of the East Wing
Kaelen and his team cautiously advanced through the scattered rubble of the university. After dealing with the initial threats, their coordination improved, and they began to trust each other more. Ethan expertly led the way, avoiding pits and dangling wires, while Caleb guarded the rear with his strength. Layla observed the horizon with her sharp eyes, and Emily, despite her tension, followed Kaelen closely. Her latent Mana Resonance ability began to pick up faint, unusual vibrations in the surrounding environment, warning her of something coming.
As they drew closer to the east wing, the atmosphere changed noticeably. The air, once heavy with the scent of decay, now carried a faint metallic taste, mixed with lingering dust. The buildings, though still bearing the scars of the catastrophe, seemed relatively intact here. The windows were shattered in jagged patterns, but the structural integrity appeared less damaged. Some old signs for research labs and lecture halls were still visible, half-obscured by climbing vines. The place looked less like a graveyard and more like a forgotten, overgrown research facility, hinting at secrets preserved beneath the rubble.
"This is it," Ethan said, his voice a low whisper, pointing to a large, half-shattered glass building that seemed to shimmer faintly under the filtering sunlight. "This used to be the building for the Faculty of Applied Sciences. It housed some of the most advanced research labs. The main labs were supposedly on the lower floors, designed to be more secure."
Kaelen felt a distinct mana pulse emanating from the building. It wasn't a chaotic and aggressive flow like the Evolved Seed, but a subtle, steady hum, a sign that something inside had already changed, absorbing or interacting with the new cosmic energies. His Mana Sense (Level 3) allowed him to perceive these subtle shifts with remarkable clarity, painting a picture of a dormant power within the seemingly inert structure.
"We'll start on the ground floor," Kaelen declared, his gaze sweeping the damaged facade of the building. "We won't risk going straight to the bottom until we have a clearer picture. Our goal is reconnaissance and resource gathering. Look for anything that could be useful—data logs, maps, schematics, or anything that seems unusual or out of place. Every piece of information could be vital."
They entered the building through a wide gap where a wall had once been. The interior was a labyrinth of overturned shelves, shattered scientific equipment, and scattered papers, many water-damaged and brittle. The pungent, acrid smell of old chemicals still hung in the air, a ghost of past experiments, now mixed with the pervasive scent of dust, dampness, and rust. Every step echoed in the cavernous space, adding to the tension.
Kaelen's Mana Sense (Level 3) was working hard, painting the environment with glimmering mana signatures. He scanned every corner, every overturned desk, looking for any active mana signatures or hidden threats. He noticed that some of the old devices, even those smashed beyond recognition, still held faint traces of mana, as if they had absorbed a part of the new energy that flooded the world. It was a strange phenomenon, suggesting that the very materials of the old world were beginning to adapt to the new.
Suddenly, a distinct rustling sound emanated from behind a towering pile of twisted metal and broken lab tables. It was not the sound of rodents, but something heavier, more deliberate. In the same moment, Emily felt a powerful, almost painful, pulse of mana in her body. Her eyes, normally a soft brown, flashed with a faint, ethereal blue light for a fleeting moment, and she instinctively grabbed Kaelen's arm. "Something is coming!" she whispered, her voice barely audible, laced with a mix of fear and an undeniable sense of urgency. Her Mana Resonance ability was flaring, a raw, protective instinct reacting to the hidden threat.
From the shadows, a creature emerged. It was a Clay Lurker, similar to the ones they had faced before, but it was larger, its slender, humanoid form covered in a thick, hard layer of cracked dry clay. This made it look rougher, more resilient, and its usual faint mana glow was almost completely obscured by its earthen shell. Its movements were slow and deliberate but carried a heavy, menacing weight.
[Threat: Clay Lurker (First Wave)] [Health Points: 120/120] [Strength: Low] [Agility: Medium]
"A Clay Lurker!" Kaelen warned, his voice sharp. "It's a bit slower than a regular Lurker, but its tough hide will make it harder to damage. Focus on its exposed joints!"
The Clay Lurker lumbered forward, its heavy footsteps echoing in the silence, its two glowing red eyes fixed on Kaelen. It lunged, a surprisingly quick strike with a heavy, clay-covered fist. Caleb, despite his injured arm, didn't hesitate. He raised his metal sheet, intercepting the blow with a resounding clang. The reverberation traveled up his arm, but his improvised shield held, deflecting the creature's attack.
In that moment, Kaelen moved. He didn't engage in a direct physical assault. Instead, he focused on using Mana Control to create precise, concentrated mana pulses. These were not for direct damage, but to disrupt the Clay Lurker's internal mana flow and throw off its balance. The creature visibly staggered, its steps faltering, its movements becoming erratic for a crucial second.
"Go!" Kaelen shouted, seizing the opportunity.
Ethan and Caleb surged forward, taking advantage of the distraction. Ethan, with surprising agility, swung his iron rod, striking a weak point on the Lurker's exposed leg joint. A sickening crunch resonated, and the creature stumbled. Before it could recover, Caleb delivered a powerful, well-aimed blow with his metal sheet to its torso. The hard clay cracked, and the creature let out a guttural shriek as it finally collapsed, its body quickly disintegrating into a shower of small, glowing Essence Crystals.
[Clay Lurker eliminated.] [Experience Points gained: 60.]
"Good work, everyone," Kaelen said, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes. "That's the coordination we need."
They continued their cautious advance through the ground floor, facing more Clay Lurkers, but each encounter was easier than the last. The team began to work as a single unit, learning from their mistakes and adapting to the threats. This was the true beginning of their exploration, and every step brought them closer to a deeper understanding of this new world. As they progressed, they came across the remains of an old lab, where Kaelen found some shattered glass vials containing the residue of a white powder. When he touched it, he felt a faint mana pulse react with it.
[Unknown chemical compound discovered. Reacts with Mana.] [Note: May have useful properties when infused with Mana.]
"What is this?" Layla asked, looking at the silvery powder.
"I don't know yet," Kaelen replied, carefully collecting a small sample. "But it reacts with mana. It could be incredibly useful. Maybe we can use it to enhance our abilities, or even to create something new." He realized that this discovery could be a game-changer for the entire shelter. It wasn't just a fight for survival anymore, it was a race against time to understand the new world.
"Do you think there's more of this in the lower floors?" Ethan asked, looking down at the opening leading below.
"Most likely," Kaelen replied, his eyes narrowing. "But the stronger mana concentration I felt was from down there. That means the real threat is waiting for us. We have to be ready for anything."
The mission was clear now. It wasn't just about collecting resources, but about a deeper understanding of the world itself. Every step brought them closer to the truth, and every discovery opened new doors.