The vibration started before I was fully awake, slow and steady, like a heartbeat pulsing from somewhere deep in my chest.
When I opened my eyes, the HUD was already active, painting the tent walls in a faint red glow.
[Host : Terry Holt ]
Inventory Item - Unknown Material : Containment Instability Detected
Integrity : 83% -> 79%
I sat up fast, breath sharp in my throat. Mason stirred across the tent but didn't wake.
"Show me," I whispered.
The inventory display unfolded, a faint grid of glowing hexes. The fragment floated in the first slot, suspended in a black void. It wasn't dormant anymore. Red light pulsed through fine cracks across its surface, like veins beneath skin.
Integrity : 79% -> 74%
Energy Output : Rising
The system's voice pressed into my skull, silent words that felt alive.
Directive Issued: Increase Host to level 3 within 24 hours
Failure Consequence: Dimentional Breach / Biological Contamination Risk
My pulse kicked. "What do you mean, contamination?"
Containment linked to host
Breach = Exposure
"So if that thing breaks…"
Affirmative
Integrity : 73%
Twenty-four hours. There was no way I could level up that fast just doing daily tasks.
The system pulsed again, rewriting the air in front of me.
Temporary Quest Generated: Accelerated Growth Protocol
Objective: Complete three High-Intensity Strain Actions within 12 hours
Reward: +40 EXP / +1 Attribute Point
Warning: Overexertion may cause structural damage to host tissue
A second pane expanded:
Definition: High - Intensity Strain Actions
Actions that impose extreme physical or metabolic stress on the host's structure, forcing adaptive evolution.
Examples:
– Sustained combat or lethal encounter
– Lifting or carrying beyond current strength threshold
– Inducing regeneration through injury
– Controlled transformation attempts
– Survival under starvation or oxygen deprivation
Each successful action accelerates synchronization and experience gain proportional to strain endured.
Failure to adapt may result in host destabilization.
I stared at the glowing text. The tent was silent except for Mason's slow breathing.
The system didn't want effort. It wanted strain.
"Pain for progress," I muttered. "Figures."
The HUD dimmed, leaving the hum of static behind my ribs. The faint whisper that meant it was still listening.
I sat for a moment longer, then forced myself up. The first quarry bell rang through the camp.
Time to work.
—————
The smell of salt and smoke clung to everything. Workers shuffled in half-awake lines, metal trays clattering as breakfast was served.
I joined them, the HUD still flickering faintly in the corner of my vision.
Integrity: 70%
Time remaining: 23hrs02mins
**Daily Task Reset
[Daily Tasks]
1. Feed the flesh. Sustain the form. Consume 100g of Protein - Reward: +10 exp
Health penalty if ignored: -5/hr
2. Test your limits. Break to Rebuild. Strengthen the Body - Reward: +10 exp
Mason waved me over. "Look who finally decided to eat with the rest of us," he said through a mouthful of jerky. "Vargas thought you were on grave duty."
"Wouldn't be the first time."
He smirked. "You've been missing meals. People notice, man."
I forced a smile. "Guess I'll fix that."
I picked up my fork, moved food around, but didn't eat. The smell turned my stomach. My body wasn't hungry, not for this.
When Mason wasn't looking, I palmed a strip of jerky and hid it under the napkin.
Daily Task Progress: 0/100g
Penalty Timer Active
Health: 95/100
The static returned behind my eyes. I inhaled slow, steady.
"Clara asked about you," Mason said, glancing up.
I froze. "Yeah?"
"She said you've been off. You sick or something?"
"I'm Fine," I said too quickly.
He frowned. "Then eat something before Vargas eats you."
I pushed the tray away. "Later."
Health: 95/100 -> 90/100
Penalty Applied.
The faint pulse of the system grew louder, steadier. My jaw clenched as the ache spread down my neck.
The last time my health had dropped this low, hunger had twisted into something else… something alive.
A night I didn't fully remember, only flashes: blood in the dirt, the taste of iron, yellow eyes in the dark.
If it happened again, here, with the crew around me and there'd be no hiding it.
Mason kept talking, but I couldn't focus. My pulse synced to the system's hum.
Accelerated Growth Protocol: Progress 0/3
Spatial integrity: 68
Time Remaining: 22hrs39mins
Every number meant pressure. Every flicker reminded me how close I was to losing control again.
"Come on," Mason said finally, clapping my shoulder. "We're on the south wall today."
The words hit like a spark. The same place I'd taken the fragment.
Perfect.
—————
The truck rattled down the slope, wheels grinding through loose stone. Vargas's voice echoed from the scaffold before we even stopped.
"Move it! I want the debris cleared before nightfall. If it looks heavy, lift it!"
Mason groaned. "He's in rare form."
"Good," I muttered. "Gives me a reason to move."
The HUD shimmered.
Accelerated Growth Protocol - Progress: 0/3
Optional Synergy Detected
** Simultaneous completion possible.
Action Identified: Controlled Starvation + Physical Overload
Reward Multiplier: 1.8x
***Warning: Extreme risk of physiological destabilization and involuntary mutation response.
Two birds, one stone. Or one death, maybe. I tightened my gloves and started to dig.