Lighthouse Outpost, a bastion of safety amidst the dangers of the Inversion Zone, stood as a guardian for the nearby cities and towns. It had been designed to provide shelter, medical aid, and supplies to those exploring the region.
Situated beneath a towering dam, the facility was fortified against potential threats. The massive water purification system ensured a constant supply of clean water for its residents. Additionally, the dam could be used as a last-resort defense by causing a deliberate flood, although it had never been necessary.
At the entrance, heavy blast doors sealed the compound, and two defense towers flanked the passage. High-powered searchlights mounted on these towers scanned the area around the outpost, tirelessly sweeping through the dimly lit trenches and defensive positions. Thanks to advanced electronic systems, only one guard was needed in each tower.
Inside the left defense tower, a soldier named Wei Bo, clad in obsidian-hued full-body armor, stifled a yawn. The tower's filtration and purification systems allowed him to be without his helmet, one of the perks of tower duty.
A blink on his armor's communicator caught his attention. A private message had arrived. "How's it going, Wei Bo? You haven't dozed off, have you?" it read.
Wei Bo chuckled and replied, "I had a nap just ten minutes ago. Man, this tower duty is getting me bored. I should've applied to join the Nightstalkers Exploration Corps."
"Come on, cut it out. You're an Upper Citizen, your dad wouldn't want you risking your life. Only Lowers and lunatics volunteer for the Nightstalkers."
Before Wei Bo could respond further, a sudden alert from the computer interrupted their conversation. It indicated that a warning signal had been detected, signifying the approach of dark wanderers.
"Aw, heck!" Wei Bo leaped to his feet, his fingers dancing across the virtual keyboard. A holographic window opened before him, displaying the open terrain outside the base's gates.
Though the dim lighting made it difficult to discern their features, he saw several stumbling figures. Their twisted, misshapen limbs and the eerie grayish light emanating from their chests left no doubt that they were wanderers.
Wei Bo initially breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that wanderers posed no real threat to the outpost. Rarely had these creatures ventured into this area since the outpost's establishment. But then, he saw something that left him dumbfounded.
Behind the wanderers was a vehicle, a frail-looking thing with a thin shell and deflated tires. It was one of the common vehicles seen within the Inversion Zone, believed to have been inspired by the scraps of metal and junk that littered the area. Wei Bo rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things, for these vehicles weren't typically operational due to a lack of power.
However, the truth soon became apparent. The wanderers were pushing the vehicle.
It wasn't their intention to attack; they were seeking shelter.
Wei Bo was at a loss, unsure of what to do. The Inversion Zone had thrown yet another unpredictable twist, and he had to decide how to respond to the arrival of wanderers seeking refuge within the sanctuary of Lighthouse Outpost.
In the desolate landscape of the Inversion Zone, wanderers, grotesque creatures, had been harnessed with thick iron chains. These chains were anchored to the car's crash guard. Thus, these wanderers served as laborers, pulling the vehicle forward.
Wanderers were far from livestock, and one couldn't use whips to drive them. Instead, each side of the vehicle was equipped with a lampshade. Inside the transparent covers lay a specimen of Starlight Grass. The radiant light emitted by Starlight Grass compelled the wanderers to instinctively stay away, creating the peculiar scene visible through the holographic window.
Wei Bo couldn't help but marvel at this ingenious concept. Soon after, a communication came through. "Defense Tower, do you read me? I'm Tianyang, a member of Collection Team, Fourth Squad, Soldier Code 1507. Requesting entry into the base. Oh, by the way, please notify the Research Department. I've got some live specimens of wanderers here; they need to be received."
Tianyang leaned out of the car window, holding a standard communicator, and repeated his message.
A somewhat flustered voice responded from the communicator, "We've received your request, Defense Tower. We're currently verifying your identity. Please stand by..."
After a brief pause, the heavy blast doors of the base opened, and several specialized base vehicles arrived, including two specimen transport vehicles from the Base's Research Department.
The wanderers were handed over, and Tianyang also turned in the Starlight Grass he had picked up. As for the Star Pillar within the tunnel, he couldn't bring it back, but he had marked its location on the map. This map, when submitted, would earn him substantial contribution points.
Within the fortress, 1000 contribution points would ensure a year of worry-free living for a family of three. So, after registering Tianyang's information, the officer responsible for keeping records couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy in his gaze.
"Your left eye appears injured. I recommend you visit the medical center. Additionally, as you've just returned, protocol dictates that you must undergo a full-body examination and report to a higher-ranking officer."
After uploading Tianyang's information into the base's system, the officer made these recommendations.
Tianyang made his own request, "Sir, I'd like to meet the Commander of the Nightstalkers."
The base officer hesitated, "I'm afraid the Commander won't make a special trip for a collector, even if you've brought back a lot. Besides, you just returned."
Tianyang pointed to his eye and said, "Perhaps you've noticed that I'm not wearing a helmet. Yes, I've become an Ascendant. Furthermore, my awakened job category isn't disclosed in the fortress's reports. Maybe the Commander would find this interesting."
"Are you saying you have a brand new job category? Well, I... Sorry."
The officer finally agreed, "Alright, here's what we'll do. I'll have a soldier take you to the hospital. As for your request, I'll report it to the Nightstalkers headquarters. Whether the Commander will see you or not isn't something I can decide."
"That'll do, thank you."
A base vehicle took Tianyang away, passing through the blast doors. As he looked out of the car window, he saw several supply trucks heading for the storage area. Two Falcon High-Speed Assault Vehicles passed by, ready to depart from the base. These were the standard vehicles used by the Nightstalkers, but he didn't know which squad was embarking on a new round of exploration.
In the distance, on the base's training field, several humanoid combat mechs were engaged in battle training. These mechs had been developed to compensate for the numerical disadvantage of the Ascendants.
The base was as vibrant as ever, with its inhabitants working tirelessly, like an industrious ant colony, exploring the world with unwavering efficiency.
Tianyang withdrew his gaze and muttered softly, "It's good to be back!"