The daybreak painted the world in soft hues of gold, casting its gentle embrace upon Lucas's shelter. In the quiet moments before the city stirred, he woke with determination etched into his being. The discoveries he had made during his expeditions had ignited a fervor within him, a longing to unearth the secrets hidden within the city's decaying heart.After spending several days in his shelter, his eagerness to unveil the city's mysteries had grown insatiable. However, a lingering concern tethered him. The vastness of the city and the threat of darkness encouraged caution. Before embarking on a full exploration, he decided to make a pivotal stop at the library. His objective was clear: acquire a map of the city.With his trusty plasma blade at his side, Lucas left his cherished rifle safely nestled in his cart. The library, as he had discovered during his previous expedition, was not devoid of life. He knew well the danger of attracting the attention of lurking threats if he fired his rifle within the library's confines.He retraced his steps, mindful of each footfall, and returned to the library. What greeted him was a scene of further disarray. More books lay scattered on the ground, and several shelves stood broken and desolate. Lucas couldn't help but wonder what had transpired since his last visit.
Nevertheless, he pressed forward, determined to find the map he sought amidst the rubble.As he sifted through the remains of the library's collection, his heart pounded, and the eerie silence weighed on him. The quiet was almost oppressive, and every sound he made seemed to echo through the derelict space. He felt like an intruder in a world where time had stopped, and the ghosts of readers and scholars watched his every move.Finally, his search yielded what he had come for—an old, dusty holographic projector. It was an incongruous find among the books, and Lucas couldn't help but wonder about its purpose. With cautious excitement, he began to tinker with it, hoping to bring it back to life.
The echoes of his actions filled the library—a soft hum here, a click there. And then, from the depths of the hallway to his left, he heard it—the low, groaning sound that sent shivers down his spine. His body moved instinctively toward the source of the sound, even as his mind screamed for caution.Turning the corner of the hallway, Lucas was met with a chilling sight—a medium-sized pack of Acidspines, at least a hundred strong, sprawled upon a colossal pile of books. The acidic remains of their voracious feast marked the devastation. Fear coursed through him as he realized that this was the reason for the library's state, and the unsettling feeling of not being alone had a sinister source.He understood the perilous situation and the rule: never encounter more than one Acidspine unless you wish to meet your end. His heart raced as he tried to move silently, but the universe seemed determined to test his luck. His leg collided with a reading table, and with a spine-chilling 'screeeeh', it slid to a corner of the room, he now lay on the floor, his bruised leg throbbing.Facing the hallway, Lucas observed the Acidspines.
They began to stir, and in those tense moments, he recalled the guidance he had received: stay still, for Acidspines attacked any moving creature that wasn't one of their own.He held his breath, his body motionless, as he watched the Acidspines in front of him. Time stretched agonizingly, but the creatures eventually grunted and began to retreat down the hallway. Relief surged through Lucas as they left, and he hoped they would return to their pack.After what felt like an eternity, he cautiously rose to his feet, the projector clutched in his trembling hand. With a newfound sense of urgency, he left the library and ran back to his shelter, blocking the door from the inside with a racing heart and a sigh of relief.