The wind howled through the shattered buildings as Alex, Elara, Serena, and Nia ventured deeper into the ruins. The once-bustling factories and warehouses now stood as crumbling monuments to a forgotten world, their rusted skeletons barely holding together beneath the weight of time. Snow had begun to fall again, dusting the broken streets and adding to the eerie silence that enveloped the group.
Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them as they walked, though he knew it was just his nerves. The weight of his recent discoveries—and the secret he was keeping from the others—pressed heavily on his mind. He had spent the night absorbing energy at the power plant, but now, as they approached the heart of the ruins, he wondered if it would be enough.
Serena walked quietly beside Nia, her eyes sharp and focused, while Elara led the way, her hand resting near the hilt of her blade, ready for anything. Nia, though still young, moved with a cautious grace, her wide green eyes scanning the rubble around them for any signs of danger.
Elara broke the silence first, her voice low but clear. "We'll check the old power station first. Last time we were here, we didn't have time to go through the upper floors. Might be something useful there."
Serena nodded, her breath visible in the cold air. "Sounds good. Nia and I will take the east side, you and Alex can take the west."
The group agreed, splitting off in pairs as they reached the entrance to the dilapidated power station. The walls were covered in rust, and the windows had long since shattered, leaving jagged shards of glass embedded in the frames. Snow had piled up in the corners of the building, mixing with debris and the remnants of old machines.
As Alex and Elara climbed the crumbling staircase to the second floor, Alex's thoughts drifted back to his conversation with the AI earlier. He had absorbed enough energy to carry out small repairs, but the limits of his body were a constant reminder that he wasn't ready for anything major. His capacity had grown, but he was still far from reaching his true potential.
AI, how much energy do I have left after last night's absorption? Alex asked, glancing around the dusty, forgotten room they had entered.
"Current energy reserves are at 62%," the AI replied. "Sufficient for minor repairs and enhancements, but insufficient for large-scale tasks or prolonged use of energy arts."
Alex nodded to himself. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now. He still had plenty to learn about managing his energy and stretching his limits. The fact that he could absorb more than most people gave him an advantage, but he couldn't risk pushing too far and overloading himself.
Elara's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Alex, check that corner. See if there's anything worth salvaging."
He moved to where she had pointed, his boots crunching over broken glass and debris. The room they were in had likely been an office once, though now it was little more than a shell of rusted metal and peeling walls. An old desk sat in the corner, half-buried under a pile of collapsed ceiling tiles. Alex crouched down and began digging through the debris, hoping to find something of value.
As he worked, he couldn't help but think about the conversation he'd had with Serena and Elara the night before. They had asked him where he had learned his new abilities, and he had been forced to dodge their questions, offering vague explanations about scavengers and old-world texts. It had worked—for now. But he knew their curiosity wouldn't go away. Eventually, they would want more answers, and Alex wasn't sure how much longer he could keep the AI a secret.
I'll have to deal with that when the time comes, Alex thought, pulling an old, rusted metal box out from under the rubble. He tried to pry it open, but the latch was sealed tight with age.
"Anything?" Elara asked, glancing over at him as she searched through a pile of broken machinery on the other side of the room.
"Just this," Alex replied, holding up the box. "It's sealed, but there might be something inside."
Elara walked over, her eyes narrowing as she inspected the box. "Looks like old-world tech storage," she muttered. "Might be something useful, or it could be junk. Let's crack it open."
Alex pulled out a small multi-tool from his belt and began working on the latch, carefully prying it open without damaging whatever was inside. After a few minutes, the rusted latch gave way with a soft click, and Alex lifted the lid.
Inside was a small, sleek device—clearly old-world tech, but still intact. It looked like some kind of portable power storage unit, though its purpose wasn't immediately clear.
Elara's eyebrows rose. "That looks promising."
Alex's heart skipped a beat as he realized what he was looking at. This could be it—a power storage unit, just like the AI mentioned.
AI, scan this device, Alex thought, excitement bubbling inside him.
"Scanning… Device is a portable energy storage unit, model 23-14. Capable of holding large amounts of energy for later use. Current status: inactive, but reparable with sufficient energy and minor repairs."
Alex could hardly contain his excitement. If he could get this device working, it would allow him to store energy externally, bypassing the limits of his body. He could absorb energy from external sources without the risk of overloading, giving him far more flexibility in how he used his powers.
"We need to get this back to the shelter," Alex said, his voice steady but filled with excitement. "This is a power storage unit. If we can repair it, we'll have a huge advantage."
Elara's eyes lit up as she understood the implications. "This could change everything."
Before Alex could respond, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the building. His body tensed as he realized they weren't alone.
"Guards?" Elara whispered, her hand moving to the hilt of her blade.
Alex shook his head. "No… not guards. Sounds like scavengers."
Elara's expression hardened. "We need to move. If they find us, there could be trouble."
Alex nodded, carefully stashing the power storage unit in his bag. He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. They had to get out of the ruins and back to the shelter before anyone else discovered what they had found.
Moving quickly but quietly, Alex and Elara made their way back down the staircase, their ears tuned to the sound of approaching footsteps. The air in the building felt thick with tension as they navigated through the narrow corridors, avoiding the paths where the scavengers might be.
As they reached the entrance of the building, Alex caught sight of Serena and Nia waiting in the shadows, their faces tense.
"Trouble?" Serena asked quietly.
"Scavengers," Elara replied. "Let's get out of here before they spot us."
Together, the group slipped out of the ruins and into the snow-covered streets, their pace quickening as they made their way back toward the Rust Quarter. The power storage unit was safely tucked away in Alex's bag, and his mind was racing with the possibilities it held. With this device, he could take the next step in mastering his abilities.
But first, they had to make it back in one piece.