Chapter 4: The Call of Darkness
Days passed in a strange haze after the first simulation. I tried to focus on normal life, convincing myself that everything was fine, that this was just some bad dream. But the system's cold voice, the haunting sight of those anomalies—they lurked in my mind, refusing to let go.
By the third day, I'd almost convinced myself it was over. I sat in my dimly lit kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, hoping it would quiet my thoughts. Just as I lifted the cup to my lips, the screen appeared in front of me, bright and unyielding.
"Player Leo," the voice intoned. "Anomaly detected. Mission two assigned."
My stomach dropped, and I nearly dropped the cup. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, setting it down as my hands started to shake.
"Failure to comply will result in consequences," the system added, without a hint of emotion.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I'd hoped I'd get more time, that maybe this was just a one-time thing. But there it was—an undeniable reminder that this wasn't going away.
"Alright," I said through clenched teeth, pushing down the dread building inside me. "What do you need me to do?"
"Proceed to the abandoned warehouse on 7th Street. Anomaly detected in vicinity. Objective: neutralize or contain."
I didn't even bother to argue. I knew by now that the system wouldn't listen, wouldn't give me any choice. This was my life now, whether I wanted it or not.
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It didn't take long to reach the warehouse. The building loomed in the distance, a dark, crumbling structure that looked like it had been abandoned for decades. The broken windows and rusted metal siding gave it an air of foreboding, a place people instinctively avoided.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Spectral Grasp," I whispered, flexing my fingers. The power was still new, but I'd practiced a few more times since that first simulation. I had a better sense of its limits now, though it didn't make me feel any safer.
"Entering mission zone," the system intoned in my mind as I approached the building.
"Yeah, I figured that much," I muttered, pushing open the creaking door and stepping inside. The air was thick and stale, smelling of mildew and rust. I could barely make out the shapes of old machinery and crates in the darkness, but I didn't dare turn on my flashlight yet.
"System," I whispered, keeping my voice low. "Where's the anomaly?"
A moment of silence, and then the system's cold reply: "Proceed to the lower level."
Of course, I thought bitterly. Nothing's ever straightforward with you, is it?
I made my way through the dark, my footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. I found a staircase leading down, and with every step, the air seemed to grow colder, thicker. By the time I reached the bottom, a chill had settled deep in my bones.
At the end of the hallway, I spotted a faint glow—a sickly, greenish light emanating from one of the rooms. My heart raced, but I forced myself to move forward. This was the anomaly. I didn't need the system to tell me that.
As I approached, a low, whispering sound reached my ears, like someone muttering just under their breath. I froze, pressing myself against the wall as I tried to make out the words, but they were too jumbled, too distorted.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the doorway. The sight before me sent a shiver through my body.
A figure stood in the middle of the room, its back to me. Unlike the previous anomaly, this one looked more… human. But something about it was deeply wrong. Its limbs seemed slightly too long, its posture twisted and unnatural. The green glow surrounded it, casting eerie shadows across the room.
The whispering grew louder, filling my ears with a language I couldn't understand. I took a step back, and the creature's head snapped around, its eyes locking onto mine. They were hollow, black voids, and I felt an icy fear grip me.
"Entity awareness detected," the system intoned, calm and indifferent. "Engage and neutralize or contain."
I barely had time to react before the creature lunged at me, moving with inhuman speed. I dodged to the side, my heart pounding as its arm swung past me, scraping against the wall with a sickening crack.
"Activate Spectral Grasp," I shouted, and the familiar surge of energy filled my hand. I reached out, grabbing its arm as it swung again, and felt the solid, cold form beneath my grip.
The creature twisted, hissing as it tried to pull free. The five seconds felt like an eternity, every heartbeat a reminder that this thing was stronger, faster. My grip faltered, and just as my hold broke, the creature slipped through my grasp, dissolving momentarily into mist before reforming a few feet away.
"Great," I muttered, backing up as it stalked toward me, its hollow eyes fixed on me with a predatory focus.
"Additional tools required," the system said, as if it was somehow my ally in this nightmare. "Containment Sphere recommended."
"I don't have any CP left!" I shouted, frustration boiling over.
"Alternative strategy: weaken anomaly with physical disruption."
"Physical disruption?" I looked around, spotting an old metal pipe lying against the wall. With no other options, I grabbed it, feeling the cold metal in my hands as I steadied myself.
The creature lunged again, its arms outstretched. I swung the pipe, connecting with its head, and it let out a shriek, stumbling back. The blow hadn't destroyed it, but it had hurt it.
I didn't wait. I swung again, and again, driving it back with each hit, feeling a strange sense of control, of power, as I fought it off. For a moment, the fear faded, replaced by a surge of determination.
But the creature recovered quickly, its hollow eyes narrowing as it rushed forward. This time, I wasn't fast enough. Its claws raked across my arm, leaving a burning, icy pain that made me stumble.
"System, now would be a great time for some help!" I yelled, feeling my strength waning.
"Activate Spectral Grasp," the voice responded.
I gritted my teeth, raising my hand as the energy pulsed through me again. The creature lunged, but this time I was ready. I grabbed its arm, feeling the solid weight as I held it in place, the Spectral Grasp locking it down just long enough for me to bring the pipe down one last time.
The creature let out a final, anguished scream before it dissolved into mist, dissipating into nothingness. The green glow faded, leaving the room shrouded in darkness once more.
"Entity neutralized. Points awarded," the system announced, calm as ever. "Mission complete."
I dropped the pipe, my body trembling as I leaned against the wall, breathing hard. My arm throbbed where the creature had scratched me, a dark stain spreading on my sleeve.
"You… you could have warned me," I muttered bitterly, staring at the empty space where the creature had been.
The system remained silent, as if my words were beneath it.
With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, clutching my injured arm as I made my way back up the stairs. Each step was heavier than the last, the weight of the night's events pressing down on me. I'd survived, but just barely. And for what? A few points, a new scar, and a reminder that this nightmare was far from over.
As I stepped out of the warehouse and into the night air, a thought crept into my mind, cold and unwelcome.
How long before the system asked for more?