Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: The So-Called Temple

The blinding light faded. I blinked, my vision slowly returning. The world that came into focus was… unexpected. I wasn't in the dungeon anymore.I lay on a stone floor, at the center of a large hall. This wasn't a dungeon. This was a temple.Massive pillars lined the walls. Atop each pillar stood a statue. The figures were humanoid, but with a distinct difference. Their heads were elongated, almost skull-like. They were bald, their faces serene, almost unnervingly so. They wore long, flowing robes.Directly in front of me stood a structure. A cube. Or rather, two cubes, intersecting at an angle, forming a diamond shape. The material wasn't stone. It was something else. Metallic, perhaps, but with a smooth, almost organic surface. Each face of the cube, as well as the surfaces of the statues, was covered in intricate patterns. Lines and symbols that glowed with a soft, green light. The light pulsed, appearing and fading slowly, illuminating the hall.The effect was unsettling. The combination of the alien architecture, the strange statues, and the pulsating light created an atmosphere that was both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling. This was not a place of human design.I pushed myself up, slowly. My body felt weak, but there was no lingering pain from the disintegration I had experienced in the dungeon. I checked my hands. They were whole.I ran a quick diagnostic. No immediate injuries. But something felt different. I couldn't place it.I focused on my surroundings. The patterns on the cube and statues seemed to shift slightly as the light pulsed. They weren't static. They were active. Some form of technology, or perhaps… magic. It was difficult to tell.I stood. My military training took over. Observe. Analyze. Adapt. I scanned the room, looking for exits, for threats, for any clues about where I was and what had happened. There were no doors, no obvious openings in the walls. The only light source was the pulsating green light emanating from the patterns.The air was still, silent. There were no sounds, no other signs of life. I was alone.This place, this temple, was a mystery. A mystery I now had to solve.I examined the temple. Initial observation confirmed its function. It was a place of worship, or at least, it had been. I found several distinct areas. One room held eight blank, crystalline pedestals facing a large rectangular screen, also crystalline. Wires, made of the same crystal, snaked across the floor, connecting to various devices. Crystal tablets lay stacked in a corner, like books on a shelf. The material, whatever it was, felt surprisingly durable. I deduced this was a control center.Another room contained rows of cryo-pods. Constructed from the same metallic and crystalline material as the rest of the temple, they were all empty. A wave of unease washed over me. I checked for alarms, for any signs of active systems. Nothing. The pods were dormant.Other doors existed, but they were locked. I moved down another corridor, encountering more locked doors. Then I heard it. A low growl. It grew louder as I approached. Roars.I moved cautiously toward the sound. I peered around a corner. My eyes widened. The temple opened onto a vast subterranean ecosystem. It was a world unto itself, bathed in an unseen light source. Plants, strange and alien, grew in abundance.I took a step forward, drawn to the view. A large creature lunged into the doorway. It resembled a lion, with a powerful build, sharp claws, and prominent fangs. But it had no eyes. Empty sockets stared out from its face. It clawed at an invisible barrier that shimmered into existence at the temple's entrance. A force field.The creature's efforts proved futile. It gave up, turning and lumbering back into the subterranean world. The force field had saved me. Without it, I would have been its prey.I exhaled, a slow release of tension. This place, while wondrous, was also dangerous. I leaned against a cold metallic wall. "Status," I said aloud.A holographic screen appeared before me. I remembered one of the nobles mentioning this function. A thought, or the spoken word "status," activated it.Bennet Wells

Level: 1 Class: Recycler (Stage 0) – A unique class specializing in storing and repurposing discarded knowledge.

Class Awakening Stage 1: (Level 10 Required)

Class Skills:

Salvage: Collect components from defeated enemies, ruins, scrap piles. These resources can be used for crafting, upgrading, or repurposing.

Repurpose: Transform salvaged tech into new items, weapons, or gear. Can also enhance or upgrade existing items.

Craft: Craft items using the resources and using your own imagination. (Locked. Required: Level 10)

Fusion: Fuse different pieces of tech and craft hybrid items(Locked. Required: Level 20)

Chrono Craft: Access ancient blueprints to craft forgotten or legendary tech. Can recreate powerful relics or long-lost devices with immense power. (Required: Level 150 and Class Awakening Final Stage Completed)

Repository of Knowledge (Tier 1): Access the vast library of hidden knowledge from millions of fallen civilizations across the galaxy. (Required: Level 20 and Class Awakening Stage 2 Completed)

Stat Points: 10

Strength: 5

Agility: 7

Endurance: 11

Vitality: 8

Magic: 0 (Required: Level 10 and Class Awakening Stage 1 Completed)

Class: Recycler (Stage 0) … (Previous stats and skill information)

Stat Points: 10

Strength: 5

Agility: 7

Endurance: 11

Vitality: 8

Magic: 0

Class: Recycler (Stage 0) … (Previous stats and skill information)

Stat Points: 0

Strength: 5

Agility: 17

Endurance: 11

Vitality: 8

Magic: 0

I approached the doorway and tested the force field. A faint blue outline marked its boundary. I extended my arm. The transition was immediate. One moment my hand was inside, the next it was outside. The force field cut cleanly between the two points. No resistance. No sensation. Just a division of space.