Kael Arden adjusted the strap of his satchel, his boots crunching softly against the cracked, ash-covered ground. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows that danced across the wasteland. The anomaly's marker pulsed steadily on his HUD, a beacon of both promise and dread.
The journey had been uneventful so far, though Kael didn't let his guard down. With his newly acquired [Enhanced Perception], every faint sound and distant movement stood out more vividly than before. He scanned the horizon frequently, his shotgun ready, his body tense with anticipation.
[Proximity Alert: Hostile Presence Detected.]
Kael froze, his grip tightening on the shotgun. The HUD highlighted a cluster of shapes moving toward him from the northwest. They were humanoid, but their jerky, uneven movements gave them away.
"Zombies," Kael muttered under his breath, ducking behind the rusted remains of a long-abandoned vehicle.
The zombies moved in a slow, shambling group, their rotting bodies draped in tattered remnants of clothing. Kael counted six of them, each one marked with faint outlines on his HUD.
His finger hovered over the shotgun's trigger, but he hesitated. Ammunition was scarce, and six zombies weren't worth wasting shells unless absolutely necessary.
Instead, he pulled the rusted pipe from his belt, its worn metal cold against his palm. He waited until the nearest zombie passed the vehicle, then struck quickly.
The pipe connected with a sickening crunch, caving in the creature's skull. The zombie crumpled to the ground, its lifeless body twitching once before going still.
The sound drew the others' attention, their milky eyes swiveling toward Kael. He cursed under his breath and retreated, keeping the wrecked car between him and the group.
The system's guidance kicked in, highlighting weak points on the zombies' bodies—heads, necks, and exposed joints. Kael used the pipe to dispatch two more, striking with precision and retreating before they could grab him.
When the remaining three closed in, Kael switched to the shotgun. He aimed carefully, the system's targeting overlay helping him line up his shots.
The first shell obliterated a zombie's head, sending fragments of bone and flesh flying. The second shot dropped the next one, and Kael finished the last with a brutal swing of the pipe.
The ash settled around him, the air thick with the stench of decay. Kael wiped sweat from his brow, his chest heaving as the adrenaline ebbed.
The encounter had cost him two shells, but Kael pressed on. The anomaly's marker was closer now, its faint blue glow visible even without the HUD's guidance.
As he crested a ridge, the full sight of the anomaly came into view.
It was a massive, glowing rift in the ground, surrounded by jagged rocks that seemed to hum with an unnatural energy. Tendrils of blue light arced from the rift, crackling like miniature lightning bolts. The air around it shimmered, distorting the landscape like heat rising from asphalt.
Kael approached cautiously, his HUD updating with new information.
[Dormant Anomaly Detected.
Status: Inactive.
Energy Output: Stable.
Potential Rewards: High.]
The system flagged several points of interest around the anomaly, including a series of partially buried structures nearby.
"Looks like a bunker," Kael muttered, studying the layout. The entrance was sealed, its reinforced door covered in layers of dirt and debris.
Kael circled the bunker's entrance, searching for a way in. The system highlighted weak points in the debris, offering a path to clear the obstruction. Kael worked methodically, using a pry bar from his satchel to shift the heavier chunks of concrete and steel.
After nearly twenty minutes of grueling effort, the door was clear. Kael examined it closely, his HUD identifying it as a [Level 3 Security Door.]
"Figures," Kael muttered. "Can't just let me walk in, can you?"
The system displayed an override option, but it required a power source to function. Kael pulled the beacon core from his satchel, connecting it to the door's control panel. The runes on the core flared brightly, and the door hissed as it unlocked.
The interior of the bunker was dark and cold, the air stale from years of neglect. Kael activated his flashlight, the beam cutting through the gloom to reveal rows of metal shelving and workstations covered in dust.
The HUD flagged several items of interest, and Kael began scavenging methodically:
[Scavenged Resources:
Energy Cells: 2 Units.
High-Density Steel: 5 Units.
Blueprint: Energy Barrier (Level 1).
Blueprint: Enhanced Ammunition.]
The energy cells were particularly valuable, their glowing cores indicating they still held a charge. Kael's HUD updated with a description:
[Energy Cells:
Use: Powers advanced systems and weapons.
Compatibility: Compatible with Signal Array and Advanced Turrets.]
Kael's pulse quickened. The energy cells could be a game-changer for his settlement, powering new defenses and upgrades.
As Kael moved deeper into the bunker, his Enhanced Perception trait highlighted faint scuff marks on the floor near one of the walls. He knelt, running his fingers over the surface until he found a hidden latch.
The wall panel slid aside, revealing a narrow passageway that led to a small, sealed chamber. Inside, Kael found a single pedestal holding a strange device—a sleek, metallic gauntlet covered in glowing runes similar to the beacon core.
The system identified it immediately:
[Artifact Discovered: Gauntlet of Ascension.
Description: Experimental device designed to enhance user capabilities.
Status: Functional.
Abilities Unlocked:
Energy Shield: Deploy a temporary shield to block incoming attacks.
Charge Strike: Enhance melee attacks with an electric charge.]
Kael stared at the gauntlet, his mind racing. "Now that's what I call a reward."
He slipped the device onto his arm, the metal adjusting to fit snugly. A faint hum resonated through his body as the gauntlet synced with the system, displaying new abilities in his HUD.
Kael's triumph was short-lived. The moment he activated the gauntlet, the ground beneath the bunker began to tremble.
[Warning: Anomaly Reactivation Detected. Hostiles Approaching.]
Kael cursed, grabbing his satchel and shotgun. The anomaly's glow outside the bunker intensified, and his HUD flagged multiple incoming threats:
[Detected Hostiles: 12 (Mutated Zombies).]
Kael sprinted back toward the entrance, the sound of the creatures' snarls growing louder. The gauntlet's [Energy Shield] ability pulsed in his HUD, and Kael activated it instinctively.
A shimmering barrier of blue light materialized in front of him just as the first zombie lunged. The creature slammed into the shield and recoiled, giving Kael enough time to fire a shell into its chest.
Kael fought his way out of the bunker, the gauntlet's abilities giving him a crucial edge. The Charge Strike ability sent arcs of electricity through his melee attacks, stunning multiple enemies at once.
By the time he reached the surface, Kael was drenched in sweat, his arms aching from the strain of combat. The remaining zombies were closing in, but Kael deployed the portable barrier he'd brought, creating a temporary defensive line.
He fired the last of his shells, the shotgun's roar echoing across the wasteland. When the final zombie fell, Kael collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving.
Kael arrived back at the settlement as the sun dipped below the horizon, the beacon core and gauntlet safely in his possession. The drones had repaired most of the damage to the walls, and the base felt sturdier than ever.
The system chimed softly as Kael unloaded his haul:
[Mission Complete: Dormant Anomaly. Resources Secured.]
[Settlement Status Updated:
Energy Cells: 2 Units.
Blueprints Acquired: Energy Barrier, Enhanced Ammunition.]
Kael sat on the steps of the watchtower, staring out at the wasteland. The gauntlet on his arm pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power he now carried.
For the first time since waking up in this world, Kael felt like he was starting to gain the upper hand.