Chapter 60: Exploring the Ruins
As Modeus, Abigail, Marlene, and Takashima stepped into the ancient ruins, the atmosphere immediately shifted. The dry desert air outside seemed to fade, replaced by a cool, faint breeze flowing from the dark corridors of the building. Once a laboratory, the ruins now stood as a place filled with mystery and decay. Shattered glass lay scattered around them, reflecting the last rays of sunlight that streamed in through the cracks in the crumbling walls. Desert sand, blown in by the wind, covered much of the floor, muffling their footsteps, though they still echoed in the eerie silence.
The once pristine walls of the laboratory were now marred by deep cracks and layers of rust. Some sections appeared to be leaning, as if on the verge of collapse. Along the hallways, they passed toppled shelves, rusted chemical equipment, and large capsules with shattered glass. A few of the capsules had broken completely, leaving dried, crusted residue around their bases.
"This had to be a testing facility," Abigail muttered, his voice low amidst their soft, dusty footsteps. "What were they experimenting with here?"
Takashima, walking ahead with a watchful gaze, paused for a moment. He touched one of the large capsules, half-buried by the sand. "This was once one of Fertissio's most advanced laboratories. They conducted several quantum technology experiments here. If the rumors I've heard are true, they tried harnessing quantum energy to create superweapons, or even mutate biological creatures."
Marlene, who had been rolling a cigarette from the pocket of her coat, paused briefly to light it. "Biological creatures?" she muttered through a puff of smoke. "If they succeeded in making something here, why's it all in ruins now?"
Takashima chuckled softly before continuing forward. "Like most dangerous experiments, it probably ended in disaster. The Old World Network sealed this place off decades ago. Only a few of us know it even exists."
Modeus scanned the surroundings carefully, his eyes taking in every detail of the ruins. In one corner of the room, something caught his attention—a weathered monitor. Although the glass screen was shattered and rust had taken hold, some of the buttons remained intact. He crouched down, brushing away the layer of dust that had settled on top.
"It's all just rubble now," Modeus murmured, his voice quiet as he took in the wreckage surrounding them. "But imagine how advanced this place must have been. They were probably working with technology far ahead of its time."
Takashima glanced at Modeus, offering a small smile. "You're right. This place was the technological gem of Fertissio. Unfortunately, most of the quantum knowledge and artifacts they had were lost when it all came crashing down."
The corridor stretched endlessly before them. On either side, large doors with faded lettering and barely legible room numbers lined the walls. Some of the doors stood ajar, revealing empty rooms with dusty floors and shattered lab equipment. Others remained tightly sealed, secured by malfunctioning security systems long abandoned.
"Think we can open any of these rooms?" Marlene asked, eyeing one of the large doors with a faded warning sign. "There could be something useful inside."
Takashima shook his head. "Some of the security systems in this place are still active. We could try, but it might trigger traps or cause further damage. It's too risky to mess with locked doors."
They continued walking, their steps increasingly cautious. Now and then, the sand beneath their feet crunched softly, hinting at the instability of the aging floors. In some areas, the ground showed cracks, as if the entire building could collapse at any moment.
Suddenly, Modeus stopped, his eyes drawn to something unusual on the wall. He stared at a large crack exposing old electrical wires dangling loosely. "This must've been a state-of-the-art lab once," he muttered, inspecting the rusted and frayed cables. "Now, it's just ruins."
Abigail let out a long sigh, still gripping his automatic firearm, ready to act at any moment. "It's strange being in a place like this," he said, his voice lower than before. "So quiet, but you can feel the history. Like the presence of those who were here."
Takashima chuckled softly, though this time there was a hint of concern in his tone. "This place holds a lot of secrets, Abigail. And if we're lucky, we might uncover some of them."
At the end of the hallway, they entered a vast room—larger than any they'd seen so far. It was likely the central hub of the laboratory. In the middle stood a massive capsule, far larger than the others they'd come across. The glass around it was shattered, and inside, a tangle of cables spilled out. Some of the machinery remained intact, though covered in a thick layer of dust.
"Wow," Modeus muttered, his eyes fixed on the massive capsule before them. "What were they trying to do here?"
Takashima approached the capsule cautiously, examining every detail. "This was likely the core of all their experiments," he said seriously. "If we can find any remaining data or artifacts, we might unlock the secrets of Quantum technology."
Abigail scanned the room, his eyes moving rapidly across every shadowed corner. "Are we alone here?" he asked quietly.
Takashima nodded. "So far, no signs of life except us. But stay alert. Places like this often hide more than just secrets."
Marlene, who had been silent until now, approached an old device in the corner of the room. It looked like a decrepit computer, with a cracked screen and rusted buttons, yet something about it caught her attention. "Is this what they used to log the experiments?" she asked, tapping the ancient machine.
Takashima glanced at it and nodded. "Could be. If we can find a power source, we might be able to bring some of the systems back online and see what's left."
Marlene shot him a skeptical look. "You're seriously considering turning these things back on? Who knows what could happen."
Takashima gave a cryptic smile. "Sometimes, to find treasure, you have to take a risk."
They continued walking through the large room and entered another long, dimly lit corridor. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The faint glow of their flashlights barely pierced the surrounding darkness, and a creeping unease settled over Modeus. Something felt off—like there was something lurking just beyond their sight.
"This hallway feels endless," Modeus muttered. "It's like we've been walking for hours."
Takashima, still leading with calm determination, responded, "We're almost at the heart of the ruins. Stay sharp."
Just then, a strange sound broke the silence. Both Modeus and Abigail froze, their instincts kicking in, but Takashima and Marlene reacted first, their movements swift and professional. Without saying a word, Takashima raised his left hand, signaling for the group to halt. He gripped his weapon tightly, his eyes scanning their surroundings, ears tuned to every subtle noise.
The sound came again—metal scraping against metal, followed by an unnatural clicking. The ruins, already giving off an unsettling vibe, now felt even more ominous. Modeus turned to Marlene, who was readying a detection device in her hand. She didn't speak, only gave a small nod before activating the tool. A soft glow emanated from it, casting a faint light on the screen as it displayed signals. Marlene slowly swept the device around, searching for the source of the disturbance.
After detecting a faint signal, Marlene glanced at Takashima and gave a quick hand signal—three short taps in the air, a silent code understood only between the two of them. Takashima responded with a silent nod, gripping his weapon tighter, and began moving forward with deliberate, near-silent steps, his body hugging the crumbling wall. His movements were so smooth that his boots made no sound as they pressed against the sandy floor.
Abigail and Modeus, following behind, watched in quiet admiration. Both had been in the Relic Hunter world for a while, but witnessing how meticulous and composed Takashima and Marlene were in such tense moments made them realize the difference in professionalism. There was no panic, no words—just silence and precision.
Marlene continued monitoring her detection device as she moved. Every time the device showed a change, she relayed the information with a simple hand signal. Two taps to stop, one tap to proceed. There was no need for words; each small gesture carried meaning, as if the two had faced countless perilous situations together and operated in perfect sync.
Takashima turned back to give Abigail and Modeus a signal—a flat palm and a gentle wave, telling them to stay back and alert. Modeus, gripping his weapon cautiously, exchanged a glance with Abigail, who was trying to mirror their professionalism. Yet, the curiosity in Abigail's eyes was evident.
"Stay calm," Abigail whispered softly to Modeus. "Just follow their lead."
They continued moving down the increasingly dark corridor. Broken glass and rusted metal littered parts of the passage. Occasionally, the wind whistled through cracks in the ruined walls, adding an eerie chill to the already tense atmosphere.
Marlene came to a halt in front of a large door that was slightly ajar—just enough for a single person to slip through. She eyed it carefully, then aimed her detection device at the gap. The signal from inside the room was strong, unsettling, and dangerous. She glanced at Takashima and signaled with two taps in the air—there was something in that room.
Takashima nodded and signaled for everyone to prepare. He pointed his weapon toward the opening, then slowly nudged the door wider. It creaked as it opened a bit more, and Takashima stepped cautiously inside. Marlene followed close behind, her detection device still monitoring the increasingly intense signal coming from within.
The room behind the door looked like a larger laboratory, but most of the equipment inside was either destroyed or buried under piles of sand. Large, cracked screens hung on the walls, and the floor was littered with shards of glass and twisted metal. However, something in the center of the room stood out—an intact, large capsule. It was covered by thick, darkened glass, almost invisible in the dim light.
Takashima signaled Marlene to scan the capsule. She aimed her detection device at it and immediately noticed that the signal was coming from there. The red light on the device blinked rapidly, indicating a significant energy source within the capsule. Modeus furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed on it.
"What is that?" Modeus asked quietly, trying not to disrupt the team's focus.
Takashima approached the large capsule, crouching beside it. He inspected the tangled wires scattered across the floor and suddenly spotted a small control panel next to the capsule. With deliberate care, he touched the panel. To his surprise, it was still active, though many of the buttons were damaged. He paused for a moment, then turned to Marlene.
"This thing is still powered," he whispered. "Is there any energy left?"
Marlene nodded. "Yes, the signal is strong—stronger than I expected. But I have no idea what's inside."
Takashima thought for a moment and signaled for them to retreat. They all quietly moved back, exiting the room without making a sound. Abigail, bringing up the rear, kept a watchful eye on the corridor behind them, just in case something approached.
Once they were back in the main hallway, Takashima stopped and stood upright, his expression serious. He knew they had to make a decision.
"We need to head back to the entrance and report this to the others," Takashima finally said. "Whatever's inside that capsule, we can't deal with it now. We're just the initial survey team."
Marlene nodded in agreement, though her eyes still held a lingering curiosity about what they had just discovered. "The fact that the capsule is still active means there's a huge energy source connected to it. I can't predict what will happen if we tamper with it."
Abigail, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. "Is it a weapon? Or something worse?"
Takashima shook his head. "I'm not sure, but I'm not willing to take that chance. We need more data before making any moves. We head back now."
As they started to head back toward the exit, the sharp sound of shattering glass suddenly pierced the air. It was jarring, loud, and unexpected, echoing down the hallway and breaking the eerie silence that had enveloped them. Instinctively, the team reacted. Takashima, leading at the front, froze in his tracks, raising his hand swiftly to signal a halt.
Marlene, standing beside him, immediately shifted into a defensive stance. She pointed her detection device in the direction of the noise, watching as its small screen began flashing rapidly, signaling large-scale movement nearby. Without hesitation, she prepared her weapon—an automatic rifle fitted with high-explosive rounds. In one fluid motion, she switched it to automatic mode, ready for whatever might emerge from the shadows.
Abigail and Modeus, trailing a little farther behind, were quick to react as well. Abigail raised his automatic rifle and positioned himself behind part of a collapsed wall, using the debris as cover. He scanned both the front and rear, keeping his guard up to ensure no threats could sneak up on them.
Modeus stood next to Abigail, gripping his weapon tightly, his mind racing through the possibilities. He knew something dangerous had escaped from that capsule. Without wasting a moment, he activated Neumann, the metallic Quantum AI spine grafted onto his back. "Neumann," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "scan the area. Alert me to any movement."
Neumann acknowledged the command, and a 3D map flickered to life in Modeus's vision, displaying the structure of the ruins around them. Subtle shifts appeared on the map, highlighting an unidentified signal moving near the capsule they had just encountered. "Active energy source detected. High threat potential," Neumann reported in a calm, calculated tone inside Modeus's mind.
Takashima, moving with remarkable speed, took cover behind a mostly intact concrete pillar. He signaled Marlene with his hands—two fingers pointing toward the capsule room, followed by a forward motion, and a clenched fist meaning hold position. Marlene nodded and focused her attention on the corridor they had come from.
The noises from the capsule room grew louder—metal creaking, systems sputtering, and the ominous sound of heavy footsteps echoing from behind the door. Something was stirring inside the room where the capsule had been. Takashima watched every detail carefully, even as his heartbeat quickened. With a calm yet urgent gesture, he signaled the team to brace themselves for whatever was coming closer.
"Whatever that is, it's massive," Abigail whispered to Modeus, his eyes never leaving the corridor ahead.
"No way around it," Modeus replied tensely, checking his weapon. "If it comes out, we'll face it."
Takashima moved to the side, signaling Marlene to prepare for a long-range attack. He knew that if they couldn't see what was coming out of the capsule, they at least needed to be ready to neutralize the threat before it got too close. Marlene adjusted her detection device and saw the signal growing stronger—whatever it was, it was approaching steadily.
The tension was palpable. Everyone took deep breaths, trying to calm the growing anxiety. The quiet of the ruins seemed to amplify the pressure, as if the very wreckage knew that danger lurked in the shadows.
Then, from the darkness of the corridor, a massive figure emerged. The creature towered almost to the ceiling of the ruins, its body made of worn metal but still functioning. Parts of it glowed with blue energy, indicating that this old machine was still powered by ancient quantum technology.
"Is that... a mecha?" Modeus murmured, frowning. But this wasn't an ordinary mecha. Its shape was bizarre, with long, flexible limbs, like metal shards held together by an invisible force. Its movements were smooth yet heavy, like a monster that had just awakened from a long slumber.
Marlene didn't waste any time. "Forget the rest. Focus!" she commanded in a low but firm voice, her hand already on the trigger. She aimed straight at the mecha's head, hoping to take it down with a single, precise shot.
Takashima readied his heavy weapon, while Abigail took position for a side shot, watching every strange movement of the mecha. They knew that only quick reflexes and coordination would save them now.
The mecha paused momentarily, its bright blue eyes glowing even brighter, as if scanning and assessing the threat before it. And then, without warning, it moved with startling speed. Its long, sharp legs slammed onto the debris-strewn floor, creating a massive tremor that reverberated through the building.
"Now!" Takashima shouted, signaling the attack. Marlene squeezed the trigger, unleashing a burst of fire that struck the mecha's massive body, metal shards flying. But the mecha kept moving, unaffected by the shots.
Abigail quickly joined in, firing from the side. The sound of bullets hitting the mecha created a thunderous noise in the corridor. Modeus, still beside Abigail, called on Neumann once more. "Help me target weak points!" he ordered.
Neumann promptly responded, scanning the mecha and highlighting weak points on Modeus's vision. Modeus quickly aimed and fired at one of the weak spots on the mecha's leg. A small explosion followed, and one of the joints on the mecha began to wobble.
"Keep firing!" Marlene shouted as they all fought to halt the mecha's advance, which was now getting alarmingly close. Modeus steadied his breath, tightening his grip on his weapon, ready for a decisive shot.
The battle had just begun, and they were facing one of the greatest threats they had ever encountered in this ruins.
***
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone