The group moved through the factory gates cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of ash and grime coating the ground. The crimson glow pulsed faintly from the factory's interior, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls of the surrounding structures.
The building loomed above them, its darkened windows like hollow eyes. A cold, metallic scent filled the air, mingling with the faint hum that seemed to reverberate through the entire area. Evan couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. “Keep your weapons ready,” Claire whispered, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
Evan gripped his crowbar tighter, the system's soft hum in his mind providing a strange, unnerving sense of reassurance. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt the system was urging him forward, pulling him toward the factory’s core like a magnet. “Are you sure about this?” Jake muttered from behind him, his voice barely audible.
“No,” Evan admitted, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest. “But we don’t have another choice.”
The factory’s main entrance was a pair of heavy steel doors, one of which hung crookedly on its hinges. The group slipped inside, their movements slow and deliberate. Inside, the air was thick and oppressive, and the glow grew brighter, illuminating the factory’s interior with an otherworldly light. The space was vast and cavernous, filled with rusting machinery and endless rows of conveyor belts. The walls were covered in strange black growths that pulsed faintly, almost in time with the glow.
“What the hell is this place?” Kara asked, her voice trembling.
“It looks like it’s alive,” Lila said, stepping closer to one of the growths. She prodded it with the barrel of her rifle, and the mass recoiled, oozing a dark, viscous liquid.
“Don’t touch anything,” Claire warned sharply, pulling Lila back. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with.” Evan’s eyes were drawn to the far end of the factory, where the glow was strongest. A strange, rhythmic thudding noise echoed from that direction, like the beat of a giant heart.
“We need to keep moving,” he said, his voice tight.
Claire nodded, taking the lead as the group moved deeper into the factory.
As they navigated the labyrinth of machinery, the sound of scuttling footsteps echoed through the space. The group froze, their weapons raised, scanning their surroundings. “Did you hear that?” Jake whispered.
“Yeah,” Claire said, her voice low. “Stay sharp.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The scuttling grew louder, coming from all directions. Evan’s heart raced as he gripped his crowbar, his senses on high alert. The system buzzed faintly, its presence in his mind a strange mix of comfort and unease.
“Warning: Hostile Entities Detected.” “New Objective: Eliminate the Factory Guardians.”
Before Evan could process the notification, a creature emerged from the shadows. It was unlike anything they had encountered before—a grotesque fusion of flesh and machinery. Its elongated limbs ended in razor-sharp claws, and its glowing red eyes burned with malevolent intelligence.
“Contact!” Claire shouted, firing her crossbow. The bolt struck the creature in the chest, but it barely flinched. It let out an ear-piercing screech and charged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
Evan didn’t hesitate. He activated the system’s guidance, feeling a surge of energy course through him.
“Skill Activation: Precision Strike (Level 2).”
Time seemed to slow as he swung his crowbar, the weapon connecting with the creature’s head in a devastating blow. It crumpled to the ground, twitching violently before going still.
“Nice hit!” Jake shouted, firing his pistol at another creature as it lunged from the shadows.
The group fought fiercely, their weapons blazing as more of the creatures swarmed them. Kara and Lila worked in tandem, their gunfire precise and methodical. Claire moved with deadly efficiency, her crossbow bolts finding their marks with uncanny accuracy.
Evan felt the system guiding him, his movements sharper and more fluid than ever before. He dodged and struck with precision, each blow delivering devastating damage to the enemy.
The last creature fell, its body collapsing in a heap of metal and flesh. The room fell silent once more, save for the group’s ragged breathing. Evan leaned against a nearby machine, his chest heaving. The system buzzed faintly, its presence a constant reminder of the power he had tapped into.
“Objective Complete: Eliminate the Factory Guardians.” “Reward: Skill Upgrade – Strength Boost (Level 2).”
He felt a surge of energy course through him as the system processed the reward. His muscles ached less, and the fatigue that had threatened to overwhelm him moments ago began to fade.
“What were those things?” Lila asked, her voice shaking.
“Guardians,” Evan said quietly, glancing at the system notification. “They were protecting something.”
Claire nodded, her expression grim. “Whatever it is, it’s at the heart of this place. We need to keep moving.”
The group pressed on, the rhythmic thudding growing louder with each step. The glow became blinding, forcing them to shield their eyes as they approached a massive chamber at the factory’s center. Inside, the source of the glow was revealed—a massive, pulsating orb of crimson energy suspended in the air. Tendrils of the black growths snaked out from the orb, spreading across the walls and floor like veins. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, making it difficult to breathe. Evan felt the system buzz violently, its presence almost overwhelming.
“Objective Update: Investigate the Crimson Core.” “Warning: High-Level Threat Detected.”
Claire stepped forward, her crossbow raised. “What is this thing?”
Before anyone could answer, the orb pulsed violently, and a figure began to emerge from its center. It was humanoid but grotesquely distorted, its body covered in the same black growths that lined the walls. Its glowing red eyes locked onto the group, and it let out a guttural snarl. “Get ready!” Evan shouted, gripping his crowbar as the figure lunged.