Days passed as Vera and her drone scouted the landscape. The desolation never seemed to end—just endless stretches of cracked earth, shattered machines, and the occasional scavenger lurking in the shadows. But something had changed. The drone had picked up faint energy readings to the west, pulsing like a heartbeat.

She followed the signal.

After hours of trekking across the wasteland, she finally stood before the ruins of an ancient city. Towering structures once made of sleek metal and glass were now crumbling under the weight of time. Broken streets were littered with the remnants of a civilization lost to history. Vera had no idea who or what had built this place, but the architecture was far more advanced than anything she’d ever seen.

“This place…” Vera whispered, stepping forward cautiously. The city felt alive, even though there was no sign of movement. The hum of forgotten power lingered in the air.

As she ventured deeper, she spotted a massive structure at the city’s center. It stood out among the ruins, pulsing with faint, intermittent light. Her HUD flashed a notification:

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

New Quest: Investigate the Source.

Vera wasn’t one to ignore an opportunity. “Alright, let’s find out what you’re hiding,” she muttered, making her way toward the building.

The streets were eerily quiet as she moved, her drone scanning the area for threats. As she neared the massive structure, she felt a strange pressure in the air. It grew heavier with each step, a constant thrum echoing in her ears.

The doors to the building were sealed, but with Reforge at her disposal, they didn’t stay that way for long. With a swipe of her hand, the metal groaned and bent, slowly pulling apart. Inside, the remnants of an ancient control center flickered weakly. Screens lined the walls, covered in dust, while control panels sparked occasionally.

Vera’s eyes locked onto the core of the room—a massive, spherical object floating in the center, encased in a network of wires and circuits. It pulsed with energy, the same energy her drone had detected.

“This must be it…” she whispered, stepping closer. Her fingers itched to reach out, but she hesitated.

Before she could make a decision, her HUD flashed a warning.

WARNING: Unknown Entity Detected.

She spun around, but it was too late. A towering figure, forged of metal and shadows, emerged from the dark corners of the room, its red eyes glowing with malice.

The Guardian of the city had awoken.