Vera stepped out of the mech, her legs weak but her resolve strong. The Guardian lay in a heap of twisted metal, its red eyes dimmed to nothing. As she walked toward the massive structure at the center of the city, the energy pulsing from within grew stronger, humming through the air. Whatever this power source was, it was more than just old tech—it was ancient, and it was dangerous.

Her HUD flickered with a notification:

Objective: Enter the Core.

She glanced at the broken ruins around her. The city of Xolum had once been a technological marvel, but now it was a graveyard, overrun by scavengers and haunted by long-forgotten machines. Something about the place unsettled her, like the ghosts of the past were still watching.

Her drone beeped as it scanned the area, detecting strange fluctuations in the energy field surrounding the central building. "Looks like I'm not getting in through the front door," she muttered, eying the sealed entrance.

A quick look at her Map revealed a hidden tunnel leading beneath the city. It wasn't marked, but her Perception skill had picked it up after defeating the Guardian. "That’ll have to do."

As she descended into the underground tunnel, the air grew colder. The walls were lined with old wires and broken consoles, evidence of the once-great civilization that had built this place. Her footsteps echoed in the narrow passage as her EXP Bar slowly ticked upward with each new discovery. Every step in Xolum seemed to bring her closer to something powerful—and dangerous.

At the end of the tunnel, a massive door loomed ahead, glowing with the same blue light as the energy pulse from above. The System activated again with a new notification:

WARNING: Restricted Access. Security Protocol Active.

Vera frowned, raising her Interface Glove to hack into the door's control panel. Her fingers danced across the holographic display, rerouting power and disabling security measures. Her Hacking skill was still low, but with the right timing, she could bypass the old systems.

Hacking Successful.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The door hissed open, revealing a vast chamber filled with machinery, glowing crystals, and towering pillars of light. At the center was a massive device—its purpose unknown—but it radiated raw, untamed energy. Her HUD flashed:

Main Quest: Investigate the Core.

As Vera approached, she could feel the power vibrating in the air. It was overwhelming. Her instincts told her this was no ordinary machine. This was something beyond human technology, perhaps even older than the city itself.

Her Map expanded, revealing that the Core was connected to other zones across the continent. It was part of a network—a system that had once controlled vast areas of the world. But now, it lay dormant, waiting to be reactivated.

Before she could investigate further, a low hum filled the room. Vera spun around just as figures emerged from the shadows. Cloaked in black and covered in advanced armor, they looked like something out of a nightmare. Their eyes glowed with the same eerie blue light as the Core, and their movements were unnervingly fast.

Enemy Encounter: The Forgotten (Level 8).

Vera gritted her teeth, summoning her drone to her side. "Looks like I’ve got company."

The Forgotten charged at her, their blades shimmering with energy. Vera rolled to the side, activating her Stealth Cloak to momentarily disappear from their sight. Her MP drained with every second, but it bought her time. She needed to think fast. A straight fight would get her killed—these enemies were far stronger than anything she had faced before.

Her eyes darted to the Core. If she could use it somehow, maybe it could give her the edge she needed.

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the control console near the Core. The Forgotten followed, their glowing eyes locked onto her position, but she was quicker. She hacked into the console, her fingers flying over the interface.

Core Activation: 50%... 75%... 100%.

The room rumbled as the Core roared to life, sending a shockwave of energy outward. The Forgotten staggered, their forms flickering as the energy disrupted their connection. Vera took the chance to strike. She grabbed her energy blade and charged, slashing through the weakened enemies with brutal precision.

+300 EXP. Level Up!

She wiped the sweat from her brow, panting as the last of the Forgotten collapsed to the ground. Her HUD blinked with the familiar Level Up screen:

Level 7 reached. Skill Points available: 2.

But there was no time to rest. The Core pulsed with new intensity, and a message appeared before her:

Main Quest Updated: Unleash the Core’s Power.

Vera stared at the console. She had a choice. The Core's energy could be used to restore Xolum's lost technology, unlocking weapons and secrets from an era long forgotten. But it could also be weaponized, a power strong enough to reshape the world—or destroy it.

Her hands hovered over the controls. She could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her.

What was the right choice?

For a long moment, she hesitated. Then, with a deep breath, Vera made her choice and pressed the final command.

The world around her began to change.