Chương 7: Chapter 6 - The Quiet Chamber (I)

As he climbed the stairs, the darkness at the top suddenly gave way to light. He set down the barrel he was carrying and was about to look around when he noticed something moving beside him. Instantly, he stepped back and drew his knife, his heart pounding. It was the same eyeless creature from the room below. This time, it seemed slower, and he felt more in control. He needed to finish it off correctly. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the knife and sprinted forward.

His longer limbs gave him an advantage, allowing him to kick the creature in the chest. It felt soft under his boot. The creature tumbled back. Its silence was unnerving, but he forced himself to focus. With the creature on the floor, he quickly scanned the room. Nothing out of the ordinary—just the usual white walls. No other threats. The creature was struggling to get up. He approached it cautiously and kicked it again, sending it crashing into the wall.

He hesitated, wondering if he should use the knife, but the thought of those teeth near his hands deterred him. He still remembered the pain and terror from when it had bitten him before. The memory made his heart race, his hands tremble. Shaking his head, he kicked it instead. He kicked it repeatedly, feeling its bones—or whatever structure it had—begin to crack and break. It was far less durable than a human. Disgust welled up inside him. This didn't feel right. How had he ended up here? He kicked it again.

Why him? He kicked harder. Why torture him like this? He kicked even harder. Why? Why?!

"WHY?!!" he screamed. His foot struck the wall hard, and he gasped for breath. The creature was gone. No blood, no trace—except for a large blue orb on the floor. He bent down to pick it up, but as soon as his hand touched it, the orb vanished into his skin.

"AHHH!" he screamed, trying to claw it out, but it disappeared too quickly. He felt dizzy for a moment, then... everything became clear. Too clear. He felt lighter, his thoughts smoother. What was happening? Was it a psychological trick? Was his mind being played with?

"What are you doing to me?!" he shouted, looking around with the knife in hand, his eyes red from a mix of anger, helplessness, and despair. He let himself fall to the floor but then he felt something. Looking to the side, he saw two more creatures coming his way. July 29, 2024 - Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre, Krasnoznamensk, Russia"I expected no less," the old man chuckled.

"Can we have confirmation of the structure's size?" the general asked, her tone measured but urgent.

"We can estimate the size above the ocean, but it will take time to analyze the submerged portion," the technician stammered, breaking from his shock.

"Give me an approximation," she pressed, her eyes never leaving the screen.

"We're on it," the technician replied, his fingers flying over the keyboard. After several seconds, he gulped heavily.

"The structure is over 10 kilometers tall, with 4 kilometers submerged and more than 6 kilometers above the water level. It resembles a spiral, becoming wider near the base and tapering to a point at the top."

"Is it possible to see what is happening inside?" the old man asked. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"We have tried with multiple sensors, including LIDAR, sonar, and thermal imaging," the technician responded, "but none are able to penetrate inside, not even our advanced multispectral scanners. It's like an empty space, a void." The general frowned, considering their options.

"Let's try marking it with a laser designator. Use a color flare. We need to see if there's any reaction from the structure."

"Ma'am, shouldn't we wait for—""Proceed," the old man interrupted, his tone heavy and commanding.

"Yes, sir," the technician acknowledged, quickly relaying the order. Moments later, a color flare was fired at the structure. It struck the tower, but nothing happened. The tower was physically there, yet it remained unresponsive. The general continued to analyze the data.

"Check for any signs of tsunamis or unusual activity around it. I want to ensure there are no environmental anomalies."

"Understood, ma'am," another technician replied, pulling up the latest oceanographic data. After a few tense moments, he reported, "No unusual activity detected, ma'am. Everything appears natural around the structure." The general nodded.

"Maintain surveillance and keep trying to gather data. We need to understand what we're dealing with here. And keep me updated on any changes, no matter how minor."

"Yes, ma'am," the team responded in unison. The general glanced at the old man who had signaled her to leave the room. As the door closed behind them, she whispered, "How are we supposed to react to this?" The old man continued walking, not responding immediately. After a moment, he said, his voice tired, "Let's discuss the disappearances first."

"Disappearances?" The general was taken aback, her eyes widening in shock.

"To answer your first question," he paused and sighed, "Maybe it's time we stopped playing our little war and political games inside our tiny planet and focused on what's outside of it." His gaze darkened.

"This is going to be a damn good wake-up call for humanity." His mind was racing, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford to lose control now. The creatures were identical to the one he had just fought: eyeless, silent, and ugly as hell. They were coming from the same direction at their slow pace. He took a deep breath and stood up, feeling the new clarity in his mind settle over him like a calming blanket. The dizziness had passed, replaced by a sharpness that seemed almost unnatural.

As the first creature lunged at him, he sidestepped, using his momentum to pivot on his left foot. His body moved instinctively, faster and more agile than ever before. Without thinking, he brought his leg up and delivered a powerful kick to the creature's chest. The impact sent it sprawling back, hitting the floor with a silent thud. His heart pounded, but the clarity remained. He kicked the creature again, this time in the side, sending it rolling across the floor.

It tried to get up, but he moved in swiftly, landing another kick to its head. The creature's movements became sluggish, and he seized the moment. He glanced at his knife, his grip tightening around the handle. Confident in his lightened body and reflexes, he approached the creature and awkwardly stabbed it, overcoming his lingering PTSD. The blade sank into its neck, and with a determined twist, he felt a sickening crunch as the blade severed whatever passed for its spinal cord. The creature went limp.

Before he could catch his breath, the second creature was upon him. His newfound agility kicked in again. He dropped into a low crouch, muscles coiling like springs. As the creature reached for him, he launched himself upward, driving his shoulder into its chest. The impact knocked the creature back, and he followed through with a sweeping slash aimed at its midsection. His knife tore through its flesh with a wet, ripping sound. The creature crumpled, its movements becoming erratic.

He brought the knife down again and again, each strike precise, each strike lethal. The creatures lay still, their forms dissolving into nothingness, leaving behind two more blue orbs. He stood there, panting, his knife clean as if nothing had happened. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, but beneath it all was a cold, hard determination. He had survived. He had fought. And he had won. But now, there were the spheres. He looked at them warily. Hesitation gripped him.

The memory of the first orb's invasion of his body was still fresh, still terrifying. But something compelled him to move forward. He had to know. He had to understand. Slowly, he reached out and touched the first orb. It disappeared into his skin just like the last one, and he felt a surge of energy, a strange warmth spreading through his body. His senses sharpened even further, his muscles felt stronger, more responsive. He took a deep breath and touched the second orb.

This time, he was prepared for the sensation. The warmth intensified, his mind felt like a well-oiled machine, and his body hummed with newfound power. It was undeniable. Whatever these orbs were doing, it was making him stronger, both mentally and physically. It was like the role-playing video games he used to play on his computer: kill and level up. Kill and become stronger. His hand tightened on the knife as he sensed them appearing around him. He didn't have to look at them to know they were there.

"Three more," he whispered. He didn't hesitate, didn't let fear or doubt creep in. He now understood the creatures were no match for his enhanced reflexes and strength. He slashed, kicked, and stabbed with brutal efficiency, each strike more deadly than the last. In a matter of moments, the creatures lay in pieces, their forms dissolving into nothingness. The orbs appeared once more, and he eagerly absorbed their power, feeling the surge of strength and clarity.

He stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily but feeling more alive than ever. With a determined glint in his eye, he whispered to himself,"Kill and become stronger."