Ryan stood in the silent chamber, hearing only his heavy breathing and the faint crackle of the defeated Sentinel.
His god Interface lit up, showering him with the sweet, sweet rewards of victory.
Precursor Automaton Deactivated: Custodian Sentinel [Level 5]
+250 God Points [Np] Acquired!
+2 Influence Awarded! [For overcoming a high-threat Precursor guardian solo]
System Note: You poked the big robot until it stopped moving! Excellent work! That's +2 Influence for being a brave!
Ryan grinned. 250 NP was a solid reward, and his Influence was up to 6. He was practically a local celebrity or at least known for surviving absurdly dangerous situations.
As the Sentinel powered down completely, a small metal container appeared beside its lifeless body with a soft thump.
The Interface labeled it: Minor Sentinel Cache.
"Loot drop!" Ryan cheered weakly, pushing himself off the pillar.
He hurried to the cache and opened it. Inside, resting on some strange Precursor packing foam, was a sleek silver device, palm-sized and covered in intricate circuits and glowing lenses.
Item Acquired: Energy Cell Modulator [Tier 3 Precursor Technology – Component/Upgrade]
Function: Can be used to significantly upgrade the efficiency and capacity of energy-based equipment, or to help stabilize and recharge depleted Precursor power cells. It's like a super-charger and a universal adapter all in one nifty package!
System Note: Ooh, shiny tech! This could make your zappy things even zappier, or bring dead batteries back to life! Very handy for the aspiring Precursor gadget enthusiast!
Ryan's eyes widened. An Energy Cell Modulator! This was perfect! He immediately thought of his Depleted Precursor Power Cell.
Maybe this modulator was the key to getting it working again! This was a fantastic find.
But he wasn't done with the Sentinel itself. He remembered the potential loot drops his Lore Scanner had mentioned, especially that "Sentinel Core." He approached the smoking wreckage of the robot and activated his SSS-Tier "Ultimate Infinite Extraction System."
Target: Custodian Sentinel Wreckage [Level 5, Precursor Automaton]
Initiating Focused Extraction Protocol: Core Components & Schematics.
Multiple valuable elements detected!
Extraction Complete!
Acquired:
Damaged Sentinel Core [Precursor Tech Component – Rare]: The primary processing and power distribution hub of the Sentinel. It's a bit banged up from your… enthusiastic disassembly… but still contains valuable Precursor technology and complex energy matrixes. Highly sought after by tech-heads.
Strength Essence [Sentinel Variant]: +2 Permanent Strength!*
Armored Plating Schematics [Precursor Design – Partial]: You've assimilated the basic design principles behind the Sentinel's incredibly tough outer shell.
This knowledge could be used to craft or reinforce your own armor, if you find the right materials and a big enough Precursor 3D printer.
System Note: You scored the brain-box, some muscle-juice, and the build guide for its fancy armor. Not bad! That core's the real prize!
Ryan felt a surge of power as the +2 Strength flowed into him. His Strength stat was now a very respectable 33! He could probably arm-wrestle a small bear and have a decent chance! The Damaged Sentinel Core was even better; it pulsed with a complex, contained energy, and he knew it was valuable.
And armor schematics? Yes, please! He was tired of relying on just his starting clothes and a magical cloak.
He then remembered the other Precursor artifact he'd found before the fight, the Resonance Key. He pulled it out of his pocket. It was a slender, metallic rod, and it was humming more insistently now, practically vibrating in his hand, clearly excited to be so close to the Data Vault.
As he held it, his god Interface chimed again.
Resonance Key [Tier 2 Precursor Artifact] Synchronizing With User's Latent Precursor Data Affinity…
Ambient Energy Detection Capabilities Integrated Into User's 'Lore Scanner' Function!
Lore Scanner Upgraded: Now Capable Of Detecting Subtle Energy Signatures, Hidden Precursor Mechanisms, And Traces Of Exotic Energies Within A Short Range.
System Note: Your magic dowsing rod just got a software update! Now it's even better at finding the good stuff! It's like having X-ray specs for invisible energy cooties!
Ryan grinned. His Lore Scanner was becoming an incredibly powerful tool! This Resonance Key was a gift that kept on giving.
Finally, he approached the main event: the Data Vault Alpha. It was a sleek, cylindrical console on a raised dais, its surface glowing with a calm, steady blue light. This was what the whole Resource Scramble was about.
He reached out with his Phase Gauntlet-clad hand and placed it on the console's surface.
God Interface: Precursor Data Vault Alpha Detected. Initiate Data Extraction Sequence? This will alert all participants in the Resource Scramble Event to your successful capture.
Ryan took a deep breath. "Let's do this." He mentally commanded the extraction to begin.
The console hummed, and intricate patterns of light began to flow across its surface, streaming into his gauntlet and directly into his god Interface.
It felt like a massive download of pure information, but strangely, it wasn't overwhelming. His upgraded Intellect and his Neural Symbiote Map seemed to handle the influx with ease.
A loud, sector-wide announcement blared through the merged CommNet channel, broadcast by the God Warden:
God Warden: Attention All Resource Scramble Participants! Ryan Stone Of Genesis Outpost #7 [Blue Falcon] Has Successfully Secured And Initiated Extraction From Data Vault Alpha! Current Score: Outpost #7: 1, Outpost #12: 0! The Race Is On!
Ryan's own Interface updated his progress:
Data Extraction From Vault Alpha Complete! +0 God Points [Np]
[Vaults grant strategic advantage, not direct Np].
Resource Scramble Progress Updated.
Assimilation Level Progress [Level 4]: 435/1000 Np [This was from the Sentinel kill and previous encounters, not the Vault itself].
His stats after the recent Strength extraction:
Strength: 33
Agility: 27 [+10 from Phase Gauntlet] = 37
Vitality: 26
Intellect: 54
Spirit: 54
Threat Level Updated: Veteran Operative!
Flex Essence Points: 12 [Unspent]
"Veteran Operative!" Ryan liked the sound of that even more than "Elite Human ++." He was moving up in the world, one dangerous Precursor ruin at a time.
Just then, another trade notification pinged from Emma "Sage" Thorne. She was clearly busy out there.
Trade Offer Received:
From: Emma "Sage" Thorne
Offering: 1x Level 3 Anomaly Core [Unstable]
For: 1x Serving of Roasted Rations [Stamina Boost: Minor] – [Per our agreement!]
Ryan quickly accepted. Another Anomaly Core for his collection! He extracted it on the spot: +1 Permanent Intellect! His Intellect was now 55!
He was Level 4, his stats were soaring, he had a new title, new gear, and his Outpost was in the lead. He grinned.
Now, to check the CommNet and see how Tom "Shadow" Kane and the Crimson Banner were taking the news that a "Blue Fledgling" had just snatched the first objective right out from under their arrogant noses.
This was getting fun!