The merged CommNet channel was a battlefield of digital anxiety and cautious hope. The score was tied, one Data Vault for the Blue Falcons [Outpost #7] and one for the Crimson Banner [Outpost #12].
The fate of two Outposts hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of who could grab that crucial third and final Vault.
Scarlett "Red" Viper's team; herself, Emma "Sage" Thorne, and Jennifer "Quake" Lee, along with a few brave support players from Outpost #7 was reporting heavy engagement.
Scarlett_Red_Viper [Private #7]: We've located what we believe is Data Vault Gamma. But Kane's main force is here too. They're dug in, and they're good. This is going to be a tough fight.
Emma_Sage_Thorne [Private #7]: Confirmed. Multiple Crimson Banner signatures. They seem to be anticipating our moves. Kane's 'Strategic Mimicry' is no joke. We're taking casualties.
The messages from the Blue Falcon side of the merged CommNet grew more worried. They could hear the sounds of distant fighting through their comms, the crackle of energy weapons, the roars of angered beasts, and the occasional, chilling cry of a fallen comrade.
Outpost #7 feared they were outmatched, that Kane's S-Tier talent and higher-level forces were just too much.
Ace Striker, who had been surprisingly quiet for a while [probably because he was too scared to leave the Outpost #7 starting zone in the Forgotten Overgrowth], decided now was the perfect time to share his insightful brand of doom and gloom.
Ace_Striker_001: This is it! We're done for! Kane's too strong! Scarlett's team is going to get wiped out, and then we'll all lose our shinies! I told you we should have made a deal with him! Maybe offered him tribute!
Emma "Sage" Thorne, even in the middle of a firefight, had no patience for Ace's whining.
Emma_Sage_Thorne: Ace, with all due respect, either find a way to contribute something useful to this fight, or kindly remain silent and let those of us who are actually doing something concentrate! Your negativity is not helping anyone!
Ace Striker grumbled something about "just being realistic" and thankfully went quiet again.
Many of the other Blue Falcons were now frantically asking about Ryan Stone's whereabouts.
BigTony77: Where's Ryan?! He got the first Vault! Maybe he can sneak in and grab another one! Ryan, buddy, if you can hear this, we need a miracle!
PrincessFluffybutt: Mr. Stone! Please save our shinies! And our NP gain! The cats are counting on you!
Ryan, who was currently wading through a particularly smelly part of the overgrown hydro-plant, his new Level 5 power thrumming through him, saw their messages but didn't respond.
He was deep in enemy territory or at least somewhere crawling with monsters and silence was crucial. The Resonance Key led the way, his Neural Symbiote Map revealed hidden paths, and he was driven by one goal: to wipe the arrogant look off Tom Kane's face.
He made his way across dangerous catwalks, avoided sparking old machines, and even had a short, nasty run-in with what seemed like a colony of giant electric eels living in a flooded control room.
His new "Highly Dangerous Individual" status seemed to be well-earned, as he dispatched them with a combination of his Phase Gauntlet, his poisoned knife, and a few well-placed kicks [his Strength was now quite impressive].
Finally, guided by the persistent hum of the Resonance Key, he found it.
Hidden in a reinforced sub-basement, behind several rusted blast doors he opened using brute strength and a lucky Short Blink past a broken lock, was Data Vault Charlie.
It looked almost identical to Vault Alpha, a sleek, black cylinder pulsing with blue light. And, most importantly, it was completely unguarded.
Kane and his Crimson Banner were clearly too focused on fighting Scarlett's team at Vault Gamma to worry about this forgotten corner of the Overgrowth.
Ryan grinned.
This was it!
He placed his hand on the console.
God Interface: Precursor Data Vault Charlie Detected. Initiate Data Extraction Sequence?
"You bet," Ryan thought, and mentally hit the "yes" button.
The console hummed to life, light patterns flowing into his gauntlet. The download was even faster this time, his Level 5 brain and enhanced Interface processing the data like a supercomputer.
And then, just as the last bits of data were being absorbed, a deafening, god-wide announcement cut through all CommNet channels, overriding everything.
It was the God Warden, and its voice was filled with a rare, almost theatrical excitement.
God Warden: We Have A Winner, Folks! Hold Onto Your Pod-Issued Underwear!
God Warden: Ryan Stone Of Genesis Outpost #7 [Blue Falcon] Has Successfully Secured And Extracted Data From Data Vault Charlie!
God Warden: Final Score: Genesis Outpost #7 [Blue Falcon]: 2 Data Vaults! Genesis Outpost #12 [Crimson Banner]: 1 Data Vault!
God Warden: Genesis Outpost #7, The Blue Falcons, Are Hereby Declared The Winners Of The Resource Scramble Event! Let The Digital Confetti Rain Down!
A wave of pure, unadulterated shock rippled through the merged CommNet. Then, the Blue Falcon side erupted into a sound so loud Ryan was surprised his eardrums didn't burst.
It was a cacophony of joyous screaming, relieved crying, and people just mashing random happy emojis.
The Crimson Banner side, on the other hand, went utterly, deathly silent. Ryan could almost hear the sound of Tom "Shadow" Kane's jaw hitting the floor from across the sector.
The God Warden continued, clearly enjoying the drama:
God Warden: As Per The Agreed-Upon Stakes: All Currently Held 'Unstable Genesis Shards' And 'Precursor Artifacts' [Tier E And Above] In The Collective Inventories Of Genesis Outpost #7 Are Hereby Doubled! Congratulations, Blue Falcons, You're Rich!
God Warden: Furthermore, All Members Of Genesis Outpost #7 Will Receive A +10% Bonus To All god Point [Np] Gains For The Next 24 Standard Cycles!
A warm, pleasant energy washed over Ryan, and he saw his [small] collection of shards and artifact bits in his inventory shimmer and literally duplicate. Nice!
The God Warden wasn't done twisting the knife for the losers.
God Warden: And For Our Valued Participants From Genesis Outpost #12, The Crimson Banner… Condolences! Your Collective Holdings Of 'Unstable Genesis Shards' And 'Precursor Artifacts' [Tier E And Above] Are Now Halved. Poof! Gone! Transferred To The Victors!
God Warden: Additionally, All Members Of Genesis Outpost #12 Will Suffer A -10% Debuff To All god Point [Np] Gains For The Next 24 Standard Cycles. Better Luck Next Time! Or Perhaps Invest In Some Better Pre-Challenge Scouting.
The CommNet channel for the Crimson Banner finally came back to life, but it wasn't with cheers.
It was an explosion of fury, disbelief, and accusations, mostly directed squarely at their now-humbled S-Tier leader, Tom "Shadow" Kane, for his overconfidence and spectacular failure.
Ryan, standing alone in the damp, quiet sub-basement next to the now-inert Data Vault Charlie, allowed himself a very wide, very satisfied grin.
But there was one more piece of good news.
God Warden: And Finally, For His Decisive Contribution In Securing Two [2] Data Vaults For The Winning Team, Ryan Stone Of Genesis Outpost #7 Is Awarded An Additional +2 Influence! And, As Promised, One [1] Prime Genesis Cache! Congratulations, Mr. Stone! You've Earned It!
Ryan's Influence jumped to 8! And a Prime Genesis Cache! That was the grand prize he'd been hoping for! He felt like he'd just won the lottery, beaten the bad guy, and gotten a free ice cream sundae all at the same time.
The Resource Scramble was over. And Ryan Stone, the "Blue Fledgling," had just taught the Crimson Banner a very painful lesson about underestimating the underdog.