Endel woke to muffled voices. The basement was bathed in a soft lamp light, and the cold air carried the scent of canned food. A slight shiver ran through him, and he pulled on the jacket lying nearby.
Lyra sat at an old, worn wooden table that had clearly survived many eras. Her hands rested on the tabletop, and in front of her was an open can of stew. Leyna and Carlos had settled nearby on metal chairs, rocking slightly. They whispered, careful not to wake Endel. Leyna was speaking passionately, her hands moving quickly as if emphasizing her words with gestures.
"Listen, this is pure nonsense!" Leyna exclaimed, waving her spoon. "These portals, monsters, systems… it's like we're in a game!"
"But it explains why we're still alive," Carlos leaned back, resting his shoulder against the concrete wall. "If it weren't for Endel's warnings, we'd already be gone. I don't know how it works, but we'd better get used to it."
Lyra let out a deep sigh and looked up at her son's friend, Carlos:
"Get used to it? Get used to constantly being under threat of death?" Her voice was quiet, tinged with despair. "I… I don't even know what comes next."
Endel felt a pang of guilt hearing her words. He wanted to reassure them but didn't know what to say. Instead, he began to survey the basement to distract himself.
The basement they were in was both old-fashioned and technological. Rough concrete walls were decorated with sparse metal panels, from which wires protruded. In one corner sat an old, peeling sofa with faded upholstery. Nearby stood an antique wooden cabinet, its doors half broken. The shelves held books with yellowed pages and tattered covers.
But that was only one corner. Directly opposite was a table with several holographic screens displaying cryptic numbers and graphs. Everything here looked like science fiction: tools with laser tips, generators, and devices of unknown purpose. Mechanical manipulators hung above the table, gleaming with chrome surfaces. Their light flickered, giving the room a strange, almost unreal glow.
Kael, Endel's father, moved through the basement, clearly searching for something. He looked focused, his face tense. Opening one metal drawer after another, he muttered to himself:
"Damn it… I left it here… Where is it?"
"What are you looking for?" Lyra asked, her voice louder than usual.
"Weapons," Kael replied without looking up from his search. "I always keep them here in case of war or… something worse."
"Seriously?" Lyra raised an exhausted eyebrow. "You keep weapons in the basement like some paranoid man? And why didn't I know?"
Kael spun around sharply, his eyes flashing with indignation.
"That's called precaution," he snapped. "If I weren't 'paranoid,' we'd be sitting here with nothing, and upstairs, the monsters would already be waiting. Why? Because I decided so!"
Lyra fell silent, her face taking on a slightly guilty expression.
Finally, Kael found the right drawer—a massive metal container with an old combination lock. He bent over and quickly entered the code. The container hissed open, revealing dozens of weapons.
"This is part of my arsenal," Kael said, pulling out the first pistol. "I hope everyone remembers their military training lessons and how to handle firearms."
He began arranging the weapons on the metal table next to the holographic screens. There were modified pistols, laser rifles, a compact shotgun, hand grenades, and even an electric baton glowing with blue light.
"This… is impressive. Where did you get this?" Carlos rose from his chair, cautiously inspecting the weapons. "Did you rob an arsenal after leaving the army?"
"It doesn't matter where I got it," Kael grumbled. "What matters is that it will help us survive."
Leyna stepped closer, her eyes alight with interest:
"Is that a laser shotgun? Uncle Kael, what's its power?"
"A compact model," Kael nodded approvingly. "Perfect for close combat. But remember: it has limited charge."
Each of them chose their weapon. Carlos picked a lightweight laser pistol, looking as if it was his first time holding anything like it. Leyna stopped at the shotgun, clearly satisfied with her choice. Lyra chose a silenced pistol, clearly preferring something more compact. Endel selected an automatic laser rifle, feeling its weight in his hands. Its sleek, illuminated body felt reliable.
"So, feeling like soldiers now?" Kael smirked, leaning on the table.
"More like targets," muttered Carlos, cautiously checking his pistol's charge.
"Better than nothing," Kael said. "At least now you're somewhat protected."
At that moment, Endel's system activated on its own. A message appeared before his eyes:
[System Activated.][You have the option to select an E-rank skill. Would you like to choose one?]
[Yes/No]
Endel froze, reading the text. Three types of skills appeared that could change the situation:
[E-Rank Body Recovery (Passive Skill): accelerates body regeneration. Wounds heal 15% faster.]
[E-Rank Small Fire Control: creates a head-sized flame using mental energy.]
[E-Rank Healing: relieves pain and accelerates wound healing with prolonged use.]
Before he could consider his options, the system made a recommendation:
[For your current state, E-Rank Healing is recommended. Would you like to select it?]
Without hesitation, Endel confirmed the system's choice. A short message appeared before his eyes:
[E-Rank Skill [Healing] has been added to your skill tree.]
Endel immediately activated the skill:
[E-Rank Skill [Healing] activated. Effectiveness: minimal, increases with experience. Capabilities: accelerated healing, pain relief.]
As soon as the text disappeared, he felt a gentle warmth spread through his body. It felt like a faint wave of energy flowing inside him, calming and strengthening. In that moment, he realized—it wasn't just words on a screen. It was real power, capable of changing a lot.
Soon, everyone returned to the table. Having chosen their weapons, they began discussing a plan, and Leyna activated the old holographic screen. After a few minutes of interference, a news channel appeared.
The footage showed chaos: destroyed cities, helpless soldiers, and civilians fleeing to shelters. The news anchor looked distressed but tried to maintain a professional tone:
"The situation remains critical. Military efforts are largely ineffective against large numbers of anomalies. The army also reports that modern weapons are minimally effective against large anomalies, while small and medium ones are quickly eliminated. The government urges citizens to remain in shelters until further instructions."
The screen shifted. Spaceships hovered over the planet's surface but took no action. It was said that even they were useless against the enemy, and using them could cause massive civilian casualties.
Endel listened silently, feeling a growing heaviness in his chest. He noticed Kael snort darkly.
"This is nonsense," he said, wiping his hands with a rag. "Typical 'wait for us to come.' But we know how that ends. Nobody will do anything for us."
"Then what?" Carlos looked up from his pistol. "Just sit and wait to be found? Or go upstairs and die?"
Kael looked at him carefully, then at his son.
"Survival depends on us alone," he said firmly. "And it's time you understood that."
Endel remained silent, but a strange sense of determination grew within him. He looked at his hands and quietly said:
"I want to become stronger."
Everyone stared at him, but he continued:
"I think I know how to do it."
Leyna squinted, and Lyra tilted her head slightly, not fully grasping his words. Endel lifted his gaze:
"I have skills. I can heal and fight. These aren't just words. You've seen it."
"Skills?" Lyra repeated, her voice full of surprise. "What do you mean? Like in a game?"
Endel didn't explain further. He leaned over the table and placed his hand on his cheek, where there was a small but noticeable irritation. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, and in that instant, his palm glowed faintly. Within seconds, the irritation disappeared, leaving clean skin.
"Wow…" Leyna murmured. "This… really works like in a game?"
"Yes," Endel whispered, withdrawing his hand. "But I know this isn't enough. If I want to protect you and myself, I need to grow stronger. And… there's one more skill. I think you understand which one."
Lyra frowned, realizing what he meant. She had managed to become aware for a moment and had seen her son fight without holding back. She shook her head.
"Endel, this is dangerous. You don't understand what you're dealing with. If you use it too often, something could go wrong."
Carlos put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Then we'll go together," he said, looking at Lyra. "Endel and I can scout. We have weapons, and he has this… skill. We can find out what's happening upstairs and maybe discover something useful."
Lyra frowned even more, clearly wrestling with conflicting emotions. She wanted to protest, but Kael cut her off sharply:
"Enough!" he said, banging the table. "Don't you understand? He's not a child. He wants to become stronger to survive. And we need that. If we sit here forever, it will kill us. Sooner or later."
Lyra fell silent, biting her lip, and Leyna lowered her gaze. For a moment, the room was quiet, broken only by the soft hum of machinery.
Finally, Kael exhaled and, looking at his son and Carlos, said:
"Go. But be careful. And don't play hero. If anything goes wrong, come back immediately."
Carlos nodded, pleased to have received permission. Leyna remained silent, clenching her fists. She wanted to go with them but understood that now her voice could only ruin everything.
"All right," Endel said. "We'll be careful."
Within minutes, they gathered everything they needed. Endel checked his laser rifle, and Carlos his pistol. They donned light armored vests from Endel's father's arsenal and took a small supply of food. Before leaving, Lyra briefly hugged Endel and Carlos.
"Come back, you hear?" she whispered.
They nodded and, taking flashlights, cautiously exited the basement. The hotel they were in was dark and eerily quiet. Broken windows let in cold air, and every step echoed through empty corridors.
Standing at the exit, Endel and Carlos exchanged a glance.
"Well?" Carlos asked, gripping his pistol. "Ready?"
Endel nodded.
"Ready."
A day of adventure lay ahead.