New Beginning (6)
"Ghouls and Mimics?"
The strange words I saw seemed to have been named deliberately.
I shared the screen with Nadia and walked slowly. The content wasn't long enough to hinder walking while looking at it.
Actually, rather than looking, it was more like listening, as there was also a voice recording.
【To help understand the information, the names of each entity type have been revised from unidentified mutated lifeforms, commonly referred to as ULF, to Ghouls and Mimics. Further revisions may continue, and currently, the data is not reliable. More information is required.
* Ghoul
A monster representing the majority of currently observed mutated lifeforms. Initially thought to be remnants of the immortal experiments from the past, it was discovered that they are entirely separate.
The remnants of the immortal experiments were animated by a runaway of nano-robots embedded within a deceased body, but Ghouls are evidently living beings. They are merely humans with altered structures caused by something.
Despite low intelligence, they possess remarkably enhanced physical abilities, crystallized blue crystals inside their bodies, primal movements following instincts, unconditional hostility towards other life forms, and bubbling flesh tissues. These are common traits they share.
Due to their poor balance, many have to move quadrupedally when not in combat. Their forms were all different, giving off the impression that they were experimenting to determine the optimal mutations.
But if so, why? What causes this? The crystallized blue crystals? Or something else? There is no current answer.
For now, they're not strong enough to breach barricades, but it's uncertain how long this will last. This will be further discussed in the description of the Mimic type.
Facing them without any equipment is virtually impossible. The strength of a Ghoul exceeds the limits of human hands. To effectively fend them off, armor at least equivalent to a power loader's is necessary, as observed from them easily ripping apart security robots.
Their weak spots are similar to those of humans, but they cannot be incapacitated unless more than 90% is destroyed or entirely severed. Even when pierced, they recover due to their distinctive regeneration abilities.
Whether they possess emotions beyond a desire to kill and destroy remains unconfirmed. Additional samples are needed.
* Mimic
A mutation of the Ghoul. It is an inorganic form encased in biological tissue.
Unlike Ghouls, which have irregularly protruding blue crystals, mimics have blue crystals gathered at their core.
The one currently witnessed was a Mimic fused with a tram. It seems that the crystal inside serves as a power source, as it malfunctioned when Hyun-woo destroyed it.
Tram-type Mimics shoot black spikes from within. These spikes have a corrosive nature, whose effects we have yet to fully understand.
There is a risk of infection. Additional samples are needed for more accurate data.
* Postscript
Hyun-woo, remember. The mutated lifeforms that paralyzed the residential area and occupied the mining base Heaven appeared before the pureblood supremacists' bombings.
Be cautious underground. Something dangerous might have leaked.
Question everything. There is something unknown to us.】
Nadia and I, listening carefully to Carrot's words, exchanged glances. Our expressions grew serious.
"...... The monsters appeared before the bombings? ...... Could it be?"
A sudden memory hit me. It was when Fury, clashing with the pureblood supremacists, was killed by security robots. Something Robert had told us.
And how the medical area was temporarily paralyzed due to a sudden increase in patients.
If all those patients exhibited symptoms that appear just before turning into monsters, are we safe? Can we be assured of safety from unknown monstrification?
We wore even more serious expressions, checking over ourselves. Our minds weren't faltering, and there were no lumps resembling blue crystals under our skin. Were we still fine?
Furthermore, the words advised us to be cautious of the underground. Most of the mining base's underground consisted of tunnels. Tunnels used for extracting blue crystals, to be precise.
"Is there anything other than tunnels underground?"
"There is a path downwards at the core of the base, right, Hyun-woo?"
"The hydroponic facilities? The reactor chamber?"
"Lower than that."
"Lower would be the sewage treatment facilities."
Mining base Heaven was not solely a zone for extraction. It also had a refinery attached as an auxiliary facility, with so-called elite personnel stationed at its core using said facilities.
Facilities for them were located in the central area, which we called the Nexus.
A cluster of convenience facilities. A place with a completely opposite atmosphere from the mining area, which smelled of smoke. A space apt to be called the brain with the reactor chamber responsible for providing the base's energy supply.
I had never been there. In fact, I couldn't even go if I wanted to. It was a place accessible only to individuals of higher rank than advanced workers.
"Could there be something below the sewage treatment facility? What do you think, Hyun-woo? You've been there once, right?"
"Below there......"
As Nadia said, I, along with other workers, had once descended there for sewage maintenance and cleaning. As we entered from the outskirts of the base, not from through the Nexus, I could somewhat sense the vastness of the sewage treatment facility.
Undoubtedly sizable, given it supported a medium-sized base's sewage. But I didn't feel like there was another facility below it.
The sewage is where all the domestic water and cooling water used in the base converges. Where else would that water flow?
"...... I don't know. It was so vast, and the exit where the water flowed was dangerous, so I couldn't get close. I didn't even venture deep inside. If there was something, they'd probably prevent a low-rank worker like me from accessing it."
Carrot likely wasn't sure what was underground either. If he knew, he wouldn't have mentioned it so ambiguously.
It's dubious to say that they refrained from telling us details due to lacking trust. If distrust was the reason, they wouldn't have hinted at something suspicious underground in the first place.
"Ugh, my head hurts....... I don't know. I'm just going to focus on what's right in front of us. Even that is overwhelming as it is."
Nadia's ears drooped. She stared at the base drawing closer in the white landscape. The steel fortress in a white backdrop displayed contrasting colors, clearly revealing the base's presence.
Unlike the residential area, the medium-sized mining base Heaven was a place filled with a peculiar metallic smell. The residential area, on the other hand, lacked any artificially planted plants and was composed mostly of metal, boasting a suffocating barren view at just a glance.
The rusty smell, once omnipresent, remained unchanged. The sound of metal twisting whenever the strong wind blew was also unchanged. Additionally, the smell of blood was as it had always been.
Nadia, who was sniffing the air, grimaced at the still pungent scent of blood. Not everything remained the same, though. A few things had changed.
"...... The bodies are gone."
"The traces of blood remain."
I suddenly remembered what Ted had said in passing. He mentioned that the monsters had taken the bodies.
'Do they eat the corpses?'
According to the data from Carrot, the monsters dubbed as Ghouls were indeed living creatures. Being alive means surviving by consuming the death of other beings. For life activities, wouldn't they need to ingest nutrients?
Perhaps that's why they took the bodies. As I conveyed this thought, Nadia made a face as if she was about to vomit. She tried to cover her mouth with her hand but found herself helpless due to the respirator mask, looking forlorn.
"Ugh......"
"... Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
"It's okay....... Let's go quickly. We need to finish it before it gets dark or find a safe place."
Agreeing with her, I pulled out the plasma cutter, ready to fight at any moment.
We were currently at the outskirts of the mining base's extraction zone. Heading left from here would lead us to the tunnel where we'd found the track vehicle, and turning right would take us to the extraction zone's shuttle station.
Since neither of these was our destination, Nadia, Carry, and I heightened our vigilance and traversed the zone. Our goal lay inside the base's maintenance area.
Once there, we aimed to find a datastore board and return afterward. And if time allowed, we needed to head to the communication area near the maintenance area to conduct maintenance or gather required materials.
This way, we could escape this place one day sooner or call for support for our escape. Though I hadn't confessed it to Nadia, I regretted not summoning the Earth-bound shuttle a day earlier. Had we hurried, we wouldn't be on-site but watching the news about the site.
"Nadia, let's communicate by comms from now on. Making noise could increase the risk."
"Understood......!"
Since short-range communication is unrestricted as long as the bracelet is functioning, it was good enough for conversing unless the situation became urgent.
Whoosh......
A breeze carrying a scent of blood swept through. It delivered a warning that this place was dangerous, that we shouldn't come any further, that death was lurking. As the base's smell of blood deeply settled into us, our bodies tensed up.
Monsters—no, ghouls—weren't visible yet. Though the eerie silence in the base suggested emptiness, we were well aware that it wasn't true.
Surely, they were hiding out of sight. Awaiting the approach of prey.
- If Ghouls appear, I'll go first. Aim to deal with them swiftly.
Seeing my message, Nadia nodded with a determined expression. We had to move with the mindset that visible adversaries always outnumbered us. This way, we could be prepared for the worst.
The most crucial part was not to make unnecessary noise. Noise brings more noise, after all.
Quietly advancing, we soon stood before the gate that signaled entrance into the main base facilities.
〈Security Checkpoint〉
【Please check your belongings. Unauthorized or prohibited items cannot be brought in.】
Naturally, the checkpoint was in ruinous condition. The waiting area, as well as the security procedure's descended barriers, were sullied with dried blood stains.
Metal parts from the security robots were tangled with sticky flesh fragments or lay forlorn on the floor as a lone metallic arm.
Beep!
As we approached, the ceiling-installed sensor shot out green laser beams to recognize us. After a quick scan from head to toe, the beams turned red, and the half-opened barred gate fully closed.
"......."
"......."
We stood there, stymied by the closed gate, staring in disbelief. The base's connectivity seemed intact, as no sirens sounded, but access was clearly restricted.
Nadia tapped my shoulder. Following her gesture, I nodded and moved to the indicated location. We stepped through the smashed glass and into the premises.
〈Security Command Center〉
【An emergency status applies throughout the base. Security robots have been deployed. Until the situation is resolved, all entries are prohibited.】
The system, seemingly frozen post-Ghoul outbreak, appeared unresponsive. No one had restored it. The ever-imposing security team and robots left mere traces of their presence, having vanished elsewhere.
Since my usual work was in the extraction zone, I rarely visited here, but when I did, I distinctly remembered the condescending remarks workers like us received.
Nadia only escaped being harassed because I was nearby, but it was uncomfortable all the same. Since then, Nadia had grown more fearful of people.
Though I didn't wish death upon them, a part of me thought if they had to die, they could've at least dropped a weapon for us to use. Even in their final moments, they were utterly useless.
While Carry and I stood guard, Nadia moved forward. She tapped on the panel, bringing up the system status data as the lights flickered on.
【Air purification system operating normally. Air pollution index stable. Abnormal movement detected in the ventilation shafts.】
【Barricade system functioning normally. Isolation forcibly released in some areas. Deploy immediately to resolve the issues.】
【Energy supply system unstable. Unexpected power outages may occur. Contact maintenance immediately.】
Nadia immediately furrowed her brows. The security command center naturally had access restrictions.
She could only view the system status, not connect to or manage it. Only those belonging to the security team or maintenance personnel had such privileges. As mere intermediate-level workers, we had no such access.
With no corpse appearing to grant access, we couldn't implement the broker's features either. Ultimately, Nadia's circuit manipulation skills were our only solution.
- Can you manage it?
- I'll try to disable the lasers at least. We can pass through once they're down.
Rolling up her sleeves in a mock show of determination, Nadia pulled out her tools from a belt bag. Adopting a serious expression, she forcefully opened the lower section of the command center monitor, revealing a complex-looking circuit. It was a simultaneous moment when she hesitated.
Was it my imagination? Nadia seemed to be sweating slightly and trembling a bit. When I asked why with my eyes, she moved her lips slightly as if to speak.
However, she remained silent. Just glancing back and forth between me and the circuit before picking her tools back up.
For a while, clattering noises softly echoed through the security command center. The sound was subtle enough not to cause worry, but that didn't lead me to lower my guard. Being wary was imperative.
Then it happened. A buzzing noise rang out. Startled by the sound of something being scorched by lasers, I instantly turned towards Nadia's location.
There stood Nadia, using Carry's auxiliary arm as a tool, scorching the circuit with a laser. Meeting my gaze, she covered her flushed face with a bright, innocent laugh and gave a thumbs-up. A thin streak of black smoke rose and dispersed into the air.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
Momentarily speechless at seeing Carry also giving a thumbs-up, I pondered whether it was manipulation or destruction.
'Is it really finished...?'
It seemed finished well. Judging from the absence of any blaring alarms and the deactivation of the laser sensor, it surely looked well-done. Although, it was slightly different from what I had anticipated.
With that, we breached into the base's interior towards the maintenance area.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
I like the pacing and the story, not too heavy but there are still intense moments. I also get a few chuckles here and there. And Carry's emojis is like icing to the cake.