The chittering from within the massive, bone-laced nest grew louder, more agitated, as The Crimson Coil team stood frozen at the entrance to the console-lined corridor. The air here was thick with a strange, musky odor, a scent that made Kai's Draconic Senses recoil with a primal warning. His Anima Core Stability was at 82%, the long, arduous crawl through the service tunnels having taken a toll on their energy and nerves.
"Roric, Elara," Kai whispered into his comm, his voice barely audible. "We've encountered… a biological presence. Large nest structure, center of the corridor. Hearing multiple small… entities within. And that deep thrumming vibration is very strong here."
"Biologicals?" Roric's voice was sharp with interest. "Shift, any specific energy readings from the nest itself? Anima signatures? Technological components?" Shift, her face pale in the glow of her suit-lamp, slowly raised her sensor array. "The nest itself is… inert. Mostly organic and metallic debris. But inside… I'm picking up multiple, very faint bio-signatures. Small. Reptilian or insectoid in their energy patterns, it's hard to tell. No discernible Anima, but they're definitely alive. And the thrumming… it's not mechanical, Roric. It feels… organic. Like a colossal heartbeat, resonating through the station's structure from somewhere far below us."
A colossal heartbeat. The image was terrifying. The chittering intensified, and then, small, dark shapes began to emerge from the openings in the nest. They were creatures unlike anything Kai had ever seen. Roughly the size of a large sump-rat, they were multi-legged, with segmented, chitinous bodies that shimmered with an oily, black iridescence. Their heads were dominated by large, multifaceted eyes that glowed with a faint, internal red light, and a pair of wickedly sharp mandibles clicked menacingly. They moved with a skittering, insectoid gait, their movements fast and unnervingly coordinated. Dozens of them. Maybe more.
[BIOLOGICAL THREAT IDENTIFIED: Aurelian Tunnel Crawlers (Juvenile Stage – Presumptive). Species: Unknown (Probable Mutated Insectoid or Pre-Collapse Bio-engineered Scavenger). Attributes: High Agility, Chitinous Exoskeleton (Low Damage Resistance), Mandible Bite (Minor Piercing/Toxic – Unconfirmed). Behavior: Swarm Tactics, Territorial, Highly Aggressive when disturbed. Threat Level (Individual): Low. Threat Level (Swarm): Moderate to High.]
"Crawlers!" Zip's voice, if he were here, would have been a shriek of pure terror. Even Breaker took an involuntary step back, his hand instinctively going to the heavy stun baton at his hip. "They don't look friendly," Breaker rumbled. "And there are a lot of them," Shift added, her voice tight. "They're emerging from multiple points in the nest. They've seen us."
The Aurelian Tunnel Crawlers, their red eyes fixed on the intruders, began to advance, their chittering rising to an angry, high-pitched shriek. "We can't fight our way through that swarm in this corridor," Kai said quickly, his mind racing. "Not without taking heavy damage or expending all our resources. We need to fall back, find another route to the control hub."
"Negative, Leader Kai," Roric's voice cut in, firm and decisive. "Retreating now means we lose valuable time, and we have no guarantee any alternate route will be safer, or even exist, given the state of these lower levels. Elara's analysis of the station's core structure indicates this primary service corridor is the most direct path to the central command spire. You must push through."
"Push through that?" Breaker exclaimed, gesturing with his stun baton at the advancing tide of chittering, red-eyed horrors. "They are D-Grade threats individually, according to the System's assessment of similar bio-forms," Roric stated, his voice devoid of emotion, clearly having received a relayed analysis from Kai's unspoken System prompts, or making an incredibly astute tactical guess. "Their strength is in numbers and surprise. Your team possesses superior firepower and tactical capability, even with your D-Grade Animas… or in your case, Kai, your unique Draconic potential. Breaker, your Gorgon Anima's resilience should allow you to create a breach in their line. Shift, your technical skills – any of those sonic charges or chemical flares Zip left behind in your kit? A wide-area disorientation could be effective. Kai, your Draconic Arts… this is a test of your crowd control capabilities."
Kai gritted his teeth. Roric was pushing them, hard. This wasn't just about reaching the control hub anymore; it was a deliberate trial by fire. He looked at the advancing swarm, then at his crewmates. Breaker was already setting his jaw, his hand gripping his stun baton tightly. Shift was rummaging in her utility belt, her expression grim but determined.
He still had his 3 undistributed attribute points. Now seemed like the time. He needed to be faster, more perceptive, if he was going to navigate this. 'System, allocate 1 point to Agility, 1 point to Perception, 1 point to Draconic Affinity.'[ATTRIBUTE POINTS ALLOCATED. Agility, Perception, Draconic Affinity Increased.] [New Draconic Affinity: 9. Tier 1 Draconic Arts further enhanced. Control over Draconic Presence and Dermal Plating moderately improved. New Tier 1 Draconic Art pathway available: 'Shadow Meld (Basic)' – requires skill point.] His Draconic Affinity was now 9. He felt a subtle surge, his senses sharpening even further, his body feeling a fraction lighter, more responsive.
"Alright," Kai said, his voice hard, the decision made. He activated his "Dermal Plating Manifestation (Rank 2)," dark scales flowing across his forearms and chest. "Shift, if you have something to disorient them, use it on my signal. Breaker, be ready to punch a hole. I'll try to draw their initial focus, create an opening for you. We go straight through the nest. No retreat." He then focused his will, unleashing his "Draconic Presence (Rank 1)." A wave of cold, predatory unease washed over the corridor. The chittering of the Aurelian Crawlers faltered for a split second, some of the lead creatures hesitating, their multifaceted red eyes blinking in confusion. It wasn't enough to stop them, but it was a start.
The children of Aurelia were about to learn that something far older, and far more dangerous, had awakened in their ancient, decaying home.