The "Omega Hunt" in the depths of Sub-Station Epsilon became a brutal, extended training exercise and a vital source of sustenance for Kai over the next few days. Each descent into the sealed sublevels, accompanied by the stoic Breaker and the surprisingly formidable Roric, was a lesson in his evolving capabilities. His Draconic Energy Reserves were consistently maintained above 90%, the high-vitality essence of the mutated sump-fauna proving far more effective for both energy restoration and the ongoing integration of the Old Republic energy than the desperate street acquisitions he'd made before. The System noted: [Draconic Power Source Integration (Old Republic Energy): 85% Complete. Hybrid energy manifestations stabilizing. 'Data Echo' and 'Energy Sense' abilities becoming more refined and controllable.]
His "Data Echo" ability, once a source of disorienting, random flashes, began to coalesce. During moments of intense concentration, or when near ancient Old Republic technology within Epsilon, he would sometimes receive clearer, more coherent fragments: snippets of technical readouts, brief glimpses of star charts that matched the one he'd seen during the gauntlet interface, even fleeting sensory impressions – the hum of a starship drive, the scent of alien flora. It was like piecing together a shattered mosaic, the System diligently logging each fragment: [Ancient Echoes – Data Fragment Acquired: OR Star Navigation Protocol (Partial). OR Anima Resonance Signature (Type Gamma – Faint).]
His "Energy Sense" also sharpened. He could now differentiate more clearly between various technological energy signatures, the thrum of Epsilon's auxiliary power distinct from the faint, alien pulse of the Project Griffin data-chips, or the contained hum of Roric's enigmatic energy rods. This new sensory acuity made him invaluable to Shift as she continued her painstaking work on the Old Republic data.
"Kai, can you focus on this chip?" Shift asked one afternoon, holding up one of the less corrupted "Project Griffin" fragments. "I'm hitting a recursive encryption layer that seems to be… resonating with a specific energy frequency. My Anima can sense it, but it can't 'tune' to it. Your… unique energy signature, the one mixed with that Aurelia chip's power, it might be able to create the necessary harmonic."
Kai, hesitant but intrigued, placed his hand on the chip. He closed his eyes, reaching for that strange, dual energy within him – the fiery draconic core and the cool, azure Old Republic echo. He focused, trying to project a stable, resonant hum, as Lyra had taught him in their meditation sessions. The chip in Shift's hand suddenly pulsed with a bright, clear light. "That's it! Hold it, Kai!" Shift exclaimed, her fingers flying across her console. "The encryption is… it's unlocking! I'm getting raw data stream access!" [SYSTEM ASSIST: Conduit Draconic/OR Hybrid Energy utilized to bypass Old Republic Encryption (Tier 2). Anima Energy Cost: Low. New Application for 'Energy Sense' identified: Resonant Frequency Attunement.]
For the next few hours, Kai acted as a living decryption key, his unique energy signature, guided by Shift's technical expertise, unlocking several more of the Project Griffin data-chips. The information they contained was staggering. Detailed schematics for "Anima Resonance Dampeners," theoretical papers on "Cross-Species Anima Hybridization," and even fragmented research notes on something called the "Wyrminus Strain" – a theoretical primal Anima source of immense, uncontrollable power, which the Old Republic researchers had apparently viewed with both terror and fascination. "This… this is beyond anything the MODS Corporation has ever revealed," Roric breathed, staring at the decrypted files Elara was now collating. "This isn't just about controlling MODS, Kai. This is about the fundamental building blocks of Anima itself. The power to create… and to unmake."
The System, however, issued a stern warning to Kai: [WARNING: Prolonged direct interface with 'Project Griffin' data, even as a passive energy conduit, carries significant risk. The conceptual frameworks and theoretical Anima constructs within this data may cause undesirable resonance or corruption within Host's nascent Draconic Power Source. Limit exposure.]
The "Omega Hunt" also yielded unexpected discoveries. In one of the deepest, most ancient sections of the sublevel, Breaker, using his Gorgon Anima to clear a collapsed tunnel, uncovered a sealed chamber. Inside, they found not mutated creatures, but rows of dormant Old Republic maintenance drones, covered in centuries of dust but otherwise remarkably preserved. "Incredible," Roric whispered, running a hand over the cool, metallic chassis of one of the drones. "If Shift and Elara can reactivate these… they could automate much of Epsilon's defenses, its repairs, even its resource scavenging. They could be our silent, tireless workforce."
As Kai's Level 3 EXP bar neared its cap (285/300), and his Draconic Energy Reserves remained consistently high, he felt a new sense of power, of control, beginning to solidify within him. The horrors of his transformation, the gnawing hunger, were still there, but they were now balanced by a growing understanding of his abilities and a clearer path forward, guided by Roric's ambition and the strange, ancient echoes of the Old Republic. The Ember Knights were no longer just surviving; they were beginning to unearth the tools that might allow them to truly thrive, and perhaps, to one day challenge the very foundations of Veridia City's power structure. But the deeper they delved into these forgotten secrets, the more dangerous the game became.