The forty-meter journey towards the promising energy signature felt entirely different from Xen’s previous excursions. With full Energon reserves (EN: 150/150) thrumming within him and his frame completely repaired (HP: 100/100), the scrap heap seemed slightly less menacing.
He moved with a newfound confidence, his steps quicker, his movements smoother, leveraging the DEX 13 he now possessed (even if only baseline before point allocation).
Caution hadn't vanished – the memory of the crusher and the power cell jolt were too fresh – but the desperation was replaced by focused purpose.
He flowed between cover points, using the skills honed through harsh necessity, his optics constantly scanning the path ahead.
The terrain here was dominated by massive, partially buried structural elements and hulking, unidentifiable machine corpses. Thick, armoured conduits, mostly fractured and useless, snaked across the ground like dead metal serpents.
As he neared the coordinates indicated by his last scan, the source of the energy signature came into view, nestled beside the "Unknown Advanced Technology Assembly" that had also piqued his interest.
He found solid cover behind a thick, angled slab of plating, affording him a clear view of the site. The assembly was striking, unlike anything else he'd seen. It wasn't just scrap; it was clearly designed, though its purpose was impossible to guess.
Roughly three meters across and partially submerged in compacted earth and debris, it seemed constructed from a smooth, almost seamless dark material that shimmered faintly with captured light, showing hints of iridescent blues and purples within its dark grey structure.
It possessed an unsettlingly non-Euclidean geometry in places, with curves that seemed dynamically impossible and angles that felt subtly wrong.
No obvious seams, panels, or markings were visible, except for one specific circular indentation on its upper surface, about the size of his palm, that his previous scan had flagged.
Nestled in a protective cavity formed where the assembly met a large chunk of rockcrete lay the Energon source: a cluster of five sizable crystals.
They glowed with a clean, steady blue light, noticeably brighter and purer than the low-grade fragments near the crusher. They looked untouched, stable, radiating a gentle energy that made his internal sensors hum appreciatively.
After a quick visual and audio sweep confirmed no immediate threats, Xen focused on analysis, prioritizing the fuel source.
Scan target: Crystal Cluster.
[Scan Analysis: Energon Crystal Cluster (Qty: 5)] [Quality: Medium-Grade] [Stability: Stable] [Estimated Energon Yield: Approx. 25 EN per Crystal (Total ~125 EN)]
Medium-Grade! And roughly 125 EN total potential. That was almost a full tank refill! Excellent. Now, the assembly itself. Scan target: Unknown Assembly.
[Scan Analysis: Unknown Technology Assembly - Cybertronian Origin (Non-Standard Design/Possible Precursor Tech?)] [Power Status: Offline/Minimal Residual Energy Pattern Detected] [Primary Material: Unidentified Crystalline Alloy - Extreme Hardness] [Analysis Blocked: Complex Energetic Resonance / Requires Advanced Scan Resolution / Requires Specialized Interface Skill] [Potential Data Port/Interface Node Detected (Circular Indentation) - Sealed/Requires Specific Activation]
Mostly the same results as before. "Precursor Tech?" What did that even mean? Older than the Autobots and Decepticons he knew from pop culture? The material had extreme hardness, and the analysis was still blocked.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The circular indentation was confirmed as a potential interface node, but sealed and needing "Specific Activation." Still more questions than answers.
First things first: secure the Energon. He moved cautiously from his cover towards the crystal cluster. They were loosely embedded in the dirt and debris at the base of the assembly. He knelt, extending a hand.
Using the fine control of [Micro-Manipulation], he carefully worked the first crystal free. It was cool to the touch, about the size of his clenched fist, and pulsed with a gentle blue light.
As he lifted it clear, a new System prompt appeared.
An inventory! Like in the RPGs! This was unexpected but incredibly useful. Yes!
Xen focused on the crystal in his hand, willing it into storage. The crystal shimmered for a brief instant and vanished from his grasp.
A small, semi-transparent icon grid appeared momentarily in the corner of his vision, showing one slot filled with a blue crystal icon. Amazing!
He quickly gathered the remaining four crystals, storing each one.
<[Energon Crystal (Medium-Grade) x5] added to Inventory.> <+10 XP Gained! (Moderate Resource Secured)> XP: 11/250.
With the fuel safely tucked away in whatever pocket dimension the System provided, Xen felt a massive weight lift.He now had a substantial energy reserve accessible whenever he needed it (assuming accessing the inventory didn't cost EN).
He turned his attention back to the mysterious assembly, feeling bolder now.
This felt like the perfect time to use his level-up rewards. From the relative safety of this location, he could take a moment to enhance his capabilities. He accessed the System menu mentally, bringing up the allocation screens.
ATTRIBUTE POINTS AVAILABLE: 3 SKILL POINTS AVAILABLE: 1
He reviewed his Core Stats: STR 5, DEX 12, INT 10, VIT 6, ENR 8, CPU 10, ARM 2, LUK 7. Where would the points make the most difference? Strength, Armor, and Vitality were pitifully low, making him fragile.
Energon Efficiency could always be better. Dexterity was already good but crucial for survival. Intelligence and CPU governed his ability to process information, learn, and potentially interface with tech later.
A balanced approach felt safest for now, covering multiple bases. Allocate points: +1 INT, +1 CPU, +1 DEX.
Yes.
He felt a subtle but definite shift within his systems. Thoughts seemed to flow a fraction faster (INT/CPU). His perception of his own potential movement felt slightly quicker, more responsive (DEX).
It wasn't a dramatic transformation, but it was a tangible improvement.
Now for the Skill Point. He looked at his short list of skills. Enhancing [Audio Dampener] might reduce its cost.
Improving [Micro-Manipulation] could be useful. But [Basic Scan] felt like his most critical tool right now for information gathering and survival. Improving its range, detail, or ability to overcome analysis blocks seemed paramount. Allocate Skill Point to [Basic Scan].
Yes.
<[Basic Scan] Leveled Up to Lvl 2!> [Basic Scan] Lvl 2: Scan range +10%, Scan detail +5%. Cost: 1 EN. Proficiency: 0.0%
Excellent. Would Lvl 2 make a difference with the assembly? Only one way to find out. Target: Unknown Assembly. Use Basic Scan Lvl 2.
The blue pulse seemed marginally wider, the returning data overlay perhaps a hair sharper. He focused on the analysis results.
[Scan Analysis: Unknown Technology Assembly - Cybertronian Origin (Designation: Precursor - Probable)] [Power Status: Offline/Fluctuating Minimal Chroniton Resonance Detected] [Primary Material: Identified as Chrono-Crystalline Alloy (Properties Unknown - Extreme Hardness/Temporal Resistance?)] [Analysis Blocked: Internal shielding exceeds Lvl 2 Scan resolution. Complex Temporal/Energetic Fields interfere.] [Potential Data Port/Interface Node Identified (Circular Indentation) - Requires Type-Omega Cyber-Key or Equivalent High-Energy Temporal Signal for Activation]
Slightly more information! The System now tentatively labeled it "Precursor" tech and identified the alloy, hinting at "Temporal Resistance." It also detected "Chroniton Resonance" – particles related to time travel in sci-fi?
This thing was far weirder than standard Cybertronian tech. The activation requirement for the port was also more specific: a "Type-Omega Cyber-Key" (whatever that was) or a specific kind of energy signal.
Still mostly blocked, but these were concrete clues.
Feeling emboldened by his upgrades and full energy, Xen approached the assembly directly. He reached out and touched the shimmering, dark surface. It felt impossibly smooth, cool, and utterly inert. No energy transfer, no reaction.
He retrieved his [Crude Shard Tool (Poor)] and tried scraping it against the assembly's surface near the base. The brittle shard grated uselessly, leaving no mark whatsoever on the Chrono-Crystalline Alloy.
<[Crude Shard Tool] Durability Decreased: 4/5>
Pointless. This technology was far beyond his current ability to interact with physically. He stepped back, mentally logging everything he'd learned. He had fuel secured in his inventory. He had his first attribute and skill upgrades. And he had a profound new mystery to eventually unravel.
For now, though, he felt secure. Powered up. Marginally improved.
What next?
Return to his original crevice to check on the Power Regulator fragment with his Lvl 2 Scan? Explore this new area more thoroughly now that he had ample energy for scanning Or find a safe place nearby to simply process everything?