Spark's gaze snapped to the chamber's center. An object pulsed there. Large and irregularly shaped. Iridescent and crystalline.
It emitted an aura of a dangerously hungry entity. An abstract artwork of chaotic beauty. Was this the Gluttony System?
He needed to know. But he didn't approach. Caution was always necessary when dealing an unknown thing like this.
Spark reached into his Spatial Belt. Pulling out his [Appraisal Goggles]. A runic object he'd crafted himself. Far superior to anything else he'd encountered. He focused them on the pulsing crystal.
The data scrolled across his vision...
[Object: Gluttony Artificial Intelligence Crystal]
[Type: Ancient Technology System]
[Quality: Mythical]
[Status: Inactive]
[Characteristic: Unbreakable]
[Characteristic: Sentient]
[Characteristic: Devourer]
[Characteristic: Unstable]
[System Ability: Absorption]
[System Ability: Conversion]
[System Ability: Fusion]
Spark's lips thinned. It was indeed the Gluttony System. An Artificial Intelligence. The system abilities were formidable... Absorption, Conversion, Fusion. Powerful tools in the right hands.
But the characteristics were troublesome... [Unbreakable] sounded good. But [Sentient], [Devourer], [Unstable]... Those three words screamed danger.
This wasn't a tool to be picked up and used lightly. No matter how powerful... Anything that endangered its user was not worth the risk. Not now, at least.
He was strong. But not invincible. He wasn't foolish enough to poke a sleeping, hungry beast.
The Gluttony AI Crystal was inactive. Spark knew a simple touch would activate it. But he wouldn't do that.
He turned his attention away from it. There were other, more immediate gains to be made. The corpses. A grim task. But a necessary one. Resources were resources. Regardless of their origin.
He started with the Zero Laboratory operatives. Their combat suits were shredded. But some of their spatial waist bags were still intact.
He quickly unbuckled the three intact ones. Tossing them into his own Spatial Belt for later inspection.
Their sleek and compact laser handguns lay scattered. Only four were intact. He collected them. They were potent. Even if he had better options.
He could give two of these to Serenade and Melody. They could always use more ranged options.
He found two tablet-like detection devices. A bit cracked but functional. A quick glance through his Appraisal Goggles confirmed that they were inferior to his own goggles. But they could still be useful for his team. Or for dissecting their technology later.
There were also several different types of protection arrays. And small energy runic emitters. They might not be that useful for his team. But no harm collecting them.
Finally, there was a stack of slim, encrypted information slates. Encrypted. But he was sure he could solve the encryption through his rune application. These were intriguing. Zero Laboratory's data were known to be highly classified.
Next... the Vault Guardians.
Their gear was more traditional. Relying on enchanted materials rather than advanced technology. He found one spatial backpack. Heavier and bulkier than the waist bags. But seemingly more robust.
Then, there were two enchanted swords. Near one fallen warrior. Their blades seemed to glint with faint energy. And, a sturdy enchanted spear was partially buried in rubble. He collected all three.
He kept looting. An enchanted belt. Intricately woven with protective runes. It was still buckled around another corpse. He took it.
Four enchanted jewelries... a ring, two amulets, and a bracelet. Each was shimmering with faint magical auras. They were also retrieved from various bodies.
Finally, he gathered several rare monster materials. Scattered amongst the wreckage. Likely harvested by the Guardians before their demise.
Most other items... communication devices, personal objects, armors... They were either utterly destroyed. Or rendered unusable. Or simply not worth the effort of collecting.
Spark was efficient. Ruthless in his scavenging. He took what was valuable and left the rest to decay. He wanted no unnecessary baggage. Just useful spoils.
With his acquisitions secured, Spark moved away quickly. He didn't linger in the potentially dangerous area. He left the room without a backward glance at the pulsing Gluttony AI.
His immediate goal was to explore the adjacent areas. Which seemed less devastated. The combat seemed to have been localized. Focused on the core chamber.
Once he was several corridors away, the air feeling less oppressive, Spark decided it was safe enough. The Gluttony System remained inactive. And the immediate threat, the warring factions, had self-extinguished.
He stopped in a wider section of a corridor. Its stone walls was still bearing scorch marks from some distant conflict. But it was otherwise stable.
He took out his Slave Grimoire. "Come forth!" Spark commanded.
A shimmering glow appeared from the grimoire. One by one, his loyal subordinates appeared. Brought forth from the confines of his [Slave Grimoire].
Lilith Lunaire, the blonde secretary and assassin. Ivy Stellaire, the tiny alchemy researcher with her short black hair and thick glasses. Melody Aurora, his young brown-haired assistant. Serenade Aurora, her mother, the elegant treasurer of the team. And, Scarlett Eventide, the red-haired gucraft witch, the security specialist.
They immediately fell into their established exploration formation.
"Alright girls. Give status report on surrounding areas." Spark directly commanded.
Lilith, without a word, raised her [Life Observing Spyglass]. She swept the ornate Brass contraption across the dimly lit corridors ahead and behind. The magical lenses glowed faintly. Revealing faint energy signatures and movement patterns.
"Clear, Master. No significant life signs or active threats within close vicinity."
Scarlett, meanwhile, released a swarm of dark colored gu-insects. They buzzed silently into the deeper shadows. Their compound eyes acting as remote sensors.
She also produced her [Celestial Treasure Radar]. "The radar is picking up a faint energy signature, Master. To the east."
Melody held up her [Witch Doll of Fortune] and injected some soulcraft energy. The small, cute doll, spun above her had. Before its outstretched stubby arm pointed firmly towards the eastern corridor. The same direction Scarlett's radar had indicated.
"Fortune says east, Master! That way." She reported.
Serenade remained calm. Her [Witch Doll of Misfortune] pointed directly towards the direction of the core chamber.
"Misfortune indicates a high-risk danger there, Master." She said.
Ivy was focused. Tapping away on her tablet-like [Labyrinth Chart]. Her eyes scanned the evolving map. "I've updated the map, Master."
"East it is." Spark affirmed. "Stick to formation."
They moved. A silent, efficient unit. The ruins were vast. A sprawling complex of interconnected interior halls, collapsed chambers, uneven exterior path, and also hidden passages.
The air remained heavy with the scent of decay and strange, exotic flora. Some of which glowed with faint bioluminescence.
The poisons and venoms that had permeated the outer ruins were even more prevalent here. But all of them now had [Poison Immunity] talent. So it didn't affect them much.
Following the Fortune Doll's unerring guidance, they navigated a series of winding corridors. Until, eventually, the Fortune Doll's button eyes glowed brighter.
Its arm was pointing insistently towards a section of the wall that appeared utterly seamless. Scarlett's gu-insects quickly confirmed the existence of a hidden compartment.
"Here, Master!" Scarlett reported. Gesturing to the wall. "A concealed chamber. The energy signature is strongest here."
Spark studied the wall. It was masterfully disguised. Blending perfectly with the surrounding stone. Only their advanced tools and uncanny luck could have found it.
He ran a hand over the surface. Feeling the faint magical thrum. "Any traps?" He asked.
"None active." Lilith stated. She looked at some monster corpses not far away. "The monsters that guarded it were dead several days ago. Their residual life force signature are almost gone."
It made sense. The Zero Laboratory operatives or the Vault Guardians must have cleared out the guardian beasts. During their initial incursions. But they missed the hidden passage or lacked the means to open it. More spoils for Spark.
"Alright then. Scarlett, open it."
Scarlett stepped forward. Drawing her [Archthief Key] from her Technomind Space. She pressed it against the wall. With just a touch, a section of the wall slid inward. Revealing a small, dark recess.
Inside rested a single, ornate treasure chest. It was locked. But Scarlett used her key once more. She slid the key to the lock and twisted it gently. The chest clicked open.
Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, there was only a single object. A tiny shimmering hourglass.
"The last fragment!" Spark murmured. Recognizing it immediately as part of the incomplete [Garden Globe] he had previously acquired. This was the final piece.
He took out the incomplete [Garden Globe] from his Spatial Belt. And fused it with the tiny hourglass. The missing piece clicked into place with an almost audible thrum. Light flaring from within the now complete sphere.
Spark held the perfectly spherical object aloft. It was no longer just an unusable globe. It was a complete artifact. He immediately activated his [Appraisal Goggles] again. Focusing them on the newly completed artifact.
The data streamed into his vision:
[Object: Garden Globe Set]
[Type: Spatial Artifact]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Characteristic: Super Tough]
[Characteristic: Expanded Space]
[Characteristic: Life Support]
[Characteristic: Environmental Adjustment]
[Characteristic: Temporal Adjustment]
Spark smiled widely. A flash of his true joy. This was the kind of power he sought. The kind of advantage that truly mattered.
The Gluttony AI might be a sleeping beast. But the [Garden Globe Set] was a tangible, controllable boon. He could feel its amazing potential.