The corridor is sloped downward leading toward Sector C-3: Command Wing. Condensation dripped from fractured coolant pipes above, trailing down the curved walls.
Jin moved at the front, he clutched his pipe tightly as he checked his status in HUD:
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[STATUS SCREEN]
[Subject 01 - JIN]
Level: 5 EXP: 0 / 500
HP: 45 / 150 Stamina: 18 / 150
Core Attributes:
STR – Strength: 14.31 (Passive)
Governs melee damage, lifting, breaking. Affects physical attack potency.
DEX – Dexterity: 3.66 (Passive)
Influences hand-eye coordination, ranged accuracy, tool handling.
AGI – Agility: 10.50 (Passive)
Determines evasion, movement speed, dodge success.
END – Endurance: 12.00 (Passive)
Affects stamina recovery, resistance to physical fatigue, and HP regen rate.
RES – Resilience: 11.40 (Passive)
Resistance to toxins, disease, mutation effects, and status ailments.
PER – Perception: 12.60 (Passive)
Governs awareness, HUD detection radius, weak point targeting, early warning systems.
Status Effects:
Hunger (Moderate): -10% Cognitive Function, -15% Strength
Fatigue (Minor): -5% Agility
Hydration (Low): -5% Endurance
Phoenix Protocol (Active): Resurrection Sub-Routine Available (Cooldown: 72 Hours)
Skills:
Night Vision (Passive Lv. 1)
Amplifies low-light visibility; outlines glow faintly. Minor energy drain.
Stealth (Passive Lv. 1)
Reduces noise, heat signature, and movement visibility. Enhances evasion in shadowed areas.
Tsundere Radar (Passive Lv. 1)
Interprets contradictory social cues from tsundere-type individuals. Success chance low. May trigger verbal or physical backlash.
Basic First Aid (Active Lv. 2)
Heals minor wounds. Reduces bleed effects. Slight stamina cost. Can be used mid-combat.
Melee Weapon Mastery (Lv. 5 – 7.7%)
Increases attack speed, precision, and follow-up combo potential with bladed/blunt weapons.
Athletics – Basic Strength Feats (Lv. 1 – 0.5%)
Enables above-average lifting, prying, and throwing actions. Slight bonus to breaking checks.
Mutated Fauna Combat Basics (Lv. 1 – 0.0%)
Recognize patterns, weaknesses, and behavior of mutant enemies. Minor evasion/damage bonus.
Combat Art – Desperate Strike (Active)
Reckless high-damage strike activated below 25% HP. Leaves the user exposed. Cooldown: 1 minute
Instinct Surge (Active Lv. 1)
+30% STR, AGI, PER for 10 seconds when activated. Triggers desperation mode.
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Accidental Harem Magnet (Passive – Max Lv. 5)
+25% trigger rate of ecchi/awkward bonding scenarios
+15% affinity gain during interactions
Harem Synergy Pulse (Active): Boost all Affinities by +5%
Cooldown: 24 hours
Inventory:
Bloodied Pipe (Weapon): +5 Damage – Durability: 45%
Synth-Cloth (x1): Utility item for cleaning, temporary bandaging, or trap use
Ration Packs (x2): Restores 20 Stamina, removes Hunger debuff
Group Status:
Morale: 92%
Hydration Levels (Low): -5% Endurance
Team Combat Readiness: 87%
Group Synergy: Improving...
Affinities:
Seraphina Valerius: 42 / 100
Leadership Synergy: +20% Tactical Planning & Team Coordination
Clara Vance: 45 / 100
Morale Boost: +25% Group Stamina Recovery & Technical Task Efficiency
Rosalie Thorne: 45 / 100
Agility Sync: +15% Evasion, Improves Flank/Support Combat Actions
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"Why does it feel like something will just pop out?" Jin said softly.
Behind him, Sera moved in silence. Every muscle in her body tensed as she was ready for any action, her amber eyes cutting through the dark.
"Something's off. I don't like this silence.." She swept her gaze across the corridor checking every corner.
Clara shoulders hunched under the weight of her toolkit. "C-circuit relays are destroyed… b-but there's still a residual charge.. somethings draining the power…" she whispered.
Rosa, at the rear of the group. Her hair shimmered in the dim red lights as she casually kicked aside a metal tray with her boot, the clang echoing down the corridor. "God, I love when it's this quiet. Makes me feel like I'm playing a horror game, it's exciting."
"Take this seriously." Sera snap, glaring at Rosa.
"I am. This is how I focus." As Rosa raised an eyebrow.
Jin couldn't help but chuckle, just a little. It wasn't the tension-breaking moment they needed, but it helped. Then—
"Unknown organism detected. Biometric anomalies can't pinpoint the exact location but it's just right up ahead. Motions are irregular, non-human creatures. Recommend heightened awareness." Asha' suddenly updated on his neural link.
Jin's smile vanished. He stopped and gripped his pipe tighter. "Asha picked something ahead… something not human guy's."
"W-what is it...? Is it the C-crawlers?!" Clara said, while covering her face terrified.
Rosa's tone shifts in seriousness. "Guess I was right about the horror game part."
"W-We should form up, J-Jin take the lead." Sera trembled, as she walked behind Jin.
"Are they like the Shamblers we fought Asha?" Jin gulped down.
"Negative, they are far more dangerous. Quadrupedal movement. Irregular limbs contact and quite bigger in comparison."
Jin exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip.
The bulkhead ahead groaned open with Clara overriding it, her fingers dancing across the control panel. "D-done, the door's now open!" she stammered with her voice a little shaky.
The doors parted with a mechanical hiss, and the scent of rot, o a miasma of decay and industrial chemicals lingered in the air, making their eyes watery.
Clara stepped back from the terminal, her orange hair clinging to her flushed cheeks, her damp bra visible through her unzipped jumpsuit, her boobs bouncing slightly as she exhaled in relief.
"T-That was… trickier than it looked," Clara said, her shy voice trembling.
Sera, arms are crossed and leaning to a wall. "Nice work, Clara," she said, her lips twitched, almost like a smile.
Rosa, leaning against a nearby console, twirled her cryo-suit's torn shoulder exposing porcelain skin, her chuckle rolled through the chamber and she tilted her head toward Clara.
"Look at you, brainiac, cracking locks like a pro," Rosa said, as she made a wicked grin. "Bet you could hack Jin's heart just as fast too, huh?" Her wink sparkled with mischief, her shoulder grazing Jin's arm as she shifted closer, sending a shiver through him.
"Clara, you're amazing," Jin said earnestly, "I'd probably have bashed the panel with my pipe by now." His chuckle faltered as he nearly dropped the pipe, catching it clumsily. "O-oh, whoops!"
His blunder drew a soft giggle from Clara. Her cheeks flushed deeper and a shy giggle trailing off as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"T-thanks, everyone," Clara mumbled, her voice is soft, her eyes darting between Jin's earnest grin and Rosa's teasing smirk.
"I just… didn't want to let you guys down." Clara's fingers fidgeted around with her multi-tool.
Sera's eyes gazed at the opened metal door as she stepped closer to the open bulkhead. "Save the party for later, were not safe yet."