Alaric poured more essence into the flame in his palm. The small flickering light exploded into brilliant sphere, bright enough to illuminate twenty feet in all directions, casting stark shadows against the rough stone walls.
He turned in slow circle. Scanning. Searching for whatever had made that roar.
But there was nothing.
Just empty corridor. Stone walls. Darkness beyond his light's reach.
He whispered, "System."
Silence.
He frowned.
Damn it. Even it's not responding.
He took a few cautious steps forward, flame held high, mind racing through possibilities—
Then suddenly, the panel flickered into existence before him.
But unstable, the text wavering, the borders fluctuating like signal struggling to maintain coherence.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Neurological damage detected in host consciousness]
[Primary functions compromised]
[System Rebooting: 1%]
[Estimated time: 23hrs 59mins]
