Morning came without warmth. The air was still damp from the flood, and the world smelled of mud and metal. The sun sat behind a pale fog that refused to lift.
Jae-heon sat beside the edge of the cliff, a notebook open on his lap. He had made it from bark and plant fiber last night, with Beta's help. The handwriting was sharp and clean, more like code than script.
Observation Log — Day 2
The flood receded after three hours, as the system said.
Several large fish washed up. Possible food source.
Beta's speech improving. Tone remains monotone.
Voice in the wind — unknown origin.
Conclusion: The system may be self-aware, or it simply mimics sentience.
He paused. The thought didn't comfort him.
Beta stood behind him, scanning the valley below. "No movement detected within one kilometer radius," it said.
"Good." Jae-heon closed the notebook and stood. "We move east."
"Purpose?"
"To find others. Or what's left of them."
The path was steep. Rocks slid beneath their feet, and the sound echoed between the cliffs. Every step made Jae-heon more aware of how silent this world really was. No birds. No insects. Just the wind and the dull rhythm of his heartbeat.
When they reached the bottom, Beta stopped suddenly. "Reading anomaly."
Jae-heon followed its gaze. Ahead, a massive crater cut through the earth. In the center, a broken tower leaned at an impossible angle. Shards of glass floated midair, slowly rotating, held by some unseen force.
The system blinked to life.
[Discovery: Collapse Zone — Sector K-17.][Warning: Residual synthesis energy detected.][Risk Level: Moderate.]
He stepped closer. The air shimmered, and the light bent around his hand. It felt like static—soft but constant.
"Someone was here," he said quietly.
Beta tilted its head. "Synthesis traces suggest recent creation."
"Recent as in…?"
"Less than twenty-four hours."
He looked around. No footprints. No smoke. Just that humming sound in the air.
He crouched near the base of the tower. The surface pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat under metal.
[Residual Concept Detected: 'Knowledge Repository' (Tier — Good).][Status: Corrupted. Reconstruction Possible.][Required Components: 1 Catalyst (Logic Core), 50 SP.]
Fifty. Too much.
But he could try something else. He focused on the word Logic Core. A faint shimmer appeared in his interface.
[Blueprint Fragment Discovered: Logic Core (Tier — Common).][Completion: 18%.]
So it could give him hints, too.
He smiled slightly. "Alright. That's useful."
Beta crouched beside him. "Should I collect the fragments?"
"Yes. Handle them carefully."
They worked for an hour, picking through glass and twisted stone. The pieces were warm to the touch, humming faintly. When Beta held them together, they sparked like static, forming a half-finished sphere of light before scattering again.
"Still missing core stability," Beta said.
Jae-heon wiped the sweat from his forehead. "We'll find it. Maybe that's what the others are missing too."
Beta looked at him, face still expressionless. "Others may not share your intention."
"I know."
He stood, glancing toward the far end of the crater. A column of smoke curled weakly into the sky. Not natural.
He felt his chest tighten. "There."
Beta followed his gaze. "Human presence detected."
Jae-heon's heartbeat quickened, but he kept his face calm. "Approach quietly. No contact until I say."
They moved along the ridge, keeping low. The smoke came from a small camp built from metal sheets and scavenged wood. Two figures were there—one young, one older. The younger one held a crude spear. The older man was fixing something that looked like a makeshift radio.
Jae-heon crouched behind a broken pillar, watching.
Beta leaned close. "Tactical question. Engage or observe?"
"Observe," Jae-heon said softly. "People are the real variable here."
They watched as the younger one argued with the older. The voice carried faintly.
"I told you, Father, this thing won't work! We should move before another disaster hits!"
"Quiet," the man said. "We can't keep running blind. The system said there's a relay tower near the valley. If we fix this, we might contact others."
The younger one sighed, throwing the spear on the ground. "And if someone finds us first? We don't even know if they're friendly."
The father didn't answer. He just tightened the last wire and turned the knob. Static filled the air, sharp and broken. Then—
"…anyone… still alive in Zone K… respond…"
Jae-heon's eyes widened. A signal. A real one.
He looked at Beta. "Mark their position. We'll come back later."
Beta nodded. "Understood."
They slipped away, silent as ghosts.
When they were far enough, Jae-heon stopped and looked back at the rising smoke.
He opened his notebook again.
Observation Log — Day 2 (cont.)
Encountered survivors: 2 (Family unit).
Attempting to build communication device.
Signal detected: Zone K — unknown group.
Synthesis residue suggests nearby advanced construction.
Conclusion: Civilization may begin to form by force of necessity.
He stared at the last line. Civilization. It sounded hopeful, but he knew better. Civilization was another word for conflict waiting to happen.
He closed the notebook and looked at Beta. "When people start grouping, war starts too. Let's make sure we're ready before that happens."
"Understood," Beta said.
They continued walking east, following the faint hum of energy that only Jae-heon could feel now.
Behind them, the tower began to pulse again—brighter this time.
Something inside it had noticed his touch.
And somewhere in the unseen system grid, a soft tone echoed.
[Observation Tag Applied: Candidate #207 — Myaterous.][Priority: Elevated.][Monitoring: Continuous.]
The system had marked him.
And the game had just begun watching back.