The warehouse interior was darker on the upper level.
Broken skylights allowed thin shafts of moonlight to cut through drifting smoke and dust. The metal catwalk groaned softly under Kael's weight as he moved upward, keeping his steps slow and deliberate.
The Codex remained active in the corner of his awareness, feeding faint spatial cues without overwhelming his senses.
Energy Signature ConfirmedThreat Classification: HighMovement Pattern: Stationary Predator
That was not reassuring.
Kael reached the top platform and crouched behind a stack of collapsed crates. The smell hit him first. A sharp, metallic stench mixed with rot and burnt plastic.
He leaned forward slightly and finally saw it.
The creature was massive, easily twice the size of the Cargo Stalkers. Its body resembled a warped fusion of insect and reptile, covered in overlapping plates that glowed faintly red along the seams. Thick cables of muscle wrapped around its limbs, anchoring clawed feet to the concrete floor. Its head was lowered, feeding on something Kael could not immediately identify.
When it lifted its head, four eyes opened at once.
The Codex reacted sharply.
Elite Mutant DetectedDesignation: Furnace DevourerBloodline Tier: High RarePrimary Attribute: Heat AbsorptionCore Vulnerability: Internal Overload Possible
Kael's grip tightened. A heat-based creature inside a warehouse filled with fuel containers was not ideal.
He shifted his position slightly and tested a nearby metal beam with his hand. It was warm. The ambient temperature on this level was rising slowly.
The Furnace Devourer released a low rumbling sound and turned its head in Kael's direction.
It had sensed him.There was no time for careful positioning.
Kael moved first, launching himself off the catwalk railing and dropping onto a lower platform. The impact sent vibrations through the structure, drawing the creature's full attention.
It charged, The floor shook with each step as the Devourer closed the distance far faster than its size suggested. Heat waves rippled outward from its body, distorting the air around it.
Kael rolled sideways as the creature slammed its claws into the metal platform. Sparks flew as steel warped under the impact.
The Codex updated.
Surface Temperature RisingEnvironmental Risk Increasing
Kael moved toward the side of the warehouse where broken cooling pipes still leaked water slowly onto the floor. Steam rose where droplets met the heated surface.
He sprinted across the platform and leapt down again, drawing the creature toward the damp section.
The Furnace Devourer followed, roaring as it swung its massive forelimb toward Kael's back.
Kael barely avoided the strike, feeling the heat scorch the air near his skin.
He spun and drove the axe into one of the creature's leg joints. The blade penetrated partially before being forced back by hardened plates. The Devourer recoiled slightly, then responded with a violent tail sweep that slammed Kael into a stack of crates.
Pain flashed across his ribs. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself back to his feet.
This thing was stronger than anything he had faced so far.
The Codex pulsed again.
Core Instability IncreasingRecommended Strategy: Thermal Shock Induction
Kael understood immediately.
He sprinted toward the leaking pipes and struck one with the axe, widening the crack. Water burst outward in a stronger stream, flooding the heated floor.
Steam erupted violently as the Furnace Devourer stepped into the wet area.
The sudden temperature shift disrupted its internal heat circulation. The creature roared in agony.
Kael charged forward through the rising steam, ignoring the burn on his arms, and leapt onto the creature's back. He climbed upward, gripping exposed ridges between armor plates, then drove the axe down directly into the glowing seam near its neck.
The Devourer convulsed violently. Heat surged outward in one final burst before collapsing inward. The creature fell forward with a deafening crash.
Silence followed.
Kael slid off its back and collapsed briefly onto one knee, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from his chin. His arms trembled from strain and exhaustion.
The Codex activated.
Elite Target EliminatedHigh-Grade Bloodline Fragment AcquiredAuthority Growth: Significant Increase
Kael approached the dissolving body and collected the condensed energy core that remained.
The moment it merged into his body, a wave of heat surged through his veins before stabilizing into a steady warmth beneath his skin.
Bloodline Assimilation CompletePassive Trait Acquired: Heat Resistance (Moderate)Energy Circulation Efficiency Increased
Kael closed his eyes briefly, letting the sensation settle.
When he opened them again, something else had changed.
The Codex interface felt clearer. More responsive.
Origin Authority Synchronization: 6%New Function Unlocked: Threat Tier Visualization
Kael stood slowly.
This was not just survival anymore.
He was evolving faster than the world around him.
He returned to the main floor where the group waited anxiously.
The moment they saw him covered in soot and blood, but still standing, relief washed across their faces.
Behind Kael, the warehouse continued to burn quietly.
But inside him, something far more dangerous had begun to awaken.