(1)Command Center

System: Congratulations! You have discovered a hidden location.

System: Level 7 achieved. Gain 5 Skill Points for the Talent Tree.

"Wow!" said Apophis. "That's a generous reward just for discovering a hidden place." But, of course, he was still on Planet Era. While this reward would seem huge to any new player, it was tiny compared to the rewards of many quests later in the game.

Still, he was satisfied with it.

Apophis looked at the location name that appeared in his political menu: Outer Rim Forward Military Command Center. 

Very interesting. So this wasn't just an ordinary bunker, but a command center for Zetark forces. As with the lab he had found previously, everything seemed frozen in time.

The gothic architecture loomed over him, and the technology of the machines and lighting systems seemed just as functional as the day they had been installed.

Apophis searched the place, but found little of interest. Most of the rooms were just offices which had been cleaned out long ago. There weren't even any interesting Zetark books to be found. It was as though all the workers had packed up and left the day before.

But then Apophis arrived at the top floor and found a door inscribed with the Zetark word for "archive."

And, more promising, it was locked, which meant it probably still held something valuable.

Apophis looked carefully through the same book which had given him the code to the gate. Finally, he found two different codes which seemed like they might work.

He punched in the first set of numbers.

The lock buzzed angrily, then blinked red. The code had failed.

Apophis held his breath as he slowly entered the second code. If this failed, he could probably burn his way in… at the risk of destroying the room's contents.

But then the lock gave a happier beep, then blinked green!

Apophis breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door.

This was the gold mine!

The archive was a room filled with all sorts of folders full of documents, as well as desks with computer terminals. There was also an ornate bookshelf with a glass door protecting its contents, though the door had no lock.

Apophis spent a long time looking through some of the archive folders, but almost all of them were boring and useless. They seemed just to be records of which ships had landed on or left the planet centuries ago.

But one folder had a golden stripe embossed on its front, and Apophis found two very interesting items inside.

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╟─╼ITEM

║　╰╼[Name] : Star Map

║      ╰╼[Quality] : Epic

║　╰╼[Summary] : A diagram labeling all the Zetark outposts in the galaxy.

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╟─╼CRAFT RECIPE

║　╰╼[Name] : Zetark Corvette Construction Diagram

║　╰╼[Quality] : Rare

║　╰╼[Summary] : Detailed schematics for crafting a [Zetark Experimental Corvette].

╚══════════════╛

In the bookcase, alongside many scientific books, Apophis also found eleven more books containing Zetark Skills, three of which were for the Esper class.

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╟─╼SKILL BOOK

║　╰╼[Name] : ~Lord of Flames~

║　╰╼[Esper]

║　╰╼[Rare]

╟─╼[Summary] : You gain uncanny command of all nearby flames, even those you did not conjure!

╟─╼[Effect (1)] : You can control any flame within a 300-meter radius.

╟─╼[Upgrade Cost] : 5 Skill Points

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╟─╼SKILL BOOK

║　╰╼[Name] : ~Cosmic Meditation~

║　╰╼[Esper]

║　╰╼[Epic]

╟─╼[Summary] : Center yourself, open your mind, and meditate to become one with the universe.

╟─╼[Effect (1)] : Permanently increases your maximum Energy by 10%.

╟─╼[Cooldown] : 7 days.

╟─╼[Upgrade Cost] : 10 Skill Points

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╟─╼SKILL BOOK

║　╰╼[Name] : ~Susanoo~

║　╰╼[Esper]

║　╰╼[Legendary]

╟─╼[Summary] : Summon a skeletal guardian spirit formed from your very soul!

╟─╼[Effect (1)] : Grants you a titanic set of skeletal armor and weapons made of pure cosmic energy.

╟─╼[Effect (2)] : Constantly drains Energy while active.

╟─╼[Upgrade Cost] : 100 Skill Points

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Apophis couldn't believe it.

He could sell any of these Skill Books for several million GC each on the galactic market!

After learning the three Esper skills, Apophis tucked the other eight Skill Books into his inventory. Once the galactic market was unlocked, he would sell or trade them away.

For now, it was time to find the command center's armory, which he had a feeling would make use of that first entry code he'd tried at the archive's entrance.