Chapter 14: Awakening the Beast
Chapter 14: Awakening the Beast
The sound of pressurized air escaping the chamber filled the room, and Alex's pulse quickened. He gripped his crowbar tightly, eyes locked on the figure inside as it began to stir.
"Of all the times to stumble into this…" he muttered, stepping back cautiously.
The chamber hissed louder as the door slid open. The figure inside slumped forward, collapsing onto the floor in a heap. Its body twitched, glowing veins pulsing faintly in the dim light.
The system chimed, delivering a grim update:
> Experimental Infected Awakening: Prepare for Combat.
Danger Level: Extreme.
The creature's head jerked up, its glowing, pupil-less eyes locking onto Alex. Its thin, sinewy frame moved with unnatural speed as it rose to its feet, standing taller than any infected Alex had encountered before.
"Great," Alex muttered, taking another step back. "Big, glowing, and pissed off—just what I needed."
---
First Strike
The infected moved with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant. Alex barely managed to dodge its clawed hand as it swiped at him, the air whistling from the force of its attack.
He swung his crowbar in retaliation, but the creature twisted unnaturally, avoiding the blow with ease.
The system chimed again:
> Enemy Type: Prototype Infected (Alpha)
Abilities:
Enhanced Reflexes
Regenerative Healing
Energy Pulse (Charged Attack)
"Of course it heals," Alex growled, circling the creature. "Because this wasn't hard enough already."
The infected lunged again, and Alex ducked, countering with a quick jab to its side. This time, the crowbar connected, cracking bone and eliciting a guttural snarl.
The creature staggered slightly but recovered almost instantly, its glowing veins flaring brighter.
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Adapting to the Threat
Alex quickly realized brute force wouldn't be enough. His crowbar was effective, but the creature's regenerative abilities were clearly outpacing the damage he could inflict.
As he dodged another attack, his mind raced. There had to be something in the room he could use to turn the tide.
His eyes darted to the control panel near the containment chamber. Wires dangled from its base, sparking faintly, and several dials were marked with warning symbols.
"If this thing was in there, maybe I can put it back… or fry it."
Dodging another swipe, Alex sprinted toward the panel. The infected let out a piercing screech, its glowing veins pulsing erratically as it charged after him.
Alex slammed his hand on the panel, activating one of the dials. A surge of electricity shot through the containment chamber, and the lights in the room flickered violently.
The infected froze mid-charge, its body spasming as the electricity coursed through its veins.
> Status Effect Applied: Stunned (5 seconds).
"Gotcha," Alex muttered, seizing the opportunity.
---
The Counterattack
With the creature immobilized, Alex aimed for its glowing veins, striking with precision. His crowbar smashed into its chest, sending cracks spidering through its torso. The creature let out an ear-splitting wail, its glowing veins dimming slightly.
> Critical Damage Inflicted.
System Points Earned: +50 SP (Mid-Battle Rewards).
The stun wore off, and the creature retaliated with renewed ferocity. It slammed its arm into Alex, sending him flying into a nearby console.
> Health: 70%
Dazed but determined, Alex reached for the pistol at his side. As the infected closed in, he fired two shots, both hitting its chest. The creature staggered but refused to fall, its veins glowing brighter as it healed.
"Are you kidding me?" Alex growled, firing another shot at its head.
The bullet hit its mark, and the infected stumbled backward, collapsing to one knee.
---
A Desperate Plan
The infected was weakening, but Alex knew he couldn't keep this up. Each time he landed a blow, the creature seemed to recover faster. He needed a way to end it for good.
His eyes fell on the containment chamber again. If he could lure the creature back inside and overload the system, it might be enough to destroy it.
"Alright, big guy," Alex said, gripping his crowbar. "Let's dance."
He taunted the creature, backing toward the chamber. The infected snarled, its glowing veins pulsing as it charged at him.
At the last second, Alex dove to the side, rolling past the chamber's open door. The creature skidded to a halt inside, momentarily disoriented.
Alex didn't waste a second. He slammed the chamber door shut and sprinted to the control panel, cranking every dial to maximum.
The room shook as the chamber lit up, electricity arcing across its surface. The infected thrashed violently, its wails echoing through the room as the containment system overloaded.
The glowing veins along its body flared one last time before fading completely. The creature collapsed, its body disintegrating into ash.
---
Victory and Revelation
The system chimed, filling the room with a satisfying notification:
> Prototype Infected (Alpha) Eliminated: +300 SP.
Mission Complete: Investigate the Containment Chamber.
Reward: Experimental Data Chip.
Alex slumped against the wall, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.
"Never… doing that again," he muttered, his grip on the crowbar loosening.
The system's interface opened, displaying the data chip in his inventory.
> Experimental Data Chip:
Contains classified information about the infected and the origins of the outbreak.
Can be analyzed at a secure terminal.
Alex stared at the chip, a mix of curiosity and dread settling over him. Whatever was on it might hold the answers he'd been searching for, but it also meant stepping deeper into the nightmare.
With 360 SP now in his pool, he opened the system shop, ready to invest in upgrades before facing whatever horrors lay ahead.