Briefing Of The Cursed Basin

The double doors hissed open with a mechanical breath as I stepped into the conference chamber. And just like that, the air changed.

Eyes turned. Conversations halted mid-word. Heads snapped around like they had been on springs.

All at once, the temperature of the room dropped a few degrees—not because of the air conditioning (though that was suspiciously low too), but because I had walked in. The infamous "Periwinkle."

I kept my expression neutral, chin up, eyes forward. I wasn't in the mood for theatrics, not after three days of being used as a human punching bag by a man who smiled only after nearly breaking my ribs. So I walked past the rows of long tech-laced tables, past the other operatives in their sleek combat wear, past the stares, the glances, the half-muttered words.

I caught some of them, of course. I always did.

"She's the one Phaser's training personally."

"They say she drank a pure memory serum. Those are locked under Erasnae clearance…"

"I heard she's from Earth. The real Earth."

"She's probably got connections to the Five. No way you get that kind of gear without someone up there liking you."

I ignored them and sat in the very back, where the shadows kissed the walls and the holoscreens cast pale glows on the obsidian floor. Not because I was ashamed—hell no—but because I didn't want chaos. If I sat at the front, people would shift uncomfortably, eye each other, challenge each other. And honestly, I was too damn tired for that today.

That's when I realized something else. I wasn't the only one here for the mission.

There were at least thirty of us. Some wore reinforced armor already, some had their faces marked with division tattoos. A few were visibly excited, others looked dead serious. This was bigger than just me. The Cursed Basin wasn't a solo mission. It was a coordinated operation.

And then she walked in.

Shannon.

The entire room shifted with energy like someone had just plugged the walls into the sun. Excitement flickered in everyone's faces. Even the aloof operatives with 5+ Flux ratings straightened up when she entered.

She was tall, lean, with jet-black hair coiled into tight knots behind her head and eyes so pale blue they looked silver like. She had that kind of presence that didn't need an introduction. She was dressed in high-tech hybrid combatwear.

Her rank flashed across the holoscreen as she took position at the center podium.

SHANNON | CODE NAME: DRYAD | FLUX RATING: ENNÉA TWO.

Everyone knew Phaser was an Ennéa Three but Shannon? She was still up there. Not just for her combat capabilities but for her intellect. She was rumored to be one of the best hackers in the Eresnae—if not the best in all of Erae. But what her actual Flux was? That was a mystery. A well-kept one.

Still, I had… guesses.

Her eyes scanned the crowd briefly and then she began, her voice smooth and analytical.

"Welcome to the Cursed Basin deployment briefing."

With a flick of her wrist, the center of the room opened up and a holographic projection expanded outward, vast and three-dimensional. A massive crater surrounded by cliffs and swirling dark mist hovered in the air. Several sections glowed in different colors, each clearly distinct from the others.

"The Cursed Basin," she said, pointing to the hologram, "is a crater approximately thirty nine kilometers wide and nearly six kilometers deep. It was discovered during a heat-mapping survey over a dead zone. There is no geothermal activity, no water, and no signs of plant life. Only darkness... and Synsiline."

I sat up straighter at that.

She gestured toward the hologram, highlighting different regions:

The Basin is divided into four sectors.

1. The Spooky Forest—a dense, unnatural woodland with hallucination-inducing spores. Survival Rate: 25%

2. The Vast Bare Plain—flat, open land with minimal cover and aggressive Lurker presence. Survival Rate: 50%

3. The Endless Storm—constant electrical storms in rocky terrain. Flux interference is high. Survival Rate: 75%

4. The Unknown Zone—location and nature unknown. No one has entered and returned alive. Survival Rate: 0%"

A cold silence fell as she let that number linger.

"The deeper the zone, the richer the Synsiline deposits. But understand this. If you choose to go deeper, you do so at your own risk. If you die, it's on you."

She didn't sugarcoat it. I respected that.

"For this mission," she continued, "we're heading to the Endless Storm. Reason, survivability and tactical cover. Flux interference in this zone causes a minor distortion in both sensory perception and ranged combat, but the terrain allows for mining without consistent Lurker pressure."

The holo shifted to show massive black rocks surrounded by ever-present clouds and flashes of lightning. Wind currents swirled like living beasts.

"Our objective is Synsiline extraction. You'll be equipped with mining tools tailored to your Flux type and energy limits. Remember. The more Synsiline you bring back, the better your personal loadout will be after mission completion."

She paused to let that sink in.

"Yes. You keep what you mine. At least, you can keep a portion for yourself. The metal will be processed into personal weapons, armor upgrades, and enhancers. If you survive, your future missions will become exponentially easier."

I heard the greed rise like heat in the room.

"And before you ask," she added, turning sharply, "yes, you will encounter hostiles. Lurkers are common creatures adapted to the Basin's environment. But worse are the HODs."

The room stilled again.

"HODs in the Cursed Basin track movement, scent, heat, even Flux radiation. You engage them, you fight to kill. Or you run. Your choice."

I gulped.

Shannon continued, pulling up tactical maps and zones.

"We'll be splitting into six groups of five members each. Your assignments will be based on your Flux category and adaptability. You will receive your gear kits tonight. Drills begin in the morning. Departures happen the day after."

She turned off the hologram and faced us all directly.

"This mission is not for glory. It's for survival. For resources. For preparation. And for some of you… redemption."

Her eyes lingered on me for just half a second longer than necessary.

"Dismissed."

The moment she finished, the operatives began murmuring again, talking amongst themselves. Some approached her with questions. Others were already forming alliances. I remained seated at the back, arms crossed, mind spinning.

So this was it. The Cursed Basin.

An impossible crater filled with death, minerals, and mysteries. And I was being sent into the middle of a storm that even Flux couldn't fully navigate. But somehow, I wasn't scared.

Not anymore.

Phaser's brutality, the serum in my veins, my reconstructed body, I was starting to see the bigger picture. I wasn't being thrown into the fire.

And this time, I'm going to get the best Synsiline for me to make the best armor and weapon.