Chapter 10: Catacomb Gold
The bruised sky bled into twilight, painting the ruins in hues of grim purple and orange. A week. Seven grinding days of constant scavenging, fighting, and the unnerving tremors from the deep woods that hinted at things far worse than the infected. Kael, Elena, and Sarah had formed a tight, if wary, trio. Sarah, a quiet but sharp-eyed former urban explorer they'd found holed up in a collapsed library, was invaluable for spotting hidden pathways and knowing what might be salvageable.
"We're almost there," Elena stated, her voice taut, but with a new edge of determination. Her amplified baton felt like a natural extension of her arm now. "One more high-density crystal cluster, and we'll have enough to power a jump. Hopefully, a portal to somewhere less... inhabited."
"Less inhabited is good," Kael muttered, adjusting the grip on his self-cleansing crowbar. His amplified phone, its Hyper-Efficient Battery still going strong, glowed in his hand, filled with fragmented maps and whispered rumors of other survivors, other dangers. He scrolled through the global chat, a chaotic stream of human desperation and grim humor.
**[Global Chat - The Grim Post]**
*User 'FortressGuard_07': Perimeter breach near Sector 4. Non-standard hostiles. Heavy casualties. Advise caution beyond Sector walls.*
*User 'DustyRoads': Anyone got intel on a working vehicle? Offering 20 high-grade bio-crystals for a running engine.*
*User 'LootGoblin': Just found a whole crate of MREs in an old supermarket! Feast tonight! #Blessed #ApocalypseLife*
*User 'WhisperWind': Don't trust 'LootGoblin'. Probably just found expired dog food. Or a trap.*
*User 'Seeker_of_Truth': The red counter is slowing down... or speeding up? My calculations are off. Does anyone else feel time warping near the portals?*
*Time warping? Great. Another thing to worry about.* Kael pocketed the phone. "Looks like things are getting weirder out there. New hostiles, maybe."
They pushed through the remains of a shopping district, the air thick with the dust of collapsed buildings. Kael's eyes scanned the wreckage for anything useful. He spotted a tattered, heavy-duty tarp snagged on a broken antenna. Probably useless, but the panel was always interested. He held it, focusing.
---
**[Object: Heavy-Duty Tarpaulin (Weathered)]**
**[Composition: Reinforced Polymer, Mildewed]**
**[Durability: Moderate (Compromised)]**
**[Utility: Temporary Shelter, Ground Cover]**
**[Scanning for Amplification Options…]**
**[Command: Amplify (No Crystals Used - Base x1)]**
**[Target: Heavy-Duty Tarpaulin (Weathered)]**
**[Applying Modification: Material Reprofiling & Environmental Adaptation]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Sentinel Tarp (Adaptive Camouflage). Material now actively changes color and texture to match surroundings. **Wear & Tear: Significantly Reduced.** Note: May occasionally develop sentient-like ripples. Do not attempt conversation.]**
---
*Sentient-like ripples? Do not attempt conversation?* Kael stared at the now perfectly camouflaged tarp, which shimmered subtly to match the concrete rubble around it. "Well, that's... certainly adaptable," he muttered. Sarah just shrugged, "As long as it keeps the rain out." Elena gave him a side-eye.
Sarah, meanwhile, had found a discarded pair of night vision goggles, smashed lenses and all. "Think your special touch can fix these, Kael?" she asked, a rare grin touching her lips. Kael took the goggles, and along with them, grabbed a handful of **45 common bio-crystals** from his pouch, focusing.
---
**[Object: Damaged Night Vision Goggles (Military Grade)]**
**[Status: Non-functional. Lenses shattered. Circuitry fried.]**
**[Projected Utility: Scrap Metal]**
**[Scanning for Amplification Options…]**
**[Amplification Triggered: Crystal Infusion Detected! Random Multiplier Active!]**
**[Amplification Level: x3!]**
**[Target: Damaged Night Vision Goggles (Military Grade)]**
**[Consuming Crystals: 45x Common Bio-Crystals]**
**[Applying Modification: Optic Reconstruction Protocol & Energy Harnessing]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Lumina-Vision Goggles (Tactical Elite). Fully functional. Provides superior low-light vision and automatically adjusts for sudden light changes. **Special Effect: Thermal & Spectral Overlay (Clearly identifies heat signatures and subtle energy emanations up to 100 meters).** Note: Extended use may induce mild temporal distortion in peripheral vision.]**
---
"Oh, *hell* yes!" Sarah breathed, carefully putting on the now pristine goggles. She adjusted them, peering into the dimming light. "I can see *everything*. And... what are these shimmering lines? Heat? Energy? Kael, you're a goddamn wizard!" Her eyes glowed behind the lenses, a genuine thrill in her voice.
Elena approached, holding a fistful of pulsating, rare crystals they'd just extracted from a particularly nasty Type 4. "This is it. The portal's due to appear near the old stadium at dawn."
They spent the night in a fortified bus, the glowing blanket making sleep surprisingly restorative. Kael, though, spent most of his "restorative sleep" with his eyes wide open, feeling the ground tremble, listening to the new, terrifying sounds of the altered world. He clutched a handful of raw bio-crystals. He'd tried amplifying them a dozen times this past week.
---
**[Object: Raw Bio-Crystal (Type 3)]**
**[Composition: Unknown Organic/Inorganic Matrix]**
**[Energy Signature: Volatile, Potent]**
**[Potential Applications: Power Source, Latent Talent Activation]**
**[Scanning for Amplification Options…]**
**[Command: Amplify (No Crystals Used - Base x1)]**
**[Target: Raw Bio-Crystal (Type 3)]**
**[Applying Modification: Luminescence Modulation]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Disco Crystal (Pulsating Rhythm). Now emits rhythmic, multi-colored light pulses. Surprisingly good for an impromptu dance party. Still not edible.]**
---
*Disco Crystal. Still. Some things never change.* Kael sighed, tossing the gaudy, throbbing crystal back into his bag with the others. He had a collection of sparkling rainbows, hot pinks, and now pulsating disco crystals. All utterly useless, except for perhaps boosting morale.
At dawn, the portal shimmered into existence at the center of the old stadium, a swirling vortex of distorted light and raw energy. The air around it felt strangely still, yet vibrant. This was it. Their biggest gamble.
"Kael," Elena said, her voice taut with a mix of fear and grim resolve. "Your… analysis. What are we walking into?"
Kael focused his panel on the shimmering distortion, a small handful of their rarest crystals clutched in his hand.
---
**[Object: Anomalous Spatial Rift (Designation: Portal Beta)]**
**[Energy Signature: Unstable, Multidimensional]**
**[Destination: Random. Variable Environmental Parameters. Extreme Risk.]**
**[Estimated Duration of Stability: Unpredictable. High Chance of Temporal Displacement.]**
**[Amplification Triggered: Crystal Infusion Detected! Random Multiplier Active!]**
**[Amplification Level: x4!]**
**[Target: Portal Beta]**
**[Consuming Crystals: 60x Large Bio-Crystal (Type 4)]**
**[Applying Modification: Advanced Spatial Navigation & Environmental Stabilization]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Portal Beta (Precision Tuned). Destination preference heavily adjusted for **'Ancient/Undertomb Environment'** with **'Minimal Hostile Entity Presence'** and **'High Resource Density'**. Note: Results now highly predictable. **Temporal Displacement Risk: Negligible**.]**
---
*High Resource Density? Minimal Hostile Entity Presence? A catacomb full of goodies instead of a death trap?* Kael felt a jolt of pure excitement. "It's still random," he said, keeping his voice steady, "but it's heavily weighted towards ancient catacombs. And... it says 'minimal hostile entity presence' and 'high resource density'. And," he added with a grin, "no time travel headaches."
Elena's eyes widened, a flicker of pure shock and hope. "A jackpot tomb? Better than a nest of Type 5s, I suppose. Sarah, get ready."
"My Lumina-Vision is already on high alert," Sarah grinned, her energy levels spiking. "Let's find some loot."
With a shared nod, Kael led the way, stepping into the shimmering distortion.
The world twisted violently. Colors bled, sounds became a deafening roar, and then, a sudden, crisp silence. Kael landed softly on cool, smooth stone. The air was dry, ancient, and carried a faint scent of ozone and something metallic, almost rich.
*This is it. This is definitely it.* He pushed himself up. They were in a vast, well-preserved chamber, dimly lit by a soft, ethereal glow emanating from ornate carvings on the walls. No crumbling tombstones here, but majestic, untouched sarcophagi lined immense halls. This wasn't just a tomb; it was a sprawling, ancient **catacomb**, vast beyond imagination.
Elena and Sarah materialized behind him, landing quietly. Their eyes, wide with awe, scanned the impossibly pristine surroundings.
Suddenly, a faint, rhythmic crunching sound echoed from deeper within the catacombs. Kael spun around, his crowbar raised. From between perfectly stacked, ancient stone blocks, long, segmented **worms** were breaking through, their chitinous bodies squirming, their heads tipped with razor-sharp mandibles. They were disturbingly large, but seemed less aggressive, more... like burrowing pests.
"Worms!" Sarah hissed, her Lumina-Vision goggles glowing, highlighting their movements. "Still worms."
"But these aren't the same," Elena noted, her Threat Perception active. "They're... different. Less focused."
Kael's eyes scanned frantically. Amidst the breaking stone and ancient dust, glints of impossible light caught his eye. This was their "high resource density." A sword, gleaming with an otherworldly aura, half-buried in a pile of pristine, golden debris. A cracked, jeweled casket spilling out **gems that pulsed with an inner light**, unlike anything from Earth. Peculiar gauntlets, left carelessly beside what looked like a petrified, multi-jointed limb. Equipment. Abandoned. Clearly not from this world, left by... ancient explorers?
He moved towards a gleaming, metallic orb half-submerged in the dust. He picked it up, focusing on his panel.
---
**[Object: Ancient Resonating Orb (Unknown Purpose)]**
**[Composition: Alien Alloy, Harmonically Tuned]**
**[Energy Signature: Stable, Resonant]**
**[Projected Utility: Unknown. Highly intriguing.]**
**[Scanning for Amplification Options…]**
**[Amplification Triggered: Crystal Infusion Detected! Random Multiplier Active!]**
**[Amplification Level: x4!]**
**[Target: Ancient Resonating Orb (Unknown Purpose)]**
**[Consuming Crystals: 55x Large Bio-Crystal (Type 4)]**
**[Applying Modification: Universal Translator & Data Archive]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Universal Rosetta Orb (Sentient Archive). Now translates any language (spoken or written) within a 5-meter radius. Contains vast archives of alien historical, technological, and cultural data. **Special Effect: Occasional, unsolicited historical facts and philosophical musings.** Note: May develop a dry, academic tone.]**
---
"A universal translator?" Kael whispered, utterly dumbfounded. He held the orb, which now vibrated with a soft, warm hum. "This thing... it's a library."
"A library of what?" Elena asked, curious.
Kael's panel hummed, highlighting a new section on the orb's display. "It's got... data. Ancient languages. And… *techniques*." He focused. "Movement techniques. Speed. Like... 'Whisper Step' or 'Shadow Glide'."
"Can we learn them?" Sarah asked, her Lumina-Vision goggles fixed on the orb.
Kael scrolled through, the panel filtering. "Only what's 'Level 1' or 'Basic Tier'. Anything higher is greyed out. 'Requires higher cultivation base,' it says. Whatever that means. It's too dangerous to try to force it now."
He felt a distinct tremor, and from deeper in the catacombs, a loud *SCRAPE* echoed, followed by a low groan, far too large for a worm.
---
**[Warning: Undetected Large Biological Signature Approaching from Sector 7. High Hostility Rating. Recommendation: Avoid Direct Engagement.]**
---
"Okay, new plan!" Kael said quickly. "We're grabbing everything we can, and then we're out. Fast. My panel's warning about something big coming."
They scattered, a frantic but exhilarating hunt for treasure. Elena used her baton to dislodge glowing gems from crevices. Sarah, with her Lumina-Vision, quickly identified hidden compartments behind loose stones, revealing stashes of peculiar, lightweight armor and strange, gleaming weapons. Kael, meanwhile, focused on efficiency. His old backpack was already bulging.
"Need more space!" he grumbled, holding up his worn military-issue duffel. He grabbed a handful of their most valuable Type 4 and 5 crystals, concentrating.
---
**[Object: Worn Military Duffel Bag (Standard)]**
**[Capacity: Low]**
**[Durability: Moderate]**
**[Scanning for Amplification Options…]**
**[Amplification Triggered: Crystal Infusion Detected! Random Multiplier Active!]**
**[Amplification Level: x7!]**
**[Target: Worn Military Duffel Bag (Standard)]**
**[Consuming Crystals: 70x Large Bio-Crystal (Type 5)]**
**[Applying Modification: Dimensional Compression & Micro-Fabrication]**
**[Processing… Complete.]**
**[Status: Spatial Anomaly Satchel (Pocket Dimension). Capacity dramatically increased (effectively infinite). Durable beyond measure. **Special Effect: Auto-Repairing Fabric, Item Organization System (Intuitive Sorting).** Appears to be a small, unassuming ring.]**
---
Kael stared at the small, plain-looking **ring** now sitting in his palm. His old duffel bag was gone. *A ring? A spatial anomaly satchel? Seven times amplification? This thing is ridiculous!* He slipped it onto his finger. He could still feel the phantom weight of his bag, yet it was just... gone.
"What did you do with the bag, Kael?" Elena asked, looking around.
"It's... right here," Kael said, holding up the ring. He willed the crowbar from his hand, and it vanished, reappearing instantly with a thought. "It's a pocket dimension. For everything we find."
"Are you serious?!" Sarah gasped, her eyes wide. "That's... that's amazing! Now we can really clean this place out!"
They worked with renewed fervor, the distant *thumps* growing steadily closer. Kael used his new ring to effortlessly collect every glowing gem, every strange piece of equipment, every valuable artifact from the tombs. The ancient catacombs, once filled with untold mysteries, were steadily emptied, leaving behind only the broken worms and the vast, hollow chambers.
By the time the massive thuds vibrated through the very stone beneath their feet, signaling the presence of something truly monstrous, the catacombs were meticulously stripped. Not a single shimmering jewel or peculiar artifact remained. They had cleaned the place out.
Kael led Elena and Sarah back to the glowing portal, now a stable beacon in the vast chamber. With a final glance at the stripped catacombs and the ominous sounds of the approaching unknown, they stepped through.
They emerged back in the stadium, the first rays of the true dawn painting the familiar, broken world in hues of orange and grey. Exhausted but exhilarated, they found a relatively secluded spot. Kael collapsed, then pulled out the soft, glowing blanket from his spatial ring, covering himself and the two tired women.
"We did good," Elena murmured, already drifting off, the Serenity Plugs still in place.
"Yeah," Sarah yawned, already half-asleep, "really good. What's in all those boxes and stuff you put in the ring, Kael?"
Kael smiled, feeling the satisfying weight of the ring on his finger. "We'll find out tomorrow. Get some rest."
They drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the distant sounds of the apocalypse a fading hum against the promise of untold treasures.