Eric gritted his teeth, pressing a hand against his injured side. “Someone tell me that wasn’t a damn hallucination.”
Dr. Carter glanced at his console, his fingers still trembling from the discovery. “It wasn’t. And if these logs are accurate, that thing was locked away for a reason.”
Leon turned toward him, electricity still crackling faintly around his fingertips. “You said something about Omega-Class test subjects? What exactly were they experimenting on?”
Carter swallowed hard before responding. “Blackwood wasn’t just working on viral mutations… they were creating something beyond human understanding. The Omega-Class subjects weren’t infected in the same way as regular zombies. They were… designed.”
Riley’s brows furrowed. “Designed? For what?”
Carter’s voice was grim. “The logs don’t say, but if it can think… if it can choose to let us live… then we’re dealing with something far worse than mindless monsters.”
Silence settled over them once again.
Leon finally exhaled and glanced down the corridor where the creature had disappeared.
Why did it leave?
Something about its words haunted him.
“You are not ready.”
What did that mean?
They couldn’t afford to dwell on the encounter. They needed to ensure the bunker’s security, and fast.
They spent the next few hours sealing off vulnerable entry points, reinforcing metal doors, and activating whatever defensive systems Blackwood had left intact.
Leon moved methodically, using his electric abilities to jump-start long-dead power systems. With each pulse of energy, the once-abandoned stronghold hummed back to life.
Emergency lighting flickered on. Automated security turrets, long dormant, swiveled into position, scanning for threats.
Riley whistled, wiping sweat from her forehead. “This place is starting to feel like a damn fortress.”
Eric chuckled, still wincing from his injuries. “Good. ‘Cause I’m not in the mood to fight another nightmare anytime soon.”
Carter stood near a console, reviewing the facility’s internal systems. His expression darkened as he read through the data.
“There’s something else,” he muttered.
Leon approached. “What is it?”
Carter hesitated before answering. “This bunker was meant to be self-sustaining, food, water, power. It could support survivors for years. But…” He paused.
“But what?” Riley pressed.
Carter turned the screen toward them. A large red warning flashed across the interface.
ACCESS TO LOWER LEVELS: RESTRICTED
OMEGA-PROTOCOL: ACTIVE
Leon’s stomach twisted. “The lower levels?”
Carter nodded. “The logs say there are sealed chambers beneath us, places even Blackwood personnel weren’t allowed to enter.”
Eric frowned. “And let me guess… that thing we just fought? It came from down there.”
Carter exhaled sharply. “Most likely.”
Riley looked between them. “Then we keep those doors sealed. We don’t touch the lower levels. Ever.”
Leon’s gaze remained locked on the warning screen.
Something inside him told him it wouldn’t be that simple.
As the team settled in for the night, Leon sat alone in the dimly lit control room, his thoughts racing.
Then, a familiar sensation washed over him.
A sudden pulse of energy filled his mind.
His vision blurred. His breath hitched.
And then, the interface appeared once again.
[SYSTEM REBOOTED]
[Welcome back, Leon.]
His pulse spiked.
It was the first time the system had spoken to him in weeks.
More notifications flooded his vision.
[New Core Analyzed]
[Enhanced Electric Manipulation: Level 3 Unlocked]
[Warning: Omega-Class Entities Detected]
Leon’s fingers curled into a fist.
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The system had gone silent after his initial evolution. He had assumed it had disappeared forever.
But now it was back, and it knew something about the creatures.
Leon exhaled slowly, determination settling in his chest.
The next few days would be crucial. They needed to fortify the bunker. They needed to train.
Because whatever was coming…
They had to be ready.
***
The bunker hummed with renewed energy. The once-abandoned Blackwood facility was no longer a lifeless relic—it was theirs now.
As the automated defense systems activated, the team moved quickly, each person taking on a role to ensure their new stronghold could withstand the horrors outside.
Leon stood in the control room, watching as power surged through the underground facility. The monitors flickered with live surveillance feeds, displaying various sections of the bunker and the outside perimeter.
Carter worked feverishly at the main console, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “Alright, I’ve managed to fully reactivate the automated defenses. The turrets are online, and motion sensors have been reprogrammed to only recognize us.”
Riley gave a low whistle as she watched a turret shift into position outside one of the airlock doors. “That’s some serious firepower.”
Eric, sitting nearby while patching up his wounds, smirked. “Good. I’d rather let the turrets handle any uninvited guests while we focus on staying alive.”
Leon nodded but kept his gaze locked on one of the monitors. “How’s the food and water supply looking?”
Carter tapped another section of the console. “The bunker’s hydroponics system was partially operational before everything shut down. If I can reboot it, we should have a steady supply of food within the next couple of weeks.”
“Until then?” Riley asked.
“There’s enough preserved rations in storage to last about four months,” Carter replied. “And the water filtration system is still functioning perfectly.”
Leon crossed his arms, feeling a rare sense of relief. This bunker wasn’t just a hiding place—it was a sustainable home.
As the others worked on securing their shelter, Leon sat down in a secluded corner of the control room. The system’s sudden reactivation still weighed on his mind.
He exhaled and willed the interface to appear again.
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[User: Leon]
[New Abilities Detected]
Leon’s vision flickered as his status appeared before him.
Electric Manipulation (Level 3) (Enhanced energy output and finer control)
Kinetic Awareness (Level 2) (Increased reaction time and combat instincts)
Endurance Enhancement (Level 2) (Physical resistance improved—faster healing of minor wounds)
[WARNING: Unknown Anomalies Detected in System]
Leon’s brows furrowed. Unknown anomalies?
[System Protocol Adjusted – Other Users Detected]
A sharp ping rang through his mind.
[Scanning Nearby Users…]
[Eric – System Partially Activated]
[Dr. Carter – System Interface Detected]
[Riley – Adaptive Potential Unlocked]
Leon’s eyes widened.
Wait… they all have systems too?
His stomach churned as possibilities flooded his mind. The system hadn’t spoken to him in weeks—but now, it wasn’t just him. It was connected to the others as well.
Eric winced as he flexed his injured arm. The deep claw marks from the last battle had already begun healing faster than expected. He had assumed it was just luck—until his vision suddenly blurred.
A cold wave of energy rippled through his body.
[System Interface Activated]
[User: Eric]
[Skill Unlocked – Accelerated Regeneration]
Eric sucked in a sharp breath as his wounds visibly closed before his eyes.
“...What the hell?”
He clenched his fist, feeling an unfamiliar strength course through him. Whatever this was, it wasn’t normal.
Leon stepped forward, his expression serious. “Eric, did you just...”
Eric turned to him, his breath slightly unsteady. “Yeah. I think I just got an upgrade.”
Leon’s suspicion was confirmed.
The bunker wasn’t just a shelter, it was doing something to them.
Meanwhile, Dr. Carter was in the research lab, sifting through old Blackwood data logs when his own interface appeared.
[System Interface Detected]
[User: Dr. Carter]
[Skill Unlocked – Tactical Analysis]
Carter’s mind flashed with calculations.
Suddenly, his ability to analyze everything became razor-sharp. He could predict enemy movements, identify weak points, and process battlefield scenarios at incredible speeds.
His breath caught in his throat. “This is… impossible.”
Blackwood had experimented on survivors. Was it possible that exposure to their tech, or the very cores they had absorbed, had unlocked something inside them?
Carter’s hands shook. “We’re evolving.”
For the first time since the outbreak, they had a safe place to regroup.
The team took shifts resting, eating, and training. The bunker’s advanced training room allowed them to push their abilities further, testing the limits of their newfound powers.
Leon practiced controlling his electricity, creating arcs between his fingertips with greater precision.
Eric’s wounds healed faster than ever, making him nearly unstoppable in close combat.
Carter’s enhanced mind allowed him to strategize beyond human levels.
Riley, though her system had yet to fully awaken, felt something deep inside her changing.
But the sense of peace was short-lived.
One night, while Leon was standing guard in the control room, a proximity alert blared across the screens.
[Unidentified Entity Detected]
[Scanning…]
[Human Signature Found]
Leon’s heart pounded. A survivor?
He activated the external cameras, zooming in on the darkened wasteland outside.
A lone figure stood in the distance, wrapped in tattered gear, half-collapsed against a wrecked vehicle.
They were alive, but barely.
Leon wasted no time.
He grabbed his gear and sprinted toward the exit, yelling, “We’ve got a survivor!”
Eric and Riley followed behind, weapons drawn.
As they approached, the figure’s head slowly lifted.
And then, Leon’s breath caught in his throat.
The survivor’s eyes burned with an unnatural glow.
[New System User Detected]
***
The air outside the bunker was cold and still, carrying the distant echoes of the undead. The world beyond their stronghold remained a wasteland, but right now, all that mattered was the figure standing at the perimeter.
Leon led the way, his grip firm on his weapon. Eric and Riley flanked him, scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement.
The survivor was barely standing, leaning heavily against a rusted vehicle, their body wrapped in torn tactical gear. Their hood was pulled low, concealing their face, but their posture radiated fatigue and something else, determination.
Then, they moved.
Too fast.
In an instant, the survivor snapped their head up, locking eyes with Leon.
A sharp, golden glow burned within their pupils, just like his.
Leon froze. His breath hitched.
[New System User Identified]
[User: UNKNOWN]
[Abilities – Incompatible with Standard Database]
What the hell does that mean?
The survivor took a single step forward, but their knees buckled. Before they could collapse completely, Leon lunged, catching them just in time.
A ragged breath escaped their lips.
“Help…” Their voice was barely a whisper.
Leon’s grip tightened. “You’re safe now.”
Eric lowered his gun, eyes narrowing. “Who the hell are they?”
Riley knelt beside them, checking their pulse. “They’re burning up. Fever’s high, they won’t last long without medical help.”
Leon nodded, hoisting the stranger up. “We’re taking them inside.”
Eric shot him a warning glance. “You sure that’s a good idea? What if...”
“I’ll take the risk,” Leon cut him off.
Eric exhaled sharply but didn’t argue.
As they carried the survivor toward the bunker entrance, Leon’s mind raced.
They had found another system user.
Someone like him.
But…
[WARNING: Anomalous Energy Signature Detected]
[Caution Advised]
Leon clenched his jaw.
Was this person really an ally… or something far worse?