Ryan crept closer and closer to the entrance, his footsteps barely making a sound against the metallic flooring. He paused just before the threshold, hesitating for a moment before cautiously leaning his upper torso and head inside to scope the situation. The air was thick with the hum of machinery, faint pulses of blue and orange light flickering in rhythmic patterns across the dark walls.
"There doesn't seem to be any danger here," Ryan muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
He took a cautious step inside, his gaze sweeping the vast chamber before him. The first thing that caught his attention was a massive ledge, overlooking what appeared to be a core—a giant, spherical structure hovering midair, its surface pulsating with intertwining waves of blue and orange energy. The core rotated slowly, radiating a sense of immense power, as if it were the heart of the entire vessel.
Ryan swallowed hard.
"This must be Elenatia..." he gasped, his voice laced with both awe and intrigue.
His eyes darted around the upper platform where he stood. The entire room was lined with screens and panels, some flickering weakly while others remained completely dark. The dim lighting barely illuminated the vast space, casting deep shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly along the walls and floor. Dust floated lazily through the air, disturbed only by the occasional flicker of light from the core.
A sudden noise interrupted Ryan's observation—a distinct, crackling sound from above, followed by a series of light, rhythmic tacks.
'That sound…' Ryan's thoughts raced.
"Tack, tack, tack." The unmistakable sound of metal footsteps echoed through the chamber.
"It's coming from above," Ryan said aloud, his voice tense.
He instinctively jerked his head upward, his eyes searching the darkened ceiling. There, barely visible against the shadows, was a silhouette clinging to the rafters. It was humanoid in form, its body sleek and angular, but what made Ryan's blood run cold were the jagged, bladed arms extending from its sides.
Before he could react, the figure pounced.
Ryan's breath hitched. It was too fast. His body screamed at him to move, to dodge, to do anything—but it was already too late. His instincts took over, his arms flying up to shield his face as he braced for impact. His eyes clenched shut, waiting for the inevitable.
A loud noise creaked from outside the room.
"Access granted." It was Elain's voice.
Silence followed.
Ryan remained still, his heart pounding in his ears. He realized something—he was still alive.
Hesitantly, he cracked his eyes open, peering through the small gap between his arms. The first thing he noticed was an odd sensation on his throat—a cold, sharp presence pressing against his skin. Then, a warm trickle of liquid rolled down his neck, trailing down to his chest.
"Liquid?" Ryan whispered, his voice barely audible.
Slowly, he looked down. A thin, gleaming blade rested against his throat, mere millimeters away from slicing into him. The realization sent a shudder down his spine. The silhouette—the thing—was behind him.
His breath hitched, unable to form words. He was speechless.
The figure lingered for a moment, its glowing blue eye fixed on him. Then, as if making a decision, it slowly withdrew its blade, stepping back into the dim light. Ryan finally got a clear look at it.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to calm himself, his legs giving out beneath him. He collapsed onto the cold floor, landing unceremoniously on his backside. His fingers trembled as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Ha… Haha…" He let out a nervous chuckle, still shaken. "I almost died…"
His gaze darted upward to get a better look at the figure. It was eerily similar to Elen—the guide he had first met when he arrived—except this one's body pulsed with blue lines instead of the previous red. More alarmingly, this version had massive bladed arms, sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Creak!" A familiar sound echoed through the chamber.
Ryan turned his head just in time to see Elain waddling into the room, its small form moving with an almost casual air.
"Permission has been granted to the user, Ryan. Access—Admin." Elain announced, its metallic voice emotionless.
Ryan let out an exasperated breath, his nerves still on edge.
"Is that all you have to say?" he snapped, gesturing wildly at the robotic figure before him. "I almost got pieced up by this guy!"
"Creak!?" Elain chirped, almost as if surprised. Then, after a moment, it continued, "Welcome back, Core Combat Guide, Elen."
Ryan blinked in confusion.
"Huh?" he uttered, his mind trying to process what he just heard.
The robotic figure—Elen—remained silent, standing tall and motionless.
"Huh!? HUH!???" Ryan shouted, completely baffled by the situation.