Reaching The Second Floor

After a month of relentless battles and continuous progress, Asher, Maya, and Simon finally reached the second floor of the facility. With Maya and Simon joining him, Asher's journey became relatively smooth.

Maya took the lead in their encounters with the undead, displaying her formidable strength. Simon, on the other hand, proved invaluable with his technical expertise, effortlessly navigating through complex mechanisms and door locks that hindered their progress.

The eerie silence of the corridor was shattered as an undead creature was forcefully thrown backward, crashing into a thick wall. A small hand punched the zombie's head into the wall, resulting in a grotesque explosion of blood, bones, and brain matter. The impact left a gaping hole in the wall, revealing the hidden infrastructure behind it.

Maya withdrew her hand, her palm smeared with the crimson remnants of her adversary. She turned to face Asher and Simon, her eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and determination. "This is the last one, Master," she announced, her voice filled with quiet confidence.

Asher nodded in acknowledgment, unsurprised by Maya's strength. The journey they had undertaken had transformed both Asher and Maya, honing their skills. However, it was Maya whose growth had astounded even Asher. With the absorption of the other seven souls she acquired after the 26th floor and the infusion of the potent Vitaforce Elixir they had discovered on the 20th floor, Maya's physical strength had become unimaginable, surpassing anything they had encountered thus far.

Shadow, standing beside Asher, smiled with amusement as he surveyed the aftermath of Maya's devastating blow. "Her power... it still surprises me every time," he murmured, glancing at the countless piles of mangled meat and blood scattered in the corridor. "She has become a true monster."

With their focus set on reaching the computer panel room, the trio continued their journey through the labyrinthine facility. Their footsteps echoed in the empty corridors as they pressed forward, their determination unwavering.

Finally, they arrived at the computer panel room, the last remaining panel that needed to be activated. As always, they inserted the ID card, and a voice resonated through the chamber, echoing with artificial clarity.

"Welcome, Asher. Congratulations on reaching the second floor," BOI-TEK greeted them. Asher had discovered that with each panel awakening, the artificial intelligence had grown progressively smarter. BOI-TEK's level of intelligence and communication skills were now akin to a human.

'Finally, I reach it—the last floor,' Asher thought, a small smile forming on his face as he replied to BOI-TEK with a calm voice, "Thank you, BOI-TEK." Asher then put his backpack down and pulled out ten ID cards. "I want you to grant me an S-rank access."

Simon had previously informed Asher about BOI-TEK's access ranks, with the S rank being the most powerful and granted only to the higher director of the facility. Gathering ten A-rank access cards would grant Asher the coveted S-rank access.

"Examining the ID cards... The application for S-rank access has been approved. You have obtained S-rank," BOI-TEK responded.

"Finally, S-rank access! We can ask it anything now," Simon exclaimed with a huge smile on his face. "Asher, can you please ask BOI-TEK what happened here?"

"Alright, BOI-TEK, tell me what caused the disaster that befell this facility," Asher asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I do not possess the information regarding the cause of the disaster." BOI-TEK

'Even BOI-TEK doesn't know what happened? How is that possible?' Simon thought in shock. "This weird. BOI-TEK should know everything that happened in this facility. Don't tell me it's possible that this disaster didn't happen here," Simon mumbled, his expression growing scared.

'No, whatever the reason for this disaster, it was generated by this facility. But he's right, it's strange that even BOI-TEK doesn't have information about it,' Asher thought, recalling the video footage he had seen on the 35th floor. Though chaotic, Asher was certain he saw the doctor's expression, indicating his awareness of what had happened.

However, this wasn't the right time to seek answers to these questions. Ignoring his thoughts, Asher changed the subject. "BOI-TEK, tell me if the teleportation portals on the first floor are operational."

BOI-TEK nodded, its digital features rearranging affirmatively. "Yes, Asher. The teleportation portals on the first floor are functioning."

A glimmer of hope flickered in Asher's eyes as he considered the possibility of escaping this nightmare. But before he allowed himself to grow hopeful, he realized they needed to understand the state of the outside world. Asher had concerns he wished would prove false.

"BOI-TEK, is it possible to show me the current state of the outside world ?," Asher asked, his voice steady.

"Yes, it's possible. Accessing Nexus satellites... Connection established," BOI-TEK responded.

As BOI-TEK's voice faded, the monitors lit up, displaying different scenes from the outside world. Simon, Asher, and even Maya, despite her weakened mental state after her revival, looked at the screens with terrified expressions.

Simon's gaze fixated on a certain monitor that showed a desolate cityscape. "M-My family..." he trailed off, his troubled voice revealing his distress. The once-bustling city now lay in ruins, with dilapidated buildings serving as haunting reminders of the past. Broken windows and crumbling structures testified to the devastation that had occurred. The streets were barren, littered with debris and abandoned vehicles. An eerie silence hung heavy in the air, occasionally broken by the groans of the undead.

While Asher observed different monitors showing a massive horde of zombies converging on a survivor enclave. The sheer size and relentless nature of the horde threatened to overwhelm the defenses. Panic and desperation permeated the air as survivors fought valiantly to hold their ground.

As BOI-TEK continued to display the scenes of the outside world, one monitor suddenly captured the attention of Asher, Maya, and Simon. It showcased a towering, skyscraper-sized monster lying atop a city skyline. The creature's immense size cast a shadow that engulfed the surrounding buildings, its presence a menacing force.

The monster's appearance was grotesque and otherworldly. Its body was a nightmarish fusion of scales, twisted limbs, and jagged spikes. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent intensity, radiating an aura of power and danger. The sheer scale of the creature sent a shiver down their spines, as they struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the threat it posed.

The monstrous being stirred, its colossal form shifting with an unsettling grace. Its massive head turned, scanning the surroundings with a predatory gaze. It emitted a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the air, causing the ground to tremble beneath its weight.

"T-this is Azod city !!.." Simon mumbled, with a pale face and terrified voice. As he looked at the enormous being.

"Shit!! ..." With a shocked face, Asher mumbled unable to believe that it was possible for something like this to even exist.

As they looked at the scene unfolding before them, Asher, Maya, and Simon absorbed the gravity of the situation. The monitors depicted a world teetering on the edge, where the line between life and death had blurred—a world they were unaccustomed to.

"Warning... suspicious activity has been detected... Someone is trying to hack the systems," BOI-TEK abruptly announced, interrupting their observations.