The moment the malfunction cleared, Xen’s resolve solidified into cold, hard necessity. Retreat was the logical choice, the smart choice, but logic felt like a luxury he couldn't afford if he ever wanted to uncover the secrets of this place or simply stop reacting to it. He was Level 3 now, his projector packed a punch, and these creatures were blocking his path to the coolant source – the only real lead he had. He wouldn't be turned back again. It was time to fight.
HP: 99.0/100. EN: 125.5/150. XP: 167/400. [Audio Dampener] active.
Five hostiles: the lumbering, meter-long Cyber-Scrabbler leading one smaller Vermin from the main tunnel ahead, and three more standard Vermin scrambling out from the debris-choked side tunnel to his right, attempting to flank him.
Prioritize area denial. Take out the flankers first. He kept [Firing Mode: Burst Cone] selected. As the three side-tunnel vermin fully emerged into the junction chamber, he unleashed the weapon again.
WHOOMPH-CRACKLE!
The wide arc of energy slammed into the three vermin just as they began to spread out. Two were caught directly and ceased to exist in a shower of sparks and molten fragments. The third was thrown back, heavily damaged and screeching.
Before Xen could switch modes, the Cyber-Scrabbler acted. Ignoring the blast that vaporized its smaller kin, it lowered its blunt head and spat a glob of viscous, greenish fluid.
HISSS-SPLORT!
Xen dodged instinctively (DEX 14), the acidic projectile missing him by centimeters and hitting the pipe wall behind him with a sizzle that left metal smoking and discolored. [Warning: Highly Corrosive Substance Detected!]. Simultaneously, the last standard vermin (the one accompanying the Scrabbler) shot forward, claws extended.
Double-tap!
[Scan Analysis: Cyber-Scrabbler (Medium Technovore)] [HP Estimate: 45/45 (Undamaged)] [Armor Estimate: Moderate (Improvised Plating - Weak Points: Underside Joints, Optic Sensors)] [Abilities: Crushing Jaws (Melee), Acid Spit (Ranged - Corrosive), High Physical Resistance] [Vulnerabilities: Electrical Damage, Exposed Ventral Joints]
<+2 XP Gained! (New Creature Analyzed)> XP: 189/400.
Weak points identified! Just as the scan completed, the last small vermin reached him. He sidestepped its lunge, bringing the staff down in a quick jab aimed at its head while firing.
Scrap it all! Another malfunction! The beam fizzled uselessly. The vermin’s claws raked across his chest plate.
The Scrabbler was charging now, heavy legs scraping, grinding jaws open wide. Weapon on cooldown! Xen shoved the small vermin away and desperately tried to block the Scrabbler's charge with the staff shaft.
CRUNCH!
The impact was brutal. His STR 5 was useless against the creature's mass. He was thrown back against the junction wall, the staff nearly knocked from his grip.
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Weapon cooldown cleared! The small vermin was scrambling back towards him. The Scrabbler was rearing up for another attack. He ignored the small one, targeting the Scrabbler's identified weak spot – the joints where its heavy leg plating met its underside. Tap! Tap! Tap! Rapid fire!
Bright sparks flew as the focused energy beams struck the vulnerable joints. The Scrabbler shrieked, a horrible metallic grinding sound, and stumbled. Its HP was visibly dropping on Xen's internal HUD estimate (derived from scan data and damage dealt).
Just as the Scrabbler faltered, the last small vermin leaped onto Xen's back, claws digging in!
Xen ignored it, knowing the Scrabbler was the main threat. One more shot! Tap!
FZZZT-CRACK! Another direct hit on the damaged leg joint!
The heavy Scrabbler crashed to the floor, inert. Xen immediately spun, trying to dislodge the small vermin still clinging to his back while bringing his projector around. Tap!
He fired almost blindly over his shoulder. The beam connected, silencing the creature instantly.
Silence. Absolute, ringing silence, broken only by the steady drip... drip... drip... of the coolant valve overhead and Xen's own ragged ventilation. He slowly lowered the projector, every joint in his small frame aching. He checked his status: HP: 89.0/100. EN: 108.0/150. Staff Durability: 27/30. XP: 240/400.
He had won. He had faced down five enemies, including a tougher variant, dealt with two weapon malfunctions, taken significant damage, but he had won. He had pushed forward and cleared the junction chamber.
He quickly scanned the Scrabbler carcass while his [Audio Dampener] finished its final minute of operation before needing manual reactivation.
[Scan Analysis: Cyber-Scrabbler Carcass - Medium Technovore - Deceased] [Materials Analysis: Mismatched Plating (Plasteel, Ferrocrete, Cyber-Alloy - Poor Quality), Heavy Grinding Mandibles (Hardened Steel), Damaged Acid Sac Reservoir (Near Mandibles)] [Loot Detected: [Scrabbler Mandible (Poor)] x1, [Weak Acid Gland (Unstable)] x1]
<+2 XP Gained! (New Creature Analyzed)> XP: 242/400. (Almost Level 4!)
Actual loot! He quickly retrieved the items. The mandible was heavy, serrated. The acid gland felt disturbingly organic, pulsing faintly even in death. He stored them.
<[Scrabbler Mandible (Poor)] x1 added to Inventory.> <[Weak Acid Gland (Unstable)] x1 added to Inventory.> Inventory Slots Used: 3/5 (Capacitor x1, Mandible x1, Gland x1).
He stood there amidst the carnage, beside the dripping coolant valve, utterly exhausted but alive. He listened. Faint skittering sounds still echoed from the main tunnel leading deeper into the darkness. He hadn't cleared the nest, merely weathered a major counterattack.
GROOOOAAAANNN... CRACK!
Suddenly, a deep groan resonated through the chamber, louder than the giant's settling had been. Dust sifted from the ceiling near the cracked valve assembly. His HUD flashed red: [WARNING: Structural Instability Detected! Ceiling Section Compromised - Immediate Collapse Possible!]
The fight, the energy discharges, the impacts... it had destabilized the already damaged tunnel structure right above him. Xen looked up at the groaning ceiling, then at the dark tunnel leading deeper, then back the way he came. Exhausted, damaged, low on energy, and now facing imminent collapse. His "badass" decision had led him to victory, but directly into another, potentially lethal, crisis.