The sensation was as subtle as it was instantaneous.
A gentle warmth spread through Alden's veins, not the burn of adrenaline or a surge of Mana, but something more fundamental, more… alive.
The fatigue that weighed on his muscles seemed to lighten, the throbbing pain in his injured arm subsided to a dull echo, and a new clarity settled in his mind.
He felt invigorated, as if he had just drunk a potion of vitality.
EST. It was the only possible explanation.
"System," he thought, even as he guided the small group through the dark corridor.
"Analysis of this phenomenon. Confirmation of the EST Factor?" The now-familiar translucent window appeared in his field of vision.
[Notification: EST Factor detected. Source: Proximity to the female individual "Selene Valerius." Passive effect activated due to the wielder's "Perfect Compatibility."]
[Current effects:
Physical Stamina Regeneration (Low)
General Vitality Increase (Minor)
Morale Stabilization Note: Major offensive and defensive amplification effects remain locked due to the "Sealed" status of the "Harem King" Trait. The current effect is a basic passive manifestation.]
Alden absorbed the information, an almost imperceptible smile gracing his lips.
So it was true. He didn't even need a strong emotional bond or a conscious interaction. The mere presence of a woman, even a stranger, weak and terrified, was enough to trigger a rudimentary version of his power.
It was a powerful confirmation of the nature of his being.
If he could feel such a boost with Selene, what would happen when he found his fated partners, those women with whom he had shared deep bonds, whose very souls were harmonized with his own?
The thought of this latent power, of this infinite potential, ignited an even fiercer ambition within him.
"You look like you've caught a second wind, kid," Scott remarked, observing Alden with a suspicious eye.
His flashlight briefly illuminated Alden's face, which seemed less pale, more determined.
"Is it the lady's presence that's motivating you, or do you have spare batteries hidden somewhere?" "I'm simply focused on the exit, Scott," Alden retorted, his neutral tone belying the inner effervescence he felt.
"Fatigue is a luxury we cannot afford."
They continued their progress, Alden leading the way with renewed confidence.
The boost in vitality allowed him to more easily ignore the pain in his arm and his general fatigue. His Sixth Sense also seemed sharper, clearer, as if the influx of EST had somehow enhanced all his perceptions.
He navigated the maze of corridors with disconcerting ease, instinctively choosing the safest passages, avoiding areas where he sensed stagnant energy or structural instability.
Selene, though still weak, followed docilely, her gaze shifting from the confident figure of Alden ahead of her to the protective mass of Scott behind.
She was sandwiched between two realities of combat she had never known: one, a born leader whose calm and authority were almost supernatural; the other, a gruff veteran whose presence, though intimidating, was strangely reassuring.
For the first time since she had fallen into this nightmare, a tiny sense of security began to dawn on her.
The scenery gradually changed.
The raw rock walls gave way to more recent metal walls, better-maintained service conduits, and luminous panels which, though mostly off, testified to a more advanced technology.
They were undeniably approaching the upper levels. After another flight of service stairs, they emerged before an armored door, more modern than those they had seen before.
A digital control panel flickered beside it, displaying a message in red: "ACCESS LOCKED – LEVEL 3 AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED."
"Well, damn," Scott let out.
"Looks like our stroll is over. I don't think your shoulder can break down that door, Khan. And I don't exactly have my level 3 security card on me." Alden examined the door and the panel. It was a standard Xerx security system.
Trying to force it physically would be futile and would likely trigger an alarm that would attract far more trouble than the Arachnophobias. He turned to Selene. "Selene. You're a matronic theorist, Class A. Do you know these systems?"
The young woman approached timidly, her blue eyes examining the panel with a gleam of professional interest that chased away some of her fear. It's a Gamma-series matronic lock. It's tied into the sector's central security system.
Bypassing it is… theoretically possible, but extremely complex. It would require rerouting the power flows while injecting a series of override codes to fool the verification system. One mistake and the system purges, sealing the door permanently and alerting central security."
"You say theoretically possible'," Alden noted, his intense gaze fixed on her.
"Does that mean you know how to do it?" Selene swallowed, intimidated by his intensity.
"I… I've studied the schematics. On simulators. I've never… tried it on a live system. Especially one this old, it might have deviant protocols…"
"It's our only option," Alden declared, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, preventing her from backing away. The touch of his skin seemed to send another small wave of warmth through him.
"You are a Class A student at the greatest academy in the world. You are an expert in your field. I have no doubt you can do it."
His words, his confidence, the trust he placed in her, had an unexpected effect on Selene.
The fear in her eyes didn't vanish, but it was joined by a glimmer of determination.
She looked at the panel again, no longer as an insurmountable obstacle, but as a problem to be solved.
"I'll need to access the maintenance interface," she said, her voice firmer.
"And you'll have to protect me. This will take time. And it might get loud."
Alden smiled.
"Time is what we have the least of. But we will protect you. Do what you have to do."
He turned to Scott. "You and I are on guard duty. Watch our backs. I'll watch the front."
Scott nodded, his expression serious. "Got it. kiddo."
Selene, galvanized by this unexpected trust, took out her own cracked terminal and began to find a way to connect it to the control panel. Their fate now rested in the trembling but expert hands of the young theorist.