Daniel reached the entrance to the Flow Regulator Chamber.
It was a large, circular room, much cleaner than the junkyard or the leaky conduit.
Pipes and cables ran neatly along the walls, converging on a complex machine in the center.
This machine looked like a giant metal spider squatting over a pool of the pulsing blue labyrinth energy.
Thick cables connected the spider-machine to openings in the walls, ceiling, and floor, likely the regulation point for the energy flow the Leeches were feeding on earlier.
The air here crackled with power, making the metal floor hum under Daniel's E-grade boots.
Standing silently between Daniel and the spider-machine was the source of the powerful signature he'd sensed.
It wasn't another pile of junk like the Golem. This construct was sleek, humanoid, about three meters tall, and made of polished chrome-like metal that reflected the blue light eerily.
It had no face, just a smooth, blank head. Its limbs were long and multi-jointed, ending in sharp, talon-like fingers.
Arcs of controlled blue energy danced between nodes on its shoulders and chest.
It stood perfectly still, like a statue, guarding the path forward.
Daniel scanned it, his Nexus Interface working hard against the strong energy interference in the room.
[Conduit Regulator - Model S7 (Guardian Construct)]
Level: 5
Stats: High Strength, High Vitality (Energy Shielding), Very High Agility, Extremely High Spirit (Direct Energy Conduit).
Abilities: [Energy Shield (Passive)], [Plasma Lance (Beam/Pulse)], [Kinetic Dampeners], [System Overload (Area Burst)], [Energy Siphon]
Threat Assessment: Advanced Labyrinth Guardian.
Extremely Fast and Agile. High energy output. Physical attacks less effective due to Dampeners/Shielding.
Spirit-based attacks may be absorbed or resisted due to high Spirit/Conduit nature. Exploit agility limits or potential core weaknesses.
Level 5 again. And this one looked much tougher than the bone wolf. Very High Agility meant it would be hard to hit.
Extremely High Spirit suggested his [Mana Bolt+] might not work well, or worse, might even power it up via [Energy Siphon].
The Energy Shield and Kinetic Dampeners meant his physical attacks, even [Kinetic Hammer], might be weakened.
This thing seemed designed to counter both his main attack types!
"Well, this is just great," Daniel muttered under his breath.
Nyx whimpered nervously in her pouch, sensing the dangerous energy radiating from the silent guardian.
The Regulator didn't react to his presence immediately. Maybe it only activated when someone tried to pass or interfere with the central machine?
Daniel considered his options. Sneaking past using [Ghoststeps+] seemed unlikely with its presumed advanced sensors.
A direct fight looked incredibly difficult due to its defenses and speed.
Maybe he could use the environment? The central machine looked complex, maybe fragile? Or perhaps he could overload the Regulator by feeding it too much energy?
He still had that warning about unstable energy from the leaky pipe earlier.
He decided to test its reaction first, and its energy absorption.
He stayed near the entrance, raised his hand, and fired a deliberately weak [Mana Bolt+], aiming not at the Regulator itself, but at the wall near it.
Fzzzt!
The small bolt hit the wall. Instantly, the Regulator's blank head snapped towards him.
Its chrome body shimmered as the [Energy Shield] activated, absorbing the stray energy from the bolt's impact.
Okay, so it was definitely aware, and its shields soaked up ambient energy. Firing mana bolts directly at it seemed like a bad idea.
What about physical? He nocked an arrow on his D+ bow. He activated [Venomous Strike+] on the tip, just in case.
He aimed carefully at one of its multi-jointed knees.
Twang!
The arrow flew fast and true. Just before impact, the Regulator blurred, moving with incredible speed, faster than the arrow!
It sidestepped contemptuously, letting the arrow hit the wall behind it harmlessly.
"Okay," Daniel breathed out. "Speed is definitely an issue." He couldn't hit it easily at range.
The Regulator didn't just dodge; it retaliated. One of its arms snapped forward, palm open.
A beam of bright, searing white energy, a [Plasma Lance], shot towards Daniel.
Daniel reacted purely on instinct. "[Ghoststeps+]!"
"Boom!"
He threw himself sideways, the wind shrieking past him as the plasma beam scorched the floor where he'd been standing, melting the metal grating instantly.
The heat washed over him even from several meters away. That thing hit hard.
He couldn't stay defensive. He needed to get close, maybe try to disrupt its joints or find a weak spot the shields didn't cover perfectly.
He dashed forward, using his own incredible speed, weaving between pools of melted metal.
The Regulator tracked him easily, firing plasma pulses now ,short, sharp bursts instead of a continuous beam.
Daniel dodged frantically.
Pew! Pew! Zzzap!
Plasma bolts exploded around him, showering him with sparks and molten metal droplets.
His D+ vest absorbed a glancing hit with a loud hiss, leaving a blackened scorch mark but holding firm.
His [Grit Guard] passive might have even helped slightly against the flying sparks.
He got close, within five meters. He lunged with his C+ daggers, aiming for the elbow joint of the Regulator's firing arm.
As his daggers neared, he felt a strange resistance, like pushing through thick syrup, the [Kinetic Dampeners] slowing his physical strike.
His daggers connected, but with much less force than intended.
Clank!
The blades scraped off the polished chrome surface, barely leaving a scratch.
The Regulator swatted contemptuously with its other hand, the blow moving incredibly fast.
Daniel barely managed to bring his forearms up, crossed in a block.
WHAM!
The impact sent him staggering back several steps, his arms numb despite his high Strength and Vitality.
The dampeners might weaken incoming physical attacks, but the Regulator's own strength was still immense.
This wasn't working. He couldn't hit it effectively at range, and he couldn't hurt it easily up close.
Its speed matched his own enhanced bursts, and its defenses were superb.
How did the previous explorer deal with this? Or did they? Maybe this is where they died?
He needed a new approach. He glanced at the central spider-machine, pulsing with blue energy.
The Regulator seemed focused on protecting it. What if he attacked the machine instead?
He feinted left, dodging another plasma pulse, then activated [Ghoststeps+] and sprinted right, towards the big machine.
The Regulator instantly reacted, moving to intercept him, its movements fluid and blindingly fast.
It clearly prioritized guarding the machine.
Good. Now he had its attention focused. As it moved to block him, Daniel suddenly changed tactics mid-sprint.
He didn't attack the machine. He slid low, aiming for the Regulator's legs, and unleashed his most disruptive physical attack.
"[Kinetic Hammer] – Shockwave!"
WHUMP!
He slammed his fist into the metal floor right beneath the Regulator as it moved to intercept.
The kinetic wave erupted upwards. The Regulator had anticipated an attack on the machine, not on the floor beneath it.
The kinetic dampeners absorbed some force, but the sheer power of the C-grade shockwave hitting its legs and lower torso directly still threw it off balance.
It stumbled, its smooth movements momentarily broken!
Daniel seized the fraction of a second. He ignored the Regulator itself.
He focused on the thick energy cable connecting the Regulator's back to the central spider-machine, its power source?
He lunged, bringing both C+ daggers down in a powerful, two-handed strike right onto the cable connection point.
He poured every ounce of his Strength (over 100!) into the blow.
SHUNK-CRACKLE-ZZZZZZT!
The daggers bit deep! Sparks flew wildly! The cable wasn't armored like the Regulator's body.
The blades severed several energy conduits within. The Regulator froze mid-stumble, spasmed violently, and arcs of uncontrolled blue energy erupted across its body.
Its smooth chrome head tilted back as if in silent agony.
Then, with a final, deafening KRA-KOOM, the energy containment failed.
The Conduit Regulator exploded outwards in a blinding flash of blue light and screeching metal fragments.
The shockwave slammed into Daniel, throwing him back against the far wall despite his defenses.
[You have slain: Conduit Regulator - Model S7 (Level 5)]
[EXP Gained: 350!]
[Level 3: 916/800 EXP]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 4!]
[All Attributes +1]
[Free Attribute Points Gained: 5]
[Soul Assimilation Charges Fully Restored and Limit Increased!]
Daniel lay slumped against the wall, ears ringing, spots dancing in his vision. Level 4! The timing couldn't be better.
The surge of power healed his minor burns and bruises from the fight instantly. He felt another significant jump in his core abilities.
He shakily got to his feet, looking at the smoking wreckage. That. Was. Close.
He approached the remains. Could he assimilate this advanced construct?
The energy flow was intense – clean, powerful, highly structured energy mixed with complex machine code.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Construct: Conduit Regulator (Level 5).]
[Warning: Assimilating high-purity artificial essence. Adaptability check (36) passed. Significant system integration potential detected.]
[Gain: Agility +25]
[Gain: Spirit +20]
[Gain: Adaptability +10]
[New Skill Acquired: Energy Conversion (C-Grade)!]
[New Skill Acquired: Minor Shield Proficiency (F-Grade)!]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (19/20 Remaining).]
Incredible gains! Agility over 145 now, Spirit over 60! Adaptability nearing 50! And two new skills. He checked them quickly.
[Skill: Energy Conversion (C-Grade):] Passive Skill.
Allows the user to slowly absorb ambient environmental energy (like Labyrinth energy) to passively regenerate mana at a slow rate.
Can actively convert stamina into mana at a moderate rate (causes fatigue).
[Skill: Minor Shield Proficiency (F-Grade):] Passive Skill. Grants basic understanding of energy shield mechanics. Slightly increases effectiveness when using shield-granting equipment or skills (+5% shield strength).
Energy Conversion was amazing! Passive mana regeneration?
Yes please! Active stamina-to-mana conversion? Also very useful! The F-grade shield skill was minor, but hinted at future possibilities.
He looked past the wreckage towards the far side of the chamber.
The spider-machine was still humming steadily, apparently undamaged by the Regulator's demise.
And beyond it, the conduit passage continued, opening into… something vast.
His map updated again from the Regulator's residual data.
It showed this was the final chamber of the Bypass Conduit. Ahead lay the Central Core chamber itself.
He could feel it now, an immense, almost overwhelming ocean of raw power just beyond the doorway.
The air thrummed with it. This was the heart of the labyrinth.
He took a deep breath, allocated his 5 new attribute points (3 to Strength, 2 to Agility), checked his charges (19/20, ready for whatever came next), and gave Nyx's pouch a reassuring pat.
Time to see what the big secret was all about. He stepped out of the Flow Regulator Chamber and into the light of the Central Core.