Dragging the man across Level 0's carpet was an exhausting task. Every foot was a struggle, every muscle strain a brutal reminder of his vulnerability. Alex felt the weight, not just physical, but moral, of his decision. The man remained inert, his gaze lost, a specter of humanity in an already ghostly place. But Alex didn't regret it. It was a connection, however one-sided, in an infinite void.
As he moved, his eyes remained glued to the invisible grid on the floor. The lines, so subtle his chest camera barely picked them up, were his only guide. They were a promise of structure in the chaos. His lens camera, however, displayed them with crisp clarity, almost like a game filter overlaid on reality.
The chat was buzzing, but now, beyond direct comments to Alex, he saw linked lines of text, indicating users were responding to each other, creating real-time conversation threads. It was as if the stream itself had evolved into a live forum.
[Bruce Wayne]: "The grid is a system. Level 0 is not random. We need the logic."
[Sherlock Holmes]: "Elementary, Wayne. Every line is a clue. The key lies in the intersection."
[Rick Sanchez]: "Ha! Thinking there's 'logic' in this multiverse is the first mistake! Just organized chaos!"
[User_Theorist]: "I think the grid is how this 'level' stabilizes itself. It's an energy net or something."
[GamerGirl_XP]: "@User_Theorist: Could be like a chunk loading map in Minecraft! If Alex follows it, he might find loaded areas."
[User_Random_55]: "It's a trap! Don't follow it, Alex!"
Excitement points received: +700 (for debate and theory)
Alex, burdened by his backpack and the tarp, tried to follow one of the thicker intersecting lines. Basic stealth, though slowly consuming points, was essential. The constant hum remained the soundtrack of his existence, but now he noticed variations. In some stretches, it was higher-pitched; in others, deeper, almost a vibration in his bones.
"The hum is changing," Alex murmured, dragging the man. "It's louder here, deeper. Like it's... talking to me?"
The chat chimed in:
[Solid Snake]: "Sound is a crucial source of information. It could indicate proximity to anomalies or structural weak points."
[Freddy Krueger]: "Oh, Alex. It's not 'talking to you.' It's inviting you to play. And I know you like to play."
[User_Paranormal]: "The hum is the entity. It's the level itself breathing!"
[Leslie Knope]: "@User_Paranormal: Don't be ridiculous! It's background noise. Alex, focus on the mission, not the paranoia."
[User_Sound]: "Could be a change in resonance. A sign of a different area!"
Excitement points received: +1100 (for tension and debate)
Suddenly, the carpet beneath his feet felt different. More damp, almost spongy. A shiver ran down his spine. He looked down through his lenses. The grid lines here were fainter, as if fading. His chest camera captured the soaked texture of the carpet.
"The floor is... wet," Alex said, his voice strained. "And the hum is... almost a moan now. I really don't like this."
A metallic clanking echoed from a side hallway, a few meters away. It wasn't the gelatinous creature from before. This was different. More precise, more... unsettling. Alex froze, his heart pounding. The pistol, now loaded with the summoned ammunition, was in his hand. His chest camera rose, capturing the dark corner.
"Chat, did you hear that? It sounded like... metal," he whispered.
The chat, anticipating danger, offered rapid-fire advice:
[Ellen Ripley]: "Metallic sound! Not natural! Get your weapon ready. It's something new."
[Dutch Schaefer]: "Contact! Don't expose yourself! Find cover."
[User_Metalhead]: "Sounds like something robotic is coming! Or an alien in armor!"
[Tony Stark]: "Good sound analysis can give you an edge, Alex. Is there a pattern? Chains? Weapons?"
[Bruce Wayne]: "An unknown threat. Caution is your ally. Don't risk the civilian's life."
[User_Desperate]: "@Bruce Wayne: He's not a civilian, he's a burden! Alex has to save himself!"
Excitement points received: +2000 (for new danger and debate)
Alex crawled backward, dragging the man with him. He squeezed into a small niche in the wall, waiting. The creature he'd faced before was amorphous and soft; this metallic sound implied something different, something more structured, perhaps more dangerous. His chest camera remained low, showing only the floor and the corner of the wall, while his lens camera fixed on the source of the sound.
The sound drew closer. A rhythmic clank-clank-clank. Then, a shadow appeared at the end of the hallway. It was a humanoid figure, but not human. Metallic, gleaming in the dim light. It had an angular form, with long arms and a kind of metallic "jaw" that opened and closed with each step, emitting a grating screech. It was a mechanical entity. An Automaton.
Alex held his breath. A robot. An enemy that wouldn't feel fear, or pain. It was like something out of a dystopian sci-fi movie. The pistol in his hand felt small.
"A... a robot!" Alex barely managed to whisper. "Chat, this isn't fun. This is real."
The chat erupted with new information and reactions:
[Neo]: "It's not a robot, Alex. It's a program. A manifestation of control."
[Agent 47]: "Elimination is the most direct solution. Aim for vital points. Or power sources."
[Rick Sanchez]: "A robot! Finally something I can understand! Shoot him in the eye, Alex, that always works!"
[User_Robot]: "It's an Automaton! They're guardians! They won't see you if you don't make noise or move fast!"
[The Professor]: "@User_Robot: How do you know that? Are you there?"
[User_Robot]: "@The Professor: I've seen... videos."
Excitement points received: +2500 (for the revelation and chat's meta-knowledge)
Alex focused on the information the chat was giving him. Guardians. They won't see you if you don't make noise or move fast. He had used basic stealth, but would it be enough? The Automaton moved slowly, its head methodically turning from side to side, scanning the hallway.
"Okay, okay. Stealth," Alex murmured, mentally reinforcing his ability. He kept his breathing as silent as possible. The man beside him remained inert, his presence a burden and a complication in this delicate situation. His chest camera remained still, while his lens camera tracked the Automaton's every move, waiting for the moment.
The Automaton passed by, its clank-clank-clank echoing and then diminishing as it moved further down the hallway. Alex waited. He counted to fifty, then a hundred. The sound faded completely.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips. It had worked. Stealth and patience had saved him. His excitement point counter had climbed sharply, surpassing 15,000. The System sent him an internal notification: SKILL LEVEL UNLOCKED: ENHANCED HEARING (Passive).
"Enhanced Hearing. Great," Alex muttered, feeling a new, subtle awareness of the sounds in Level 0. Now he didn't just hear the hum, but the crackle of the lights, the faint drip of moisture somewhere, the distant echo of his own footsteps.
He crawled out of the niche, dragging the man with him. He looked at the grid again. The lines led him towards an area where the hum was different, a lower tone, almost silent. It could be a sign that the grid was leading him somewhere... beyond.
"We keep moving, chat," Alex said, the pistol back in its holster and a new determination on his pixelated face. "This place is a box of robotic surprises. But I think we're close to... something. Something different."
And as he dragged the man, Alex wondered. If there were guardians, what were they guarding? If there were patterns, who had created them? And if the "yellow worlds" were just the beginning, what else awaited him in this show he couldn't turn off?