By the time they left the equipment testing area, evening was approaching. The artificial lighting beneath Rocky City's dome simulated the afterglow of a sunset, briefly casting a warm glow over the cold alloy structures.
Ryan hurried back to the dormitory, eager to experience his newfound power. Nadeshiko, on the other hand, appeared much calmer. Her "emerald green" energy aura emitted a steady frequency of healing and tranquility.
Shen Kai did not return to the dormitory.
Instead, he went alone to a relatively remote observation platform made of metal grilles in the outer layer of Rocky City. This location was close to the thick outer city walls and offered a view of the edge of the "contact zone," which was separated by the dome.
The sky there had an eerie, blood-like, purplish-red hue.
Though still distant and separated by layers of energy barriers, he could sense the faint, indistinct "alien" energy aura seeping in from that direction, along with a faint odor of decay and unknown particle properties, as well as a faint, indescribable call from the abyss. All of these things pricked his senses like countless needles.
The presence of the "colorless core" in his chest was clearer than ever before. It pulsed slowly and rhythmically, as if resonating with the ominous land in the distance.
"What are you thinking about?"
A familiar voice sounded behind him. Shen Kai hadn't even noticed the footsteps approaching until the voice broke the silence.
It was Captain Gestalt. He was still wearing his unyielding, iron-gray combat suit with his hands behind his back. He stood like a silent statue, gazing into the distance.
"Nothing, Captain," Shen Kai replied.
"Are you worried about tomorrow's mission or your own core?" Gestalt's voice wasn't loud, yet it pierced his thoughts.
Shen Kai fell silent for a moment. Feeling the cold breeze coming from the contact zone, he finally admitted in a low voice, "Both."
Gestalt turned around, walked over to Shen Kai, and stood beside him.
"Fear is normal, rookie," he said slowly, his voice seeming slightly deeper than usual. "Whether it's fear of unknown enemies or fear of powers you may not be able to fully control."
"But, Captain..." Shen Kai raised his head and looked at Gestalt's chiseled profile. For the first time, he asked the question that had been troubling him the most, his voice trembling slightly without him even noticing:
"What if my power itself is a mistake?"
"What if it ultimately brings destruction, not protection?"
Gestalt's gaze hardened slightly, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake. He remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes seeming to pierce the purple-red sky and gaze toward an even darker place beyond.
Then he spoke:
"Power itself is neither right nor wrong."
"Right and wrong lie in the person who uses it and in the way and purpose for which it is used."
He paused, his tone tinged with barely perceptible complexity.
"I know you're different from the other new recruits."
"You may be burdened with many secrets and pressures unimaginable to ordinary people."
"But remember, Shen Kai, you are now a member of the 'Pioneers' squad. Your teammates and I have your back. We won't let you face these problems alone."
Shen Kai felt the hard barrier in his heart soften at these words. He instinctively straightened his slightly hunched back.
"Thank you, Captain," he said softly.
Just then, Ryan and Nadeshiko came over, too.
"Captain! Shen Kai! So you two are here!" Ryan shouted, looking confident, having already begun to master how to channel core energy. A faint, flickering crimson glow shimmered on his right arm, giving him an air of pride.
"Captain, Shen," Nadeshiko smiled and greeted them.
Looking at the two companions, who were still full of hope for the future, the gloom in Shen Kai's heart seemed to dissipate slightly.
"Tomorrow, we will enter the 'contact zone' for the first time." Gestalt looked at the three of them, his gaze sweeping over their faces one by one. His voice returned to its usual seriousness and coldness.
"Remember everything I've told you."
"This is not a training ground. Even the slightest mistake could lead to fatal consequences."
"You must absolutely obey orders and cooperate with one another if you wish to return alive."
"Yes, sir!" Ryan and Nadeshiko answered in unison.
Shen Kai nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the distant sky. In the twilight, it appeared even more eerie, pulsating silently in a purplish-red hue.