The beige granite corridor is long, a straight path with no windows. Silence permeates the area, as the group's steps are cushioned with the red velvet carpet covering the floor.
There is present an unknown, weird and eerie sensation, palpable by everyone. But no one can pinpoint what is exactly.
The long corridor is traversed without the slightest inconvenience. Until three quarters of the way.
N'Ïrk senses a chilling breeze that rapidly is replaced with a humid steam. He blinks. Not because of the sudden gush of air in the apparently sealed hall. If not for the absence of his own weapon. The one he was just holding, is now gone.
But it is not the only change the young man has undergone. Looking down, N'Ïrk sees he is naked, and his skin, it is not longer the dark pastel peach shade he has always had.
Instead, a pale, almost alvine white is spread across his dermis.
"Ni-Ni?". Calls Hayden. N'Ïrk turns around, observing he is not the only one with the new skin colour. Saili'Ïckn being the most affected by this alteration, as she loses all her reptilian traits and features to have a similitude more closer to an anthropoid base form, along with a long wavy blonde almost whitish hair.
Likewise, everyone else in the group has been deprived from the equipment they were carrying. Nevertheless. N'Ïrk still has his gauntlets, and Hayden remains with her glasses. Items that belonged to a Zone.
"I know Lil-Sis". Acknowledges the young man, resuming with his walk. Not wanting to even think about the obvious reason behind the disappearance of their supplies and attires, a Tier 25 Zone or above.
The steam in the corridor is thicker the closer they get to the exit. Crossing it and entering in a large chamber were plenty of people are taking a bath.
All of them have white skin, and their attitude towards each other is relatively friendly. Even when some of the present, are more handsy and passionate than others.
"Nice artifact, Rookie. But here, there are no threats. Unless you count the «Traps», if you know what i mean". *Hahaha*.
N'Ïrk deactivates the hexagon barriers of his gauntlets, remaining wary of the situation, while showing a kind smile for the advice.
"Thanks". N'Ïrk says casually, noticing he is employing the same language as the alvine man.
"Ni-Ni. I can't sense any Zone Nucleus. It must be in a reinforced shelter, or further apart from us. More than 150 kilometers away".
"That is not good Lil-Sis. Let's keep a low profile for now, limiting ourselves to gather information".
Hayden nods, cleaning her body like the rest of the team is doing. Not wanting to drag more attention to themselves.
Once clean. The crowd goes to the adjacent room. Where an officer in a formal black military uniform, delivers similar clothes to every alvine person, along with a belt, that has the sheath for a knife, and a pistol.
"Welcome to the Zindrack Army".
The phrase is repeated by the Officer, who always stretches his arm and shakes his hand with the Recruits, giving a final item to them, a military booklet.
"Go to the armory before boarding the train. And remember, we are grateful for your service".
N'Ïrk has to bite his tongue to not retort at the biased statement. Smiling and moving away, following the crowd to the armory.
In such place, they receive a Knife, a Pistol, and a Carbine. No rations, no additional equipment. Just another patriotic phrase of encouragement and a kind signal to move away and board the train that is not that far from their location.
In the vehicle, the group is divided and paired with natives of the zone, partially separated as they are sent into two cabinets.
The small room has six seats, which is partially inconsequential, as N'Ïrk, Hayden and Saili'Ïckn take a seat of one side. Not caring about their new native comrades.
"Ni-Ni. Look this". Hayden touches with her glasses the temples of N'Ïrk, letting him see what she has scanned.
Zindrack Recruit Uniform
Exoticness • 1/2★
Forcefield • 100%
N'Ïrk's eyes go completely wide. Because half Novas is a weird oddity in the failure of an advancement process. But every person in the train, has given such clothes. Which means the Zindrack Army has mastered how to achieve such outcome, mass-producing the item.
Zindrack Serrated Knife
Exoticness • ★ 1/2★
Integrity • 100%
"Integrity?!, That means self restoration over time". Murmurs N'Ïrk, still astonished from the clothes he is wearing, as they are objectively better than his Porter attire.
Zindrack Emen Pistol
Exoticness • ★★
Integrity • 100%
Amplification • [ 20% ]
"This is?!…".
"You haven't seen the last one, Ni-Ni".
Zindrack Emen Carabine
Exoticness • ★★ 1/2★
Integrity • 100%
Amplification • [ 50% ]
Storage Capacity • [ +5% ]
The young man's brain almost explodes. He has never heard about an item that can augment the Storage Capacity of a person, even if the result is temporarily, and tied to wield the weapon.
"Lil-Sis. Check my…". She doesn't need to listen the rest, acting immediately.
Armored Sharp Mittens
Exoticness • ★★★★↑ 03.71%
Forcefield • 100%
Integrity • 100%
"Congratulations Vigorexic".
"Why don't you kiss me instead of simple words, Lil-Sis?".
"Not interested".
*Hahaha*. "Still mad at me?".
"Shut up, Ni-Ni".
Differently to N'Ïrk. Hayden can't shrug off the dire situation in which they are involved, with no clue to where they are heading to, nor what is the enemy waiting for them.
The train continues the journey, going out from a tunnel, revealing a vast world at the other side of the cabinet's window. No Zone's Border, instead, a beautiful blue sky with scarce marshmallow clouds.
"Be alert".
Warns a female voice through a speaker.
"Savages can be camouflaged in the foliage, they adore to shoot at us, especially if is their initiation ritual to adult hood. Shoot back if you dare, 20 Crows will be granted per every confirmed kill".
An intense flash of blue light shines between the trees. Shö'Thöm. The recognizable bolt of energy flies fast, reaching the middle of the cabinet's window, melting the glass before contact, and continuing forward, striking the head of Hayden's comrade, destroying the feeble Emeneld provided by the Recruit's Uniform…