Rune continued his ascent up the spiral staircase, each step cautious. The strong chemical scent and crackling electricity were now more pronounced, mingling with a strange, constant hum, like the whispered cries of countless souls. He knew he was delving deeper into the heart of the mysteries.
Finally, the staircase led him to a wide corridor, dimly lit by dangling bare bulbs casting a weak, greenish glow. This was a colossal laboratory, a factory of corruption. Dozens of bizarre contraptions, from crude metal machines to large tanks filled with bubbling liquids, were scattered everywhere. Thick electrical cables snaked across the floor and walls like monstrous serpents.
And then, Rune saw them.
In large glass cages, connected to tubes and wires, were the most horrific creatures he had ever witnessed. These weren't the low-level mutants from the sewers. These were the true "experiments."
A four-legged monstrosity, its flesh pulpy yet studded with sharp, porcupine-like bone spikes, writhed in one cage. Nearby, another, more humanoid creature had its left arm transformed into a colossal rock mass with jagged crystals, while its right side was grotesquely swollen, veins bulging as if about to burst. Rune recognized the combination of abilities – these beings had been brutally forced to assimilate powers.
He also saw the "transplant banks": shelves filled with severed limbs, and quivering internal organs suspended in preserving fluids, all emitting a faint but unnatural energy. These were the "raw materials" for Vorn's experiments.
But what truly made Rune freeze was the center of this area. A massive, glowing crystal screen displayed a detailed three-dimensional map of the Ruined City. On the map, glowing purple and red veins snaked across the landscape, converging at a single point – the Dark Spire itself. These weren't tunnels or streets. These were the ancient energy currents Seraphina had mentioned, the "blood vessels of the world."
Beside the screen, a complex control panel with countless buttons and levers stood. On it, Rune saw intricate symbols and formulas he couldn't fully comprehend, but they all related to energy, biological transformation, and something far grander.
Nearby, a series of documents lay spread across a metal table. Rune approached cautiously, using his abilities to absorb any traces of poison or traps. He began to read.
The documents were detailed records of experiments, theories on controlling the "world's blood vessels" to open the "Eternal Gate." The goal was to "connect this world to another dimension," to "harness infinite power," and to "recreate reality according to the controller's will." Vorn didn't just seek revenge or power; he sought to become a god.
A final entry sent a chill down Rune's spine. It spoke of Vorn's search for a "unique biological characteristic" – an ability capable of "assimilating and controlling all forms of matter and living energy." Rune realized that his own Flesh Weaver ability was precisely what Vorn was looking for. He wasn't just an opponent; he was a target, a perfect piece for Vorn's insane plan.
The whispered cries of countless souls in the laboratory seemed to grow clearer, like the lamentations of the tormented "experiments," and of the very world being manipulated by Vorn. Rune felt his rage surge again, but now it was mixed with a terrifying coldness. He didn't just have to stop Vorn; he had to destroy him, before he could turn Rune into a tool, or transform this world into an eternal hell.