Chapter 26: A Quiet Ascent!
The designated rest areas on Platform Alpha were basic, rows of simple bunks in large, sterile rooms.
Daniel bypassed them entirely. The last thing he needed was sharing breathing space with dozens of jumpy, envious, or potentially hostile recruits.
He found a secluded maintenance catwalk overlooking one of the quieter loading bays, shielded from casual view by large ventilation ducts.
It wasn't comfortable, but it was private and defensible.
He spread out a salvaged piece of insulating fabric he'd pulled from a destroyed supply crate earlier, creating a makeshift bedroll.
Nyx, finished with her shadow-kibble, explored the immediate area with puppy-like curiosity, sniffing at pipes and occasionally batting playfully at dust motes dancing in the dim emergency lighting.
Then, she seemed to sense Daniel settling down. With a soft yip, she curled up near his feet, not directly touching him, but close enough for reassurance.
Her faint Soulfire warmth was a strange comfort in the cold, metallic surroundings.
Daniel didn't sleep deeply. Years of ingrained caution, now amplified by the constant low hum of [Aura Sense+], kept him hovering in a state of heightened awareness.
He focused on his breathing, meditating, letting his body consolidate the massive influx of attributes and energy from the Ossuary and the Skeleton Wolf.
He could feel his muscles knitting tighter, his senses sharpening, his connection to the Verge deepening.