Chapter Three: Roots in the Rock
Several minutes passed before Tian Heng was able to push himself to his trembling feet. The exhaustion from his intense focus and his first attempt at channeling the Aether was deep, mingling with the pangs of hunger and thirst that reminded him of his frail physical state.
He approached the central platform again. The floating display screen above it showed that the energy level had dropped slightly once more: [3.6%.] The meager flow from the Aether vein he had found barely sufficed to compensate for the system's basic consumption, let alone allow for anything else. The situation was still critical.
"Nucleus," Tian Heng thought, directing his focus toward the mental interface connecting him to the Vault. "Report internal resource status. Water, food, any maps of the immediate surroundings."
New information appeared on the floating display, and concepts flooded his mind:
[Internal purified water supply: 1.2 liters (consumption: 0.1 liters per filtration cycle).Food stock: None.Geological and environmental scan of surrounding area (50-meter range): Groundwater seepage detected at coordinates [X, Y, Z]. Slightly higher Aether concentration detected at coordinates [A, B, C]. No complex life forms detected.Warning: Water filtration energy consumption is relatively high for current state.]
One liter of water. No food. Tian Heng licked his cracked lips. Water was vital for survival, but using energy to purify it would drain the reserves faster. However, the scan had shown water nearby.
"Show location of water seepage," he ordered.
A simplified 3D image of the chamber and some branching corridors appeared on the display, with a glowing point indicating the location of water about thirty meters away in a side passage he hadn't noticed before.
"Nucleus, can a small portion of energy be directed to distribute 0.3 liters of purified water now?"
[Executing. Estimated energy consumption: 0.03%.]
A faint hum came from the side of the platform, and a small panel slid open to reveal a metallic spout from which a thin stream of clear water flowed into a small cavity. Tian Heng knelt and drank slowly, preventing himself from gulping it all down in one go. The water was incredibly cold and refreshing, soothing his dry throat and easing the headache that dehydration had started to bring on.
Now, the Aether problem. The current vein was too weak. "Nucleus, can Aether absorption from the current vein be improved? What are options for increasing energy intake?"
[Improving absorption requires modifying energy receptors, which is not possible with current energy levels and control.Aetheric guidance efficiency can be improved through the resonator, but the key limiting factor is the user's low affinity.Scan shows slightly higher Aether concentration at coordinates [A, B, C]. This may provide a better source.Recommendation: Increase user's Aether affinity (training/self-development).]
Tian Heng sighed internally. So, the problem lay with him as much as with the source. He needed to grow stronger. But for now, he needed a better temporary solution. He had to check out the water source and the other Aether source indicated by the scan.
He gripped the Aetheric resonator again, feeling a sense of resolve wash over him as he headed toward the dark side passage marked on the map. The corridor was narrower than the main hall and rougher, as if the construction here had not been as meticulously finished. The walls were rocky and unpolished in some areas, and the air was heavier, carrying the scent of moisture and earth.
After about thirty meters, he heard a faint sound—a regular drip. The dim light emanating from the resonator revealed a small cavern branching off the passage. Inside, droplets of water fell from a crack in the ceiling, gathering into a small clear pool on the rocky floor.
Tian Heng knelt beside the pool. The water looked clean. He scooped some with his hands and drank carefully. It was cold with a slight metallic taste, but it wasn't unpleasant. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. A continuous water source, even if slow. He'd need to figure out a way to transfer, store, and purify it later, but for now, he was assured of not dying from thirst.
While there, he focused again using the resonator, trying to sense the surrounding environment. He could still feel the first Aether vein faintly, but he noticed something else. In a slightly different direction, deeper within the wall of the cave, there was another "sting" of Aether. It was still weak by cosmic standards, but noticeably stronger than the first vein he had been relying on. He had found the better source the scan had pointed to.
Tian Heng returned to the main hall, his mind racing as he formulated a new plan.
Aether: Return to focusing on guiding the Aether, but this time from the slightly stronger source he had just discovered. Could he direct it from here, or would he need to approach it more closely? Water: He now had a source. He needed a way to transport, store, and purify the water. Were there any containers or tools hidden away somewhere in this Vault? Food: Still a critical problem. Could there be anything edible in the other tunnels? Mushrooms? Roots? He'd need to explore carefully. Self-Development: The nucleus's recommendation had been clear. He needed to start understanding how to improve his ability to sense and gather Aether. This was the top priority in the long term.
He sat once again near the central platform, this time feeling less exhaustion and more cold determination. He had water, and a slightly better energy source. They were small, painful, slow steps in the face of what seemed like an impossible task. But they were steps forward.
He raised the Aetheric resonator again, his eyes closed, and focused his mind on the new Aetheric sensation he had felt in the cave. It was a bit farther away, fainter from this location, but it was there. He began the arduous process of guiding it once more, trying to pull that faint but promising Aether current toward the thirsting core.