Kai did not breathe.
The yellow creature continued sliding through the corridor.
Squelch.
Squelch.
Squelch.
Its body rippled with every movement, absorbing small pebbles and scraps of rusted metal as if they were nothing more than leaves drifting along a river.
"...Please keep going..."
Kai whispered.
The slime stopped.
His heartbeat nearly escaped his chest.
Then—
It continued past the intersection.
Squelch...
Squelch...
Squelch...
Only after the sound became distant did Kai finally exhale.
"...That was close."
He leaned against the wall.
"I don't know what that thing is..."
"...and I'd like to keep it that way."
Rather than chasing answers, Kai chose the opposite direction.
Every step was careful.
Unlike the upper floors, the lower level looked far more intact.
The walls still emitted their faint glow.
Small crystal lamps embedded within the ceiling flickered weakly.
Most had long since died.
A few still glowed.
Not brightly.
Just enough to reveal outlines.
The floor beneath him wasn't covered in dirt.
Instead—
It was covered in paper.
Thousands of sheets.
Some scattered.
Some stacked.
Most reduced to brittle fragments.
Kai crouched.
He picked one up.
The instant he unfolded it—
Part of the paper crumbled into dust.
"...Sorry..."
He carefully adjusted his grip.
Rows of symbols filled the page.
Curved.
Sharp.
Completely unfamiliar.
"...Figures."
He stared for several seconds.
Nothing.
Then—