Rize’s POV

In the midst of shock and confusion, I dropped the SCP-106’s head I was holding. It fell down on the floor with a splatter like a mushy meat. Despite not in my grasp anymore, for some reason, the head is still intact even though its body withered along with the pocket dimension.

I snapped from my daze and landed my gaze on its head. It’s opened yet lifeless beady eyes stared back at me like it held a grudge, but aren’t I the one who was supposed to be holding a grudge against it? It killed me many times I literally forgot the count.

Indignant, I lifted my feet, preparing to step on its head, when suddenly, a window popped up in front of me.

NEW SKILL ACQUIRED!

SCAVENGE (ACTIVE)

I immediately halted. Scavenge? Like, birds scavenging for food inside the trash can?

My urge to want to step on SCP-106’s head died down. With my brows creased, I lowered my feet to the ground and tapped the skill name.

SCAVENGE (ACTIVE)

-        Separating useful parts from a body

-        Limited to only dead beings with a solid matter

-        Consumes 100 Mana each use

-        Parts can be stored in inventory

“Separating useful parts from body, huh?” I gazed at the skill’s description, before looking down at the ground where the head was. Above the head, a window pertaining similar colour like my turquoise blue status window popped out.

USEFUL PARTS AVAILABLE

I fluttered my eyes while passing my gaze between the window and the head. Useful part? Was it saying that SCP-106’s head is a useful part?

Reflexively, my eyelids narrowed, scrutinizing the head.

For the time being, I don’t really know which part from its deteriorating head is useful, but I guess I’ll just have to keep it inside my inventory. They might be useful sometime in the future.

“Inventory.” Like how I called my status window, my inventory window appeared right away. It has a grid-like appearance in it, and all of it was empty. I then passed my gaze to the head again.

The system did say that I can keep this head inside the inventory, but how do I do that?

I puckered my lips a bit, thinking briefly.

“…System, put this head inside the inventory.”

Nothing happened.

I heaved a sharp sigh and scratched my messy hair before grabbing the top of its head and swung it to the inventory window. The head got absorbed by the inventory like magic and immediately after that, an item with the name ‘SCP-106 head’ appeared on the very first empty grid.

I then flicked the window and it disappeared.

“Now then…” I rested both of my hands on my hips. I guess I have escaped from SCP-106 now. I never really expected to be able to escape so I don’t have any future plans in mind. Because of that, first thing first, I’ll revise a plan on what to do after this.

As I pondered, I let my feet drag me to wherever my heart wanted to go. It felt like it’s just yesterday that the world is in utter turmoil when I got sucked in into the pocket dimension. The silence after I got out from it seemed strange as if this place has long since deserted.

Passing through the fallen debris and broken walls and doors, I let my body wander. Somewhere along the journey of me escaping the empty facility, I activated my radar to sense whether there are any people or SCPs nearby. Nothing. My radar didn’t catch a thing apart from signs of wild animals that built their homes inside the building.

Did they not use this place as a facility anymore?

They probably didn’t. I mean, what’s the use of establishing an SCP foundation when the monsters spawned from the portals are classified as an SCP themselves? Besides, human race had probably found a way to defend themselves against these creatures they won’t need a special force like us.

  Without me realizing, I am already in front of the main entrance of the SCP facility. The view in front of me is that of lush greens—with tall grasses growing and filling the once wide assembly ground—and the once majestically built facility building all reduced into a mere fallen ruin. The facility had been completely destroyed.

Still, the warmth of the sun managed to put a smile on my face. While squinting my eyes up to the blue sky, I gazed briefly at the shining light orange globe.

“…Hm.” I commented. It’s strange that even though I know that the world is not what it seems anymore, the sun still shines brightly, and the sky is still beautiful. I closed my eyes and fathomed my arms, enjoying the warmth the sun gave me. Then I did a little spin on one spot and hummed any tune I want.

This is fun. For some reason, I enjoyed all these little things better than before. It was probably because I have seen worse, given that I have to experience being inside the same place for countless of times.

I stopped spinning around and took a huge breath. Ah, what a lovely day. If I was not pressed for time, I would have taken my time to enjoy the sun. I need to find my way out to the main road and seek out information on what happened in this world.

First, I darted my gaze around and lay silent to try hearing the sounds of any living beings around the vicinity. Just like inside the building, I can’t feel any human presence in the outside surrounding. Then, I continued my steps and trudge through the tall grasses. Before I can revise any plan, it’s probably better for me to find a place to stay for the night before it gets dark. Although the sun is high up above my head it will take no time for it to set if I procrastinate.

Some good few minutes were spent with me walking through the grasses. Luckily, I found the exit gate from the facility, that is just like the building, has turned into a rusty structure. There was evidence of trashes at one part of the gates, probably caused by some teenagers hanging out or trying their luck in entering the facility. This facility has been kept secret from the public’s eyes all this time after all, the teenagers might be curious.

After reaching a dirt road, I walked along the road to reach the intersection, where this road meets the main road where there are people around. I hope there are people that I could talk to so I can get any current info. Moreover…

GRUUUU…

“I’m hungry.” I mentioned over the growling coming from my stomach. Now that I am particularly safe, all the basic bodily needs returned to me in one fell swoop. I might need something to eat, and a bathroom break.