It had no visible support, yet it pulsed slowly up and down, its rhythm perfectly matching the Sonic Waves detected earlier.
"What is that?"
General Randy's voice crackled through the comms, thick with curiosity.
"Looks like a trinket—how can it pack such terrifying lethality?"
Steve didn't answer at once; he stared at the white object, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
"Don't get close yet."
Steve's low warning echoed across the channel.
Since it can lure zombies, let's test it—go bring a live one."
"Understood."
Less than ten seconds later, inside the Outpost Base's massive obsidian cage…
An Enderman casually hoisted a roaring Tier 1 Zombie.
Several violet flashes later, it had crossed dozens of kilometers and deposited the creature inside the cave.
"Release it and fall back."
The Enderman let go and instantly teleported to the shadowy cave mouth to observe.
The moment the Tier 1 Zombie regained freedom, its frenzied movements froze.
Its cloudy eyes, upon seeing the white Crystal Sound in the air, showed an almost worshipful rapture.
Roar!
With a guttural cry, the zombie ignored the terrifying Endermen nearby.
It flung its arms wide and stumbled straight toward the Crystal Sound at the center of the rock platform.
Then something bizarre happened.
As the zombie closed to within three meters, the gently swaying white crystal abruptly stilled.
Thud.
Without warning, the lively zombie seemed to have its soul ripped out.
Its body locked mid-stride and slammed to the ground.
Wisps of faint-red energy mist then bled from every pore.
Drawn by some powerful force, they streamed skyward into the Crystal Sound.
Within seconds the zombie was reduced to dried bones, then even those crumbled to ash.
Having fed, the Crystal Sound's white surface glowed with a holy sheen, and it rocked more cheerfully than ever.
"It's… eating?"
General Randy gaped, sucking in a sharp breath.
"It baits the zombies just to devour them?"
Inside the Command Center, every scientist's eyes blazed.
"A genius hunting mechanism."
One expert's face flushed with excitement.
"That Sonic Wave must be its defense: during feeding and molting it emits a Tier-Four-level Sonic Wave, blocking—or outright erasing—anything outside the zombie spectrum."
"A tiny crystal that can instantly kill a Tier-One zombie and release Tier-Four energy…"
Steve studied the harmless-looking white crystal on the monitor, gaze calm and calculating.
"Its secrets run deeper than we thought."
"We can't leave it unchecked. While it's docile, contain it."
Steve swept an arm in decisive command.
"Relay to Engineering: haul enough materials to build a research station outside the Sonic Wave's safe margin—ring the entire cave."
"Load every monitor and energy scanner. I want to know the instant it's ready for its next meal."
"Since it loves zombies, let's see what earth-shattering form it takes once it's full."
"Yes, sir!"
At Steve's order, the country's construction-mania gene ignited across the base.
Countless Endermen blurred into motion outside the cave.
Crate after crate of precision instruments teleported in.
A research outpost built around an Other-World resource sprouted in the valley.
Inside the Research Station, on Steve's cue, the waiting Shadow-Blade transport teams moved out.
One after another, restrained common zombies were seized by Endermen and teleported into the feeding zone deep inside the cave.
"All units: energy monitors at full power."
"Commence release."
Under the precise control of scientists hosted in Villagers' bodies…
Several energy analyzers whirred, data streams dancing across the screens.
As the zombies landed near the Crystal Sound on the rock platform, the familiar feast replayed.
The white crystal quivered; red mist drained from the zombies, leaving dried husks behind.
"Report—data incoming."
A senior expert pointed at the familiar waveform, voice trembling with disbelief.
"The absorption frequency and signature are identical to the Energy Extractor we seized from base."
"Identical?"
Steve's eyes lit with understanding.
"As expected."
He analyzed aloud, "That so-called Energy Extractor was never original tech. Early post-apocalypse scientists must have discovered the Crystal Sound, reverse-engineered it, and cobbled together that crude copycat."
One was a natural, Tier-Four apex predator; the other, a man-made, inefficient juicer.
The efficiency gap between them was immeasurable.
While the experts still marveled, the lead monitor for core-energy readings suddenly shouted.
"Sir, the Crystal Sound's core energy is converging—it looks ready to excrete energy crystals!"
Steve perked up.
"That's exactly what we want. Keep feeding it."
But right then, an anomaly struck.
Sensing ill intent from the surrounding two-leggers—or perhaps frustrated that no more zombies were approaching after its earlier energy release—the hovering white Crystal Sound suddenly lurched.
As if sentient, it streaked toward the cave exit in a flash of white light.
"Trying to run?"
Steve's gaze turned icy; he reacted instantly.
"Block it—don't let the thing escape!"
"Roger!"
An Enderman warrior beside them instantly triggered Teleport.
A violet flicker, and he materialized squarely in the Crystal Sound's path.
Instead of grabbing it, he pulled an indestructible black block from his inventory.
Tap-tap-tap!
The Enderman's hands blurred.
In the blink of an eye, twenty-six obsidian blocks snapped into place.
They formed a hollow 3×3×3 cube in mid-air, trapping the onrushing Crystal Sound…
…dead-center in a single block of empty space.