The heavy metal door slid silently inward, revealing a relatively small, pure-white transition chamber beyond.
The chamber's four walls were smooth and undecorated, with only the ceiling and floor emitting a soft white glow. The air was colder than in the corridor and carried a strong, pungent medicinal odor.
"Please enter the disinfection chamber and remain where you are." Although the face on the door had disappeared, her voice still echoed through the chamber.
Duke did as instructed. The metal door behind him immediately shut, sealing him completely inside the pure-white space.
A low hum rose as countless tiny blue points of light suddenly lit up across the ceiling and surrounding walls.
The points of light did not remain still. They flowed and rotated like living creatures, forming a complex three-dimensional rune array that covered the entire chamber.
An invisible energy field instantly enveloped Duke, sweeping back and forth across his body.
Duke was no stranger to this process. There had been similar procedures when he returned to the space fortress from the Orc Plane.
He could feel the energy field meticulously scanning the surface of his body, even attempting to penetrate his clothing.
At the same time, a cold mist carrying unusual energy gushed from tiny holes in the walls, instantly filling the entire chamber.
When the mist touched his skin, it brought a faint prickling sensation, as though countless tiny ice needles were clearing away all foreign matter and residual energy clinging to his body.
The disinfection process lasted about a minute. When the mist dispersed, the blue rune array dimmed, the humming ceased, and the air in the chamber became fresh once more.
After the disinfection was complete, another metal door of the same material silently slid open before Duke, revealing a shorter passage with another door