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| “ | TUNNEL RUNNER, YOUR SHIFT BEGINS. | „ |
| ~ The starting message at the beginning of each level. |
Ula Usterka is the main protagonist of the 2024 indie game Awaria, a spiritual successor to the 2020 indie game Helltaker.
She is a volunteer maintenance worker at Awaria, an underground research facility, whose job is repairing broken generators. These generators are essential because they power the shields that keep the ghosts haunting the lab at bay, who are actively trying to kill anyone they come across.
Biography[]
Ula appears to be the only survivor of her crew, the only one who willingly chose to descend into the tunnels. She begins her work in Sector F, receiving instructions from her supervisor, Yaga, who warns her about the ghosts. Notably, all the ghosts in the tunnels are female. Ula's job is to repair the generators by crafting batteries and gears to restore power. As Ula works on the first generator, she encounters Zmora, a low-tier "shuer" ghost who wields a wrench. Zmora was likely a previous worker who died in the tunnels and has since forgotten her past. Given her abilities, it is assumed she died by electrocution, which explains why she now has the power to shock others.
Ula manages to fix the generator and evade Zmora’s attacks, which involve rapid dashing and attempting to electrocute her. The generators serve an important function: they create energy shields that weaken ghosts and suppress their aggressive nature, making them harmless while the shields are active. After securing the generator, Ula does something unexpected—she kisses Zmora on the cheek. This action seems to pacify Zmora, and while strange, it aligns with the game's theme, as it's developed by the same creator as Helltaker, where the protagonist builds a harem of demon girls. The act of kissing ghosts serves a purpose: ghosts appear to respond to affection, which helps neutralize their aggression.
As Ula proceeds deeper into Sector F, Yaga provides more information about the ghosts. They feed on negative human emotions such as pain, fear, and anger. Without the generators’ shields, they would tear humans apart to sustain themselves. The more violent and painful a person’s death, the more satisfied a ghost becomes. Ula is part of the Tunnel Runners, a group responsible for generator maintenance. They are considered to have the deadliest job due to the overwhelming dangers of the tunnels. Despite this, Ula volunteered, which is unusual.
Eventually, it is revealed that Ula and Zmora knew each other before. Ula may have chosen to go into the tunnels specifically to find Zmora and reconnect with her. Zmora was one of the workers who perished in the tunnels, and Ula seems determined to bring her back in some way. On her second encounter with Zmora, Ula offers her pies filled with pudding. Over time, Zmora appears to soften as she accepts Ula’s offerings, suggesting their bond might be rekindling. Yaga confirms that out of the nine girls sent into the tunnels yesterday, Ula is the only survivor—meaning eight others died within a single day.
Ula then encounters another ghost, Cut Wire, who uses wire cutters as her weapon. She was likely another worker who died due to severe injuries from cutting live wires. Ula quickly fixes the generator and, as before, kisses Cut Wire on the cheek, which the ghost surprisingly enjoys.
In between missions, Yaga is shown drinking denatured alcohol, which is highly toxic to humans. However, she reveals that she has a fake liver, so the poison does not harm her. Yaga, an experienced Tunnel Runner, has been in the tunnels longer than anyone else, having survived countless dangers. Her scarred body is evidence of her near-death experiences. She describes the tunnels as a miserable, ghost-infested place, and drinking poison seems to be her only source of relief.
Later, a second Cut Wire ghost appears, but unlike the first one, she is not hostile. Instead, she joins the battle voluntarily, just to get a kiss from Ula after hearing about the first Cut Wire’s experience. Ula obliges, kissing both ghosts and offering them pudding pies, which they enjoy. Yaga explains more of the backstory: most of the ghosts in the tunnels are former Tunnel Runners who died either due to the tunnel’s hazards or at the hands of other ghosts. Unfortunately, they suffer from memory loss after death, forgetting their past lives and giving in to their aggressive, predatory instincts.
Ula moves on and encounters Nikita, a low-tier Smelter ghost who carries a smelting torch. Her Avaria cap suggests that she was once a worker specializing in smelting before dying in an accident, possibly involving molten metal. Like the others, she now haunts the tunnels, attacking Tunnel Runners with her torch. Ula attempts to kiss Nikita, but Nikita is too tall, making it difficult. This is Ula’s first real defeat in the tunnels—not in battle, but in her ability to complete the ghost-kissing ritual.
Nikita eventually retreats to another part of the tunnels, where the generators are still down. In the meantime, Yaga enjoys Ula’s pudding pies, referring to her as “Pup”—a term of endearment that also reflects their age difference and experience gap. Yaga hints at a mysterious VIP Warehouse, which seems connected to the tunnels but offers a much better working environment.
Ula eventually rematches Nikita and successfully fixes the generators, weakening her. With the shields active, Nikita loses her aggressive abilities. This time, Ula comes prepared with a step ladder to overcome the height difference, successfully kissing Nikita on the cheek. Nikita reacts flirtatiously, saying something suggestive, which momentarily flusters Ula. However, Ula remains focused on her mission—there are still more ghosts to tame. Ula continues fixing generators and encountering ghosts, including Zmora, Cut Wire, and Nikita, over and over. She kisses them and feeds them pudding pies, which they all enjoy—except for Zmora.
Unlike the others, Zmora remains stubborn and hostile, resisting Ula’s kindness. She appears frustrated and confused, particularly by Nikita’s change in demeanor. Nikita, once feared as one of the deadliest ghosts, now seems to enjoy the pies and kisses, showing no interest in violence.
Personality[]
Ula is a determined and fearless individual who willingly ventures into the tunnels despite knowing the immense danger that awaits her. While others either flee or perish, she remains calm and focused, undeterred by the hostile ghosts lurking in the shadows. Her bravery is not reckless but driven by a quiet sense of purpose, suggesting that her descent into the tunnels is about more than just completing her job—it is a personal mission. Rather than simply surviving, Ula actively engages with the ghosts in ways no one else has attempted, choosing to understand them rather than fear them.
Beyond her courage, Ula is incredibly resourceful and intelligent. She quickly adapts to challenges, such as using a step ladder to overcome the height difference when attempting to kiss Nikita. She is the first to realize that affection, in the form of kisses and pudding pies, can pacify the ghosts, a revelation that sets her apart from other Tunnel Runners. Her ability to repair generators in such a dangerous environment further highlights her technical skills and problem-solving abilities. Unlike those who view ghosts as mere threats to be neutralized, Ula recognizes their lost humanity and attempts to reach them on an emotional level.
Despite the grim circumstances, Ula remains kind and compassionate. She doesn’t just do her job—she cares. Even after Zmora repeatedly attacks her, Ula refuses to give up on her, hinting at a deeper personal connection between them. Her persistence is one of her strongest traits; even after learning that she is the only survivor out of nine recent Tunnel Runners, she continues forward without hesitation. She does not allow despair to consume her, instead choosing to find an unconventional way to bridge the gap between the living and the dead.
Though she is generally quiet and reserved, Ula’s actions speak volumes. She expresses herself not through words but through gestures of kindness, patience, and unexpected charm. There is a mischievous streak to her personality, as seen in the way she casually kisses ghosts on the cheek, defusing deadly encounters with a level of nonchalance that is almost playful. She even manages to fluster ghosts like Nikita, demonstrating a unique ability to connect with others, even in the most bizarre and dangerous circumstances. Yaga affectionately calls her “Pup,” reflecting both Ula’s youthful energy and the mentor-student dynamic between them.
Trivia[]
- Awaria's story is very similar to Vanripper's previous game Helltaker, which follows the titular character venturing into Hell to collect a harem of demon girls, similar to how Ula collects a harem of ghost girls.
External Link[]
- Ula Usterka on the Awaria Wiki.
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 Vanripper Heroes
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