The ground shook as the Guardian roared, its metallic frame towering above the scrapyard. Red sensors swept across the wreckage, locking onto Riven's position. He ducked behind a pile of broken panels, heart hammering, breath shallow. The countdown pulsed in his vision, merciless and steady.
> [Alert: Guardian Detected]
> [Combat Imminent]
> [Recommendation: Evade]
> [Time Remaining: 21:52:44]
The beast's steps thundered closer, each impact rattling the earth. Its legs hissed with steam, claws scraping metal as it tore through debris. Riven sprinted, weaving between shattered towers and collapsed antennas. Sparks rained down as the Guardian's sensors tracked him, beams of red light cutting through the dark. He slid into a trench, pressing against the wall, trying to quiet his breathing. The HUD flickered.
> [New Sub-Quest: Evade Guardian for 5 Minutes]
> [Reward: Access Point Coordinates] > [Status: In Progress]
Five minutes. He clenched his fists. The grind wasn't letting up. He peeked over the trench edge. The Guardian's frame loomed, its body a fusion of gears, pistons, and glowing cores. It moved with mechanical precision, scanning, hunting. He had no weapon, no armor, nothing but scraps and the system interface. But scraps were enough. He pulled the reinforced cable from his inventory, looping it around a broken beam. He tied it tight, creating a crude tripline across the trench. The Guardian advanced, sensors sweeping. Riven threw a shard of metal to the far side. The clang echoed. The beast turned, lumbering toward the sound. Its leg caught the cable. The tripline snapped taut. The Guardian stumbled, crashing into the trench wall. Sparks exploded. Riven bolted, sprinting deeper into the scrapyard.
> [Evade Progress: 2:13 / 5:00] > [Detection Risk: Moderate]
The beast recovered, roaring, tearing free of the cable. Its sensors locked onto him again. Riven's HUD screamed warnings. He ducked into a collapsed tower, climbing through twisted beams. The Guardian's claws ripped through the structure, sending shards flying. He scrambled higher, grabbing a loose pipe. He swung it down, striking the beast's sensor. The red glow flickered. The Guardian reeled, momentarily blinded. Riven leapt down, rolling across the ground. He sprinted again, lungs burning.
> [Evade Progress: 4:47 / 5:00] > [Status: Near Completion]
The countdown ticked lower. The Guardian roared, charging. Riven dove behind a generator, pressing against its frame. The beast's claws slammed into the ground inches away. The HUD pulsed.
> [Sub-Quest Completed: Evade Guardian for 5 Minutes]
> [Reward: Access Point Coordinates Received]
> [New Objective: Locate Hidden Terminal]
Coordinates flashed across his vision. He ran, following the path through the scrapyard. The Guardian's roar echoed behind him, but the system guided his steps. He reached a buried panel, half-hidden beneath rubble. He pried it open. The screen flickered, showing a corrupted interface. He connected the amplifier, stabilizing the signal. The system pulsed.
> [Access Point Activated]
> [Memory Fragment #03 Unlocked]
> [Accessing…]
The world blurred. He was in a dim workshop, older, his hands scarred. He worked tirelessly, repairing machines, rebuilding fragments of a world that had already collapsed. A voice whispered. "You rebuild because you refuse to stop. Even when everything else does." The vision shattered. He gasped, back in the scrapyard.
> [Memory Fragment #03: Stored]
> [Effect: +5% Endurance]
> [Personal Log Updated]
Three fragments. The quest updated.
> [Quest Progress: Prevent System Reset]
> [Fragments Acquired: 3/3]
> [Reward Pending: Protocol Override Access]
> [Time Remaining: 21:41:12]
Relief washed over him, but only for a moment. The Guardian roared again, louder, angrier. Its sensors blazed red, its frame glowing with heat. The system pulsed.
> [New Quest: Defeat Guardian of the Node]
> [Reward: Combat Skill Unlock]
> [Status: Mandatory]
Mandatory. He couldn't run anymore. The grind demanded a fight. He scanned his inventory. Scraps, wires, coils, fragments. Nothing that resembled a weapon. But the system shimmered, offering a blueprint. A crude spear, built from metal shards and reinforced cable. He worked quickly, tying, binding, shaping. Sparks flew as he tightened the final piece. The weapon hummed faintly.
> [Crafting Complete: Improvised Spear]
> [Durability: 48%]
> [Effect: +10% Damage Against Mechanical Targets]
The Guardian charged. Riven gripped the spear, heart pounding. He dodged the first strike, rolling beneath its claws. He thrust upward, driving the spear into its leg joint. Sparks exploded. The beast roared, stumbling. He pulled back, striking again, aiming for its sensors. The red glow flickered, dimming. The Guardian lashed out, claws tearing through the air. Riven ducked, barely avoiding the strike. He stabbed again, driving the spear into its core. The beast convulsed, sparks raining down. The HUD pulsed.
> [Combat Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Strike]
> [Effect: +15% Damage When Using Improvised Weapons]
> [Status: Active]
Power surged through him. He struck again, faster, harder. The Guardian reeled, collapsing. Its frame shattered, cores flickering out. The scrapyard fell silent. Riven stood over the wreckage, chest heaving, spear trembling in his hands. The system pulsed one final time.
> [Quest Completed: Defeat Guardian of the Node]
> [Reward: Combat Skill Acquired]
> [Protocol Override Access Granted]
> [Time Remaining: 21:33:09]
The Node pulsed, brighter now, its energy stabilizing. Riven stared at it, sweat dripping, heart pounding. He had survived. He had fought. He had won. But the grind wasn't finished. The countdown ticked lower, reminding him that this was only the beginning. Echo's words echoed in his mind. Reset. Collapse. Reboot. He clenched his fists. "Not this time." The grind had given him fragments, skills, and strength. And now, it demanded more. He looked at the Node, its glow beckoning him forward. The grind was accelerating. And he was ready to face it.