The mechanical carcass of the Scavenger Drone lay smoking on Kai's floor. His heart was still racing, but the blue interface in front of his eyes was calm, almost inviting.
[LEVEL 1 REACHED]
[CREDITS EARNED: 100]
[SYSTEM MARKETPLACE: UNLOCKED]
"Marketplace?" Kai whispered. As he spoke, the screen shifted. Thousands of icons flickered into existence—weapons, bio-enhancements, and forbidden data shards. Most were locked behind massive credit walls or higher levels, but one tab was glowing: The Starter Pack.
[ITEM: NEURAL-LINK BLADE (COMMON)] - Cost: 80 Credits
[ITEM: STEALTH CLOAK (FRAGMENT)] - Cost: 150 Credits
Kai looked at his bruised knuckles. If another drone came, a wrench wouldn't be enough. He tapped the Neural-Link Blade.
[PURCHASE SUCCESSFUL. INITIALIZING PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION...]
A hum of static filled the air. Particles of blue light began to stitch together in his right hand, forming a hilt of matte black carbon fiber. A blade of pure energy hissed into existence, vibrating with a low frequency that made the very air feel electric.
But the System wasn't done. A new red notification flashed, overriding the shop.
[WARNING: YOUR SEVERE ENERGY SPIKE HAS BEEN TRACKED BY THE CITY ENFORCERS.]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO ARRIVAL: 3 MINUTES.]
Kai gripped the new blade. He wasn't just a repairman anymore. He was a fugitive with a god-tier system. "Three minutes," he grinned, his eyes reflecting the neon blue light of the blade. "Plenty of time."