Rex finally had time to breathe.
After days of running, bleeding, and nearly dying, the faint hum of the underground forge was almost comforting. The room around him was quiet, the air warm with the scent of metal and oil.
He took a deep breath and called up his system interface, the familiar pale-blue glow filling the air.
---
---
> [System Interface: Devourer Protocol v1.0]
User: Rex
Level: 6
Race: Human (Unregistered)
Class: Blacksmith
System Tier: Devourer
Title: Mediocre Newbie Blacksmith
Stats:
• Strength: 26 (+3)
• Endurance: 7 (+2)
• Agility: 1 (+5)
• Intelligence: 4 (+2)
• Mana: 50 / 30 (+20)
• Luck: 3 (+1)
Stat Points Available: 10
System Points Available: 5
Abilities:
† Shadowstep (Tier D) – Teleport up to 5 meters in a chosen direction. Leaves a brief afterimage.
→ Mana Cost: 5 per use
→ Upgrade Progress: 22 / 100
† Scrapmeld (Tier E) – Fuse junk materials into temporary weapons or armor.
→ Mana Cost: 13 per item
→ Cooldown: 2 minutes
† Drawing Room (Sub Skill)
Ability: Creates a holographic simulation space for designing, testing, and manufacturing weapons and armor. Linked to Scrapmeld.
→ Mana Cost: 10 per minute
→ Upgrade Progress: Linked to Scrapmeld's growth
Passives:
• EXP Gain +100%
Active Protocols:
• System Assimilation – Consume a weakened or inactive System to absorb its core features.
Items:
Relic – Forgotten Throne Fragment [1/6] (Tier SS)
Item Note: Fragment of a lost relic from an ancient sovereign thought erased from history.
Bonus Stats:
• Strength +3
• Endurance +2
• Agility +5
• Intelligence +2
• Mana +20
• Luck +1
---
Rex scrolled through the data, his eyes settling on the new subskill—Drawing Room.
If he was reading this right, it cost ten mana per minute to use. With his current recovery rate—five mana every twenty-five seconds—he realized something incredible.
If he timed it right, his mana regen could sustain the skill indefinitely.
A grin stretched across his bruised face.
Finally, a win.
Without hesitation, he activated the skill.
The world blinked white. In the next moment, he stood inside a glowing cube—three meters wide, three meters long, three meters high. Every surface pulsed softly, like living crystal.
At the center was a small table, smooth and metallic. A circular slot glowed faintly on its surface.
Curious, Rex pressed his thumb into the slot. The table rippled, and a blue liquid mass rose from it—forming eyes, a mouth, and stubby hands.
He flinched back. "What the hell—"
A rapid string of notifications popped into view:
---
> [Drawing Room AI: Start-Up Package v9.30]
> Download complete.
> Installation in progress…
> Installation Complete.
---
"Oh great," Rex muttered. "Another installation."
It was exactly like when his main system first booted up—mysterious downloads, no explanations, and zero control.
The blob blinked at him, then spoke in a cheery, synthetic voice.
"Welcome to the Drawing Room—where your plans, visions, and ideas come to life! We specialize in elec—"
Rex pressed the skip button that flashed beneath it.
The blob froze mid-sentence. "Okay... rude," it said, crossing its tiny blue arms.
"You do know I'm burning mana while you talk, right? You're wasting my time," Rex complained.
"Ugh! Such attitude! Do you realize I'm the most advanced AI protocol in all the Myriad Realms? My thought patterns are lightyears beyond primitive humans."
"Yet here you are," Rex said dryly, "serving one."
The blob gasped. "I can't believe this. I was downloaded less than a minute ago and I'm already being abused!"
"Then stop talking," Rex muttered.
The blob glared at him—well, as much as a glowing ball of goo could—then disappeared with a huff.
Rex exhaled, finally able to explore the room. A glowing button rose from the table surface.
It literally said CLICK ME.
He shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
---
A holographic screen appeared.
> [System Notice]
New subskill unlocked: Drawing Room
Blueprint Stages Available:
• Stone Age
• Bronze Age (Locked)
• Iron Age (Locked)
• Arcane Tech Age (Locked)
---
"Only Stone Age, huh?" he muttered. "Well that's useless."
He opened the available options.
> Stone Age Blueprints:
• Stone Axe
• Stone Spear
• Stone Armor
• Stone Shield
• Stone Avalanche
• WILDCARD...
His eyebrow twitched. "Stone. Stone. Stone."
He rubbed his face in frustration. "Fantastic. I'm supposed to fight gunmen with rocks."
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
"That's what I was trying to tell you—if you hadn't skipped my introduction."
He spun around. The blob had returned, floating with a smug smirk.
"You again," Rex groaned.
"Me again," it said. "You really think I'd let my user go around swinging clubs like a caveman? Please. I have standards."
"Look, I'm sorry, alright?" Rex said. "I was just... upset."
The blob paused. "You're apologizing?"
"Yeah. You didn't deserve that. I shouldn't have snapped."
A few seconds of silence passed before the blob broke into a wide grin.
"Well, since you asked nicely... apology accepted!"
Rex couldn't help but chuckle. "Thanks."
"Now," the blob said, puffing up proudly, "let's do this properly! I am your personal AI assistant—you may call me Fuzzy. I'm the most advanced design protocol in the Myriad Realms, equipped with functions including, but not limited to—Design Troubleshooting, Blueprint Frameworking, Design Auctioning, and my personal favorite: Wildcard Fabrication!"
It spun dramatically, eyes sparkling like stars.
"With me, Rex, you'll be crafting miracles!"
"Miracles?" Rex raised a brow. "You sure you're not overselling yourself?"
"Ha! Just wait until you see what I can do."
Rex smirked. "Alright, Fuzzy. Show me what you've got."
A new section expanded on the holographic table:
---
> WILDCARD (Unlocked)
Description:
A fusion protocol that applies futuristic knowledge (AI-based) to primitive materials, creating hybrid designs with improved usability and durability.
Requirements:
• AI Bot v9.30 – Installed ✓
• Intelligence Minimum: 5 ✓
• Materials: Gueazz Stone ✗ (Not Acquired)
---
Rex's grin faltered a little.
"Wait… Gueazz Stone? Never heard of it."
Fuzzy floated upward, its tiny eyes glowing faintly. "Of course you haven't. It's rare—hard as tempered steel, smooth as glass. You'll find it near Sector E-92's Spill Zones… if you don't die first."
Rex sighed. "Figures. So much for resting."
Fuzzy giggled, mischievous. "Don't worry, boss. What's a little near-death experience between progress and glory?"
Rex rolled his eyes. "You're worse than my old crew."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Fuzzy said.
He couldn't help but laugh. "Alright then. Gueazz Stone first."
The holographic cube dimmed as he prepared to shut the room down.
Outside, somewhere beyond the cracked walls of the Rust Den, the neon veins of the city pulsed faintly through the smog.
Tomorrow, he'd go hunting for the stone.
Tomorrow, he'd start building.