Ernesto looked around, slowly turning in place. The forest around him swayed gently, glowing leaves reflecting sunlight through a soft, misty haze. The air… it was lighter than Earth's. Almost too light. Like he could breathe deeper, easier.
But still, he felt… empty.
"So this is it," he muttered. "The new world."
He wandered a bit, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the unfamiliar trees. The loneliness crept in again like a familiar itch, even here in paradise.
"I wonder if that tech power she gave me works…" he mumbled.
He looked down at his hands, half-expecting them to light up again.
"Okay… uh, how do I activate it? Say something? Think something?"
"Is there, like… a menu?"
Ding.
A soft chime echoed—and right in front of him, a glowing window appeared in midair.
"WHOA—okay, what the—?"
It floated like a hologram, displaying everything in sleek futuristic UI:
Name: Ernesto "Nano" Rivera
Status: Normal
Ability: Adaptive Technomancy
Build Access: ACTIVE
Inventory: EMPTY
Tools: LOCKED
"Oh wow," he breathed, scrolling with a finger. "I've played some crazy games but this is wild…"
So… keywords activated the system?
"Let's try this then… Build."
Suddenly, the screen shifted, displaying a massive holographic interface. Multiple base templates appeared in front of him—towers, domes, camps, even bunkers.
"Oh wow… okay, okay… chill," he said, waving a hand to slow the scroll. "Not building a giant sky tower on day one. That just screams 'rob me.'"
He selected a Basic Cabin Unit—compact, functional, nothing flashy. The ground around him pulsed with blue light as a soft hum filled the air.
Materializing Base Structure…
In less than ten seconds, a small but sturdy home stood in front of him. Wood and steel, clean design, even had a solar panel on the roof.
"No. Freaking. Way."
He stepped inside. The interior was already furnished—simple kitchen, fold-out bed, small workshop space, storage compartments.
"She gave me a freaking dream house," he laughed to himself. "This is actually happening."
Ernesto sat down at the workbench, eyes wide.
"Alright, let's try again—Build."
The menu returned, this time with options for gadgets, tools, and tech.
"Okay… let's make a tablet. Something to keep track of everything."
He selected the item, and in a blink, a sleek tablet materialized in his hands. The screen flickered to life, syncing automatically with his system.
"Man, this is legit."
Curious, he built something else: a basic drone. Compact, silent, with a glowing blue eye and small stabilizer fins. It hovered beside him, waiting for input.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
"Yes, Operator," the drone replied in a smooth, synthesized voice.
"I am Unit-01. Functions include scouting, environmental analysis, surveillance, and self-defense."
Ernesto grinned.
"Okay, now we're talking…"