Ray woke to the hum of his depot's core generator, the faint glow of dawn filtering through the bedroom's cracked window. His body felt strong, the Anansi fight's aches gone (HP: 170/170, Mana: 170/170). At Level 12, he was no longer the kid sneaking into Zyra's slums. William Hatcher's gone, he thought, gripping his goblin-core short sword (0.05 attack boost). I'm a White Claw mercenary, building a legacy. The Yomi Protocol's blue screen flickered in his mind, visible only to him, displaying his mutagen-derived abilities—Shadow Cloak, Muscle Boost, Bone Proficiency. These powers are my edge, but I've got to use them carefully to keep them secret.
Ray's HUD
Level: 12 (EXP: 1190/2000)
Stats (Max 100):
Strength: 14 (Enhanced by Orc Mutagen)
Endurance: 14 (Enhanced by Lizardman Mutagen)
Speed: 12
Agility: 14 (Enhanced by Dark Elf Mutagen)
HP: 170/170
Mana: 170/170
Magic (Level 12, Mana Costs):
Elemental:
Fire: Flames (10), Fireball (20)
Water: Drip (10), Torrent (20)
Lightning: Spark (10), Bolt (20)
Ice: Frost Touch (10), Frost Nova (20)
Earth: Pebble Toss (10), Quake (20)
Wind: Gust (10), Tempest (20)
Universal:
Healing: Minor Mend (10), Major Mend (20)
Spatial: Short Blink (10), Long Blink (20, detectable by high spatial users)
Mutagen-Derived:
Shadow (Dark Elf): Shadow Cloak (10), Shadow Veil (20)
Enhancement (Orc): Muscle Boost (10), Power Surge (20)
Bone (Lizardman): Bone Spike (10), Bone Spear (20)
Skills (Level/Uses to Next Level):
Hacking: Level 2 (1/4 uses toward Level 3)
Engineering: Level 2 (2/3 uses toward Level 3)
Swordplay: Level 5 (2/6 uses toward Level 6)
Markmanship: Level 5 (2/6 uses toward Level 6)
Forging: Level 1 (0/3 uses toward Level 2)
Stealth: Level 4 (4/5 uses toward Level 5)
Alchemy: Level 4 (0/5 uses toward Level 5)
Inventory (Dimension Pocket):
Crafting Materials:
Rat Pelts (x830), Rat Blood (x828), Rat Claws (x170)
Boar Hide (x1)
Anansi Silk (x50), Trickster Venom (x49)
Sonic Essence (x1), Mana-disruptive Residue (x18)
Metal Ingots, Copper Wiring, Rubber Grips, Silicone Components, Bio-energy Scraps, Bone Fragments, Basic Alloys, Steel Tips
Cores:
Impundulu Core (x1)
Troll Core (x1)
Lesser Anansi Cores (x4)
Alpha Anansi Core (x1)
Lesser Gremmeling Cores (x6)
Low-tier Goblin Cores
Weapons and Gear:
Core-forged Short Sword (Goblin Core, 0.05 Attack Boost)
Bow, Crossbow, Crossbow Bolts (x40), Shuriken
Tools and Misc:
Portable Alchemy Set
Empty Canisters (x3), Meshes (x2)
Truck Keys
Silver Dust, Sea Salt
Currencies: 965 Daalers, Lumen 200, Durin 300
Ray showered in one of the depot's three bathrooms, the core-powered hot water soothing his muscles. His goblin-core sword felt outdated against his Level 12 status—time to craft something worthy. "Yomi, let's hit Grunthar's forge and make gear that'll turn heads," he said, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder.
[Yomi Protocol: Move it, kid. That goblin sword's a joke—forge something that screams 'mercenary.' 965 daalers, quota's waiting. Keep those mutagen tricks hidden, or the guild'll be on you like rats on bait.]
Ray smirked, climbing into his truck. "Turn heads? I'll make gear so sharp it'll cut your snark, Yomi." The engine purred as he drove to Zyra, passing the demon scanner without issue.
Day One: Forging Begins and Guild Request
In Zyra's forge district, Grunthar's shop glowed with core-powered flames, its walls lined with humming nano-lathes and core calibrators—futuristic tools blending seamlessly with traditional anvils. The dwarf smith, his beard singed from years at the forge, eyed Ray's haul. "Anansi cores, impundulu core, troll core? You're no rookie," Grunthar grunted. "Light armor, crossbow, bow, sword—three days, six pieces. Ready?"
"Ready to forge a legend," Ray said, his guild dream burning.
Grunthar snorted, adjusting a calibrator's glowing interface. "Calm down, kid. These are tier 3 to 6 cores—decent, but not tier 10. That's when we talk legendary equipment." Ray grinned, undeterred, and they started with the impundulu-core light armor chestpiece (0.3 defense boost, lightning resistance) and boots (0.2 agility boost). Ray refined Anansi silk and bio-energy scraps with his portable alchemy set (Alchemy: 1/5 uses toward Level 5), feeding them into a nano-lathe that spun the materials into precise filaments. Under Grunthar's guidance, he hammered the filaments onto a mold, infusing Mana into the impundulu core via a bio-energy sync interface—a sleek device that pulsed with the core's bio-energy, syncing it to the wearer's physiology to enhance resilience against lightning and boost agility through neural feedback. Sweat dripped as the forge roared, the chestpiece and boots taking shape, their circuits faintly glowing with integrated bio-energy. "Steady hand," Grunthar said. "Core-forging's half art, half tech—bio-energy links the core to your nerves, boosting defense and speed." Two forgings advanced Ray's Forging skill (1/3 uses toward Level 2). Grunthar added, "Zyra's wards and Earth's satellites keep this city safe—no big threats, just rats and bugs from rare scars. Out there's different."
[Yomi Protocol: Hammer like you mean it, kid. That impundulu core's prime—don't botch it with that fancy tech. Grunthar's watching, so don't slack.]
Ray wiped his brow, grinning. "Botch it? I'm forging art, not scrap, Yomi." Grunthar raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
That afternoon, Ray drove to the White Claw guildhall, his initiative burning. He found Varg, the burly orc, polishing a core-forged axe. "Varg, I need swordplay lessons to sharpen my edge," Ray said. Varg grunted, impressed. "Got fire, kid. Tomorrow, training yard. I'll pair you with a new recruit, Mike—strong but wild. Show me what you've got." Ray nodded, his strategic mind already planning.
That night, Ray drove to Lila and Torin's home, keeping his depot secret. Lila hugged him, worry in her eyes. "You're fighting too much," she said, echoing Chapter 3. Torin handed him a ward tech Mana sensor. "For Zyra's rare scars." Ray nodded, William's cynicism (Why am I always punished?, Chapter 1) fading. "I'm safe, Dad. I'll make you proud." Lila's frown softened, but her worry lingered.
[Yomi Protocol: Don't get mushy, kid. That sensor's handy, but keep your head in the game—forge and fight, not feelings.]
Ray smirked, patting the sensor. "Feelings? I'm planning a legacy, not a sob story, Yomi."
Day Two: Swordplay Training
Afternoon brought Ray to the guildhall's training yard, where Varg awaited with two recruits: Sylra, an Elf with piercing eyes (Level 14, Agility 18, Light Magic), and Mike, a broad-shouldered human (Level 10, Strength 16, specialized Fire Magic, no tactical sense). "Show me your moves," Varg rumbled. "Mike's got strength to match an orc's, but swings wild. Moss, you're the brain." Ray sized up Mike, whose grin was cocky but warm. Strong as an orc? Folks say that, but Cyclops and Werewolves outmuscle them—though none match an Infernal or Abyssal Lurker. Mike's got power, but no strategy. Let's see what he's got.
Varg taught swordplay, emphasizing fluid jian strikes for adaptability and quick-draw batojutsu, noting, "Jian's best—monsters don't wait for batojutsu's pose." Ray sparred Mike with wooden training sticks, using Short Blink (10 Mana, Mana: 160/170) to dodge a reckless Flame Burst, advancing Swordplay (3/6 uses toward Level 6). Mike's fire scorched the ground, missing Ray. "Focus, Mike!" Ray called, redirecting him with a jian-style thrust. Varg nodded. "Good lead." Sylra's Light Magic flared subtly, her piercing gaze catching Ray's fluid moves, hinting at suspicion. Her Light Magic doesn't match my Shadow, but she's sharp—gotta keep my mutagens under control, Ray thought.
[Yomi Protocol: Jian's your edge, kid. Batojutsu's slick, but monsters don't duel. Mike's a bonfire with no aim—show him how it's done.]
Ray chuckled, sidestepping Mike's flames. "Bonfire? More like a sparkler gone rogue, Yomi. Watch me school him." The AI hummed, unamused.
Back at the forge, Ray crafted the impundulu-core gauntlets (0.2 strength boost) and crossbow (0.4 attack boost, lightning affinity). He used the nano-lathe to shape metal ingots and the bio-energy sync interface to channel the impundulu core's power, boosting the wearer's strength and attack precision through neural-linked bio-energy. Grunthar's hammer rang beside his, the forge blending old craft with new tech. "You're learning fast," Grunthar said. Two forgings advanced Forging (2/3 uses toward Level 2). That night, Ray visited Lila and Torin, showing his progress on the armor. "It's keeping me safe," he said, easing Lila's fears from Chapter 3. Torin nodded, proud but cautious. Ray's resolve hardened, William's failures fading.
Day Three: Forging Completion and Duel with Mike
Ray finished the impundulu-core bow (0.3 attack boost, precision enhancement) and Anansi-core short sword (0.5 attack boost, illusion resistance), using the Anansi core and silk. The nano-lathe wove silk into the sword's frame, and the bio-energy sync interface fused the core's bio-energy, enhancing attack power and countering illusions by syncing with the user's reflexes. The sword gleamed, its edge humming with Mana. Grunthar clapped his shoulder. "Six pieces. You're a smith now." The forgings pushed Forging to Level 2 (3/3 uses, +10 EXP) and Level 3 (3/4 uses, +10 EXP), totaling 1210/2000 EXP.
That afternoon, Ray returned to the guildhall for a final training session. Varg paired him with Mike for a duel using wooden sticks to test their skills. "Show me your jian, Moss," Varg said. Ray faced Mike in the yard, wielding his stick with precision. Mike charged, his Flame Burst wild and unfocused, scorching the ground. Ray used Short Blink (10 Mana, Mana: 150/170) and jian-inspired strikes to outmaneuver him, advancing Swordplay (4/6 uses toward Level 6). "Pinpoint, Mike!" Ray shouted, dodging a fiery blast. Mike's strength pushed Ray back (HP: 160/170), but Ray's tactics won, disarming Mike with a precise thrust (Swordplay: 5/6 uses). Varg clapped. "Moss, you're the brain; Mike's the brawn." Sylra's Light Magic pulsed faintly, her gaze sharpening on Ray's agility, hinting at suspicion. She's sniffing out something off—gotta watch my step, Ray thought. The Yomi Protocol warned: "Elf's got your scent, kid. Your jian's sharp, but your secrets are wobbling."
Ray grinned, tossing the stick. "Wobbling? My moves are tighter than your circuits, Yomi." Mike laughed, clapping Ray's shoulder, their bond growing.
At the guildhall, Varg awarded 300 daalers for their swordplay progress, boosting Ray's funds to 1265 daalers. "Keep training, you two—more missions are coming." That night, Ray visited Lila and Torin, introducing Mike, whose enthusiasm eased Lila's fears. Showing his new gear, Ray vowed, "I'm safe in Zyra, Mom. I'll make you proud." Lila's worry lingered, but Mike's cheer lightened the mood. Ray reflected on William's failures, his resolve hardening to forge a legacy. Back at the depot, Ray practiced jian forms, the Anansi-core sword gleaming under Zyra's wards, ready for what lay ahead.
[Yomi Protocol: 1265 daalers and a shiny new kit? Solid, kid. Sylra's watching like a hawk, and more missions are coming. Train sharp, or you'll eat dust.]
Ray smirked, twirling his sword. "Eat dust? I'm serving victories, Yomi." The AI's screen flickered, silent but smug.
Ray's Updated HUD
Level: 12 (EXP: 1210/2000)
Stats (Max 100):
Strength: 14 (Enhanced by Orc Mutagen)
Endurance: 14 (Enhanced by Lizardman Mutagen)
Speed: 12
Agility: 14 (Enhanced by Dark Elf Mutagen)
HP: 160/170
Mana: 150/170
Magic (Level 12, Mana Costs):
Elemental:
Fire: Flames (10), Fireball (20)
Water: Drip (10), Torrent (20)
Lightning: Spark (10), Bolt (20)
Ice: Frost Touch (10), Frost Nova (20)
Earth: Pebble Toss (10), Quake (20)
Wind: Gust (10), Tempest (20)
Universal:
Healing: Minor Mend (10), Major Mend (20)
Spatial: Short Blink (10), Long Blink (20, detectable by high spatial users)
Mutagen-Derived:
Shadow (Dark Elf): Shadow Cloak (10), Shadow Veil (20)
Enhancement (Orc): Muscle Boost (10), Power Surge (20)
Bone (Lizardman): Bone Spike (10), Bone Spear (20)
Skills (Level/Uses to Next Level):
Hacking: Level 2 (1/4 uses toward Level 3)
Engineering: Level 2 (2/3 uses toward Level 3)
Swordplay: Level 5 (5/6 uses toward Level 6)
Markmanship: Level 5 (2/6 uses toward Level 6)
Forging: Level 3 (0/5 uses toward Level 4)
Stealth: Level 4 (4/5 uses toward Level 5)
Alchemy: Level 4 (1/5 uses toward Level 5)
Inventory (Dimension Pocket):
Crafting Materials:
Rat Pelts (x830), Rat Blood (x828), Rat Claws (x170)
Boar Hide (x1)
Anansi Silk (x48), Trickster Venom (x49)
Sonic Essence (x1), Mana-disruptive Residue (x18)
Bone Fragments, Basic Alloys, Copper Wiring, Rubber Grips, Silicone Components
Cores:
Lesser Anansi Cores (x4)
Lesser Gremmeling Cores (x6)
Low-tier Goblin Cores
Weapons and Gear:
Impundulu-core Light Armor Chestpiece (0.3 Defense Boost, Lightning Resistance)
Impundulu-core Boots (0.2 Agility Boost)
Impundulu-core Gauntlets (0.2 Strength Boost)
Impundulu-core Crossbow (0.4 Attack Boost, Lightning Affinity)
Impundulu-core Bow (0.3 Attack Boost, Precision Enhancement)
Anansi-core Short Sword (0.5 Attack Boost, Illusion Resistance)
Shuriken, Crossbow Bolts (x40)
Tools and Misc:
Portable Alchemy Set
Empty Canisters (x3), Meshes (x2)
Truck Keys
Silver Dust, Sea Salt
Ward Tech Mana Sensor
Currencies: 1265 Daalers, Lumen 200, Durin 300