Time: Subjective 30 years after the catastrophe.
Location: "Frozen Shields" territory. A massive ice fortress built from the wreckage of crashed space ships, perched atop the ancient Wrangel server.
Kenji moved across the cold, endless deserts of the north. His movements were now not just fast, they were precise and efficient, as if he were gliding not over water, but over frozen time. He wore clothing in the "Wild Cyborg" style, sewn from the hides of various creatures and reinforced with ice and iron plates.
He extended his hand into the air. He hadn't come here "on foot."
Brain command: "Arkon Hook!"
A laser rope shot from Kenji's hand and caught onto the side of a distant wrecked "Titanic" class space ship. Kenji pulled himself to the ship in an instant.
Over 30 years, Kenji had mastered his inventory. He didn't just summon weapons; he selected from his **"Idea Warehouse"** weaponry collected from thousands of servers and combined their best characteristics. His power had grown so much that now he could control dozens of physical objects simultaneously.
Today's hunt was very important. He was searching for "Black Legate"—a Demon General from the Ancient Fantasy server who, after the space ships crashed, had integrated artificial intelligence and laser weapons into himself. Bosses of this level gave a lot of Essence.
Kenji moved through the ship's frozen corridors. In his right hand appeared a "Destroyer Hammer" (Viking Axe) covered with ancient runes (ideal for breaking ice and armor), while his left hand was empty. He moved as if knowing that a 5-meter "Black Rocket Launcher" stood on his shoulder.
Finally, he reached the ship's control center.
The center was covered with thick black ice. In the middle of the ice sat Black Legate. Half his body was in gleaming demon armor, while a massive machine gun was mounted on his shoulders.
"Finally," Legate's voice echoed through the room. The voice was melancholic but precise thanks to artificial intelligence. "The hunter has come for me. They call you 'Game Fugitive.' You've been silent for a long time, Shadow."
Kenji stopped. His face was under a mask.
"I'm glad you remembered my name, Legate," Kenji said. His voice was hoarse, but sarcasm helped him not forget language. "Impressive. You're the first living being to say my name in the past twenty years."
Legate laughed at him:
"Are you afraid of forgetting language, human? It's been quite a while since you stopped whispering that poem called Aira."
Kenji's eyes blazed.
"Deal with your own garbage talk, Demon. I remember Aira's name. And you just received the command to become Essence."
"Essence? I've lived a thousand-year life! I am the law of this world!" Legate aimed his machine gun at Kenji. "You—are a remnant of the old system. Plasma beam!"
Legate fired green plasma from his machine gun.
Kenji held the Hammer (Viking Axe) forward, and the green plasma was absorbed on the Hammer's surface, turning to black dust. This was part of the "Element Assimilation" skill—the Essence he'd devoured made him resistant to elements.
"Oh, Plasma? Boring," Kenji struck the Hammer to the ground, shattering the ice.
Brain command: "Cosmic Rocket Launcher!"
Behind his shoulder, in the air, an enormous green "Black Rocket Launcher" made from his idea appeared. He could control the weapon without holding it with his body.
"Don't talk so much, Demon! Based on the amount of Essence hidden here, I must completely annihilate you!" Kenji aimed the rocket.
Legate froze in amazement. He hadn't expected Kenji's strengthening. Lightning vibrations arose around him.
"Talk to me! Isn't loneliness torture?! You're forgetting your own people! 30 years! How much time has passed?!"
Kenji closed his eyes. His sarcasm was beginning to fade.
"Don't panic, Legate," his voice now barely emerged from breath. "I know I'm losing my humanity. But you're helping me, keeping my tongue exercised."
Kenji commanded the weapon: "ERASE TIME!"
Hundreds of small, magnetic rockets shot from the rocket launcher. These rockets struck the ship's hull and triggered a chain of massive explosions. This rocket system was taken from the space war server and could destroy an entire area (AOE).
BOOM!
The control center was buried in blackened plasma and ice.
Kenji hid behind a shield he'd created. After the explosion, he descended to the ground. Legate's body had shattered to pieces, with only one piece of black armor remaining.
A massive wave of gold-black Essence shot from the armor and seeped into Kenji.
This Essence wasn't just power, it also embodied Legate's thousand years of war experience, his tactical knowledge, and skills for controlling space ships.
Kenji felt powerful and alert again.
He sat there silently. He summoned a rocket in his hand, then made it disappear. He summoned his sword. His brain was now filled with new weapons and new knowledge.
He placed his hand on his Mask.
"Laylo," he whispered. His voice was hoarse but firm. "Laylo. Laylo... I remember."
Kenji began walking alone through the dark corridor. Every one of his movements reflected 30 years of bloody experience. The further he distanced himself from human emotions, the more he was becoming the most terrifying and most powerful part of the game world.