The workshop was silent except for the low hum of the plasma turret. Its glowing nozzle was locked onto the leader of the thugs, who froze mid-step. The flickering light of the turret's charging mechanism cast ominous shadows on the walls, highlighting the crude yet functional design Ethan had pieced together.
The leader, a hulking man who looked more machine than flesh with his metal-reinforced limbs, sneered. "You think that scrap heap can stop me?" His voice carried the grating edge of someone used to crushing opposition. "I've eaten rookies like you for breakfast."
Ethan leaned against the workbench, arms crossed, exuding a calm confidence that belied his pounding heart. "By all means," he said, gesturing lazily to the turret, "give it a shot. I'd love to see what happens."
The thug leader hesitated, clearly weighing his options. Behind him, his three lackeys shifted nervously. One, a wiry man with a cybernetic arm, muttered, "Boss, maybe we should—"
"Shut it," the leader snapped, his gaze never leaving the turret. "It's just a scare tactic."
Ethan's lips twitched into a smirk. "You sure about that?"
The leader made his move, lunging forward with surprising speed for someone his size. His reinforced arm swung the wrench in a brutal arc aimed directly at Ethan. But before he could close the distance, the turret reacted.
With a high-pitched whine, it fired a concentrated bolt of plasma. The shot wasn't lethal—it wasn't designed to be—but it hit the leader square in the chest, sending him stumbling back with a roar of pain. His armored torso smoldered where the plasma had scorched the surface.
"Son of a—!" The leader staggered, clutching his chest.
Ethan's smirk deepened. "Looks like it works after all."
The lackeys panicked. The wiry man with the cybernetic arm dove behind a crate, shouting, "That thing's live! It's live!" The other two hesitated, unsure whether to retreat or attack.
"Next one's going for your head," Ethan warned, his voice calm but sharp. "Unless you feel like testing your luck, I'd suggest you leave."
The leader growled, his pride clearly wounded, but he wasn't stupid. He glanced at the turret, then at Ethan, and spat on the floor. "You've made an enemy today, kid. Nobody disrespects Kane and gets away with it."
Ethan shrugged. "Get in line."
Kane snarled but signaled to his men. "Let's go." The lackeys didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled out of the workshop, casting wary glances at the turret as they left.
The door slammed shut behind them, leaving Ethan alone once more. He exhaled a shaky breath, the adrenaline finally starting to fade. His legs felt weak, and his hands trembled slightly as he turned back to the turret. For all his bravado, that encounter could have gone very differently.
Ethan sank into the worn chair by the workbench, running a hand through his hair. His heart was still racing, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a grin. "Well," he said to the empty room, "that's one way to test a prototype."
The Multi-System Interface flickered to life in front of him, displaying a new notification.
[Event: Unprovoked Attack]
Outcome: Victory.
Reputation Increased: Neo Arcadia-2 +5.
Note: Your actions have attracted the attention of local factions.
"Attention, huh?" Ethan muttered. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was clear that Neo Arcadia-2 wasn't the kind of place where you could keep a low profile for long.
The interface beeped again, this time displaying a progress update.
[Level Up!]
Level 1 → Level 2.
New Attribute Points: +3.
Skill Unlocked: Basic Defense Protocols.
Ethan's eyes lit up. A level-up meant more than just raw power—it was validation that he was on the right track. He pulled up his stats and allocated the points carefully, prioritizing Intelligence and Dexterity to improve his crafting speed and precision.
"Defense Protocols, huh?" He tapped the notification to read the details.
[Skill: Basic Defense Protocols]
Description: Automatically deploys defensive measures when under attack. Effectiveness scales with available resources and system integration.
Cost: Low energy consumption.
Cooldown: 10 seconds.
"Not bad," Ethan said. "Not bad at all."
He leaned back in the chair, letting the faint hum of the turret and the workshop's machinery fill the silence. The encounter with Kane had been a wake-up call. Neo Arcadia-2 wasn't just a new layer of existence—it was a battleground, and he was already in the crosshairs.
But he wasn't the same person who had been betrayed and left to die in the Celestial Abyss Dungeon. This time, he had the Multi-System Interface, a second chance, and something he'd never had before: control.
Ethan's gaze drifted to the door where Kane and his men had fled. He didn't doubt that they'd be back—and they wouldn't come alone. But that was fine. He'd be ready.
The next morning, Ethan set out to explore Neo Arcadia-2. The workshop had been a safe haven for his first night, but he couldn't hide there forever. If he was going to survive—and thrive—he needed to understand the city's dynamics.
Neo Arcadia-2 was a stark contrast to the gleaming towers of the original Neo Arcadia. Here, the streets were cramped and dirty, filled with people scraping by in the shadow of the upper layers. The air was thick with the smell of oil and smoke, and the faint hum of industrial machinery was a constant backdrop.
Ethan moved through the bustling streets, keeping his head low but his eyes sharp. The city was a patchwork of rival factions and opportunistic scavengers, each vying for control of limited resources. Posters advertising the Dungeon Hunters Guild, the Mechanic Syndicate, and the Financial Sovereigns were plastered on every wall, each faction promising prosperity in exchange for loyalty.
But loyalty, Ethan knew, was a dangerous game.
He paused in front of a massive holographic screen mounted on the side of a building. It displayed a news broadcast detailing the latest dungeon activities in Neo Arcadia-2.
"Another successful raid by the Red Talons," the announcer said, her voice crisp and professional. "Their leader, Kane, continues to dominate the lower-tier dungeons, securing valuable resources for the guild."
Ethan's jaw tightened. So Kane wasn't just a thug—he was a dungeon raider, and a successful one at that. That explained the man's confidence, but it also made him more dangerous.
"Looks like I'll be seeing you again sooner than I thought," Ethan muttered.
As he turned away, the Multi-System Interface beeped softly, drawing his attention.
[New Quest: Establish a Foothold]
Objective: Build alliances, secure resources, and prepare for upcoming conflicts.
Subtasks:
1. Acquire 1,000 credits.
2. Upgrade workshop defenses.
3. Establish connections with a local faction.
Reward: Advanced Crafting Module, +2 Levels, and Reputation Boost.
Ethan's lips curled into a grin. "Game on."