Raine Veyron crawled through the pipes, his hands brushing against bits of metal and grime. It was all junk—nothing useful. Still, he kept searching. He had no choice. If he didn't find something valuable today, he was done for.

"Just one chip. One core," he muttered, swiping at his wristband to clear the grime off its faint blue glow. The System's interface flickered, showing the reminder he hated most: F-Rank | Level 2.

That rank was basically a death sentence. Nobody wanted an F-Ranker for jobs. Guilds ignored him like he didn't exist. Every day he scavenged to scrape by, and every week he had to cough up the permit fee just to keep scavenging legally. Without that permit, he'd lose access to the wasteland, and without that, he'd starve.

His fingers hit something solid. Pulling it free, he squinted at the chunk of metal in his hand. It was odd—wires dangled from it like roots, and faint red markings glowed on its surface.

[Damaged Core: Compatibility Unknown]

His heart jumped. "A Core?" It wasn't perfect, but it was valuable. Even damaged, it might fetch enough credits to keep him afloat for a few more weeks. He shoved it into his bag and turned to leave.

That's when he heard the growl.

Crimson eyes lit up in the shadows ahead. Junk Hounds. Three of them, part flesh, part machine, crept toward him. Their metal limbs clicked as they moved, and their jagged teeth glistened with oil.

[Hostile Entities Detected]Rank: E

Recommended Action: Evade.]

"Fantastic advice," Raine muttered before bolting. The hounds charged after him, their claws scraping against the pipes. He scrambled forward, his breath coming in sharp gasps. The tunnel was tight, and every movement felt slower than it should have. The low hum of the hounds' mechanical bodies grew louder, and the air smelled of rust and decay.

One hound slashed at his boot, its claws missing by inches. He kicked a loose pipe behind him, sending it clattering to the ground. The noise distracted the hounds just enough for him to crawl faster. His heart pounded as he tried to remember the sector's layout.

"There's a maintenance shaft nearby," he thought. If he could reach it, he'd be safe. The hounds wouldn't fit through. But the path wasn't straightforward, and one wrong turn could cost him everything.

The hounds were gaining. One swiped at his leg, tearing his thin pants and grazing his skin. He bit back a scream, the sharp pain shooting up his calf. He kept moving, hands scraping against jagged metal. Blood smeared the pipes behind him, but he didn't stop.

"There!" Ahead, a faint light marked the maintenance shaft. Summoning every ounce of strength, Raine lunged forward. The lead hound leapt after him, its claws catching his boot. He kicked wildly, feeling the jaws scrape his heel. With one final push, he hauled himself into the narrow shaft and rolled onto the rusted platform above.

The hounds snarled and scratched at the opening, their glowing eyes fixed on him. But the shaft was too small for them to fit through. Raine lay there, chest heaving, until their growls faded into silence. Only then did he let himself relax, his entire body trembling from exhaustion.

"Just another day in paradise," he muttered, staring at the cracked ceiling above him. His satchel felt heavier now, the faint red glow of the Core mocking him.

The scavenger market was as chaotic as ever when Raine arrived. People shouted over piles of rusted weapons, broken tech, and other scraps. Makeshift carts lined the narrow alleys, overloaded with junk. The air buzzed with the sound of arguments, haggling, and occasional fights. Raine kept his head down as he moved through the crowd. Someone like him—small, scrawny, and clearly desperate—was an easy target for thieves.

Marlo's stall sat in its usual spot, crammed between two larger booths. The merchant himself lounged behind the counter, his bulk taking up most of the cramped space. His beady eyes narrowed as Raine approached.

"You're late," Marlo grunted. "Got anything, or are you wasting my time again?"

Raine pulled the Core from his bag and placed it on the counter. Marlo's expression didn't change, but his eyes lingered on the faintly glowing markings. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands.

"Damaged," he said after a moment. "Not worth much."

"It's still a Core," Raine replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "400 credits."

Marlo snorted. "200."

Raine clenched his fists. He couldn't afford to let this deal fall through, but Marlo loved to lowball. "300," he said, his voice firmer this time.

"Fine," Marlo said with a shrug. "But only because I'm feeling generous." He tossed a chipped credit chit across the counter. Raine caught it, shoving it into his pocket.

"Word of advice," Marlo called as Raine turned to leave. "Don't mess with things you don't understand. Damaged Cores aren't just junk. They're trouble."

Raine didn't reply. He hadn't sold the real Core anyway. The chunk of scrap he handed over was a fake.

In the dim light of his tiny hovel, Raine sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the Core. Its faint red glow pulsed rhythmically, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Around him, piles of scavenged parts and tools filled every corner—a testament to years of surviving off scraps.

He turned the Core over in his hands, studying the glowing markings. They seemed to shift slightly, almost like they were alive. His wristband flickered, and the familiar System interface appeared.

[Unregistered Artifact Detected.]

Analyzing...

Error: Data Corruption. Compatibility Pending.]

The Core's glow intensified, flooding the room with light. Tendrils of energy shot out from it, wrapping around Raine's wristband. Pain jolted through his arm as the System's voice glitched:

[Error: Unauthorized Access Detected.]

Warning: System Integrity Compromised.]

Raine gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling as the energy surged into him. The System interface shattered, its fragments dissolving into sparks of light. In its place, new text appeared—jagged, raw, and unfamiliar:

[Core of Eternity: Integration Complete.]

Status: Anomaly Detected.

All Restrictions Lifted.]

Symbols etched themselves into Raine's skin, glowing faintly red. The pain faded, replaced by a strange, weightless sensation. He flexed his fingers, staring at the glowing markings that now adorned his arm. The System interface he'd relied on his entire life was gone, replaced by something alien and powerful.

For the first time, Raine Veyron felt something he'd never thought possible.

Freedom.