The scorched ground of the Inferno Realm cracked beneath Alexander's boots as he stood atop the ashes of the fallen Elemental Wolves. Flames still licked the charred rocks in the distance, but the adrenaline in his blood had cooled. His breathing slowed. The hunt was over—for now.
The system pinged softly in his mind.
[Warning: Deeper zone detected ahead. Stronger monsters approaching.]
[Suggestion: Host should retreat to recover and prepare for future hunts.]
Alexander narrowed his eyes. He knew there were more beasts lurking in the heart of the Inferno Realm, stronger, deadlier, tempting him with potential power and rare loot. But he wasn't reckless. He had survived this far by being smart, not suicidal.
"I'll be back," he muttered, casting one last glance toward the glowing horizon. "But right now, I have other things to do."
He exited the portal with a quiet whoosh, the Inferno Realm fading behind him as the desolate real world unfolded before him again. The portal's area was far from quiet. Various factions gathered nearby—militants in polished armor, guilds of awakened fighters, scavenger teams with their own tamed beasts. They were fighting, bargaining, killing—all trying to seize control of the portals that had ripped the world open.
Alexander ignored them all.
He wasn't interested in faction wars or territorial disputes. Power families flaunted their bloodlines and artifacts, comparing stats like trophies. He walked past them, shadow dancing between their gazes, unnoticed and uncaring.
His goal wasn't glory or dominance.
It was survival—and freedom.
His thoughts drifted to the convenience store, the only place he had ever called home after the world fell apart. The shell of the building still stood, and with his newly acquired resources and the skill he had just purchased—[Tech Architect: D]—he could finally begin rebuilding it into something more.
A true base. A sanctuary.
The system's interface shimmered before his eyes.
[New Blueprint Unlocked: Auto-Reconstruct – Allows the user to rebuild and reinforce structures using stored materials and energy.]
He grinned slightly. "Finally."
Still, he needed more materials, more funds, more everything. And that meant making money. The system's shop offered him options—processing beast crystals, crafting low-tier gear, even selling monster parts. He'd grind it out, the hard way if needed.
As he walked through the ruined cityscape back toward the store, Alexander passed others— some looked like highschool students some of whom he recognized
They didn't recognize him now.
Not yet.
His body was still slender, his frame lean from past starvation, but his features—once hidden behind grime and exhaustion—were sharp, handsome, striking. He hadn't changed. He had just been covered in filth and pain.
Soon, they'd know who he was.
And one day, Crystal would too.
He hadn't forgotten her.
As night fell, Alexander reached the store. He stood in front of the battered structure, the flickering city lights casting long shadows over the shattered windows. He placed a hand on the wall, eyes steady.
"Let's rebuild everything from the ashes," he whispered.
[Base reconstruction initiated.]
[...]
As night fell, Alexander reached the store. He stood in front of the battered structure, the flickering city lights casting long shadows over the shattered windows. He placed a hand on the wall, eyes steady.
"Let's rebuild everything from the ashes," he whispered.
[Base reconstruction initiated.]
The system responded, and blue light traced over the building as a grid interface appeared in Alexander's vision.
[Would you like to apply concealment protocols?]
[Skill Detected: Spatial Anchor – You may bind this location to your presence and create a cloaked entry point visible only to you.]
"Do it," Alexander said.
[Confirmed: Cloaked Anchor activated.]
[Your base is now hidden from all detection methods unless permission is granted.]
[Marking location to Host's internal map… Done.]
The store shimmered, reality bending slightly as a distortion settled around it. To anyone else, it looked like nothing but a collapsed ruin—unremarkable and ignored. But to Alexander, it was now home.
He stepped inside and spoke again, "System, link this base to your core."
[Initiating base-system integration…]
[Base linked: You may now access key system functions from this location, including crafting, resource management, remote scanning, and defensive protocols.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Core Terminal – accessible only within host's base.]
A pedestal formed in the back of the store, glowing with system-blue light. A circular console hovered above it, alive with symbols and encrypted tech. This was no longer just a shelter.
It was his command center.
[Skill Gained: Shadow Recall – Allows Host to return to base once per day. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
Alexander exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of safety settle into his shoulders. For the first time, he had control. While factions warred over portals and schools trained elites to dominate the weak, he would build his own power in silence.
They could have their empires.
He had something better: a future they'd never see coming.