Vance paced the cramped living room, frustration tightening his chest.
The house was steadily transforming—walls shifting into smooth, metallic composites, windows turning into shimmering energy barriers, the door now a sleek high-tech fortress. But it wasn't enough.
He stared at the Tech Tree again.
[Subspace Storage – Incomplete]
Requirements:
Basic Energy Core: COMPLETE
Compression Field Anchor: COMPLETE
Bloodstone or Null Nuclei: MISSING
The last piece—the crucial component—was nowhere to be found. He scoured scrap yards, black markets, and even whispered to some less-than-reliable contacts, but the mysterious Bloodstone or Null Nuclei eluded him completely.
No clue where to get it. No shortcuts.
For five days straight, Vance ran from store to store with Tank at his side, stocking up on rice grains, canned goods, dried beans, and a modest selection of fresh vegetables.
Tank's brow furrowed as they hauled heavy sacks into the house.
"Vance, why so much? You sure you need all this?" Tank asked, dropping a crate of canned beans onto the floor.
Vance tried to keep his voice steady, masking the worry gnawing at him. "Just making sure we have enough stock. Better safe than sorry."
Tank looked unconvinced but didn't press further.
On the fifth day, Vance finally asked Tank, "Hey, can you stay here with me for a couple of days? Just to keep an eye on things."
Tank blinked, glancing around at the strange transformations in the house—the glowing panels, the shifting walls.
"You serious? After all this weird stuff? This place looks like a sci-fi lab now."
Vance laughed nervously. "It's just a paint job and some upgrades. Nothing to worry about."
Tank shook his head in disbelief but agreed.
Later that evening, Vance pulled up the Tech Tree once more. A new branch had appeared—Blacksmithing.
Curious, he selected it and scanned the available items.
A reinforced machete caught his eye.
He gathered the materials and laid them on the workbench. As he fed them into the small forge unit, the system swallowed the components, humming softly.
Within moments, the machete emerged—sleek, sharp, and reinforced with advanced alloys.
Vance picked it up, feeling the balanced weight in his hands.
Tank walked over and eyed the blade.
"Where'd you get this? Looks way better than any machete I've seen."
Vance gave a casual shrug. "Custom job. Found a guy who knows his metals. Said it's reinforced."
Tank raised an eyebrow. "Custom, huh? You've been hiding some connections?"
Vance smiled faintly, avoiding the real answer. "Just making sure I have reliable gear. Can't trust the usual stuff anymore."
Tank nodded slowly. "Well, this thing's solid. Bet it can handle anything."
Vance placed it back on the table, feeling a little more prepared.
He scrolled through the blacksmith panel, noticing reinforced barb bats and daggers among the options.
Making a mental note, he knew he'd craft more weapons soon.
Later that night, Vance sat in front of the large TV he had installed—a massive screen capable of streaming tens of thousands of games, movies, and anime downloaded through his network.
He thought about how much time he'd spend here once everything settled.
Then, suddenly, the screen flickered, and a breaking news banner crawled across the bottom.
The news anchor's voice was tense: "Authorities have declared a state of emergency. The military has ordered all civilians to remain indoors until further notice. Details remain scarce, but officials urge calm and cooperation."
Vance leaned forward, heart pounding.
Outside, the sky began to darken unnaturally, casting an ominous shadow over the city.
Tank looked over his shoulder, eyes wide. "You think this has something to do with what's going on?"
Vance swallowed hard. "I don't know. But whatever's coming, we need to be ready."
That night, silence settled over the fortified house as outside, the world braced for what lay ahead.