With a nod, Alric led Caelum through the dimly lit back alleys of Iron Haven until they arrived at a rundown, but strangely whimsical shop known as the Rabbit Hole. The sign above the door flickered with a neon white rabbit, clock gears spinning around it.
Inside, the air was thick with the hum of machinery and the scent of antiseptic. A tall, lanky figure with pale skin, twitching ears, and a mechanical pocket watch embedded in his chest greeted them. Dr. Tock, the infamous ripperdoc of the Clockwork Cabal, adjusted his round, steampunk-style goggles and grinned.
"You're late," he muttered, glancing at an actual pocket watch he pulled from his coat. "But then again, you're always late in this city. What can I do for you, lads?"
Caelum stepped forward. "I want a neural interface. Basic—nothing over the top. Just enough to make life in Iron Haven a little easier."
Dr. Tock's grin widened. "Ah, diving down the rabbit hole, are we? Very well. Follow me."
Caelum was guided to a chair that reclined back, wires and tubes dangling from the ceiling. Dr. Tock's metal fingers worked with precision as he prepared the implant.
"This'll sting a bit," the ripperdoc warned before inserting the sleek interface into the base of Caelum's neck. Caelum's vision blurred as the device integrated with his nervous system, syncing with his senses and enhancing his cognitive abilities.
As the neural interface booted up, Caelum saw a bank system come online, a radio interface activate, and a holographic phone flicker to life. In the bottom right corner of his vision, a small stat window provided a real-time diagnostic of his vitals.
As Caelum and Alric stepped out of the Rabbit Hole, a sudden system message popped up before Caelum's eyes: "You have leveled up."
Caelum blinked in disbelief. "What... just happened?"
Alric raised an eyebrow. "Looks like Iron Haven's more than just neon lights and rusted metal. Welcome to the real game, kid."
They headed back to the Neon Widow and got some rest for the night. Before Caelum went to bed, he added Astra's number to his new holo phone, so now he had both Alric and Astra in his contacts.
The next morning, the sun barely creeping through the smog-filled skies of Iron Haven, Caelum awoke with a feeling of unease. The neural interface still buzzed faintly beneath his skin, its presence a constant reminder that he'd just taken a dangerous plunge into the world of tech-enhanced living.
As he stretched out and stood, he could already feel the subtle difference in his senses. His mind felt sharper, clearer, as if a fog had been lifted from his thoughts. Every sound was more distinct; every movement more fluid. He flexed his fingers, the interface pulsing gently as it responded to his neural commands.
Caelum took a moment to test his new capabilities, accessing the holographic phone with just a thought. He scrolled through his contacts, stopping at Astra's name. There was something in her tone last night that had been both comforting and intriguing. He needed answers.
Before he could hesitate any longer, he sent her a quick message: Got the interface, feeling the difference.
The message sent instantly, and he quickly followed up with another to Alric: What's the plan today?
As Caelum adjusted the neural interface, he felt the hum of new data flooding his senses. The holo-phone was no longer just a device; it was an extension of himself, embedded directly in his neural network. Messages and notifications appeared right in his line of sight, flickering to life as if they were part of his reality.
Well, look who's all upgraded. Welcome to the big leagues, Starlight. 🙂
The message from Astra appeared in his peripheral vision, and Caelum couldn't help but smirk at the playful nickname. The text lingered for a moment, then faded out
Caelum chuckled under his breath as he replied mentally, Thanks, Astra. Let's see what this city has to offer. Catch you soon.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his neural interface processed it and sent the message.
Caelum smiled to himself, amused by the playful nickname. He was about to send a reply when another message followed:
Don't get too ahead of yourself, Starlight. Iron Haven doesn't take kindly to bright new toys. Stay sharp.
Caelum paused for a moment, then mentally sent a reply: Thanks, Astra. Got the interface. Let's see what this city has to offer. Catch you soon. With a quick flick of his thoughts, the message was sent. It was strange, still, this seamless connection to his devices, but it felt good to be able to interact so effortlessly.
Caelum slipped his jacket back on, feeling the weight of his new interface settle into place. He adjusted his collar, then headed downstairs.
As he entered the main floor of the Neon Widow, he found the crew gathered around Cypher, who was in the middle of a tense conversation. His usual cool demeanor was replaced by the focused intensity he reserved for important jobs. The crew was listening intently, and the buzz of conversation faded when Cypher turned to face Caelum as he walked in.
"Ah, good. You're finally here," Cypher said, his voice steady. "We've got a job that requires every hand on deck, and if you help with this, there will be a serious reward in it for you."
Before Caelum could respond, Cypher turned to the rest of the crew and continued explaining.
"We've got an assignment involving the Azure Tower." Cypher's expression was grim as he spoke. "It's not just any building—it's a fortress. A hundred and fifty floors of mercenaries, security systems, and, yes, mechs. Inside the tower, you'll find everything from regular mercs to high-end tech and combat units."
Caelum listened closely, the weight of the job settling on his shoulders. The Azure Tower was notorious for being a place that even the most seasoned mercs hesitated to enter. But with the right crew, it was manageable—at least, that's what Cypher was promising.
Cypher continued, his gaze fixed on each member of the crew. "We're going in to clear the place out, get the data we need, and shut down any threats. It's going to be a bloodbath, and we need to be prepared for anything."
Just then, a small notification popped up in Caelum's vision:
Quest Alert:
Clear the Azure Tower
Objective: Secure the Azure Tower by any means necessary. Deal with any hostile entities within.
Reward: Significant reputation increase with local factions + High-value loot.
The system's message felt surreal, a reminder that this wasn't just a typical merc job. This was going to define his place in Iron Haven. His eyes flicked to Cypher, who had been watching him closely.
"You in, ?" Cypher asked, his tone all business. "This isn't a small job, but I've got a feeling you're the right person to help us. If you pull through, the reward's yours. Just don't get yourself killed."
Caelum's heart raced. The Azure Tower was no small task, but the reward—the potential to prove himself in this city—was too great to pass up.
"I'm in," Caelum said, voice steady, his decision clear.
Cypher gave him a nod of approval. "Good. Everyone, gear up. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
As the crew started to prepare for the mission, Caelum felt the gravity of the quest sink in. This was it—the real test. And with his new neural interface and the promise of a reward, Caelum was ready to make his mark on Iron Haven.
The team gathered around Cypher as he laid out the specifics of the job. The room was heavy with tension, but Caelum could feel the rush building inside him. The job was dangerous, but the potential reward was worth it. With the weight of the mission in the air, Cypher's voice cut through the silence.
"Alright, listen up. Alric and Caelum are going in first. Your job will be to cause a distraction, get their attention, and tear the place up so we can make sure Echo-33 can't hide. The rest of us will head for the 135th floor and deal with Echo-33 once we know the coast is clear," Cypher said, his voice measured but sharp.
Alric nodded in agreement, his usual smirk replacing the tension in the room. He was always down for a fight, especially one as chaotic as this. "Sounds like a good warm-up. Let's make a mess."
Caelum's mind raced, considering the most effective way to pull off their part of the plan. He glanced at Alric, a thought flickering in his mind.
"What if we drop in from above? Have Asterveil drop us straight into the main lobby," Caelum suggested. "Both of us in Abyssal Convergence forms should make a hell of an entrance. A nice, fiery crater right in the middle of the lobby. The chaos should draw their attention, and we can clear the ground floor for the crew."
Cypher raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "You think that'll work?"
Caelum gave a confident grin. "Why not? With our powers combined, we'll tear the place apart. Once we land, we'll keep the mercs distracted long enough for the crew to get to Echo-33."
Alric let out a low chuckle. "Sounds like fun. I'm in."
Cypher thought it over for a moment before nodding. "Alright, that's the plan then. Asterveil will drop you both in. Just make sure you don't turn the whole building into rubble. We need to be able to move through it after."
Caelum's new interface flickered in his vision as the system registered the plan, syncing with his thoughts. He felt the hum of power running through him, knowing that this was no longer just a small-time gig. This was a high-stakes raid, and he was ready for it.
"We'll make it count," Caelum said, locking eyes with Alric. The two of them were about to go headfirst into one of the most dangerous operations they'd ever attempted, but Caelum felt the rush building in his veins. This was the moment to prove himself.
The rest of the crew dispersed to gear up, and Caelum and Alric followed suit, heading to the back of the Neon Widow to prep for the assault.
The team had made their final preparations. Caelum, Alric, and the rest of the crew were ready to raid the Azure Tower. But before they set off, Caelum took a moment to check his status screen. A subtle glow flickered in his vision.
Status Screen
Name: Caelum Blackwell
Race: Voidborn (Boundless)
Class: None (Class Unlocked upon Progression)
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
Mana: 50/50
Stamina: 75/75
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 8
Charisma: 5
Abilities:
Void Manipulation: Basic control over Void energy for minor alterations to reality.Abyssal Flight (Unlockable): Potential flight ability once progression reaches certain thresholds.Shadowstep (Unlockable): Short-range teleportation through shadows.
Special Skills:
Asterveil: Bonded Shadow Dragon, currently in sync with Caelum.Night's Embrace (Passive): Small healing boost when in areas of darkness or shadows.Soul Link (Passive): Minor shared strength and abilities with Veyla.
Caelum blinked, staring at the screen. Level 1—that was it? No class unlocked yet, no major abilities—just the basics. He'd always felt like there was more to him than this. But seeing the screen made it clear: he was just starting out.
His abilities were rudimentary, yet there was a strange sense of potential. The Void Manipulation and his connection to Asterveil seemed to hint at untapped power—once he progressed, things would change. Shadowstep and Abyssal Flight were still far beyond his reach, locked until his strength grew.
He sighed, his mind already on the task ahead. This wasn't the time to dwell on stats. The job at the Azure Tower was big, and it had to be done. The rest of the crew was already waiting, ready for the assault.
Just as Caelum dismissed the screen, Alric appeared beside him, a smirk on his face. "You ready to bring the storm, ?" he asked, clearly eager to dive into the chaos ahead.
Caelum grinned back, tapping his stats one last time before closing the window. "Born ready. Let's make it unforgettable."